You’ve encountered them in nearly every major city you’ve visited, advertisements for them on the official tourism page, half the unofficial websites, and on several travel blogs that feature articles on things to do in those locations. For a single price, these city or sightseeing passes you purchase in Paris or Prague grant you entry to a wide array of museums and attractions. They might also include access to the local public transportation network and offer discounts or guided tours.
Is it a smart choice or not?
The quick answer is that it hinges on how much sightseeing you plan to do. Typically, you must fit a lot of sightseeing into a limited timeframe to make the costs worthwhile. Think “48 hours in __(insert city here)___” rather than “My relaxed week of leisurely sightseeing.”
Some of these attraction passes demand a lot of rushing, while others are less intensive.
### What’s included with that sightseeing pass?
You truly need to investigate what these sightseeing passes and city cards encompass to assess whether they’re a worthwhile investment for you. Some provide better value than others, and in most scenarios, you need to be active for a substantial amount of time to really benefit. This is because most (but not all) start a timer the moment you begin using them.
They are generally available for 48 or 72 hours, although there are options starting at 24 hours and extending to 96. That’s ideal for a brief visit, but not so advantageous if you’re renting an apartment as a digital nomad and prefer to see just one attraction every day or two over time.
The value proposition largely depends on what the card offers. Would you visit those sites and take advantage of the perks regardless, or are you doing it to “maximize your investment” because you have the card? Do you look at the attractions listed and think, “Wow, that’s exciting!” or do you review the list and think, “Meh.”
Some cards incorporate a line-skipping feature, which can be particularly beneficial in a bustling city like Paris. Others offer unlimited local transportation, which can be handy and simplify navigating a city where you might need a bus one time, a tram another, and then a subway ride.
In certain cities, some prominent attractions are excluded from the package, even with a steep price tag. The **Istanbul Museum Pass**, for example, costs a hefty €105 and includes some questionable stops in this intriguing city. It covers the Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam (is that high on your agenda?) but doesn’t encompass the Basilica Cistern, Dolmabahce Palace, or the Byzantine-era Chora Church Museum illustrated above. For context, the price has also more than doubled in a decade, despite the significant devaluation of the Turkish lira.
I discussed this on the Cheapest Destinations Blog regarding the **[Prague Visitors Pass](https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/2024/11/20/prague-visitor-pass/)**, which I utilized a couple of months ago. We had just three days in the city, so we were rushing to see sights before hopping on a train to Budapest. We managed to see a lot during that time with the pass, which included public transportation. We could then jump on a tram or subway and head anywhere we fancied, including the trendy Dox Museum in a rapidly developing arts district.
That 48-hour pass is roughly equivalent in price to the Istanbul one but offers much more than just museum access. We enjoyed a riverboat tour (which included a complimentary Czech beer), participated in a Charles Bridge tour, and ascended to the top of an ancient astronomical observatory for a stunning view.
We ended up slightly ahead financially, but gained significantly in convenience. Additionally, if we had stayed farther out and relied more on the metro or visited even one more attraction than we did, the benefits would have been substantial.
### Other examples of city attraction cards in Europe
During a recent long-term stay when I [was in Budapest](https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/2025/05/27/day-trips-from-budapest/), we opted not to get the **Budapest Card in Hungary**. We didn’t want the pressure of trying to do too much in a single day, and some attractions we wanted to see weren’t covered anyway. Instead, we purchased a monthly transportation pass for just $23, eliminating the need for a card.
As I write this, that pass is €63 for 72 hours and covers some locations we visited, such as the National Gallery in the Budapest Castle complex and Memento Park, which was quite interesting. Perhaps with the card, we might have chosen to enter St. Stephens Basilica rather than just viewing it from the outside on a