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San Francisco is the most popular day trip from Palo Alto. Its big attractions are not cheap. In November 2026 an adult ticket to the California Academy of Sciences ran $49 to $55 and the Exploratorium $39.95. Two companies sell passes that bundle these and other sights: Go City and CityPASS. Either can save you money. Either can also cost you money if you buy more than you will use, which is easy to do when your day starts with a 40-minute train ride.
This guide compares the two for a visitor based in Palo Alto. Prices change often. The figures below are what the official pass pages showed in early November 2026, so check them again before you buy. For the trip itself, see our San Francisco day trip guide.
Go City San Francisco
Go City sells three San Francisco passes, all used through its app. You scan your phone at each entrance. The All-Inclusive and Explorer passes draw on a list of 25 attractions, tours and activities. Passes are valid for one year from purchase. Go City says non-activated passes can be cancelled for a full refund within 90 days.
| Pass | How it works | Price (early November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Visit as many included attractions as you like for 1 to 5 days | 1 day: $109 adult, $89 child 3 to 12 |
| Explorer | Pick 2 to 5 attractions, 30 days from your first visit | From $89 adult, $69 child for 2 choices |
| Essentials | Pick 3 of 9 attractions, 30 days from your first visit | $74 adult, $54 child |
The 25 attractions on Go City's list include the Red and White Fleet Golden Gate Bay Cruise and Bridge to Bridge Cruise, the Exploratorium, the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young and Legion of Honor, SFMOMA, the Asian Art Museum, the Walt Disney Family Museum, Aquarium of the Bay, the San Francisco Zoo, a Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour, a 1-day Muni pass, bike rentals and a Golden Gate Bridge bike tour, the USS Pampanito and the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda.
One item stands out for Palo Alto visitors. The Explorer and All-Inclusive passes include Filoli, the historic house and gardens in Woodside, about 15 miles from downtown Palo Alto. Go City lists its gate price at up to $47. Filoli sells timed entry, so follow the reservation steps in the app. Put Filoli on an Explorer pass with two city attractions and you cover both sides of the Peninsula with one purchase. You can compare the current Go City San Francisco passes and the full attraction list on Go City's site.
The All-Inclusive pass counts calendar days from first use, not 24-hour blocks. Start it at 2 p.m. and you have lost most of the day.
San Francisco CityPASS
CityPASS is simpler. You choose 4 of 8 attractions and use them within 9 consecutive days, starting from the first day you visit one or book a reservation. You have a year from purchase to start. The official CityPASS San Francisco page listed $89.95 for adults 12 and up and $69.95 for children 4 to 11, plus a $2 processing fee per ticket. The eight choices:
- California Academy of Sciences
- Blue and Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise, a 60-minute cruise
- Exploratorium
- Aquarium of the Bay
- San Francisco Zoo and Gardens
- SFMOMA
- The Walt Disney Family Museum
- de Young Museum and Legion of Honor
CityPASS says the Blue and Gold Fleet cruise and the Exploratorium require reservations, made in its app. Muni and cable car rides are not included. The 9-day window is the big advantage for a Palo Alto base. You can split the four visits across two separate trips up on Caltrain instead of cramming them into one.
Alcatraz is a separate booking
Neither standard pass gets you onto Alcatraz. Go City's cruises circle the bay and pass the island but do not land. CityPASS sells a separate CityPASS plus Alcatraz product that adds an island visit to three other attractions. Otherwise, landing tickets come only from Alcatraz City Cruises, the park's concessioner, at $47.95 for an adult day tour in 2026.
Timing matters this month. The National Park Service closed Alcatraz from October 26 to November 18, 2026 for dock repairs. Check nps.gov/alca before you book anything that depends on it. Our Alcatraz guide covers tickets, the ferry from Pier 33 and how far ahead tours sell out.
When a pass saves money
Every pass page advertises savings against gate prices. The real question is whether you will visit enough attractions to beat what you would have paid anyway. Three examples using single ticket prices from late 2026:
A two-museum day: skip the pass
The Academy of Sciences ($49 standard) and the de Young ($20) sit across the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. Together that is $69, less than any pass. Bay Area residents can see the de Young free on Saturdays. Our page on free museum days lists more ways to cut costs, including Palo Alto library passes.
Four big sights over two trips: CityPASS wins
The Academy ($49), the Exploratorium ($39.95), Aquarium of the Bay ($28.25 before the online fee) and the de Young ($20) add up to about $137 for an adult. CityPASS covers all four for $91.95 with the fee, a saving of roughly $45. The 9-day window lets you spread them over two days.
