Timed entry and reservations with a pass
Updated
What our data records
- Timed entry, per attraction. The attraction sells entry for a set time slot. 49 of the 174 attractions we price say so on their own page.
- Booking with the pass, per pass. The seller says you book a slot for that attraction even when you hold the pass. 113 of the 459 attraction entries across our 55 passes carry that line.
- One visit only. The seller says the pass gets you in once per attraction. 159 entries carry it.
Where a page says nothing, we record nothing: 124 attractions and 328 pass entries do not state either way. The site shows a flag only when a page states it, and never reads silence as a promise that you can walk in. Check the attraction's own page before you plan a day around it. Flags checked October 2026.
Popular picks with timed tickets
22 of our 50 popular picks sell entry for a set time. A first visit tends to build its days around these sights, so a booked slot often sets the order of the day.
| City | Timed entry | Picks |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Empire State Building and Edge Observation Deck | 2 of 5 |
| San Francisco | Alcatraz Day Tour | 1 of 5 |
| Boston | Freedom Trail tour and Boston Tea Party Ships | 2 of 5 |
| Paris | Musée du Louvre, Eiffel Tower summit, Palace of Versailles and Musée d'Orsay | 4 of 5 |
| London | The London Eye and The View from The Shard | 2 of 5 |
| Rome | Vatican Museums and Palazzo Valentini, Domus Romane | 2 of 5 |
| Barcelona | Park Güell and Casa Batlló | 2 of 5 |
| Amsterdam | Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House and Heineken Experience | 4 of 5 |
| Lisbon | Oceanário de Lisboa and Pena Palace | 2 of 5 |
| Chicago | Skydeck Chicago | 1 of 5 |
Passes that ask you to book
On 39 of the 55 passes, the seller asks you to book at least one included attraction ahead. The pass page lists which, in the terms column of its inclusion table. These 8 carry the line on the most entries:
| Pass | Entries that need a booking | Entries on the pass |
|---|---|---|
| The Paris Pass All-Inclusive | 8 | 16 |
| New York C-All | 7 | 8 |
| New York C3 | 7 | 8 |
| New York CityPASS | 7 | 9 |
| Chicago C3 | 5 | 8 |
| Chicago CityPASS | 5 | 7 |
| Go City New York All-Inclusive Pass | 4 | 12 |
| Go City New York Explorer Pass | 4 | 12 |
Booked slots on a packed day
The calculator checks a day pass against your pace: 2 visits a day when relaxed, 4 when packed. It cannot see slot times. Four visits with 2 timed tickets between them leave little room if one visit runs late.
Take Tower of London, The London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and The View from The Shard for 1 adult. The London Eye and The View from The Shard sell entry for a set time. The London Pass All-Inclusive asks for a booking at The London Eye and The View from The Shard; The London Pass Explorer asks for a booking at The London Eye and The View from The Shard. Prices checked October 2026.
| Pass | Trip | Option | Pass cost | Saving or loss for this plan | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Pass All-Inclusive | 1 day, packed | 1 day | GBP 105 | GBP 17 less than the gate (13%) | Worth it |
| London Pass All-Inclusive | 2 days, relaxed | 2 days | GBP 155 | GBP 33 more than the gate (27%) | Skip it |
| London Pass Explorer | 1 day, packed | 4 attractions | GBP 115 | GBP 7 less than the gate (5%) | Close call |
| London Pass Explorer | 2 days, relaxed | 4 attractions | GBP 115 | GBP 7 less than the gate (5%) | Close call |
The packed day fits the four visits on the 1 day option of London Pass All-Inclusive: GBP 17 less than the gate (13%). Spread over two relaxed days, it needs the 2 days option, and the result turns to Skip it. The saving on the packed day holds only if the timed slots fit into it. If they will not, set the pace to relaxed and read the result again.
Before you buy
- Tick your plan in the calculator and note which cards carry a booking or timed entry line.
- Open the seller's page for the pass and read how a booking works for each attraction you ticked.
- Look up slot times on the attraction pages for your dates. Put the timed visits down first, then fill the gaps.
- If two booked slots will not fit one day, choose the relaxed pace and let the calculator pick a longer option.
How sightseeing passes work explains the four kinds of pass; the methodology explains how days and pace enter the verdict.