Boston CityPASS®: Save up to 46% at 4 Top Attractions

Boston CityPASS turns four separate admissions into one flexible plan, with the New England Aquarium and Museum of Science included from the start. You then pick two more attractions, so you can shape the pass around your interests instead of following a fixed tour.

I like the nine-day window and instant mobile delivery. You can spread visits across your stay, pause for lunch or a quiet afternoon, and avoid paying full admission at each stop. The main consideration is simple: the $79 price works best if you choose costly attractions and use all four entries.

• Two major museums are guaranteed: Visit the New England Aquarium and Museum of Science with one-time admission.
• Your two extra choices matter: Select from a harbor cruise, View Boston, Franklin Park Zoo, or Harvard Museum of Natural History.
• Nine days gives you breathing room: The validity period begins with first use, not purchase.
• Reservations can change your plan: Check my.citypass.com before heading out.
• The pass is mobile: Present your ticket at each attraction for scanning.
• The pass suits independent sightseeing: There is no guide, group schedule, or included transportation.

How the $79 Boston CityPASS Works

This is an admission pass, not a guided city tour. You buy one mobile ticket, open it when needed, and present it at each attraction. The pass covers four attractions total, with the first two fixed and the final two selected from a list.

You have one year from the purchase date to begin using it. Once you scan the pass for the first time, it remains valid for nine days. That setup is useful if you are still building your Boston schedule, since buying now does not force you to start immediately.

The pass includes one-time admission at each attraction unless an attraction has a special rule noted separately. It does not include transportation, food, or drinks, so you will need to plan your own route and budget for meals.

The advertised saving is up to 46 percent. That is a maximum, not a guaranteed result for every combination. To get close to the best value, you need to visit all four attractions and choose the two options with the strongest individual admission prices for your plans.

New England Aquarium: A Strong First Stop

The New England Aquarium is one of the two attractions included with every pass. That certainty helps when you are comparing the pass with buying tickets separately. Even if you are not interested in every optional stop, the aquarium gives your pass a substantial first use.

Your CityPASS mobile ticket is scanned for aquarium admission. The pass does not include food, drinks, or transportation, and it does not describe a guided tour, so you can expect a self-directed visit rather than a scheduled group experience.

I would use the aquarium early in the nine-day period. Starting with a guaranteed attraction lets you activate the pass while leaving plenty of time for the three remaining visits. It also gives you a clean way to judge how much of the pass you are likely to use.

The key practical point is to check current entry details before arrival. CityPASS directs you to my.citypass.com for hours, reservation rules, and instructions. Those details can change, and a mobile pass is only useful if you know when and how to present it.

Museum of Science: Plan Time for General Admission

The Museum of Science is the second fixed attraction. Your pass covers admission to the general exhibit halls, giving you access to the main museum experience without requiring a separate ticket purchase.

The wording matters. This is general exhibit hall admission, not a blanket promise of every separately priced program or special feature. If you have a particular add-on in mind, check the current attraction information before paying extra.

I like this stop for a flexible day because it does not tie you to a cruise departure or a timed city viewpoint. You can arrange it around the rest of your schedule, though the exact hours and entry process should be checked through the CityPASS site.

With the aquarium and science museum already included, the pass has a useful base for families, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants a mix of indoor attractions. You can also pick two very different experiences afterward, which prevents the four-visit plan from feeling repetitive.

Boston Harbor Cruise: Sixty Minutes on the Water

One of your two optional selections is a 60-minute historic sightseeing cruise with Boston Harbor City Cruises. This is the pass choice for seeing the city from the water rather than spending another block of the day inside a museum.

The fixed one-hour length makes the cruise easier to fit into a busy schedule. You still need to check departure information and reservation requirements, since a cruise operates at set times while museums usually give you more control.

A cruise can be a good counterpoint to the aquarium and Museum of Science. Instead of another indoor admission, you get a short change of pace and a different view of Boston. The pass includes the stated historic sightseeing cruise, but it does not include transportation to the departure point or food and drinks.

I would choose this option if you want a compact activity that fills part of a day without requiring a long commitment. I would choose something else if fixed departure times make your schedule hard to manage.

View Boston Observation Deck: A Choice About City Views

View Boston Observation Deck is another optional selection. It offers general admission, giving you a high viewpoint over the city and a clear reason to choose the pass if seeing Boston from above is a priority.

This option pairs well with the aquarium and science museum because it changes the type of experience you are getting. You are not simply collecting museum entries. You can create a plan that includes marine life, science exhibits, a city panorama, and one more attraction.

The tradeoff is that general admission is all that is specified. The pass does not list food, drinks, transportation, special access, or other upgrades. Check my.citypass.com for current entry instructions and operating hours before you set aside a particular time.

View Boston may be especially useful for a short visit because it gives you a clearly defined stop. Still, compare its standalone admission with the $79 pass before buying. CityPASS promises savings of up to 46 percent, but your actual value depends on the four attractions you select and complete.

Franklin Park Zoo: A Flexible Daytime Choice

Franklin Park Zoo is available as one of the two optional attractions. The pass covers daytime general admission. Separately ticketed after-hours events are not included.

That last detail is important. If you see a special evening program on the zoo calendar, do not assume the CityPASS covers it. The pass is for daytime general admission only, so confirm the current schedule before planning around an event.

