Is the Galveston Island Pass Worth It?

Should you buy a Galveston Island Pass if you’re heading to the popular Texas vacation destination 50 miles southeast of Houston? From dolphin sightseeing excursions to museums and ghost tours, the customizable pass could save you money on four or more attractions. Here’s a breakdown of what attractions are covered, which are not, and a tip on when the Galveston Island Pass might NOT be the best deal.

If your Texas family vacation includes a stop in the port city of Galveston, the Galveston Island Pass might save you money. But it depends.

The Galveston Island Pass isn’t like a CityPASS where you purchase a booklet of activities. Instead, you create your own custom package. That means the Galveston Island Pass doesn’t have a set cost. Instead, you’ll select which attractions you want to visit. Your cost will vary based on which attractions you select, but the company advertises that you will save 40% off of posted prices.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Be aware that the tickets come as a PDF and you need to be able to print them. Tickets must be redeemed within 30 days of purchase.

Is the Galveston Island Pass Worth It?

Yes and no. You’ll need to carefully consider your family make up and other discounts you might be eligible for. If your family consists of seniors or veterans you may be better off with discounts offered directly by attractions.

The main pain point for the pass is that the company considers kids to be 4-11. Most of the museums offer kids prices up to age 12. In addition, many offer free tickets to kids under a certain age. Because the Island Pass site doesn’t ask how old your kids are, you’ll end up paying for tickets.

If your kids are ages 4-6 or are 12 years old, look at ticket prices on attraction sites before buying. I’ve linked to the ticket price page for each site below to make it easier.

What Does the Galveston Island Pass Include?

The Galveston Island Pass must include a minimum of tickets to four different attractions. You can choose more than four if you’d like. The pass will get you into the attractions you choose.

Participating attractions include:

• 61st Street Fishing Pier (Kids are ages 12 and under): Includes the wristband you will need to rent or bring poles.
• Bryan Museum (FYI- kids under 6 are admitted free and youth tickets are 6-12)
• Galveston Naval Museum, Seawolf Park (Kids under 5 are free. Youth tickets are for age 5-11. Active military are free.)
• Galveston Railroad Museum (Kids ages for tickets are 3-12)
• Galveston Water Adventures, Dolphin Sightseeing Tour (Kids are 12 and under)
• Historic Ghost Tour (Kids are ages 3-12. Active military are free.)
• Moody Mansion (FYI- kids 5 and under are free and youth tickets are ages 6-17)
• Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum (FYI- kids under 6 are free and youth tickets are ages 6-18)
• Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast
• Red Light District Tour (Kids are ages 3-12. Active military are free.)
• Storm on the Strand Tour (Kids are ages 3-12. Active military are free.)

What Else is There to Do in Galveston?

The Galveston Island Pass covers a lot of popular Galveston Island attractions, but there are still way more things to do while you’re in town. Don’t forget to look into other things to do on your Galveston vacation:

• Moody Gardens – This 242-acre attraction features iconic glass pyramids that many visitors recognize. There is an aquarium, the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid, and the Discovery Museum. You can stay right on site at the Moody Gardens Hotel. Find more Moody Gardens tips here.
• Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark- Just across from Moody Gardens, this iconic Texas waterpark opens for the 2021 season on May 15th.  Find more places to get wet in Texas in this post.
• Take a walk along Galveston’s Seawall Boulevard. This urban park spans more than 10 miles and runs by numerous beaches and restaurants.
• Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier– This pier juts over the Gulf of Mexico and is filled with rides. Get your adrenaline on riding roller coasters, the ferris wheel, a swinging boat and more. Purchase an unlimited ride wristband good for all 16 rides all day for $26.99 (48″ and taller).
• Take a kayak to one of Galveston Island State Park’s paddle trails.

We hope you have a great trip to Galveston. Still looking for a Galveston vacation rental? We can help!