Making an itinerary for a trip to Oahu can be hard. There are so many things to do and see, ranging from museum-hopping to eating, and taking surf lessons to sailing adventures.
And if you thought Hawaii was simply about checking into your Waikiki hotel, walking a few steps to the beach, and sharing that convenient stretch of coastline with hundreds of other visitors, think again!
Oahu is so much more interesting once you unlock the rest of the island.
You could spend the morning bouncing around the rugged landscapes of Kualoa Ranch on an ATV, exploring famous movie sites, or taking a farm tour to see where some of Hawaii’s food is actually grown.
You could tour a macadamia nut farm, head up to the North Shore to watch surfers and hunt down legendary shrimp trucks, kayak along the coast, swim beneath Waimea Falls, hike through lush mountain trails, or pull over for a plate lunch on the East Shore and eat alongside locals.
And that’s just scratching the surface. With literally hundreds of things to do on Oahu, it can also get pretty expensive.
Luckily, there are magical products like the Go City Oahu Pass that can help alleviate the strain on our wallets!
On our last 5-day trip to Oahu, we had the pleasure of trying out 3-day Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Passes.
With the 3-day passes, not only were we able to enjoy the standard attractions included with the pass, but we were also able to partake in one of the premium attractions too!
And if you’re on the fence about renting a car, here’s another reason to consider the pass: you can use it to unlock parts of Oahu even if you don’t have your own wheels.
Several included experiences offer transportation from Waikiki, which means you can get beyond the touristy hotel zone without dealing with rental cars, parking, gas, and all the other logistical headaches that come with driving on vacation. Here’s how to see and do Oahu without a car.
Disclosure: Go City kindly provided me with a comped pass to discover the power of their city passes in Oahu, but all opinions are my own. You’ll get nothing but honest thoughts from me! This post may also contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!
Table of Contents
What Is The Go City Oahu Pass?
The Go City Oahu Pass is a digital attraction pass that provides easy access and admission to some of the island’s most popular museums and excursions. With certain excursions, you’re even able to skip the line, saving you both money and time.
The Go City All-Inclusive Pass is really great for travelers who want to see as much as possible while they’re in Oahu. With the All-Inclusive Pass, you can choose between a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7-day pass that will give you free admission to 40+ museums, excursions, full-day tours, and activities throughout Oahu.
Want to keep it light and do 2 attractions per day? You can. Want to fit in even more than that to really get your money’s worth? You can!
The great thing about these passes is that they can be used across non-consecutive days, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore without worrying about fitting everything in day after day.
The pass includes admission to the following heavy-hitter/iconic attractions:
- Polynesian Cultural Center – soooo much fun for first-timers!
- Various Kualoa Ranch tours
- Waimea Valley
- Diamond Head
- Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
- Iolani Palace
- Sea Life Park Hawaii
- Waikiki Surfboard rentals
If you choose a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7-day All-Inclusive Pass, you’ll also get one premium attraction included with your pass (check them out; they’re usually marked with a diamond symbol).
DEAL ALERT: For a limited time, use the above link + the promo code AFFGOALL for an additional 5% off your Go City pass. This code is valid for any Go City pass in any destination!
Go City Pass For Oahu: Pros and Cons
Pros
- A wide range of cities offered around the world
- Really good discounts on attractions that would have otherwise cost a lot more money
- Easy-to-use mobile app that provides you with extra useful info about your destination
- Go City offers promo codes that you can use to bring the price of the pass down even further (see above for code)
Cons
- All-Inclusive Pass must be used on consecutive days, which can be tiring if you have a pass of 3+ days and value rest/relaxation time
- Would love to see more luaus featured
How To Use The Go City Pass and App
Once you buy the pass of your choice, you’ll download the Go City app on your phone. This is how you’ll get into museums and attractions.
First off, I want to mention how cool the Go City app is. Not only does it house your attraction pass, but it will give you all the information you will ever need to know about the attraction (what to expect, opening/closing times, how to make reservations if they’re required, entry rules, etc).
Don’t know what an attraction is all about? No problem. The app also provides you with a detailed description of what you’ll see or encounter at an attraction. Literally, everything you need to know!
They have a few suggested itineraries you could follow, or you could even make custom itineraries on there so you can better plot out your days.
Using the pass is a lot easier than you’d think. Because the pass is located in the Go City app on your phone (in the form of a QR code), there’s no need to fumble with paper tickets or worry about misplacing them.
When you get to each attraction, tour, or activity, simply show your pass for entry.
Each and every time I pulled my QR code out, the attendants knew exactly what to do with it. Using them was a total breeze!
