San Diego CityPASS Review: Is It Worth It? (Prices, Savings & Best Deal)

San Diego CityPASS is a sightseeing pass that bundles SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California, or both with your choice of three more attractions at a discount. It’s worth buying if at least one of those theme parks is on your itinerary and you plan to visit a few of the add-on attractions, too. The math below uses current operator prices, not the percentage CityPASS advertises.

I live in La Jolla and help people plan San Diego vacations as a travel advisor. We sell a lot of CityPASS, and client feedback is consistently positive. It’s one of two sightseeing passes I recommend, with the other being Go City San Diego which is better suited for visitors who aren’t interested in SeaWorld or LEGOLAND.

If SeaWorld and LEGOLAND aren’t on your list, this pass won’t save you money. Read my Go City San Diego review instead.

What San Diego CityPASS Includes

There are three CityPASS packages. Each includes one or two theme parks plus your choice of three additional attractions from a list of six.

Package 1: SeaWorld San Diego + 3 Attractions
Adult (13+): $169 | Child (3-12): $149
Saves up to 45% vs. gate prices

Package 2: LEGOLAND California + 3 Attractions
Adult (13+): $186 | Child (3-12): $166
Saves up to 42% vs. gate prices

Package 3: SeaWorld + LEGOLAND + 3 Attractions
Adult (13+): $239 | Child (3-12): $219
Saves up to 46% vs. gate prices

Children 2 and under are free at the CityPASS level. Individual attraction age cutoffs vary slightly, and I’ve noted those in the FAQs.

CityPASS charges a per-ticket processing fee when you buy direct. There is none through our aRes Travel link, which, for a family of four, adds up before any code is applied.

Your three add-on attractions can be any combination from this list:

• San Diego Zoo OR San Diego Zoo Safari Park (1-Day Pass to ONE park. You can’t visit both.)
• USS Midway Museum (General Admission)
• City Cruises Best of the Bay Tour (90-minute narrated harbor cruise)
• Old Town Trolley Tours (1 day of unlimited reboarding, 11 stops)
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps (General Admission)
• Maritime Museum of San Diego (General Admission)

You don’t need to choose your three add-ons at the time of purchase. You decide later.

Tip: To get the most value from this pass, include San Diego Zoo or Safari Park as one of your three picks. It’s the highest-value individual ticket on the add-on list.

Is San Diego CityPASS Worth It? Savings Breakdown

CityPASS advertises savings of up to 46%, and clients do save real money with it. That figure is calculated against the highest published gate price of the year at the most expensive attractions, which is not what most visitors actually pay. SeaWorld and LEGOLAND both use demand pricing, so your gate price depends on the day you visit.

Here is the math on the combination I see most often, run at SeaWorld’s cheapest advance price rather than its gate price. That is the hardest case for the pass to win, and it still wins.

SeaWorld + Zoo + Midway + Birch	Adult	Child
SeaWorld San Diego, lowest advance price	$59.99	$59.99
San Diego Zoo, 1-Day Pass	$78	$68
USS Midway Museum	$39	$29
Birch Aquarium at Scripps	$34.95	$29.95
Bought separately	$211.94	$186.94
The same four on CityPASS	$169	$149

The pass comes out ahead even on the day SeaWorld is cheapest, and the gap widens from there. On a busy summer Saturday, SeaWorld alone runs close to what the whole pass costs. If SeaWorld or LEGOLAND is on your list, CityPASS is almost always the cheaper way in. If neither is, it isn’t.

CityPASS counts a 12-year-old as a child. The Zoo charges that same 12-year-old adult admission, and the Midway starts at 13. If you have kids with ages on the bubble, check that gap before you price anything individually.

The LEGOLAND version of this pass works the same way on a thinner margin, because it costs more and LEGOLAND discounts harder in advance than SeaWorld does. It still comes out ahead on four attractions, just by less.

Treat the advertised 46% as a ceiling rather than a promise. It is calculated against walk-up gate prices, and both the Midway and Birch Aquarium sell for less on their own sites. To price your actual dates against your actual list, run it through my calculator.

