Which Boston Discount Card

Gives You the Best Deal?

Get the biggest savings on Boston attractions and tours

 

Pick the right Boston discount card, and you can save big money on popular attractions, museums, tours, trolley rides, and even cruises.  

The Go Boston Card, Boston Explorer Pass, and Boston CityPass give you savings of up to 55% on popular attractions.  The trick to getting the biggest savings is figuring out which Boston discount card is best for you based on your interests, how long you'll be in Boston, and of course, the sites offered by each card. 

All of these Boston discount cards work in basically the same way:  you buy the card, and then you get free admission to attractions - but each type of card gives you different options.  Here's the "big picture" of how each one works:

 

Go Boston Card

The Go Boston Card gives you free admission to almost 80 of Boston's top attractions, tours, museums, day trips, and cruises.  About half the attractions are right in Boston, and the rest are nearby.  You purchase a pass for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days, and can visit as many of the sites as you want within your number of days.  Children's passes are also offered.

You can get big savings even with the 1-day card, which costs you $50 (I'm rounding a bit to keep things simple).  Sure, if you hit 3 attractions each charging $20+ admission such as the Museum of Fine Arts, a Tall Ships Cruise, and the New England Aquarium, you'll come out ahead - but you may be exhausted.  Instead, opt for the 2-day Beantown Trolley pass ($42) and visit 1 or 2 other attractions. 

The 2, 3, 5, and 7 day options are where you'll get the biggest savings, since the per-day cost drops as the number of days rises. 

For example, the 5-day pass costs $135, or about $27/day.  Go on a couple of the pricier day trip options - maybe the $38 Whale Watching cruise, the $44 round trip ferry ride to Provincetown at the end of Cape Cod, or the $45 trip to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.  Or do 2 of the less expensive options each day, such as the $12 Fenway Park Tour with a pricier one such as the $21 Boston Movie Mile Walking Tour.

More to love:  With the Go Boston Discount Card, you also get a free guidebook plus discounts to a bunch of other attractions and shopping venues.

Best for:  Energetic travelers who want to visit lots of attractions within a short timeframe.

Save big with the Go Boston Card, plus use it to pay only half-price for a Boston Duck Tour ticket

 

Boston Explorer Pass

The Boston Explorer Pass combines lots of options with lots of flexibility at an excellent price.  If you're visiting Boston and want to visit several attractions, this one is almost a no-brainer for saving you money.

Here's how this Boston discount card works.  You pay $45, and pick 3 attractions to visit.  Boston Explorer Pass gives you free admission to all 3 sites, and can visit them at any time within 30 days of your first visit. 

You get to pick one attraction from a list of pricey options, such as a 2-day Beantown Trolley Pass, a Boston Duck Tour, a Tall Ships Cruise, or admission to Plimouth Plantation and the Mayflower II in Plymouth, MA.  Normal prices on these range from $20 to $44. 

Then you pick 2 more attractions from a list of less expensive options, such as a Charles Riverboat Cruise, the Museum of Science, and the Skywalk Observatory.  Normal prices are under $20. 

Best for:  Boston visitors who want to visit 3 attractions within a 30 day period.

Choose your Boston Explorer Pass attractions and see how much you'll save

 

Custom Explorer Pass

Offering the ultimate in flexibility, the Boston Custom Explorer Pass lets you select 2 or more destinations from a list of 60+ attractions, ranging from the Paul Revere House Museum on Boston's Freedom Trail ($3.50 before discount) to Boston Gliders Freedom Trail Segway Adventure ($85). 

What do you get?  A flat 15% discount on the total cost, plus a credit card-sized pass admitting you to the sites you've chosen, and a customized guidebook to your sites.

Not sure where to start?  Custom Explorer Pass shows you a few pre-built examples, such as the "Boston Hot Picks 3-Pack" - a 2-day Beantown Trolley Pass, the New England Aquarium, and a Fenway Park Tour.  Gate price for adults without the Custom Explorer Pass:  $74.95.  With the pass:  $63.71. 

Best for:  Boston visitors or residents who want to get a 15% discount on 2 or more attractions.   My opinion?  This Boston discount card is one of the best ways to get reliable savings, whether you're visiting or living here - a real no brainer!

Build your own Custom Explorer Pass to top Boston attractions - and save 15%