Some would simply scan the pass and provide us with paper tickets to enter with, while others simply scanned and let us right in.
You’ll pay nothing at the gate unless you upgrade your ticket to something that’s not included with the pass. The other benefit is that everything is contact-free and hassle-free! No exchange of money, no printing out passes ahead of time or anything inconvenient like that.
I was actually blown away by how high-tech the whole attraction pass usage was. Highly recommend the entire experience!
An important thing to note is that visiting your first attraction activates your All-Inclusive Pass and the duration you have to use it all up. Once activated, you will have 14 days to use up the number of days your pass is valid for.
Another thing to note is that many attractions require pre-booking or advanced reservations. After purchasing your pass, I recommend you do a deep dive into the attractions you’re interested in.
If a tour/activity mentions that advanced reservations are required (this is usually located in the “Know before you go” section of each attraction) make those reservations as soon as possible–just to be sure they’ll be able to accommodate you. Especially if you’re traveling with a larger group!
Pro Tip: If you forget to make a reservation ahead of time, you can still try to call ahead the day of to see if there’s room to accommodate you, but this is riskier.
We forgot to make reservations for Iolani Palace and showed up at the palace day of. We asked if there were any slots left, and luckily, there were still self-guided audio tour timeslots available for the day!
Our Experience Using The Go City Oahu Pass
Without further ado, let’s get to the good stuff! Here are the exact activities we did with our 3-day passes.
Day 1: Iolani Palace (Honolulu Area)
For an immersive taste of Hawaiian history, head to Iolani Palace in the afternoon for an interactive self-guided audio tour. This attraction is not to be missed for history buffs!
Located in Honolulu’s capitol district, this regal structure and National Historic Landmark was home to the Hawaiian Kingdom’s two final monarchs, King Kalakaua, and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani.
Marvel at the ornate architecture, see the furnishings made for royalty, and learn all about the building and its former occupants.
The inside really is as picturesque as the outside of the building!
Note: Retail price – $29 per person | Free with a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass
Day 1: Makani Catamaran Sunset Sail (Honolulu Area)
There’s no better way to see your first day off than on a boat! Take a two-hour catamaran trip along the coast of Waikiki to see the city and Diamond Head from a very unique perspective.
From the deck of the boat, you’ll get stunning coastal views of Oahu and see the amber glimmer of the sun as it sets over the city’s landmarks.
While you’re enjoying the views, you’ll get to enjoy a great selection of drinks to toast the perfect trip. The best part? The drinks are unlimited (even the alcoholic ones)!
Once you’re on the water, be sure to look out for Hawaii’s native ocean life. Turtles, dolphins, and even humpback whales are typically spotted. On our sunset sail, we saw a whole pod of dolphins!
Note: Retail price – $149 per person | Free with a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass
Because this is a Premium attraction, you’ll need to get an All-Inclusive Pass of 3 days or more.
Day 2: Go on an tour at Kualoa Ranch (East Shore)
Kualoa Ranch is a true gem. Kualoa Ranch’s mission is to enrich people’s lives by preserving its sacred lands and celebrating its history.
Not only do they have a very honorable mission statement, but they also offer visitors a ton of fun stuff to do.
Kualoa Ranch offers a bunch of awesome tours including the Jurassic Adventure Tour, Jurassic Valley Ziplining Tour, Ocean Voyage Adventure, Hollywood Movie Sites & Ranch Tour, Jungle Expedition Tour, and a lot more.
While some of these attractions were included with our Go City passes, some of the other ones (such as the Hollywood Movie Sites & Ranch Tour or Jungle Expedition Tour) were only available for upgrade. Upgrading to one of these tours would have cost an additional $15.
Because we wanted a more relaxed day, we took the 90-minute Aloha Aina Tour, which was included with our pass at no additional cost. This tour was super informative and took us through the beautiful Kualoa Farm–all from the comfort of a trolley car!
We saw tropical fruit and flower gardens, got a glimpse of the old movie sets that were still standing, and learned all about Kualoa Farm as well as Hawaiian agriculture, native plants, and wildlife.
In addition to sampling some of the local foods (we tried poi and fish preserved the traditional way), this tour includes a visit to Moli’i, one of the most well-preserved ancient Hawaiian fishponds in all of Oahu.
Note: Retail price – $55 per person | Free with a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass
Day 2: Polynesian Cultural Center (East Shore)
Next up is one of my favorite activities on Oahu–PCC! This is your chance to immerse yourself in the culture of the 1,000+ islands that make up Polynesia.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is Hawaii’s #1 paid attraction and is considered a must-do for both travelers and Hawaii locals. I’ve been three times and I still find myself learning so much about Polynesian culture each and every time.