When CityPASS Is NOT Worth It

CityPASS probably isn’t the right fit if:

• You’re not visiting SeaWorld or LEGOLAND. These theme parks are the foundation of the pass. Without at least one, the math doesn’t work. Go City San Diego is the better choice.
• You’re visiting in October during Kids Free San Diego. At LEGOLAND and SeaWorld, the free child admission is a specific ticket you buy, not a discount applied at the gate, so a pass cannot unlock it. LEGOLAND confirmed that to me directly, and SeaWorld’s kids-free ticket is already on sale for October. The Zoo and Safari Park work differently and honor any valid adult admission, so a pass still gets your kids in free at either. If your October plan includes our theme parks, price their kids-free tickets before you buy a pass.
• You’d only visit two or three of the included attractions. The savings really require four or more. For fewer attractions, my discounted individual tickets are the better buy.
• SeaWorld or LEGOLAND is running a deep discount on a slow day. Both parks use demand pricing. On a quiet Tuesday in January, the single-day gate price can be low enough that the pass math tips the other way. Worth checking before you buy.

Where to Buy for the Best Price

Through our ticket site (best price). We sell San Diego CityPASS through aRes Travel at the same base price as CityPASS direct, but with no processing fee and no tax. Use our year-round promo code SAVEMORE at checkout to save an additional $5.

Staying overnight? You can bundle the pass with a hotel through my ticket store and save more on the pass itself, with over 150 San Diego hotels to choose from. See the vacation packages.

Direct from CityPASS. Some people prefer to buy directly from citypass.com. You’ll pay a $2 per ticket processing fee, but the tickets auto-link in the My CityPASS app without the manual barcode step. No tax either way.

How to Use Your CityPASS

1. Buy your pass online. You’ll receive an email with a ticket (barcode) for each person in your group.

2. Download the My CityPASS app (iPhone or Android) or go to my.citypass.com. If you bought directly from CityPASS, your tickets link automatically when you sign in with your purchase email. If you bought through our aRes Travel link or another third-party seller, select “Add Your Tickets” in the app and enter the barcodes from your confirmation email. It takes about a minute. CityPASS has a help center walkthrough for linking third-party tickets.

3. Make reservations where required. The app shows which attractions need advance reservations and lets you book directly. The list changes, so check it against your own dates.

4. Show your phone at each attraction. They scan the barcode from the app, or your printed ticket, and you walk in. CityPASS says having tickets in hand may save you the box office window at some attractions. It does not get you past the admission or security line.

Your 9-day window starts on the first day you scan your pass or make a reservation at an attraction, not on your purchase date. Unactivated passes expire one year from purchase. Nine days covers most San Diego vacations with room to spare.

You can visit attractions in any order and visit more than one per day. Each pass provides one-time admission to each included attraction.

What’s Included: Attraction-by-Attraction Notes

SeaWorld San Diego

Your CityPASS includes a single-day ticket to SeaWorld San Diego with access to animal exhibits, presentations, and all rides. SeaWorld is in Mission Bay, about 15 minutes from downtown. Budget a full day. There are over a dozen rides, plus shows and animal encounters, and clients consistently tell me it exceeded their expectations. Children 2 and under are free.

LEGOLAND California Resort

Your CityPASS includes 1-day admission to LEGOLAND California with over 60 rides and attractions. LEGOLAND is in Carlsbad, about 35 minutes north of downtown San Diego. Reservations are required. This park is geared toward kids ages 2-12, though adults will enjoy Miniland and the Dragon Coaster.

Watch the age cutoff here. LEGOLAND requires a ticket for children ages 2 and up. Only children under 2 (ages 0-1) get in free. The CityPASS website says “ages 2 and under, free,” but that does not apply at LEGOLAND. If your child is 2, you will need a child CityPASS ticket or a separate LEGOLAND ticket purchased at gate price. Confirm your child’s age against LEGOLAND’s cutoff before you check out.

CityPASS does not include SEA LIFE Aquarium or LEGOLAND Water Park. Both are sold as separate upgrades.

