Sydney Pass Comparison: Which Sydney City Pass Is Worth It?

What Is a Sydney Pass?

A city pass is essentially a single ticket to multiple attractions. The passes cover a variety of sights, walking tours, harbor cruises, museums, and hop-on/hop-off bus rides.

Ideally, a pass saves you real money compared to buying individual tickets. It’s also way more convenient to purchase one pass than to organize ten separate tickets.

In most cases, a pass also lets you skip the ticket line. So you save not only money, but also time.

A pass for Sydney is worth it in several situations:

#1 If You Like Using Hop-on/Hop-off Buses

If you enjoy getting around on a hop-on/hop-off bus, a city pass is a great choice. Since individual bus tickets are relatively expensive, a pass is often worth it in this case.

In Sydney, there’s also a hop-on/hop-off ferry in addition to the bus, which lets you experience the city from a completely different perspective.

#2 If You Know Exactly What You Want to Do

If you already have a concrete plan for your time in Sydney, take a close look at the contents of the passes. In the best case, one of the passes covers everything you want to do and saves you a few dollars.

#3 If You Want to See as Many Sights as Possible

If you want to see and experience as much as possible during your time in Sydney, definitely check out the passes. The most comprehensive pass looks pretty expensive at first glance, but depending on how you use it, you could save more than just a few dollars.

Since the passes differ not only in the attractions they include, but also in their validity period and how they work in general, let’s take a closer look at the most important passes right now.

Our tip: It’s also worth staying as centrally located as possible. Check out our article with the best hotel tips in Sydney.

Our Recommendation for Those in a Hurry

If this is too detailed and you just want to quickly know which pass to buy, here are our top picks:

#1 Our Pick: Sydney Explorer Pass

It’s the best pass if you want to see the most important highlights. The Sydney Explorer Pass for three attractions starts at 80 AUD.

With the Sydney Explorer Pass, you can visit 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 attractions of your choice spread over up to 60 days.

To the Sydney Explorer Pass

#2 iVenture Unlimited Attractions Pass

It’s the best pass if you want to see as many attractions as possible. It’s available for 2, 3, or 5 days starting at 130 AUD.

With the Unlimited Attractions Pass for 2, 3, or 5 days, you get a huge selection. During that time, you can use as many offerings as you can fit in.

To the Sydney Unlimited Attractions Pass

Which Sydney Passes Are There?

We’ll go into detail on each pass shortly. But first, this table gives you a quick overview of how each pass works:

How Do the Sydney Passes Work?

In Sydney, there is one time-based pass (iVenture Unlimited Pass) and two attraction-based passes (Sydney Explorer Pass and iVenture Flexi Pass).

The attraction-based passes are the more interesting choice for most visitors. With these passes, you choose a number of attractions that you can then visit.

The time-based pass, on the other hand, is valid for a specific number of calendar days, during which you can use as many offerings as you can handle at no extra cost. This pass is most worthwhile the more you pack in — but to really get your money’s worth, you’ll need to commit to some serious power sightseeing.

Once you’ve decided on a pass, you can buy it online and print it out at home. Most passes can also be loaded onto your smartphone.

We’d still recommend always carrying a printout as a backup, just in case. That way you’re covered if your phone lets you down.

Sydney Explorer Pass by Go City

The Sydney Explorer Pass is an attraction-based pass. That means you have a set number of sights you can visit with it.

What Does the Sydney Explorer Pass Offer?

• Attraction-based pass
• Priority entry at select attractions
• 1-day hop-on/hop-off bus available
• A varied range of additional offerings, including classics like a guided tour of the Opera House

How Much Does the Sydney Explorer Pass Cost?

You’ll find the prices for the Sydney Explorer Pass in the table below.

These prices are almost always discounted, meaning you’ll generally never pay the full price. It’s a little odd, but every time we checked, discounted prices were available.

