Chicago CityPASS®: Save up to 49% at 5 Top Attractions

Chicago CityPASS turns Chicago’s biggest sights into one simple plan, with Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago included and three more attractions selected from a strong list of museums, viewpoints, and the famous Architecture River Tour. At $142 per person, the value is best when you use all five admissions.

I like the generous nine-day validity, which lets you spread out museums and skyline stops instead of racing through downtown. I also like the expedited entry at Skydeck and 360 CHICAGO, plus mobile tickets that are easy to scan from your phone. The catch is that some attractions need reservations, and extras such as Tilt at 360 CHICAGO cost more.

Key points to know before you buy

• Five admissions for $142: Use all five and the pass can save up to 49 percent compared with separate admission.
• Two attractions are fixed: Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago are included, then you choose three more.
• Nine consecutive days: The clock starts with your first visit, not necessarily the purchase date.
• A strong choice of add-ons: Pick from the Field Museum, Architecture River Tour, 360 CHICAGO, Griffin Museum, Art Institute, and Adler Planetarium.
• Fast entry matters most at Skydeck: Choose your entry time before arriving so you are not left waiting.
• Check the fine print on extras: 360 CHICAGO’s Tilt is not included, and timed reservations may be required.

How the Chicago CityPASS works

You pay $142 per person and receive entry to five Chicago attractions. Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago are the required stops. After that, you choose three attractions from the following list:

• Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour
• Field Museum
• 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck
• Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Adler Planetarium

Your pass becomes valid on the first day you use it and remains active for nine consecutive days. You have one year from the purchase date to begin using it, so you do not have to activate it immediately.

That nine-day window is the pass’s most useful feature. You can spend a morning at a museum, take a slower lunch, then visit an observation deck later. If you are in Chicago for only two or three days, you can still use it, but you will need a fairly full schedule to make the savings worthwhile.

You can show the pass on your phone or print it. The mobile version is convenient, but keep the QR code easy to find. A few people have had trouble locating the right code or understanding where to make reservations, so it is wise to check the CityPASS website before you leave your hotel.

Shedd Aquarium: the family favorite

Shedd Aquarium gives you all-access admission to its exhibits, Animal Spotlights, and the seasonal Stingray Touch experience. A 4-D Experience is also included when available.

This is one of the strongest choices for families. Children can spend time with aquatic animals, and the chance to touch starfish or stingrays can turn a standard museum visit into a more hands-on outing. A penguin encounter is not part of the basic pass, but it may be available for an added fee.

The aquarium can take more time than expected. If you want to see the exhibits without rushing, allow a substantial part of your day rather than treating Shedd as a quick stop between other attractions. Crowding and construction conditions can vary, so check current details before you go.

For adults without children, the aquarium’s value depends on your interest in marine life. It is a worthwhile included attraction, but you may prefer to spend extra time at the Field Museum, Art Institute, or Architecture River Tour if museums and city design appeal to you more.

Skydeck Chicago and the Ledge

Skydeck Chicago gives you expedited entry to the observation area at Willis Tower, along with access to The Ledge. The glass ledges extend beyond the building, creating the familiar Chicago photo opportunity.

This is one of the pass’s clearest money and time savers. Lines at a major observation deck can eat up a large part of your day, especially during popular hours. The expedited access helps you get upstairs faster, though you should still select an entry time before arriving.

For the best view, consider booking around sunset. You can see the city in daylight, watch the colors change, and stay long enough to see the lights appear. A useful point is that you do not have to treat the observation deck as a brief photo stop. If your schedule allows, you can spend time enjoying both the daytime and evening views.

Skydeck is a required CityPASS attraction, so you cannot replace it with another viewpoint. That makes the timing important. If you also choose 360 CHICAGO, schedule the two visits at different times of day rather than using both during the same hour.

The Architecture River Tour

The Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour is one of the best uses of your optional attraction choices. From the water, Chicago’s buildings are easier to understand as a group than they are from street level. The river route gives you a broad view of the city’s architecture without requiring a long walking tour.

