Skip to content

For the zoo, the parks and the harbor

San Diego Essentials Pass 2026

One big park of your choice, plus two sights ranging from the USS Midway aircraft carrier to kayaking in La Jolla.

Adults $149 · Children (3–12) $139

Up to $204 less than separate tickets

Buy Essentials Pass What's included?
Harbor cruise in front of the San Diego skyline

The San Diego Essentials Pass at a glance

The San Diego Essentials Pass includes three entries. You take one from the first group with the big parks: San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California or Knott's Berry Farm. The other two come from the second group, for example the USS Midway Museum, whale watching or a harbor cruise with City Cruises, the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park or the Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off tour.

Not all the parks are in the city. LEGOLAND is in Carlsbad north of San Diego, the Safari Park near Escondido, and Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park is already part of the Los Angeles area. Plan a separate day for each of these three. According to Go City, LEGOLAND entry also includes the SEA LIFE Aquarium in the park.

The pass is valid for 30 days from the first scan. You can return it to Go City free of charge for up to 90 days after purchase, as long as you have not used it.

The attractions you can choose from

For LEGOLAND California and the semi-private bay cruise you reserve a time in the Go City App. You can visit the Zoo, the Safari Park, SeaWorld and Knott's Berry Farm without a reservation.

Step 1 · choose 1 of 5

  • San Diego Zoo
    San Diego ZooWithout pass: $78
  • San Diego Zoo Safari Park
    San Diego Zoo Safari ParkWithout pass: $78
  • SeaWorld® San DiegoWithout pass: $82.99
  • Legoland California + FREE SEA LIFE® (San Diego)Without pass: $84Reservation required
  • Knott's Berry FarmWithout pass: $79

Step 2 · choose 2 of 12

  • USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
    USS Midway Aircraft Carrier MuseumWithout pass: $41
  • San Diego Natural History Museum
    San Diego Natural History MuseumWithout pass: $24.95
  • San Diego Air and Space Museum
    San Diego Air and Space MuseumWithout pass: $35
  • Petco Park Tours, Home of the San Diego Padres
    Petco Park Tours, Home of the San Diego PadresWithout pass: $45
  • 2-Day Hop-on Hop-off San Diego Trolley by Old Town Trolley Tours
    2-Day Hop-on Hop-off San Diego Trolley by Old Town Trolley ToursWithout pass: $99
  • Maritime Museum of San Diego
    Maritime Museum of San DiegoWithout pass: $28
  • La Jolla, 90-Minute Kayak Rental
    La Jolla, 90-Minute Kayak RentalWithout pass: $59
  • Whale Watching by City Cruises
    Whale Watching by City CruisesWithout pass: $77
  • 90-Minute Best Of The Bay Harbor Tour by City Cruises
    90-Minute Best Of The Bay Harbor Tour by City CruisesWithout pass: $40.66
  • Birch Aquarium at Scripps
    Birch Aquarium at ScrippsWithout pass: $34.95
  • Belmont Park Ride & Play Pass
    Belmont Park Ride & Play PassWithout pass: $60
  • Semi-Private Bay CruiseWithout pass: $170Reservation required

Adult prices without a pass, as listed by Go City. Checked: 09.10.2026.

Work out your own selection

Tick what you want to visit. The calculator shows what the same entries would cost if bought separately.

Step 1 · choose 1
Step 2 · choose 2

Separate tickets
—
Essentials Pass
—
Difference
—

Based on the adult prices Go City lists for each attraction.

How to use the San Diego Essentials Pass

  1. Buy online

    You book with Go City and receive a confirmation by email.

  2. Set up the app

    Download the Go City App, enter your confirmation code, and the pass is on your phone. Setting it up does not activate it yet.

  3. Reserve time slots

    You need a set time for: Legoland California + FREE SEA LIFE® (San Diego), Semi-Private Bay Cruise. You book it in the app at no extra cost.

  4. Scan at the entrance

    Your first scan starts the 30 days of validity.

Go City multi-attraction passes for San Diego

Go City sells several passes in this city. The Essentials Pass is the smallest of them.

Essentials Pass

from $149

  • 3 attractions of your choice
  • Valid for 30 days from your first visit
  • For a short trip with a clear wish list
Buy Essentials Pass

All-Inclusive Pass

from $99

  • 1–7 consecutive days, as many attractions as you like
  • For full sightseeing days with lots of stops
See All-Inclusive Pass

What the San Diego Essentials Pass does not cover

  • Public transport: you pay for MTS trolleys and buses separately. The Old Town Trolley in the pass is a sightseeing tour, not public transport.
  • The Museum of Illusions, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla are only in the All-Inclusive Pass.
  • The Patriot jet boat ride, the e-bike tour, the snorkelling trip, surfboard and kayak rental in Coronado and the Knott's Soak City water park are not part of the Essentials Pass either.

When the pass is not worth it

The All-Inclusive Pass for one or two days costs less than the Essentials Pass. If you want to tick off lots of sights in a short time, such as the museums in Balboa Park, the harbor cruise and the USS Midway, it serves you better. Go City shows for each attraction if your chosen park is included there or only in the All-Inclusive Pass Plus, so check before buying. The Essentials Pass fits if you want a big park included and plan to spread the three sights over different days.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the San Diego Essentials Pass valid?

It runs for 30 days from your first visit. Buying it and setting it up in the app does not start the clock.

Can I cancel the pass for free?

Yes, with Go City within 90 days of purchase, as long as you have not used the pass. After the first scan there is no refund.

Which park from the first group should I pick?

For adults the parks cost about the same on their own, so decide by interest and travel time. The Zoo and SeaWorld are in the city; for LEGOLAND, the Safari Park and Knott's Berry Farm you drive out. LEGOLAND needs a reserved time slot.

Do I have to drive to Los Angeles for Knott's Berry Farm?

Almost. The park is in Buena Park in Orange County, part of the Los Angeles area. From San Diego that is a day trip, and you arrange the journey yourself.

Which sights in the second group are the best value?

The most expensive on their own are the semi-private bay cruise, the hop-on hop-off trolley with a 2-day ticket and whale watching. You get the most out of the pass with two of those. The boat ride needs a reserved time.

What do children pay?

Children aged 3 to 12 get their own pass, which is only a little cheaper than the adult one. At SeaWorld, LEGOLAND and Knott's Berry Farm children pay the full price for single tickets, so the child pass is most worth it with those parks.

When is the All-Inclusive Pass the better choice?

When you want to see as much as possible in one or two days, because for that duration it costs less than the Essentials Pass. Go City also sells the All-Inclusive Pass Plus with extra sights. Go City shows for each attraction which big parks are in which version.

Are the trolley and buses included?

No, you pay for MTS trolley lines and buses separately. The Old Town Trolley in the pass is a hop-on hop-off tour, not a public transport ticket.

Start with the big park

Choose your park and allow a full day for LEGOLAND, the Safari Park or Knott's Berry Farm. The other two entries combine well at the harbor, with the USS Midway and a City Cruises trip.

Adults $149

Buy Essentials Pass

Essentials Pass in other cities