Boston Travel: Is Go Boston Pass Worth It?

A leisurely stroll down the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill, a rousing afternoon ballgame at Fenway Park, and a cup of steaming of clam chowder. Is there anything more classic than a Boston getaway? 

Embrace all of the New England appeal and history that the ‘Puritan City’ has to offer when you plan your Boston travel today. Follow along as we take you through everything you need to know about the Boston Go City.

From a sea-worthy Cape Cod cruise to where to scrounge up a Boston Go Pass coupon, our experts will spill it all.

Enjoy educational tours of the country’s top museums, stroll through the stunning Emerald Necklace, or learn about the steeped history of the Boston Harbor. Your Go Pass Boston lets you do it all. 

Whether you choose to swim with the fishes at the New England Aquarium or ride the high seas on the infamous Boston Duck Tour, there are countless ways to spend your time in Boston while sticking to a budget.

Design a Boston itinerary that lights a fire of excitement, passion, and curiosity when you utilize the Go City® Pass Boston.

GO City Boston Pass Options

Save on admission prices and savor a sizzling retail price drop when you utilize any of our GO Boston Pass options. Ideal for any upcoming trip or vacation, both GO City cards put you in control of your Beantown journey:

Shot from the ground of the Fenway Park sign on a sunny day in Boston, MassachusettsDiscount Boston Explorer Pass

The City on the Hill might be known for being the battleground of the American Revolution, but this thoroughly modern metropolis serves up a plethora of world-class museums, gardens, and amusement.

Catch a flyball at Fenway Park, gaze at the dinosaurs at the Museum of Science, or build a miniature Bunker Hill at LEGOLAND®.

Do Beantown your way with the Boston Explorer Pass. Choose to sightsee, discover, and enjoy this almost 400-year-old city at your own pace.

Embrace both flexibility and savings when you purchase 3, 4, or 5 Choice Passes. Whatever option you select will be the subsequent number of attractions, sights, and landmarks you can see.

Other Important Boston Explorer Pass Facts

  • Your pass offers you discounts of up to 37% off retail rates.
  • Receiving a scan at your first attraction activates your pass
  • Passes are valid for up to 60 days after activation.
  • Choose from over 20 exclusive Boston attractions.
  • Go with the flow – choose attractions as you go!

No travel mishaps or mistakes here; just use the Go City® App for seamless attraction entry.

photo credit: Charles Street: Our Main Street via Facebook

GO City Boston All-Inclusive Pass

Got endless energy when it comes to sightseeing? If you’re the type of traveler who likes to leave no stone unturned cram in more top attractions than ever before with your GO Boston All-Inclusive Pass. This cost-efficient pass is your new Beantown BFF. See as many sights, museums, and landmarks as you can muster for whatever number of days you select.

Choose from a Go Boston 1 to 5-Day Pass, and visit as many attractions as you can handle. For peak Puritan City fun, we suggest selecting a Go Boston 3-Day Pass* or higher.

Other Important Boston All-Inclusive Pass Facts:

  • Your pass offers you discounts of up to 55% off retail rates.
  • Receiving a scan at your first attraction activates your pass.
  • Passes are valid for up to 60 days after activation.
  • Choose from over 30 exclusive Boston attractions.
  • Go with the flow – choose attractions as you go!

*Also known as a Boston Go 3-Day Pass

A cruise boat full of people on an overcast day in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Go Pass Discount

Searching high and low for a mystical Boston Go Pass map pointing to the best discounts and coupons? Leave the discount hunting to us as we’ve rounded up every last GO Boston Pass Promo Code and deal:

Group Discounts – Share the magic of Go City with ten of your nearest and dearest. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for special rates. 

Promo Code – Unfortunately, there are currently no active Boston GO Pass promo codes.

Boston Hotels

As one of the oldest cities in the United States, it’s no wonder that Boston is just bursting at the seams with revolutionary war attractions, impressive cultural institutions, and awe-inspiring architecture. Take in even more attractions and tours with your Boston Go Pass when you spend a night or three in the Cradle of Liberty.

Set eyes on the very location of the Boston Tea Party, or marvel at works by Kahlo and Van Gogh, all while you cozy up in your premier Boston lodgings.

With our wide variety of options for Boston Hotels, you can stay close to the attractions in Back Bay or sleep among revolutionary war history at the North End.

As always, make your reservations with confidence, knowing you’re guaranteed our lowest rates.

photo credit: Club Quarters Hotel Faneuil Hall, Boston via Facebook

The Boston GO Pass App

Being a Yankees fan in Red Sox territory, now that’s hard! Registering your Boston Sightseeing Pass with the Go City® App = easy as can be!

