Which Boston Discount Card
Is Right For You?

We all know that being a tourist can get kind of pricey. A Boston Discount Card can help your cause, hopefully allowing you to see a bit more of "The City on a Hill".

Choosing the right card (or cards) really depends on what kind of adventure you want to have. Some options are perfect for the tourist who wants to pack it all in. Others are for the more leisurely tourist (or Beantown resident).

So... Which Boston Discount Card is Right for You?

1. Go Boston Card

Click Here
to safely purchase your
Go Boston Card

Cost: See table below.

The Go Boston Card is the most comprehensive Boston discount card in terms of the number of attractions it covers. And if you're planning to travel a bit, it also offers discounts on sights in Cape Cod, Salem, Lexington and Concord.

The amount of value you'll get from the Go Boston Card depends on how many and which sights you plan to see. It can provide great savings, especially for a family, if you work it... However if you prefer a slightly slower paced vacation, you may not get the value.

The Go Boston Card will almost definitely save you money if you want to do things like a tour (or two), a major museum, maybe a destination ferry boat ride and a Hi-Speed Catamaran Whale Watch. These are some of the most expensive attractions, so if you do a few in one day the card will definitely be worth your while.

On the other hand, you may have to run yourself ragged around the city for some of the other attractions in order to get your money's worth. And check that your chosen attraction is open as some of the ones offered are seasonal.

Here are the Go Boston Card prices (as of September 2012). Check their site, though, because they often have discounts. When I looked recently, they were offering 29% off when you buy online!

Duration	Adult	Child
1 day	$59.99	$39.99
2 day	$79.99	$57.99
3 day	$119.99	$93.99
5 day	$164.99	$124.99
7 day	$194.99	$144.99

Even before you get the Go Boston Card, you can download a free guidebook and map. The guidebook includes special offers that come with the card such as restaurant discounts and preferred entry to some attractions (i.e., no waiting in lines).

Click Here to safely purchase your Go Boston Card.

2. Go Select Boston

Click Here
to safely purchase your
Go Select Boston Pass

Cost: Varies depending on which and how many attractions you select.

The Go Select Boston Pass replaced the Boston Explorer Pass in May 2011. This can be a great option for the more leisurely tourist, as you have 30 days to use it from the day of first use.

With a minimum of two attractions, you get to choose and pay specifically for the sights you want to see at a discount.

They also have pre-designed Go Select Boston Packages with groupings of Boston's most popular attractions at savings of over 25% on the gate prices.

The Go Select Boston Pass is offered by the same crew that does the Go Boston Card. Similarly, it has a free downloadable guide and map with discounts and preferred entry at a variety of locations.

Click Here to safely purchase your Go Select Boston Discount Card.

3. CityPass

Click Here
to safely purchase your
CityPass

Cost: $46, children (ages 3-11) $29

While the Boston CityPass is much more limited as to what it covers, its value is obvious. This Boston discount card allows you 9 days (from the first day of use) to get to every attraction it offers, all of which are worth seeing. You also get to skip the lines at most of the attractions.

The CityPass includes one
general admission to each of the following:

Museum of Science
New England Aquarium
Museum of Fine Arts
RevolutionaryBoston℠ at The Old State House
or Harvard Museum of Natural History
Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center

FYI, without the pass, admission costs for one adult would total $92.95.

Click Here to safely purchase your CityPass.

4. MassValuePass

Click Here to get
your MassValuePass

Cost: FREE

The MassValuePass offers discounts on lodging, attractions & dining.

It's sort of a random mix of deals, but definitely worth scanning to see if there's something in it for you as you're planning your trip. And, given it's free, there's really nothing to lose with this Boston discount card.

5. CharlieCard Discount Book

If you're in town long enough to get a CharlieCard, the CharlieCard Discount Book is a free download that offers discounts on dining, restaurants, attractions and more when you show your CharlieCard. You can read our Boston public transportation page to see if a CharlieCard is the right option for you.

Boston Discount Card Attractions

We're slowly but surely working to provide reviews for you on all of attractions and tours available through the various discount cards here in Boston. Here's a start for you and there are loads more coming soon!