Chicago Explorer Pass: 2 to 7 Attractions including SkyDeck

Chicago’s best sightseeing is spread across downtown, the lakefront, and Museum Campus, so this pass gives you a useful way to mix big-ticket views with museums and tours. Choose 2 to 7 attractions and use them anytime over 30 days after your first visit. That is far more flexible than cramming every sight into one busy weekend.

I like the choice of Skydeck Chicago and the Shoreline Architecture River Cruise, two very different ways to understand the city. I also like the pass’s practical range: you can pair a museum with a bus tour, a Ferris wheel with an observation deck, or a children’s attraction with bowling and pizza. The catch is that reservations and seasonal closures can affect your plans, especially at 360 CHICAGO, Skydeck, and Navy Pier.

Key points to know before you buy

• Skydeck Chicago is included, with wide views from the Willis Tower and the famous glass ledges.
• The pass works for 30 days after first use, so you do not need to complete everything in one day.
• The Shoreline Architecture River Cruise offers a strong introduction to Chicago’s famous buildings from the water.
• Popular attractions need reservations, and 360 CHICAGO has had booking and website problems at times.
• The pass can save up to 50 percent, but only if you choose enough attractions with admission prices that add up.
• Navy Pier has limited pass coverage, with the Ferris wheel and rides available rather than every Pier activity.

How the Chicago Explorer Pass works

The Go City Chicago Explorer Pass is a flexible admission bundle. You choose the number of attractions at checkout: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. The listed price is $79 per person, though the exact cost can depend on the option and current sale.

Your pass is valid for one year from the purchase date before activation. It starts counting only when you visit your first attraction. From that first scan, you have 30 days to use the rest of your selections.

That timing matters. If you are in Chicago for three days, you can use the pass as a compact sightseeing plan. If you are staying longer, you can spread the visits across several days and avoid turning your trip into a race.

You receive a digital pass through the Go City app, along with attraction details, opening hours, maps, and reservation instructions. After checkout, two confirmation emails arrive. Wait for the second email, titled Go City via GetYourGuide, then follow the instructions to sync the pass with the app. You can also save the pass to your phone or tablet, or print it.

At each included attraction, you show the pass instead of buying a standard admission ticket. The pass does not guarantee entry at every time you want, though. You still need to follow each attraction’s booking rules.

Building a pass around the views

Chicago rewards you with different viewpoints, and the pass lets you choose more than one.

Skydeck Chicago takes you high above the city at Willis Tower. The main appeal is the view across Chicago and the glass ledges, where you can look straight down through the floor. Skydeck is one of the pass’s headline attractions, but reservations are required. Book as early as you can, especially for a preferred time.

360 CHICAGO offers another high-rise view from the former John Hancock Center. It gives you a different angle on the city, with a strong view toward the lake and the downtown towers. Reservations are required here too. Allow time for the booking process, and check your confirmation carefully.

The two observation decks are similar in purpose, so I would not automatically use both selections unless you particularly enjoy city views. For many people, one deck plus the river cruise makes a better use of the pass. If you want to compare Chicago from opposite sides of downtown, using both can make sense.

The Shoreline Architecture River Cruise is one of the smartest picks on the list. You see Chicago’s buildings from the river, where the dense collection of towers makes more sense than it does from street level. The cruise also gives your feet a break after a morning of museums or walking.

The Skyline Lake Tour provides another way to see the city from the water. Choose between the river and lake experience based on your interests and schedule. Check the app for current departure times because operating hours and tours can change.

What the museums add

Chicago’s museums give the pass more substance than a simple collection of observation decks and rides.

The Field Museum is a good choice if you want natural history and large-scale exhibits. It suits a first Chicago visit because you can spend as much or as little time as your schedule allows. Since it is a substantial museum, avoid pairing it with too many other major attractions on the same day.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry gives you a different kind of museum visit, with science-focused exhibits and hands-on subject matter. It is especially useful for families and curious teenagers. It is not as close to the central downtown sights as some other options, so account for the extra travel time when building your day.

The Adler Planetarium turns your attention from buildings and city streets to space. It makes a natural companion to a Museum Campus visit, although you should check the current attraction list and hours before relying on that combination.

For families, the Chicago Children’s Museum and LEGOLAND Discovery Center offer more active stops. These may be better choices than a large adult museum if you are traveling with younger children. The pass is most useful here because a family can choose attractions that match different ages instead of paying for a fixed sightseeing package.