One packed day: All-Inclusive breaks even at about three paid stops
A $109 one-day All-Inclusive pass pays off once you pass about $109 in gate prices. The Academy, the de Young and a bay cruise come close to that on their own. A fourth stop, such as a 1-day Muni pass or the SkyStar Wheel, puts you ahead. Four stops in one day from Palo Alto is ambitious, though, so be realistic about pace.
The Explorer pass makes most sense with the pricier items: Filoli, the GoCar tour, the guided bike tour or the USS Hornet. If your plan is just two mid-priced museums, the Explorer price of $89 saves little or nothing.
Timing a pass with Caltrain
Caltrain is the easy way in. Weekday express trains reach San Francisco's 4th and King terminal in about 40 minutes, locals in about 50. Palo Alto is in zone 3 and San Francisco in zone 1, a three-zone trip that cost $8.50 for an adult in October 2026 and rises to $9.00 on January 1, 2027. Tap a Clipper card or contactless bank card on the platform before you board and again when you get off. Our Caltrain guide has schedules and fare details.
Some timing tips:
- Leave early on a one-day pass. Aim to reach 4th and King around the time the big museums open, 9:30 a.m. at the Academy and 10 a.m. at the Exploratorium. Weekend timetables differ from weekdays, so check yours the night before.
- Mind opening days. The Exploratorium is closed on Mondays. The Academy of Sciences opens at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
- Plan the cross-town legs. Golden Gate Park and the waterfront are on opposite sides of the city. Group your stops by area and count transit time between them.
- Watch the last train. Plan your final attraction so you can get back to 4th and King comfortably. If you are flying out the same day, our luggage storage guide explains where to leave bags in the city.
Reservations to make before you go
- Exploratorium and the Blue and Gold cruise on CityPASS: book in the CityPASS app.
- Academy of Sciences: Go City notes that timed entry slots may be required. The Academy recommends buying ahead for weekends and holidays.
- Go City tours: the GoCar tour, the North Beach walking tour and the Chinatown ghost tour are marked booking required. Check the reservation tag on each attraction in the app.
- Filoli: timed entry. Book your slot before you drive over.
- Alcatraz: book through Alcatraz City Cruises well ahead, once the island reopens.
Single tickets: often the better buy
Many Palo Alto visitors only spend a day or two in San Francisco and want one or two headline sights. For them, single tickets are simpler and often cheaper. Buy ahead for timed entry slots and you skip the box office line. You can book single attraction tickets on Tiqets or buy directly from each museum. For a guided option such as a walking tour of Chinatown or a food tour in North Beach, compare guided San Francisco tours with fixed start times.
If you are still unsure, sketch the day first. List the places you will really visit, look up each gate price and compare the total with a pass. If the pass wins by a comfortable margin and fits your dates, check Go City's current San Francisco prices or the CityPASS page. If it does not, buy single tickets and keep the flexibility.
Good to know
- Pass prices and attraction lists change. Everything here reflects the official pages in early November 2026.
- Children's ages differ by pass: Go City's child price covers ages 3 to 12, CityPASS's ages 4 to 11.
- A cable car ride costs $9 and is not part of CityPASS. Go City's 1-day Muni pass covers cable cars along with buses and Muni Metro.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alcatraz included in Go City or CityPASS?
Not in the standard passes. Go City's San Francisco lineup does not include an Alcatraz landing. CityPASS sells a separate CityPASS plus Alcatraz product. Alcatraz was closed from October 26 to November 18, 2026 for dock repairs, so check nps.gov/alca before you plan around it.
Which is better, Go City or CityPASS?
CityPASS suits visitors who want the big museums: four of eight attractions for $89.95 plus a $2 fee, used over 9 consecutive days. Go City has a longer list of 25 attractions, including tours, bike rentals and Filoli in Woodside. Its Explorer pass gives you 30 days and the All-Inclusive pass suits one packed day.
Is a San Francisco pass worth it for a day trip from Palo Alto?
Only if you will visit three or more paid attractions on the pass. A Caltrain day trip gives you about 7 to 8 useful hours in the city, which is enough for two big museums or a museum plus a cruise. Add up the single ticket prices for your actual plan first.
Do I need reservations with a city pass?
Sometimes. CityPASS says the Blue and Gold Fleet cruise and the Exploratorium require reservations. Go City marks booking-required attractions in its app, including the GoCar tour, the North Beach walking tour and the Chinatown ghost tour. The California Academy of Sciences may need a timed entry slot.
How do I get from Palo Alto to San Francisco attractions?
Take Caltrain to 4th and King, about 40 minutes on a weekday express. From there Muni Metro, buses and the F line streetcar reach the waterfront, Union Square and Golden Gate Park. Go City's passes include a 1-day Muni pass as one of the attractions.