Chicago is a must-visit city for travelers around the world. Known for its architecture, food, and museums, Chicago is perfect for family trips, couples getaways, girls’ weekends, and solo adventures. And the best way to enjoy the city’s most popular attractions is with the Chicago CityPass.
After living in Chicago for three years, and repeatedly visiting as often as I can, I’ve learned many things about the city’s most popular activities and museums. One thing for sure is that it gets expensive to visit tourist attractions if you buy individual tickets for each place. So I’m here to tell you that the CityPass does in fact save you money.
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What is the Chicago CityPass?
The Chicago CityPass is an all-in-one admission ticket to five attractions, two of which are set and three are of your choice. There are eight options in total, and the first two activities are chosen for you: the Shedd Aquarium with access to the sting ray touch pool and a 4-D experience, and the Skydeck Chicago with expedited entry.
By getting a Chicago CityPass, you can save from 24-48% on tickets. Buying them all separately is a hassle and costs more. The CityPass is also valid for nine consecutive days from the first day of use, so you don’t have to worry about rushing through all five attractions in one day.
How much does the City Pass cost?
The Chicago CityPass costs $139 including taxes for adults and $109 including taxes for children 11 and under. This includes access to five activities, two of which are pre-selected and three are of your choice.
The attractions include the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, Adler Planetarium, Architecture River Tour, 360 Chicago Observation Deck, Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry. These are all among the best museums in Chicago along with fun activities like the Skydeck.
Savings and Prices of Tickets
The CityPass is marketed as a 48% savings; however, this is only if you choose the five most expensive attractions. If you choose the five least expensive, you still save 24% which is still well worth it. Below are the prices of each individual adult general admission ticket.
Shedd Aquarium – $37 to $43
Skydeck Chicago – $32
Adler Planetarium – $25
Architecture River Tour – $45 to $50
360 Chicago Observation Deck – $30
Field Museum – $30
Art Institute of Chicago – $26
Museum of Science and Industry – $26
The price of the Chicago CityPass is $139. If you were to choose the Shedd ($37), Skydeck ($32), Architecture River Tour ($45), 350 Chicago ($30), and the Field Museum ($30) for a total of $174, you would save $35 by getting the CityPass. That’s another ticket or a great dinner in Chicago right there!
How the Chicago City Pass Works
You can purchase the Chicago CityPass online. If you’re traveling in a group, I recommend buying all the passes together. This will make making reservations so much easier and more efficient. Have one person in your group be responsible for purchasing the passes and making the reservations for specific activities.
While you can reserve any attraction in advance, it isn’t required, just recommended. There are, however, certain activities you might want to reserve as soon as you know your schedule.
The Chicago river architecture tour is one of these activities; there are a set number of seats available on every boat, so I recommend reserving your tickets for this activity about a week in advance if possible.
If you’re visiting Chicago during the summer, chances are these popular tourist attractions will be busier, so reserve anything you’re adamant about visiting in advance.
If you purchase your City Pass through GetYourGuide, the best travel booking platform available, you will get instant access and instructions on how to make specific reservations.
CityPass also offers similar passes in cities like Dallas and New York City!
Is the Chicago CityPASS worth it?
The Chicago CityPass is worth it if you visit all five attractions you are allotted. For those who want to explore the best of Chicago without spending a fortune, this pass is absolutely worth it. You’ll save money by using a Chicago city pass, and you’ll also get expedited entry and premium admission to certain attractions.
Pros
It’s cheaper than buying individual tickets for five Chicago attractions. You have nine days from the first day of use to utilize your pass so you don’t have to rush through all five attractions in one day. Your tickets are all in one convenient place.
Cons
If you buy the pass but only visit three or four places, it will not be worth the money. It is pricey, so visiting only one or two attractions might be better for those with only one day in the city.
Must See Attractions in Chicago
Architecture River Tour
For one of the three activities of your choice, I highly recommend the Chicago River architecture tour by Shoreline Sightseeing. This is one of the best ways to see Chicago’s iconic architecture and downtown as well as learn about its history.
You will tour the city from the Chicago River for about one hour with a local guide who will share facts and stories about the making of Chicago. Read more about the Chicago boat tour in my complete guide.
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago has no shortage of famous museums, and while all of them are worth visiting, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the best art museums in the world. If you specifically enjoy this type of museum, you should definitely visit the Art Institute. It rivals MoMA and the Met in New York City!
Museum of Science and Industry
Where are the science nerds at? I’m a huge fan of the Museum of Science and Industry. This is one of the best places to visit in Chicago. There is such a wide range of exhibits, including immersive ones. The only negative is that this museum is much further away from the main downtown area than the other museums.
Field Museum
One of the best natural history museums is the Field Museum in Chicago. Walk through the evolution of the world, admire the rotating exhibits, and take in the entrance hall of this grand museum. There is so much to see in the Field Museum, you could spend all day here, but even with a few hours, you’ll get to enjoy a handful of fascinating exhibits.
In Conclusion: Is Chicago City Pass worth it?
Yes, the Chicago CityPass is well worth it if you enjoy all five activities included in the price of the pass. Chicago has so many museums and iconic attractions. The CityPass allows you to experience the best of them all while saving money.
Along with visiting the attractions included in your Chicago City Pass, I highly recommend venturing out of downtown (or the “Loop” area) and into some of the smaller neighborhoods. This is where you’ll find the best restaurants, hidden gems like Lincoln Park, and immerse yourself in the true essence of Chicago.