PCC is essentially a cultural park that brings to life the spirit of Polynesia through its six Polynesian villages. You’ll be able to enjoy shows, demonstrations, and immersive activities, all while learning facts about the islands of Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Aotearoa, and Hawaii.
With the Go City pass, only the daytime admission was included. If you’d like to extend your stay at PCC, you could pay extra and upgrade to the luau and nighttime show package (I’ve done the luau and show before–they are a lot of fun and totally worth the price).
Note: Retail price – $98 per person | Free with a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass
Day 3: Snorkeling rental (North Shore)
Snorkeling with coral reefs, colorful fish, and sea turtles is a must on your Oahu island itinerary, no matter if you’re a beginner or an avid snorkeler! Snorkeling in Hawaii is so awesome because of how much marine life you’ll see once you get in the clear waters.
To save on snorkel rental costs, you can either get snorkel gear rentals through your Go City Oahu pass or bring your own set.
On our North Shore day, we received a mask, snorkel, and fins with our pass to explore as much as we wanted, then dropped off the gear at the end of the day.
Pro Tip: In the summertime, some of the best places to snorkel on the North Shore include Three Tables Beach, Sunset Beach, and Shark’s Cove.
Note: Retail price – $22 per person | Free with a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass
Day 3: Waimea Valley (North Shore)
Waimea Valley is a hidden gem of an area that’s chock-full of authentic Hawaiian history, culture, nature, and tradition. The main highlight at the end of the road? A beautiful waterfall that you can actually swim in!
Because we didn’t do much research before deciding to visit, we didn’t know what to expect at Waimea Valley. We had never really done attractions on Oahu that had admission fees, but we were so pleasantly surprised by what Waimea Valley had in store for us!
On top of being a beautifully manicured botanical garden, there was so much education and history surrounding us. We learned about the significance of the valley and the gods that Hawaiians believed in, and the way that they lived.
If you’d like a more enriching experience, consider taking the guided botanical or cultural tour, beginning at 12:30 pm and 1 pm respectively.
Getting to the waterfall does take a bit of effort. The walk up the waterfall is a paved path through the botanical gardens and historical sites. The walk is 0.75-mile (1200 meters) one way or 1.5-mile (2400 meters) round trip. There’s a shuttle option as well.
If you’re up for a quick adventure, consider taking a dip in the waterfall! This was probably the most fun part of Waimea Valley because of how refreshing the water was!
While swimming at the waterfall is totally allowed, the status of swimming changes throughout the day depending on the weather.
All guests who would like to experience a swim at the falls are required to wear a life vest, which is included in your admission fee.
Note: Retail price – $26 per person | Free with a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass
Day 3: Hawaiian Lei Making on Sunset Beach (North Shore)
Our last Go City pass activity on the North Shore was an interactive lei-making activity. We were able to choose between making a Ti Leaf Lei or a Flower Lei. Because there were two of us, we chose one of each!
With this class, you’ll be able to not only make your own lei but also learn all about this important Hawaiian custom. The teacher also provided so many fascinating facts about the significance and uses of the Ti plant, which is often used to make Leis and hula skirts.
If you’re a fan of flora, you’re in luck because you’ll also learn about native Hawaiian flowers like Plumeria and Puakenikeni.
Note: Retail price – $50 per person | Free with a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass
Other activities we missed: Museum-hopping
Honolulu and the rest of Oahu are steeped in a ton of history. We personally did not have time to do these, but as part of the Go City Oahu Pass, you can (and should) take some time to visit some of the following museums:
- Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor
- USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Audio Tour
- Battleship Missouri Memorial Tour
- Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
- Honolulu Museum of Art
- Bishop Museum
- Queen Emma Summer Palace
How Much Did We Save With The Go City Oahu Passes?
To determine if the Go City Oahu Pass was worth it, I added up the would-have-been admission costs for all the attractions we did on our Oahu itinerary.
- Total cost of attractions without the Go City All-Inclusive Pass: $429 per person
- Total cost with the 3-day Go City All-Inclusive Pass: $234
- TOTAL SAVINGS: $195 per person
Had we paid for each attraction separately, our total cost would have been a whopping $429 per person. But with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass, we actually paid just $234 total.
That is a savings of $195 per person! Between Papu and I, we saved a total of $390.
Man, I love saving money while traveling, don’t you?
We didn’t get a chance to visit a lot of the museums we wanted to, but adding that into our itinerary would have made the value of the Go City Oahu pass even sweeter!
NOTE: We encountered these prices when we used Go City Oahu passes; prices may have increased since then.