Related Post: One Day in Boston: How to Make the Most of 24 Hours

Using your smartphone or mobile device simply:

  • Download the App to your mobile device (Apple | Google Play)
  • Use your order confirmation number to add your pass to your phone.
  • Double-check if any of your desired attractions need a reservation and book.
  • Show your Passes QR code at each attraction for easy entry

Boston GO Pass Attractions

Cape Cod Canal Cruise*

Famous for way more than salt and vinegar chips and cranberries, Cape Cod is truly the shining jewel of MA. Your 2 or 3-hour sightseeing Cape Cod Canal Cruise is the ideal way to discover a different side of Massachusetts. Listen up as your convivial captain narrates your journey from Cape Cod Bay to the Canal on this watery adventure.

Spot famous landmarks, and learn history and fascinating facts as you cruise past the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Sagamore Bridge, and the Sandwich Boat Basin. Have that phone at the ready, as you’ll want to capture every inch of this National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

The Canal holds the honor of being the widest sea-level canal without locks in the world. In fact, ships from around the world save 162 miles on their journey by traveling along the canal instead of around the entire tip of Cape Cod. 

*Please note that this cruise is a seasonal attraction that will reopen in the Spring.Wide shot of the sagamore bridge over the water at the cape cod canal

CityView Hop-On/ Hop-Off Trolley 1-Day Ticket

What’s better than a Boston Go Pass bus tour? How about a thrilling trolley ride? Prepare your feed for some first-rate B-town content when you board the CityView Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley. History buffs, architecture fiends, and sports fans alike will lose their beans when they get up close and personal with over ten famous landmarks, attractions, and historic institutions.

Relish the fresh air and panoramic views from your open-top Trolley, and keep your eyes peeled as you make stops at the spacious Boston Common, the TD Bank Garden Sports Museum, and the New England Aquarium.

Related Post: Top Attractions in Boston

Hop on and off as you please, making pit stops at Paul Revere’s home or the Old State House to create a completely unique tour experience.

If you decide to stay put for the entirety of the tour, listen up as your expert guide will be spilling some (Boston) Tea through their guided historical narration.

Other noteworthy stops on your City View Hop-On/ Hop-Off Trolley include:

A family leaning over a touch pool tank filler with manta rays with rocks and sticks in the background at New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts

New England Aquarium

Need a wee break from all the Revolutionary madness? Strap on your fins and wiggle into your wetsuit as we take a journey under the sea with the New England Aquarium.

Adults and children of all ages will have a splashing good time exploring underwater marvels like sea turtles, Pacific octopuses, and cheeky Rockhopper Penguins at this global institution of ocean exploration and marine conservation.

Related Post: The 8 Best Aquariums in the U.S. Everyone Should See

For almost 50 years, the New England Aquarium has entertained and educated the public through its themed areas, natural habitats, and immersive exhibits.

Stare in wonder at the giant four-story ocean tank, which houses a coral reef and hundreds of native Caribbean marine species, including sea turtles, stingrays, eels, and fishes. The Giant Ocean tank is so large that it actually was built first, and then the rest of the Aquarium was built around it.

Go toe to toe with the largest snake in the world, the Anaconda at the Amazon Rainforest exhibit, or catch the California Sea Lions engaging in some flip-flopping fun.

More Can’t-Miss Exhibits at the Aquarium are:

  • Indo-Pacific Coral Reef – dive into a world of color and rich coral reef habitats in this new exhibit featuring the tropical residents of the Pacific, including coral catsharks, unicorn tangs, blue-striped cleaner fish, palette surgeonfish, and more.
  • Penguins – cuter than their animated friends in Happy Feet, the aquarium’s resident African and Rockhopper penguins will have you oohing and ahhing over their adorable waddles and agile swimming.
  • The Simon’s Theater – indulge in a giant screen, surround sound, and high-backed seats while watching movies such as Turtle Odyssey and Great White Shark at the aquarium’s on-site theater.
Duck tours boat on the water with the city and some trees in the background on a cloudy day in Boston, Massachusetts
photo credit: Boston Duck Tours via Facebook

Boston Duck Tours*

What has two feet and is equally as comfortable on land as in the sea? If you answered ‘duck’ then you are officially approved for boarding the famous Boston Duck Tours.

A sightseeing experience like no other, this one-of-a-kind tour will seamlessly transition from cruising the historic streets of the Puritan City to a water-capable vehicle cruising down the meandering pathway of the Charles River.

Related Post: What are the Most Unique Things to Do in Boston

Your 80-minute comprehensive tour will commence on land, with exploration and expert narration from your conDUCKtour on the historic streets and heritage sites of Trinity Church, Faneuil Hall, and the Holocaust Memorial.

Your World War II-style vessel has more than a few tricks up its sleeve, so brace yourself for its quack-tacular transformation from land craft to boat.

After your seamless (and virtually splash-less) transition into the River, you’ll be met with stupendous views of both Cambridge and Boston.