San Diego Zoo OR San Diego Zoo Safari Park

You choose one park; you cannot visit both with CityPASS. (See my comparison of San Diego Zoo vs Safari Park.)

San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park, minutes from downtown. Your 1-Day Pass includes the Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Aerial Tram plus all regularly scheduled exhibits and shows. The Zoo is home to more than 12,000 animals across 100 acres. No reservation required. This is the higher-value pick for most first-time visitors.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park is in Escondido, about 35 minutes north of downtown. Your 1-Day Pass includes unlimited rides on the Africa Tram and all regularly scheduled exhibits and shows. The Safari Park spans 1,800 acres and offers a more immersive, open-range experience. Parking is not included with CityPASS at Safari Park.

The brand-new Denny Sanford Elephant Valley opened at Safari Park in March 2026 and is worth the trip if you’ve already visited the Zoo before.

USS Midway Museum

Board one of the nation’s longest-serving aircraft carriers, the USS Midway, docked on the downtown San Diego waterfront. General admission includes the 3D holographic Battle of Midway Theater and a self-guided audio tour with 60 exhibits and 29 aircraft. Audio tours are available in six languages.

Allow 3-4 hours. Last admission falls well before closing, so a late-afternoon arrival buys a short visit. Children ages 3 and under are free, which is different from the CityPASS ticket’s 3-12 child range, so your under-3 won’t need a CityPASS ticket here.

City Cruises Best of the Bay Tour

A 90-minute narrated cruise of San Diego Bay covering 20 miles and 50 landmarks. You’ll see the Coronado Bridge, naval vessels, the Star of India, Hotel del Coronado, and sea lions along Point Loma. In-seat food and beverage service is available. Departs from Pier 2, right next to USS Midway, making these two easy to pair on the same day. Even locals enjoy this one when guests are in town.

Old Town Trolley Tours

A hop-on, hop-off narrated tour with 11 stops covering San Diego highlights, including Coronado Island, Old Town State Historic Park, Balboa Park, Little Italy, and the Gaslamp Quarter. Your pass provides one day of unlimited reboarding. This is especially useful if you don’t have a rental car.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Located in La Jolla with ocean views, Birch Aquarium is one of our family’s favorite local spots. It holds more than 5,000 creatures, a two-story Giant Kelp Forest, and the Tide Pool Plaza. It’s one of the best family attractions in San Diego and one of the smaller ones on the CityPASS list. Plan about 2 hours. Birch uses timed entry, so book your slot when you book the visit. Your CityPASS provides general admission.

Maritime Museum of San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego covers over 500 years of seafaring history across a collection of historic ships, including the Star of India (the world’s oldest active sailing ship). You’ll move from ship to ship via docks and ladders, so wear closed-toe shoes. Last admission falls well before closing here too. Located on the downtown waterfront near USS Midway and the City Cruises pier, so all three pair well for a downtown waterfront day.

How to Group Your Attractions by Location

You don’t need a full itinerary, but clustering attractions geographically will save you time:

Downtown Waterfront Day: USS Midway Museum + City Cruises Best of the Bay + Maritime Museum of San Diego. All three are within walking distance on Harbor Drive.

North County Day: LEGOLAND California (Carlsbad). If you’re heading north anyway, Birch Aquarium in La Jolla is on the way back.

Balboa Park Area Day: San Diego Zoo. Spend the rest of the day exploring Balboa Park’s gardens and museums (not included in CityPASS but free to walk through).

Mission Bay Day: SeaWorld San Diego.

Flexible Add-On: Old Town Trolley Tours works on any day since it covers multiple parts of the city.

Available Upgrades

CityPASS itself sells nothing beyond admission. Several attractions do sell extras, and you buy those from the attraction once you are there, not from CityPASS at checkout. All of it is optional.

LEGOLAND California: Add SEA LIFE Aquarium or the seasonal water park for a nominal fee.

San Diego Zoo or Safari Park: Book an Inside Look or other experience.

USS Midway Museum: VR flight experience or air combat flight simulator available on-site.

City Cruises: Your CityPASS now includes the full 90-minute Best of the Bay Tour, which is their standard sightseeing cruise. No upgrade needed for most visitors.