The Verdict: Is The Go City Oahu Pass Worth It?
We experienced it for ourselves–the Go City Oahu Pass for ourselves, and overall, we found it to be a great value. We packed a lot into those three days and saved a significant amount of money compared with buying all of the attractions individually.
But knowing my own travel style, I actually think I would have preferred the Explorer Pass.
I tend to travel at a slower pace these days, and Oahu is very much a food destination for us. I don’t necessarily want to spend an entire day racing from one included attraction to the next just to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth.
I want to stop for a random plate lunch because it looks good, pull over for shave ice, grab a coffee somewhere I didn’t plan on visiting, or spend an extra hour at the beach because I’m feeling lazy.
The All-Inclusive Pass is fantastic if you’re the type of traveler who likes to maximize your sightseeing and stack several attractions into each day. That’s where you’ll really see the savings.
But if you’re more like me and prefer to leave room in your itinerary for spontaneous food stops, drinks, wandering, and doing absolutely nothing for an hour because you’re on vacation, the Explorer Pass may be the better fit.
You choose a set number of attractions rather than committing to a specific number of sightseeing days, giving you more breathing room to breathe between experiences.
I also would have liked to see more included attractions on the North Shore, particularly ones we could have paired with our Waimea Valley and snorkel rental day.
That said, I understand why the selection is more limited up there—many of the things that make the North Shore worth visiting are free or relatively inexpensive, like exploring the beaches, watching surfers, and wandering around the little towns!
One thing we did discover with the All-Inclusive Pass is that trying to squeeze in a bunch of museums in one day can be tricky. Many close relatively early, around 4-5 p.m., so you can’t necessarily keep stacking attractions into the evening. Of course, that’s not really something Go City can control, but it’s worth keeping in mind when you’re planning your days.
All in all, we had a great experience with the All-Inclusive Pass and genuinely found it to be a good value. I’d just choose differently for my next trip based on how I personally like to travel.
And if you’re looking at the All-Inclusive Pass, the per-day price gets better as you add more days. You can choose from 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7-day passes, with the 7-day option offering the lowest cost per day.
Keep in mind that some of the Premium Attractions are only available with passes of three days or longer, so check the current list of included experiences before purchasing if there’s a particular splurge-worthy activity you’re hoping to do.
One final thing that made me feel better about buying the passes in advance: Go City offers a 365-day cancellation policy. As long as you haven’t used your pass at an attraction, you can request a refund under their risk-free guarantee.
We actually had one friend bail on our trip, so we needed to refund her unused pass. We sent a quick email and received the refund within just a few days. No drama, no hoops to jump through.
If you’re ready to see more of Oahu while spending less on individual attractions, you can check out the Go City Oahu Pass options here.
DEAL ALERT: For a limited time, use the above link + the promo code AFFGOALL for an additional 5% off your Go City pass. This code is valid for any Go City pass in any destination!
Tips For Using Your Go City Oahu Pass
Book in advance
Some attractions require pre-booking, so be sure to check the “Know before you go” section of each attraction on the app for details.
Two weeks before your trip, I recommend you plan out which attractions you want to do for sure. If they require reservations, book them and slot them into your itinerary.
Plan ahead
Some activities and tours may have limited capacity or reduced operating times to ensure Covid-19 safety regulations are met. We recommend checking the official websites for the most up-to-date timings.
We recommend heading to the most popular attractions first to limit wait times. No one needs to spend time on their vacation waiting in line!
You can easily make changes if needed
Making changes to your reservation is easy. Just let the tour company or attraction know that you no longer require a booking slot and they’ll help you cancel.
Go City Pass Alternatives In Oahu
There currently are no alternatives in Oahu for the Go City attraction pass. CityPASS is another brand of attraction pass, but they currently do not operate in Hawaii.
Your other alternative would be to handpick tours/attractions and purchase them individually on sites like Viator and GetYourGuide.
We hope this post helped provide clarity around whether the Go City Oahu pass is right for you! Thank you so much for reading. If you’re looking for more Oahu travel tips, check out some of these other posts:
The Ultimate Oahu 4-Day Itinerary For Budget Friendly Travelers
30 Fun and Free Family Activities In Oahu
Essential Oahu Tips For First Timers: Things You Need To Know
Oahu’s North Shore: 10 Stops For A Perfect Day Trip Itinerary
8 Best Places To See The Sunset In Oahu
What To Pack For A Week In Hawaii: 60 Essential Things To Bring
I’m thrilled to say that this guide was incredibly helpful during my travel. Thank you for providing such a comprehensive and informative resource!