The Philadelphia Pass by Go City® – Save 10%!

If your family is heading down the Turnpike to explore Philadelphia this Chol Hamoed, grabbing a Go City Philadelphia pass is one of the smartest ways to lock in your itinerary while keeping admission costs from spiraling out of control. Instead of paying at the gate for every single museum and tour, you pay one flat rate for a digital pass that lives right on your phone.

Choosing Your Strategy: The Two Pass Options

Go City offers two completely different types of passes, and picking the right one depends entirely on your family’s travel style.

1. The All-Inclusive Pass (The “All-You-Can-Eat” Model)

  • How it works: You buy a pass valid for a set number of consecutive days (1, 2, 3, or 5 days).
  • The Vibe: Once activated, you can visit as many of the 35+ included attractions as you can physically squeeze into those days.
  • Best for: Power-sightseers. If you are the type of family that gets up at 8 AM, hits three museums before lunch, and keeps going until sunset, this pass offers massive financial value.

2. The Explorer Pass (The “A La Carte” Model)

  • How it works: Instead of days, you buy a pass for a specific number of attractions (choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 choices).
  • The Vibe: You have a full 60 days to use your choices after activating the pass. You don’t have to decide which attractions you are visiting until you walk up to the door.
  • Best for: A laid-back itinerary. If you only want to hit one big museum a day and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing, shopping, or visiting family, this pass lets you save money without feeling rushed.

Use this interactive calculator to compare the pass types and see how much you can save based on your specific itinerary:

Pass Savings Calculator

Select your planned attractions to see if a pass pays off.

Total Gate Tickets: $0
Go City Pass Cost: $0

* Explorer Pass maxes out at 7 choices. Consider All-Inclusive!

Your Savings $0


To get the absolute best return on your investment—especially if you bought the choice-based Explorer Pass—you should never waste a pass scan on a $5 entry fee.

Key insight: The passes often pay for themselves if you just do two high-ticket items (like the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and the Aquarium) in a single day.

Here is the complete list of the 35+ included attractions, strictly ranked by their gate-price value and overall “must-do” factor for families, so you know exactly what to use your pass on.

Tier 1: The “Wallet Savers” (High-Value & Must-Do)

These are the most expensive tickets in the city. If you have an Explorer pass, use your choices exclusively on this list.

  • Big Bus Philadelphia Hop-on Hop-off Tour: The highest-priced single item on the pass; an incredible value that doubles as transportation.
  • Adventure Aquarium: A premium, world-class aquarium (requires booking a time slot).
  • The Franklin Institute: The ultimate interactive science museum and a non-negotiable for kids.
  • Otherworld Philadelphia: A massive, trippy, highly immersive interactive art installation that teens will love.
  • Longwood Gardens: One of the premier botanical gardens in the country (located a bit outside the city).
  • Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial: A massive floating fortress with extensive tours.
  • Philadelphia Zoo: America’s first zoo, famous for its overhead animal trails.
  • Museum of the American Revolution: The most modern, immersive history museum in the historic district.
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art: The iconic “Rocky Steps” museum; massive and world-renowned.
  • Barnes Foundation: A legendary, high-ticket private art collection.
  • Eastern State Penitentiary: A fascinating, slightly spooky ruined prison tour.

Tier 2: The Solid Add-Ons (Mid-Value)

These are fantastic attractions with moderate gate prices ($15–$25). They are perfect to fill out an All-Inclusive (day-based) itinerary once you’ve hit the big ones.

  • National Constitution Center: Highly interactive civics museum right on Independence Mall.
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia: Great indoor playground for the younger kids (located in Plymouth Meeting).
  • Penn Museum: Incredible archaeology and anthropology exhibits.
  • Independence Seaport Museum: Climb aboard historic ships docked on the river.
  • Specialty Walking Tours: The pass covers several $20-$25 guided tours, including the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, Revolution and Founding Fathers Tour, Movie & Television Walking Tour, and the True Crime & History Tour.
  • Art & Culture Museums: Rodin Museum, Brandywine Museum of Art, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, and the African American Museum.

Tier 3: The “Pay Out of Pocket” Stops (Low Gate Price)

If you are using an All-Inclusive pass, go ahead and scan your pass here! But if you are using the Explorer Pass, do not waste a choice here. Just pay the cheap $5 to $10 gate price out of your own pocket.

  • Betsy Ross House: A quick, cheap walk-through in the historic district.
  • Christ Church Burial Ground: Ben Franklin’s grave; entry is only a few dollars.
  • National Liberty Museum: A smaller, niche museum.
  • Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop: This is a cheap public transit tourist bus; a 1-day pass normally costs just a few bucks.

The Go City Trip Planning App

Rather than juggling printouts or multiple confirmation emails, the entire Go City ecosystem runs through their dedicated mobile app. Once you purchase your pass, you sync your order number to the app, which instantly turns your phone into your digital entry ticket for every single gate.

Beyond just holding your tickets, the app features a built-in trip planning tool. You simply select the museums and tours you want to hit, and the app generates an itinerary with the most efficient route between them. The planner actively helps you avoid logistical headaches by displaying current opening hours, providing maps and transit hints, and specifically flagging which high-demand attractions require you to book a timed reservation in advance.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Value

  • Group by Neighborhood: Philadelphia is a city of distinct neighborhoods. Plan to do the historic sites (Constitution Center, American Revolution, Betsy Ross House) on one day, and the Parkway museums (Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences) on another so you aren’t wasting your pass time sitting in traffic.
  • Check Reservations: While the pass gets you in, some highly popular spots (like the Aquarium or specific walking tours) still require you to lock in a timed entry slot on their website beforehand.
  • Skip the Cheap Stuff: If you bought the Explorer Pass (where you are limited to a set number of choices), use your pass on the expensive items like the Big Bus or the Franklin Institute. Pay out of pocket for the cheap $5 entry fees so you don’t waste a valuable pass choice.

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