Book this cruise ahead when possible. The boat tour can be popular, and a reservation helps prevent a long wait or a sold-out departure. It also gives your nine-day pass some variety: after indoor museums and observation decks, you get a relaxed ride with a different view of the city.

The cruise does require planning around its departure times, unlike a museum where you can usually arrive when convenient. Check the current schedule and reserve before you build the rest of your day around it.

If I had to recommend one optional attraction to someone interested in Chicago itself, this would be near the top of my list. It is not just another ticketed viewpoint. It helps you see why the city is known for architecture.

Field Museum and Sue the dinosaur

The Field Museum provides an All-Access Pass covering permanent exhibits and regularly priced ticketed exhibitions. Special exhibitions outside the All-Access Pass may require an additional charge.

This is a good pick if you like natural history, ancient cultures, and large displays that reward a longer visit. Sue the dinosaur is a major draw, especially for children, but the museum offers more than one famous fossil. The scale of the building means you should not try to see every room in a short visit.

I would give the Field Museum its own half-day if you have the time. It is easy to underestimate how long you will spend there, particularly if you are traveling with children who want to stop at every major exhibit.

The main drawback is scheduling. With only four days in Chicago, you may have to choose between depth and variety. A museum visit can fill several hours, while the Architecture River Tour and an observation deck fit more easily into a busy day.

360 CHICAGO on the Magnificent Mile

360 CHICAGO Observation Deck includes Fast Pass entry admission. It offers a second high-level view of the city, with a different perspective from Skydeck.

Choosing both observation decks can make sense if you want to compare the views from opposite parts of downtown or see Chicago in daylight and after dark. It makes less sense if your trip is short and you would rather add a museum or boat tour.

Pay close attention to what is included. Tilt, the experience that angles visitors outward from the building, is not part of the CityPASS admission. It requires a separate payment, and it may sell out when you arrive. If Tilt is the main reason you want to visit, do not assume the pass guarantees access.

The observation deck itself remains included, and Fast Pass entry is useful. Just do not spend one of your three optional choices expecting every activity inside the building to be covered.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry includes museum entry and one timed-entry experience. Your included options can include a Giant Dome Theater film or a Motion Ride, along with exhibits such as Science Storms, Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze, YOU! The Experience, and The Blue Paradox.

This is a particularly good choice for families and anyone who likes interactive displays. The exhibits are designed to be explored rather than simply viewed, so children can stay engaged while adults learn something too.

The timed-entry element requires attention. You may need to choose a film or ride time, so do not arrive without checking the reservation instructions. Build the rest of your day around that time instead of treating the museum as a completely open-ended visit.

The museum is not in the same downtown cluster as every other major attraction listed here, so the lack of transportation in the pass matters. You must arrange and pay for your own transportation. That does not make the museum a poor choice, but it does make it more of a planned outing.

Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute includes Fast Pass admission to its permanent collection and non-ticketed special exhibitions. It is a strong choice for adults, art lovers, and anyone who wants a quieter change of pace after busy observation decks and family attractions.

The pass works well here because the museum can be added without paying another full admission fee. You can focus on the sections that interest you rather than trying to see the entire collection in one visit.

One advantage is flexibility. Unlike a boat departure or timed theater experience, an art museum can often fit neatly into a morning or afternoon plan, subject to any current entry requirements. Check reservation instructions in advance, since the pass information notes that some attractions may require reservations.

If your group includes people with very different interests, the Art Institute can be the hardest optional choice to agree on. For the right person, though, it may be more rewarding than paying for a second observation deck.

Adler Planetarium and its two Sky Shows

Adler Planetarium includes museum entry and two Sky Shows. Admission also covers its exhibitions, Community Design Labs, Space Visualization Lab, and Doane Observatory experiences.

This is a good pick if space, astronomy, and science appeal to you. The two Sky Shows add structure to the visit and give you more than a standard museum admission.

Because showtimes can shape your visit, check the schedule before arriving. You will get more from the pass if you plan around the Sky Shows rather than treating them as an afterthought.

