Chicago CityPASS®

Chicago CityPASS puts Chicago’s biggest crowd-pleasers into one ticket: Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago are fixed, then you choose three more attractions. That means you can shape the pass around your interests, from dinosaurs and science to city views and architecture.

I like the generous nine-day validity, which keeps you from racing through five major stops in two days. I also like the mobile ticket and expedited or fast-pass entry offered at several venues. The main catch is simple: you must choose three attractions, and the pass is non-refundable once purchased.

I especially like the range of choices. The Field Museum and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry can fill much of a day, while 360 CHICAGO, the Art Institute, or the river cruise can fit into a shorter visit. The pass works best when you plan your days instead of trying to collect every attraction at once.

Key points to know before you buy

• Nine consecutive days: Your pass begins on the first day you use it, then remains valid for eight more days.
• Five attractions total: Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago are included, plus three choices from six options.
• Popular choices: The river cruise, Field Museum, 360 CHICAGO, Griffin Museum, Art Institute, and Adler Planetarium are all available as your three selections.
• Useful line benefits: Expedited or fast-pass entry is offered at several attractions, though the exact access varies by venue.
• Mobile admission: Show the ticket on your phone or print it, and use the CityPASS app for attraction details and reservations.
• Best for first-time visits: The pass makes financial sense when you plan to visit at least three included attractions beyond the two required stops.

How the Chicago CityPASS works

The Chicago CityPASS costs $142 per person and gives you one admission to each of five attractions. Two are automatic: Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago. You then choose three of these six:

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

You do not need to visit every attraction listed above. That is an important point. The list shows your possible choices, not eight included admissions.

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day of use. A ticket that you never activate expires one year after purchase. That long window is helpful if you are spending several days in Chicago, but it does not mean you can use the pass on separate trips.

You receive a mobile ticket, and you can also print it. The CityPASS app provides attraction details, ticket access, and reservation information. Some venues may require a time reservation, so check the app before setting your daily schedule.

Shedd Aquarium: your first fixed attraction

Shedd Aquarium is one of the strongest reasons to choose the pass, especially if you are visiting Chicago with children or teenagers. Your admission includes all exhibits, Animal Spotlights, and the seasonal Stingray Touch experience, along with a 4-D Experience when available.

Plan around four hours if you want to see the aquarium at a relaxed pace. It is not just a quick stop between other attractions. The number of exhibits and optional experiences can make this a substantial half-day visit.

The aquarium is also a good indoor choice when weather interferes with outdoor plans. The pass gives you one admission, so check the details before arriving if a seasonal feature or the 4-D Experience is especially important to you.

Skydeck Chicago and the Willis Tower view

Skydeck Chicago gives you expedited entry to Willis Tower. Allow about three hours, especially if you want time for the viewing experience and the surrounding exhibits.

This is one of the pass’s more practical benefits. Several people have found the shorter entry process particularly useful here, since a popular observation deck can consume a large part of an afternoon before you even reach the view.

Skydeck is a natural choice for a first Chicago visit, but remember that the pass also offers 360 CHICAGO. If you choose both, you are paying for two different high-rise viewpoints. That can be worthwhile for skyline fans, but it may feel repetitive if you would rather spend your limited time in museums.

Shoreline’s Architecture River Tour

The Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour is one of the most memorable choices in the pass. The route lets you see Chicago’s buildings from the river, where the city’s architecture reads differently than it does from the sidewalk.

The listed duration is 5 hours and 20 minutes, but the actual included experience is an architecture river tour. Allow enough time for the cruise and for getting to the departure point. Exact operating details and reservations should be checked in the app.

Timing can change the feel of the trip. A sunset or evening departure can give you illuminated buildings and cooler air. One especially useful tip is to bring a hat on a sunny departure. The boat can expose you to strong sun.

The tour works well for adults, families, and anyone who wants a break from museum interiors. It also gives you a strong sense of Chicago as a designed city rather than just a collection of separate attractions.

Field Museum: choose it for a long museum session

The Field Museum includes an All-Access Pass, covering permanent exhibits and regularly priced ticketed exhibitions. Special exhibitions outside the All-Access Pass may cost extra.

Set aside about four hours, and more if you like to read displays carefully. The museum is large enough that trying to squeeze it between two other major stops can leave you tired and rushed.

The dinosaur displays and Sue are major draws, but there is much more to see. The bird collections alone can take serious time, and the museum’s large range of specimens makes it a good pick if you enjoy natural history.

I would choose the Field Museum when you want a substantial indoor visit, not when you are looking for a quick photo stop. Families can spend several hours here, but the size may feel like too much if your group prefers observation decks and short activities.

360 CHICAGO: another way to see the city

360 CHICAGO offers fast-pass entry and about three hours of access time. It is located at the 875 North Michigan building, formerly associated with the John Hancock Center.

The attraction gives you another high-rise view of Chicago. Choosing it with Skydeck lets you compare two different vantage points, but the choice uses one of your three flexible admissions.

The pass can be a good deal for people who want several views in one visit. It is less compelling if you are mainly interested in museums. Before choosing both observation decks, think about your priorities: skyline photographs, architecture, science, art, and aquarium time all compete for the same three slots.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

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

Plan on roughly three hours, though you might want longer. The museum is especially well suited to visitors who prefer hands-on and experience-based exhibits over display cases.

The included timed experience makes planning important. Use the app and museum details to understand how that timed entry fits into your visit. If you are visiting with older children or teenagers, this may be one of the most engaging choices in the pass.