As your Duck captain regales you with hilarious stories, historical tidbits, and local tips, be sure to keep your eyes on the horizon for other Boston Duck Tour boats to uphold the Beantown tradition to ‘quack’ at them as you pass!

More marvelous landmarks, sights, and stops you can expect on your Duck Tour include:

  • The fabulous gold-domed State House
  • The charming neighborhood of Beacon Hill
  • Chic shopping at Newbury Street
  • Hancock Tower
  • Prudential Center
  • Boston Common & Boston Public Garden
  • The Cheers Bar
  • Robert Gould Shaw Civil War Memorial
  • Holocaust Memorial
  • Old North Church and The Italian North End
  • And more!

*Please note that the Duck Tour has been included on the GO City Boston attractions list in the past, but is currently not listed.

Two kids playing with toy dinosaurs with a life size t-rex in the background at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts

Museum of Science

Walk among the mighty Triceratop fossils, learn how vaccines work or step into the snow boots of an Arctic explorer for a day, all at the Museum of Science.

A virtual treasure trove of scientific discovery and technological innovation, the Museum of Science boasts over 700 interactive exhibits and is one of the largest science museums in the world.

Related Post: One Day in Boston: How to Make the Most of 24 Hours

Little lab techs and future doctors will spend hours pouring over the Hall of Human Life, where they can take a deeper look inside the biology of the human body and answer questions like what keeps us awake?

Animal lovers should take care not to miss out on the magical Butterfly garden overlooking the Charles River or take a peek behind the scenes at the Museum’s Live Animal Care Center.

Looking to connect with a native habitat right in Beantown’s backyard? Solve engineering challenges, listen to the soothing soundscape of the Charles River, and investigate the species that live there, all at the Yawkey Gallery on the Charles River.

Pro Tip: Dazzled by the idea of life on other planets? Be sure to upgrade your museum ticket to check out the Charles Hayden Planetarium.

Explore the surface of an exoplanet, or journey with Big Bird to the Big Dipper, all at the most technologically advanced digital theater in New England.

Fenway Park Tour

Hello Red Sox Nation! Get ready for a day of peanuts, cracker jacks, and of course, baseball when you book an authentic Fenway Park Tour. There is no Boston without the Boston Red Sox, and no visit to B-town is complete without a stop at America’s most beloved ballpark.

Walk across the storied stadium where legends like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski once played as your baseball-loving guide serenades you with trivia, history, and fun facts regarding Fenway’s most famous features.

Related Post: 13 of the Top Things to Do in Boston at Night

Discover why the bullpen area built in front of the right-center field bleachers is called Williamsburg, or what the ‘Red Seat’ marks the spot of.

Your one hour guided tour will be stuffed full of magical baseball moments and insights, including stops at:

  • Duffy’s Cliff
  • Pesky’s Pole
  • The Triangle
  • And more!

Fun Fact: Did you know Fenway Park is considered the oldest active ballpark in the majors and is still one of the few ballparks to utilize a manual scoreboard?

Whale leaping through the air on a sunny day in Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Historic Sightseeing Cruise

Feel the wind in your hair, and the salty sea spray in the air, as you embark on a 90-minute sightseeing cruise of Boston Harbor.

Related Post: Current Events and Festivals in Boston

Maritime excitement and adventure await as you take to the seas to explore the intricate waterways and colorful history of Boston’s inner and outer harbors. Relish the views, and keep your camera handy to document the panoramic vistas of the Harbor Islands, the Boston skyline, and many other historic sites.

Your narrated tour will dive into Revolutionary War legends and lore and explain how the harbor transformed over the centuries. Observe the oldest continuously manned lighthouse in the US, Boston’s working port, and the lavish waterfront properties that pepper the harbor.

Pro Tip: All of your sea explorations got you feeling famished? Refuel with a drink or snack from the on-deck cash bar.

Four men in the process of hanging an elaborate quilt on a blue wall in Boston, Massachusetts
photo credit: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston via Facebook

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

For over 150 years, the Museum of Fine Arts has brought the beauty, self-expression, and creativity of artwork to countless visitors. Today the Museum is considered one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world and is home to nearly 500,000 works of art.

Showcasing everything from Egyptian mummies to paintings by Monet and Van Gogh, the museum’s wide breadth of classic, modern, and contemporary art and artifacts is sure to impress any art aficionado.

Leisurely meander through over 100 galleries. Be sure to pause to peer in awe at Degas’s Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer or Munch’s Summer Night’s Dream.

Or take a trip around the world when you stumble upon the Art of the Americas Wing. Here you can witness priceless objects from Mesoamerica or ship models from the earliest European settlers in New England.

Don’t forget to take a moment of quiet gratitude in the stunningly serene Japanese Garden. It is known as the Garden of the Heart of Heaven. In addition, it includes a dry waterfall and over 70 species of plants.

