San Diego passes, museums and bay trips

The short answer

Start from the big parks. If SeaWorld San Diego or LEGOLAND California is on your list, the San Diego CityPASS is built around them, and the Go City Essentials Pass lets you pick one theme park or zoo.[2][1] If you want a number of smaller attractions over a month, the Go City Explorer Pass counts choices; if you want many in a few days, the two All-Inclusive passes count consecutive days.[5][4][3] For one or two sights, buy the single ticket. XTOUR's reading: every pass here is an entitlement to choose from a list, not a promise that you will visit any one venue.

Five passes compared

• San Diego CityPASS : three options, SeaWorld San Diego plus three attractions, LEGOLAND California plus three, or both parks plus three. The three are chosen from the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park, the USS Midway Museum, City Cruises, Old Town Trolley Tours, Birch Aquarium at Scripps and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. SkyGate says each option is valid for nine consecutive days after first use, and that some attractions need advance reservations through the My CityPASS app.[1]
• Go City San Diego Essentials Pass : one option of three choices, one theme park or zoo from the San Diego Zoo, the Safari Park, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND California with SEA LIFE, or Knott's Berry Farm, plus two from a list that includes the USS Midway, Old Town Trolley, Birch Aquarium and harbour and whale-watching cruises. It is valid for 30 consecutive days from first use.[2]
• Go City San Diego Explorer Pass : 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 choices, valid for 30 consecutive days after first use. SkyGate says it covers either the San Diego Zoo or the Safari Park, not both, and its examples include the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the Japanese Friendship Garden and the USS Midway Museum.[3]
• Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 consecutive days; its examples include the USS Midway Museum, the San Diego Air and Space Museum and a two-day Old Town Trolley pass. SkyGate's page and options give different counts of included attractions, so XTOUR states no number.[4]
• Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass Plus : the same 1 to 7 consecutive days, and SkyGate's list for it names the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California with SEA LIFE and the Safari Park.[5]

The All-Inclusive passes run for consecutive calendar days from activation regardless of the time of day, according to SkyGate.[5][4] SkyGate directs Go City buyers to the operator's app or digital guidebook for the current list and reservations, which XTOUR has not read.[2] XTOUR's San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND guide compares the single park tickets.

Two museums: USS Midway and the San Diego Museum of Art

The USS Midway Museum: Skip The Line ticket admits you to the aircraft carrier museum with a self-guided audio tour to more than 60 locations, same-day re-entry and talks by Midway volunteers, according to SkyGate. SkyGate says children under 6 and active-duty military with valid ID enter free.[6] The museum listed opening hours of 10am to 5pm daily with last admission at 4pm, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, when XTOUR read its site.[11] See the USS Midway Museum page on XTOUR.

The San Diego Museum of Art Ticket is one general admission option, exchanged for an admission sticker at the front desk, and SkyGate says some temporary exhibitions cost extra. SkyGate sells adult tickets only and says under-18s are free.[7] The museum gives its main address as 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park and was closed on Wednesdays when XTOUR read its site. The museum lists MOPA@SDMA as a separate location at 1649 El Prado; SkyGate's option does not mention it, and XTOUR has not verified whether this ticket admits you there.[12] See the San Diego Museum of Art page on XTOUR.

On the bay: the San Diego Harbour Cruise

The San Diego Harbour Cruise is a guided sightseeing cruise with live commentary from an English-speaking guide. SkyGate says it passes Navy ships, the skyline and historic landmarks and sails beneath the Coronado Bridge.[8] It is the only product in this guide on the water, but SkyGate's listing names neither the operator nor a boarding point, so XTOUR has not verified where you board.

By bike: guided tour or rental

The Best of San Diego Guided eBike Tour with Unlimited Biking starts at 330 K Street and, in SkyGate's itinerary, rides through the Gaslamp Quarter, along San Diego Bay past the USS Midway and the Bob Hope Memorial, and through Balboa Park past the San Diego Zoo and the Japanese Friendship Garden. These are sights on the route, not admissions. SkyGate describes a 2.5-hour tour with an English-speaking guide, for riders aged at least 13.[9]

The San Diego Bike Rentals product is self-guided, from the same Unlimited Biking store at 330 K Street, with a standard bike or an eBike for 2 hours, 4 hours or a day. Each option includes a Cannondale bike, helmet, lock, bike bag and area map, and the eBike options are for riders aged at least 13. SkyGate's calendar for the standard bike Day Pass option showed dates only from 1 December 2026 when XTOUR checked, while the other five options were bookable from 3 October. SkyGate says the last rental is two hours before closing.[10]

How to choose

• For SeaWorld or LEGOLAND plus three smaller attractions, the San Diego CityPASS; for one big park plus two more over a month, the Go City Essentials Pass.
• For several smaller attractions at your own pace, the Go City Explorer Pass; for a packed few days, an All-Inclusive pass, choosing the Plus version if you want the big parks on the list.
• For one museum, the USS Midway Museum: Skip The Line or the San Diego Museum of Art Ticket.
• For the bay from the water, the San Diego Harbour Cruise; for the bay and Balboa Park by bike, the guided eBike tour or a rental.

Before you book

• Reserve CityPASS attractions that need it in the My CityPASS app.[1]
• The San Diego Museum of Art was closed on Wednesdays when XTOUR read its site.[12]
• Bring a photo ID and credit card for the Unlimited Biking deposit.[10][9]