Advantages of the Sydney Explorer Pass:

• Affordable price
• 60-day validity

Disadvantages of the Sydney Explorer Pass:

• In some cases, a less comprehensive selection than the other passes.

Our Verdict on the Sydney Explorer Pass

The Sydney Explorer Pass is our top pick for most travelers. It’s relatively affordable and covers the most important highlights in Sydney, like the Opera House.

We used the Sydney Explorer Pass on our own trip to Sydney, saved a few dollars, and got in everywhere quickly.

To the Sydney Explorer Pass

iVenture Card: Sydney Flexi Attraction Pass

The Sydney Flexi Attraction Pass is very similar to the Sydney Explorer Pass by Go City, but less flexible.

What Does the Sydney Flexi Attraction Pass Offer?

• Attraction-based pass
• Priority entry at select attractions
• Various guided tours available
• Lots of choices

How Much Does the Sydney Flexi Attraction Pass Cost?

Advantages of the Flexi Attraction Pass

• Very wide selection
• 3-month validity

Disadvantages of the Flexi Attraction Pass:

• Less flexible than the Sydney Explorer Pass

Our Verdict on the Sydney Flexi Attraction Pass

Make sure to compare the offerings in the Flexi Attractions Pass with those of the Sydney Explorer Pass, and check the current discounts for the Explorer Pass too. Often, the Sydney Explorer Pass by Go City works out to be the more affordable option.

To the Sydney Flexi Attraction Pass

iVenture Card: Sydney Unlimited Attraction Pass

The Unlimited Attractions Pass is a time-based pass. This means you can visit virtually all of Sydney’s top sights within a limited time period.

What Does the Sydney Unlimited Attraction Pass Offer?

• Time-based pass
• Priority entry at select attractions
• Various guided tours included
• Large selection of offerings

How Much Does the Sydney Unlimited Attraction Pass Cost?

The Unlimited Attractions Pass is available for 2, 3, or 5 days.

Advantages of the Unlimited Attraction Pass:

• You can use all attractions at no extra cost

Disadvantages of the Unlimited Attraction Pass:

• Very expensive
• You need to do a lot to make it worthwhile

Our Verdict on the Unlimited Attraction Pass

If you have a packed sightseeing itinerary planned for Sydney, the Unlimited Attractions Pass is the way to go.

To the Unlimited Attraction Pass

A Sydney Pass Comparison: What Are the Differences?

Difference #1: Billed by Time or by Attractions

As mentioned, the Sydney passes fall into two categories. As a reminder:

1. Passes that are valid for a specific period of time. During this period, you can visit all the sights included in the pass.
2. Passes that are valid for a specific number of attractions.

Here’s which pass belongs to which category:

Time-Based Passes

• Sydney Unlimited Attractions Pass for 2, 3, or 5 days starting at 130 AUD

Attraction-Based Passes

• Sydney Explorer Pass for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 attractions starting at 79 AUD
• Sydney Flexi Attractions Pass for 3, 5, or 7 attractions starting at 78 AUD

Time-based passes are especially worth it if you want to see as much as possible and prefer to decide spontaneously which attraction to visit next. Attraction-based passes make more sense if you know exactly which sights you want to hit in Sydney and you have flexible timing.

Difference #2: The Included Attractions

For a better overview, we’ve listed the most important attractions in a comparison table below.

Which Sydney Pass Is Right for You?

Not everyone arrives in Sydney with the same plans — but there are often similar types of travelers. Here’s a look at which pass suits whom best.

Traveler type 1: You only want to visit the most important sights.

Traveler type 2: You want to visit as many attractions as possible in a short amount of time.

Traveler type 3: You’re spending a full week in Sydney and want to do as much as possible.

Traveler Type 1: Just the Most Important Sights

If you just want to tick off a few of Sydney’s top must-sees, check out the Sydney Explorer Pass.

We’ve put together a sample calculation using regular prices and the savings with the Sydney Explorer Pass.