Old Town Trolley: Passholders get discounts on other available tours.

Birch Aquarium: Behind-the-Scenes Seahorse Tour (offered twice daily), plus seasonal opportunities like Tidepooling Adventures with a naturalist. Both are separately ticketed through Birch Aquarium.

Maritime Museum of San Diego: Options include a 45-minute narrated historic bay cruise, a 75-minute naval history cruise (weekends only), and a weekend Tall Ship adventure. Check with the ticket booth at the museum.

CityPASS vs. Go City San Diego: Which Should You Buy?

Buy CityPASS if you’re visiting SeaWorld or LEGOLAND. Buy Go City if you want more variety or those parks don’t interest you.

CityPASS is focused. A handful of top attractions at a solid discount, valid over 9 days. Go City San Diego covers 39 attractions on its base tier and 44 on the top one, including the Balboa Park museums, bike rentals, and tours that CityPASS does not touch. Go City also lets you visit both the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, while CityPASS only allows one.

Watch the Go City tier if you go that way. SeaWorld and LEGOLAND sit only on its All-Inclusive Plus pass, or as your single major pick on an Essentials pass. The cheaper base All-Inclusive includes neither park, and it leaves out the Zoo and the Safari Park too.

I’ve written a detailed comparison of both passes with pricing scenarios: San Diego CityPASS vs. Go City San Diego.

FAQs About San Diego CityPASS

Do I need to choose my attractions before I buy?

No. You choose your theme park package at checkout, meaning SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, or both, and that part is locked in. You do not pick your three add-on attractions until you are ready to visit.

Can different people in my group visit different attractions?

Yes, with one caveat that trips families up. Tickets bought in a single order travel as one party, so if you want to split up you have to contact CityPASS Customer Care before anyone makes a reservation. If you already know the group will divide, place a separate order for each subgroup.

Should I buy two separate CityPASS tickets to see every attraction?

You could buy a SeaWorld package and a LEGOLAND package to cover everything on the list, and you would still beat gate prices. Run it against a Go City All-Inclusive Plus pass first, though, because that tier covers both theme parks plus the Zoo and the Safari Park, and it often wins when your sightseeing is compressed into a few days.

Is CityPASS worth it during Kids Free October?

Only partly. At LEGOLAND and SeaWorld, the free child admission is a specific ticket you buy rather than a discount applied to any adult entry, so a CityPASS cannot unlock it. LEGOLAND confirmed that to me directly, and SeaWorld’s kids-free ticket is already on sale for October. The Zoo and the Safari Park honor any valid adult admission, so a pass does work at either of those. If your October itinerary is built around the theme parks, price their kids-free tickets first. My adult tickets qualify for Kids Free.

What is the refund policy?

Unactivated passes are refundable within 365 days of purchase, which is unusually generous for this kind of product. Two things end it: scanning your pass at a first attraction, and holding an uncancelled reservation. That second one surprises people, because you can lose refund eligibility without having visited anything at all. See the full CityPASS refund policy.

Does my toddler need a CityPASS ticket?

This is the one that catches people. CityPASS lists children 2 and under as free, but LEGOLAND requires a ticket for every child aged 2 and up, and only under-2s get in free there. If your child is 2 and LEGOLAND is on your list, you need a child CityPASS or you will be paying gate price at the door. The cutoffs differ elsewhere too: 2 and under are free at SeaWorld and the Zoo, and 3 and under at the USS Midway and on City Cruises.

Is CityPASS good for locals?

Yes, and there is no residency restriction. It works for a school break where you want one theme park day plus a few smaller outings, and the nine-day window gives you two weekends to spread it across.

Do I need to make reservations?

CityPASS flags SeaWorld, LEGOLAND California, and City Cruises as requiring one. The My CityPASS app shows which attractions need a reservation and lets you book from there. Book as soon as your pass arrives. One thing to know before you book: making a reservation starts your nine-day clock on that date, whether or not you turn up.

Gate prices fluctuate, especially at SeaWorld and LEGOLAND, which use demand-based pricing. Always verify current prices before purchasing.