The planetarium can also work well as an alternative to 360 CHICAGO. If you already have Skydeck for skyline views, Adler gives you a different subject and a different kind of experience.

Building a useful Chicago schedule

The best plan is to group attractions by area and energy level. Pair a museum with a nearby meal or open time, then reserve the boat tour and observation decks around fixed entry times.

A four-day plan might look like this:

• Day one: Skydeck, then the Art Institute
• Day two: Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum
• Day three: Architecture River Tour and 360 CHICAGO
• Day four: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry or Adler Planetarium

That example uses more than five attractions, so you would need to remove one optional choice. The point is to show how quickly Chicago can fill a schedule. Your required stops are Shedd and Skydeck, then you select only three additional attractions.

If you have nine days, spread the visits out. The pass does not require you to visit one attraction every day, and you do not need to cram two museums into one afternoon. This is especially useful in cold weather, when you may appreciate a slower indoor schedule.

Remember that food, drinks, and transportation are not included. Plan those costs separately. The CityPASS handles admission, not the rest of your day.

Is $142 a good deal?

The pass is most likely to pay off when you use all five included admissions. Its advertised saving can reach 49 percent, but your actual value depends on which optional attractions you choose and whether you would have paid to visit them separately.

I would not buy it automatically for a short trip. If you only want Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck, and one museum, compare the separate ticket prices first. The pass also has less value if you skip one of the five attractions.

The calculation is easier if you already want the Architecture River Tour, Field Museum, or Griffin Museum. The pass encourages you to add attractions you might otherwise skip, and that can be a real benefit if you have enough time.

The strongest value comes from a four-day or longer visit, a family group, or anyone determined to see Chicago’s major sights. It is less compelling for a very relaxed weekend focused on neighborhoods, food, and free attractions such as The Bean.

Mobile tickets, reservations, and access

You can present the ticket directly at the entrance on your phone, or print it. The app and mobile access are convenient, but reservation instructions are not always obvious, so check each attraction before setting out.

Some locations may require reservations. Skydeck entry times are worth arranging in advance, and the Architecture River Tour should be booked ahead when possible. Timed experiences at the Griffin Museum and Sky Shows at Adler also need attention.

The pass is wheelchair accessible. You arrange your own transportation, and food and drinks are not included. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the scheduled activity under the stated booking terms, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your dates are not settled.

Should you book the Chicago CityPASS?

I would book it if you want the classic Chicago package: an aquarium, a high-rise view, a river architecture cruise, and two more major cultural attractions. The pass is especially practical for families and first-time visitors who want a ready-made list without paying at every entrance.

I would skip it if you plan to visit only two or three sights, prefer a slow neighborhood-based trip, or dislike arranging timed reservations. Before buying, choose your three optional attractions on paper and check their schedules. If you can comfortably use all five admissions within nine days, $142 is a strong deal. If not, separate tickets may give you more freedom.

FAQ

How many attractions does the Chicago CityPASS include?

The pass includes admission to five attractions. Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago are included, and you choose three additional attractions from the available options.

How long is the Chicago CityPASS valid?

It is valid for nine consecutive days beginning on the date of first use.

How long do I have to activate the pass after buying it?

You have one year from the purchase date to begin using the tickets before the order expires.

Which attractions are included automatically?

Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago are the two included attractions that are not optional.

Which attractions can I choose as my other three?

You can choose the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour, Field Museum, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute of Chicago, or Adler Planetarium.

Is transportation included?

No. You must arrange and pay for transportation between attractions.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the CityPASS.

Do I need reservations?

Reservations may be required at some attractions. You should visit the activity provider’s website for current reservation requirements, attraction details, and ticket access.

Is Tilt at 360 CHICAGO included?

No. Tilt requires an additional payment and may sell out. The CityPASS includes Fast Pass admission to 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, not every extra activity there.

Can I use the pass on my phone?

Yes. You can present the ticket on a mobile device, or print it and take it to the entrance of any included attraction.