Sydney’s absolute highlights include a guided tour of the Opera House, the view from the Sydney Tower Eye, and a hop-on/hop-off bus ride. Note that the Sydney Tower Eye is not currently included in the pass, so you’ll need to buy that ticket separately.

• Hop-on/Hop-off Bus (59 AUD)
• Sydney Opera House Guided Tour (43 AUD)
• Sydney Tower Eye (26 AUD)
• Total price: 128 AUD

Price Sydney Explorer Pass for 2 attractions + Sydney Tower Eye: 106 AUD

Savings: 22 AUD

With the Sydney Explorer Pass by Go City, you save a full 22 AUD. And since the pass is valid for 60 days, you can spread your three attractions out comfortably over multiple days.

Traveler Type 2: As Many Sights as Possible in a Short Time

If you want to see as much as possible in a short time, the Sydney Unlimited Attractions Pass is the right choice. The pass is quite pricey, but it lets you use all the offerings without limits.

Here’s an example of how the Unlimited Attractions Pass for three days pays off:

• Hop-on/Hop-off Bus 24 hours (49 AUD)
• Harbor Cruise with Lunch (69 AUD)
• Sydney Opera House Guided Tour (43 AUD)
• Featherdale Wildlife Park (39 AUD)
• Oz Jet Boating (89 AUD)
• The Rocks Walking Tour (35 AUD)
• Total price: 324 AUD

Price Sydney Unlimited Attractions Pass for 3 days: 269 AUD

Savings: 55 AUD

With the Unlimited Attractions Pass, you’d save around 55 AUD with this itinerary. If you also want to visit the Sydney Tower Eye — which isn’t currently included in the pass — that makes for a very packed three-day schedule, but it’s totally doable.

Traveler Type 3: A Week Full of Sightseeing

If you’re planning a full week of power sightseeing, go for the Unlimited Attractions Pass for five days.

Considering that this pass gives you access to all 26 included offerings, it can really be worth it:

• Hop-on/Hop-off Bus 24 hours (49 AUD)
• Harbor Cruise (69 AUD)
• Sydney Opera House Guided Tour (43 AUD)
• Featherdale Wildlife Park (39 AUD)
• Oz Jet Boating (89 AUD)
• Australian National Maritime Museum (25 AUD)
• The Rocks Walking Tour (35 AUD)
• 4-Hour Bike Tour (30 AUD)
• Escape Hunt (from 46 AUD)
• Total price: 425 AUD

Price Sydney Unlimited Attractions Pass for 5 days: 399 AUD

Savings: 26 AUD

This itinerary is very manageable spread over a week. You’ll get to see everything that really matters in Sydney (except the Sydney Tower Eye, which isn’t currently included). With the Unlimited Attractions Pass for 5 days, you’ll save 26 AUD on this itinerary.

Exploring Sydney Without a Pass: Who Doesn’t Need One?

In general, a Sydney pass is most worth it if you’re planning a lot of sightseeing.

But if you’d rather go with the flow and not plan too much in advance, you don’t need any of the Sydney passes.

That said, it usually makes sense to buy your tickets online in advance even without a pass. Entry tends to go faster that way, and online tickets are often cheaper than buying on-site.

For the following attractions, we recommend booking online in advance:

Harbour Bridge Climb from 173 AUD

Sydney Tower Eye from 26 AUD

The Rocks Walking Tour from 35 AUD

Sydney Opera House: Guided Tour with English-Speaking Guide from 43 AUD

Taronga Zoo from 51 AUD

Taronga Zoo Ticket Including Ferry from/to Darling Harbour or Circular Quay from 70 AUD

90-Minute Harbor Cruise on a Wooden Sailboat from 45 AUD

2.5-Hour Harbor Cruise with 2-Course Lunch from 145 AUD

Hop-on/Hop-off Bus for One or Two Days from 65 AUD

Hop-on/Hop-off Ferry for One or Two Days from 40 AUD

Frequently Asked Questions