Pro Tip: Merci! The Museum’s collection of Monet’s work is considered one of the best outside of France. Therefore be sure to hang around for an Impressionist moment or two.

Ground shot a the Salem Witch Museum and a statue that sits across from it on a Sunny in Salem Massachusetts
photo credit: Salem Witch Museum via Facebook

Salem Witch Museum

Double, double, toil, and trouble! Don your witchiest wardrobe and time travel to 1692 when you visit the Salem Witch Museum.

A monument to the witchcraft trials and executions that ran rampant in the 17th century. The Museum provides integral historical background and education.  In addition, there were over 150 accused individuals and 20 executions that marked this dark period.

Take a moment to study the thirteen life-size sets (complete with costumed figurines, lighting, and narration). These illustrate the tragic events of 1692, which led to the now-infamous Salem Witch Hunt.

Afterward, prime yourself for a guided look into the museum’s second exhibit Witches: Evolving Perceptions. This exibit focuses on the mass hysteria of witches and the supernatural in Europe.

Many of these stigmas and beliefs led to the emergence of witch stereotypes. In addition, these ultimately led to the dramatically ghastly events at Salem.

Fun Fact: Contrary to popular belief, no witches were burned at the stake in Salem. In accordance with English colonial law, witchcraft was treated like any other felony for which the punishment was hanging.

Giant LEGO Giraffe on display outside of the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Boston, Massachusetts

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Boston

If you can dream it, you can build it! Build yourself up for the best day ever when you take a trip to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Boston.

Check out miniland. While here you can marvel at an exquisite 1.5 million brick replica of Beantown. In addition to the city view this replica has a mini Freedom Trail, Bunker Hill Monument, and Boston Common.

Related Post: When is the Best Time to Visit Boston?

Level up the competition when you man your zapper on Kingdom Quest. Also, set forth to vanquish trolls and sneaky skeletons all to save the fair princess. Or channel your inner speed racer when you goggle up and experience the greatest Virtual Reality LEGO race ever created!

More not to be missed Legoland moments include:

  • The LEGO Factory Tour
  • Merlin’s Apprentice Ride
  • 4D Cinema
  • City Play Zone
  • LEGO Master Builder Academy
  • And more!

Pro Tip: Want an extra special memento for your time spent in LEGO Beantown? Tiny tykes who bring their own LEGO figurines can trade them for a new one with any LEGO staff members.

A courtyard with lots of bushes and flowers with a stone patio in the middle and a statue in the background in Boston, Massachusetts
photo credit: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum via Facebook

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Prepare for a slice of European sophistication and refinement right in the middle of Boston. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a lush oasis of art, history, and culture.

The museum is modeled after a 19th century Venetian palazzo. In addition it is adorned with multiple gardens and green spaces. It’s no coincidence that Ms.Stewart chose to build her institution on the edge of the newly built Back Bay Fens. It is a part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace.

Today you can admire the prolific display of flowers and plants in the Greenhouse. In addition, you can sniff the vibrant seasonal blooms in the Courtyard.

Stroll through various historic galleries containing over 2,500 pieces from such romantic masters as:

  • Titian
  • Rembrandt
  • Michelangelo
  • Raphael
  • Botticelli
  • Manet
  • Degas
  • Whistler
  • Sargent

For a more modern escapade, be sure to check out The New Wing’s modern exhibition space and performance hall. Additionally, check the museum’s schedule for artists’ walks, tours, and talks. Also, all of these provide an intimate glimpse into the artist’s personal journey and creative process.

Pro Tip: Don’t exit the Garden before catching a snapshot of the now-infamous empty art frames which hang on the Museum’s walls.

These stand in tribute to the priceless works which were stolen in 1990. To this day, this crime is now known as the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist. It stands as the largest property theft in the world. Meanwhile, the case remains unsolved!

Paul Revere Statue outside the Old North Church, Boston, Massachusetts
Paul revere Statue and the Old North Church, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston GO Pass Reviews

Still unsure if Boston GO Pass is right for you? Don’t just take our word for it, read real reviews from travelers just like you here and here

Ready to Visit Boston While on a Budget?

A city of universities, sparkling waterways, unparalleled American history, and even its own slang, Boston is a town like no other.

New England charm and grit flow as profusely as the Charles River in this city of premier museums, art, and iconic landmarks.

Spend a day appreciating the quiet beauty of Monet’s Water Lily Pond, kick back on a scenic Harbor Tour, or pay your respects at the Boston Massacre Site.

No matter if you choose to indulge in some retail therapy at Newbury street or cozy up with some delicious baked beans or Boston Cream Pie, Go City® can help you make the most of your time and budget in the City on a Hill.


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Written by Isis Maya Nissman

A New York native, Isis-Maya spent most of her professional life working in TV production until a vacation whisked her away to Central...


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