The museum can also compete with the Field Museum for your time. Choose both if you enjoy full museum days. Choose one if you want to balance indoor exhibits with the river cruise and observation decks.

The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute includes fast-pass admission to the permanent collection and non-ticketed special exhibitions. Allow around three hours, though art lovers can easily spend longer.

This is the best flexible choice for a visitor who wants a major art museum rather than another science or history venue. The fast-pass access can also make it easier to fit the museum into a busy downtown day.

Because the pass covers the permanent collection and non-ticketed special exhibitions, check the current details before counting on a separately ticketed exhibition. The admission is valuable, but not every special exhibition is automatically included.

I would pair the Art Institute with Skydeck and the river cruise if you want a city-focused visit with one major museum. It is also a good alternative to the Field Museum if you prefer paintings and sculpture to fossils and specimens.

Adler Planetarium and two Sky Shows

Adler Planetarium includes museum entry plus two Sky Shows. Your admission also covers the exhibitions, Community Design Labs, Space Visualization Lab, and Doane Observatory experiences.

Allow about four hours. The two Sky Shows add structure to the visit, so check show times and plan around them rather than treating the planetarium as a walk-in stop.

This is a strong choice for families and anyone interested in space. It also gives you a different type of museum experience from the Field Museum or Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

The planetarium uses one of your three selections. If you choose it, you may need to give up one of the observation decks or a larger museum. That tradeoff is not a flaw in the pass, but you should make the decision before purchasing because the pass cannot be changed after cancellation or amendment.

How much time should you set aside?

The listed visit times range from about three hours to four hours, with the river tour requiring a longer block. In real terms, you should also allow time for transportation, meals, and walking between attractions.

A sensible nine-day plan might include one major attraction per day, with some shorter days combining a museum or observation deck with other Chicago sightseeing. You do not need to fill all nine days. The extra time simply keeps the pass from forcing an exhausting schedule.

The pass is near public transportation, and transportation to and from the attractions is not included. You need to arrange your own trains, buses, walking routes, or rides. The app contains attraction addresses and maps, so check each venue page before leaving your hotel.

One poor experience can come from not knowing where to find the address or ticket. The information is available in the app, but you should open every attraction page before your day begins and save the mobile ticket where you can reach it easily.

Is $142 a good value?

The pass is most convincing when you use it for the two fixed attractions plus three more admissions. Several people have found that it paid for itself after three attractions, though the exact savings depend on current individual ticket prices and which venues you choose.

The value is not only about admission cost. Fast-pass or expedited entry can save time at busy attractions, and the app keeps several tickets and reservations in one place. That convenience matters when you are managing a family or moving through Chicago on a short trip.

The pass is less attractive if you plan to visit only Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck. It is also a weaker choice if your schedule is too uncertain to use five admissions within nine days, especially since the purchase is non-refundable and cannot be amended.

The strongest value comes from choosing three substantial attractions. The Field Museum, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute, and architecture cruise can each justify a half-day plan. The observation decks are easier to fit in, but choosing both may make the financial calculation depend more heavily on how much you value skyline views.

Who should buy this pass?

I would recommend the Chicago CityPASS to a first-time visitor who wants several major attractions without buying each ticket separately. It suits families especially well, since Shedd Aquarium, the science museum, the planetarium, and the river cruise give you different types of activities.

It also works for a short trip when you want a clear plan. The pass can keep you moving toward the city’s main sights instead of spending time deciding what to book next.

I would be more cautious if you live in Chicago, have already visited the main museums, or prefer unplanned days. I would also skip it if your group will not agree on three flexible choices. The pass saves money only when you use it.

The small practical details that matter

You receive confirmation at booking. You can present the ticket on a mobile device or print it. Each person receives one admission to each included attraction, so the pass is not a repeat-entry ticket.

Most people can participate, and the attractions are near public transportation. Check the app for reservations, operating details, maps, and current attraction information before you go.

The pass is offered in English. Its listed general access window is 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, but each attraction has its own operating schedule, so do not assume every venue is open throughout that full window.

Should you book the Chicago CityPASS?

Book it if you want Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, and at least three other listed attractions. The nine-day period, mobile ticket, and shorter entry lines make it a useful tool for a first Chicago visit.

Choose your three flexible attractions before buying. My strongest all-around combination would be Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck, the architecture river tour, the Field Museum, and either the Art Institute or Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. If you are passionate about space, art, or skyline views, swap those choices to match your interests.

Skip it if you will visit only one or two attractions, or if you need a refundable booking. The CityPASS is a good sightseeing package, but its value depends on using it fully and planning ahead.

FAQ

How much does the Chicago CityPASS cost?

The Chicago CityPASS costs $142 per person.

How long is the pass valid?

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day of use.

What attractions are automatically included?

Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago are automatically included.

How many additional attractions can I choose?

You can choose three additional attractions from six options: Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour, Field Museum, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute of Chicago, and Adler Planetarium.

Can I use the pass more than once at an attraction?

No. The CityPASS provides one admission to each included attraction per person.

Can I use the pass on separate trips?

No. Once activated, the pass is valid for nine consecutive days. A nonactivated ticket expires one year after purchase.

Do I need a reservation?

Reservations may be required at some attractions. Visit my.citypass.com for current reservation instructions and attraction details.

Can I show the pass on my phone?

Yes. You can present the mobile ticket on your device. You may also print it.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the attractions is not included.

Can I cancel or change the booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.