The zoo gives you a different kind of outing from the aquarium and museums. It may be a sensible choice for families or for anyone who wants an outdoor-focused day during a longer Boston stay. Since the pass lasts nine days after first use, you do not need to force the zoo into the same day as another attraction.

Transportation is not included. You will need to arrange your own way there, then present the mobile ticket for scanning. Check the latest hours and entry instructions on my.citypass.com, especially if weather or seasonal opening times affect your plans.

Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is the fourth optional choice. General admission includes permanent and special exhibits, special programs, and admission to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

This is the broadest museum option in the pass description. You are not limited to a single permanent display, and the linked Peabody admission adds another layer to the visit. If you prefer museums with several subject areas, this may be a better use of your two optional slots than choosing two viewpoint or cruise experiences.

The pass language also includes special programs, but you should still check the current details before relying on a particular event. Opening hours, entry instructions, and reservation needs can change.

I would choose Harvard Museum of Natural History when you want a slower, museum-centered day. It works particularly well with the aquarium and Museum of Science, though that combination gives you three indoor attractions. The nine-day period helps you spread them out rather than treating them as one long museum marathon.

Building the Best Four-Attraction Combination

Your first two choices are fixed:

• New England Aquarium
• Museum of Science

You then choose two from:

• Boston Harbor City Cruises
• View Boston Observation Deck
• Franklin Park Zoo
• Harvard Museum of Natural History

The right combination depends on how you like to spend time. For the broadest mix, choose the aquarium, Museum of Science, harbor cruise, and View Boston. That plan combines two major indoor attractions with water views and a city observation deck.

For a museum-heavy visit, choose the aquarium, Museum of Science, and Harvard Museum of Natural History, then use the final slot for either the cruise or View Boston. For a family-focused plan, the aquarium, Museum of Science, and Franklin Park Zoo create a clear mix of science and animals, with the final choice left open.

You should not buy the pass simply because four attractions sound good. First, decide if you can realistically visit all four within nine days. Then check current individual admission prices and reservation requirements. If you expect to use only three entries, the savings may be less compelling.

Nine Days, Mobile Tickets, and Reservations

The nine-day validity period is one of the pass’s strongest practical features. You can use the attractions on separate days, which leaves room for other Boston plans, weather changes, meals, rest, or an unexpected change in schedule.

The clock starts with your first use. You have one year from purchase to activate the pass, so you can buy ahead without immediately starting the nine-day period.

Mobile delivery keeps the process light. At each attraction, present the CityPASS ticket on your phone and have it scanned. Keep your phone charged, and open the ticket before reaching the entry point so you are not searching through messages at the door.

Reservations may be required at some attractions. CityPASS directs you to my.citypass.com for current reservation rules, hours, entry instructions, attraction details, and planning tips. Check that information shortly before each visit instead of assuming all four stops work the same way.

There is no included transport. That means you should group stops by area when possible, allow time for getting between them, and remember that the pass covers admission only.

Who Will Get the Most From This Pass

I see the best fit for someone staying in Boston long enough to use all four admissions. The nine-day window is generous for a visitor with several days in town, and the flexible choices help you avoid a rigid sightseeing schedule.

Families may like the mix of animals, science, outdoor space, and views. Museum fans can choose the Harvard Museum of Natural History, while first-time visitors may prefer the cruise or View Boston to add a broader sense of the city.

The pass is also useful if you want to make decisions after arriving. You can buy in advance, wait up to a year to begin, and then use the mobile ticket over nine days. Still, you should research reservations before you commit to a specific day.

This is less useful for a very short visit if you cannot fit four attractions into the schedule. It is also less useful if you already have free admission through another program or only want one or two of the included sites.

Cancellation, Accessibility, and Booking Flexibility

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option lets you keep plans flexible by booking without paying anything today.

The activity is wheelchair accessible. Attraction access can still vary by site, so check the latest information through my.citypass.com if you need specific entry details.

The pass is sold by CityPASS, and the overall experience has a 4.6 rating from 125 reviews. No guide is provided, so you control the pace and route. That independence is a strength, but it also means you are responsible for checking hours, reservations, transportation, and timing.

Should You Buy Boston CityPASS?

I would buy it if you can name four attractions you genuinely want to visit, especially if your two optional choices are the harbor cruise, View Boston, Franklin Park Zoo, or Harvard Museum of Natural History and their combined admission makes the $79 price worthwhile.

I would skip it if your schedule is too short, you want a guided experience, or you are likely to use only two or three entries. For a flexible Boston stay, though, the nine-day window and mobile ticket make this a practical way to mix major museums with a cruise, zoo, or city view. Check my.citypass.com first, choose your four stops, and confirm that the potential savings match your actual plan.

FAQ

How many attractions does Boston CityPASS include?

The pass includes admission to four Boston attractions in total.

Which attractions are included automatically?

New England Aquarium and Museum of Science admission are included automatically.

Which two additional attractions can I choose?

You can choose two from Boston Harbor City Cruises, View Boston Observation Deck, Franklin Park Zoo, and Harvard Museum of Natural History.

How long is Boston CityPASS valid?

The pass is valid for nine days from first use.

How long do I have to start using the pass after purchase?

You have one year from the purchase date to begin using it.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Do I need reservations?

Reservations may be required at some attractions. Check my.citypass.com for current requirements and entry instructions.

Can I use the pass more than once at each attraction?

Unless otherwise noted, the pass provides one-time entry to each attraction.

Is Boston CityPASS wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.