The Museum of Illusions Chicago is another lighter, shorter option. It can work well between larger activities or when you want a break from formal exhibits.

The bus, bikes, and Navy Pier

The Big Bus Chicago 1-Day Discover Tour helps you get an overview before choosing where to spend more time. You can ride through the main sightseeing areas, get off at a stop, and continue later during the included tour period.

The bus uses recorded audio, but the experience can vary depending on the driver and the day. One particularly good setup is when the driver adds live facts and humor to the ride. Do not treat the bus only as transportation. Use it early in your visit to see how Chicago’s neighborhoods and major sights fit together.

The Big Bus app helps with route information and stop timing. Still, leave room for delays and traffic. A hop-on, hop-off route is more useful when you are willing to get off and explore, not when you need to reach a museum at an exact minute.

The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel and Rides are included, but this needs careful reading. The pass does not give you every Navy Pier attraction. The Ferris wheel may be the only included activity available at the time you visit, and that can feel thin if you expected a full Pier package.

Season matters here. In March, some Navy Pier activities may be closed, leaving the Ferris wheel as the main choice. Check hours before using one of your selections. If the Pier is central to your plan, confirm exactly what is open on your date.

A two-hour city bike rental from Bike and Roll Chicago gives you a more active option. The pass listing does not promise a particular route, so use the app for current rental details and operating information. This is best for people who want to cover ground at their own pace rather than sit through another organized tour.

At 10pin Chicago Bowling and Pizza, you can use a pass selection for bowling and pizza. Reservations are required. This is a practical choice for a teen-friendly evening, but compare its value with the standard price before spending one of your limited attraction choices.

Does the $79 price make sense?

The pass is not automatically a bargain. Its value depends on how many attractions you use and which ones you choose.

For a two-attraction pass, add the normal admission prices for the two places you plan to visit. If that total is below the pass price, buy separate tickets. If you choose two expensive experiences, such as Skydeck and a major cruise or observation deck, the pass may make sense.

The strongest value usually comes from a three, four, or five-attraction plan that includes several admission-heavy stops. A museum, observation deck, river cruise, and bus tour can add up quickly. Go City advertises savings of up to 50 percent, but that figure depends on the particular itinerary, not every possible combination.

The pass also saves time at the ticket window. You scan and enter rather than stopping to buy a ticket at each attraction. That is useful for a family or group, though reservations still matter.

Do not select extra attractions simply to use the pass. Seven choices sound appealing, but seven full sightseeing stops can take a lot of time. A smaller pass with attractions you genuinely want is often the better buy.

Reservations, timing, and common snags

The app is central to using this product. It shows the current attraction list, opening times, maps, and instructions for reservations. Attractions can change, so do not build your entire plan from an old web page or a printed schedule.

Reserve Skydeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO well ahead. The 360 CHICAGO booking system has sometimes produced technical errors, and phone support may not solve the problem quickly. If you cannot reserve a preferred time, keep working through the official booking instructions rather than assuming the pass itself guarantees entry.

One useful detail is that staff at 360 CHICAGO may allow an earlier entry when space is available, but you should not count on that. Arrive at your reserved time and treat any flexibility as a bonus.

Check seasonal hours with extra care. March can bring closures or reduced operations, particularly at Navy Pier. Holiday schedules can also change normal opening times.

Keep your phone charged. The app and digital pass are the easiest way to manage the day, though printing a copy gives you a backup. The meeting point varies by the attraction or option selected, so use the app instead of assuming every activity begins in the same place.

If your plans change, cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Once you activate the pass, remember that the 30-day use period begins with the first attraction visit.

Who should choose this pass?

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors who want a mix of famous Chicago sights. The pass works especially well when you already want Skydeck, the architecture cruise, and either a museum or the Big Bus tour.

Families can get good use from it because the choices cover museums, rides, science attractions, and bowling. Teenagers may prefer the observation decks, 10pin, Museum of Illusions, or Flyover Chicago over a traditional museum.

It is also a good fit if your schedule is uncertain. You can switch among several attractions instead of committing to a fixed day tour. That flexibility helped make the pass useful for people who needed to change plans.

I would be more cautious if you are visiting in a quiet or off-season month and only have one or two attractions in mind. Closures may shrink your choices, and buying separate tickets could cost less. I would also think twice if you dislike reservation systems or want every activity to be fully spontaneous.

Should you book the Chicago Explorer Pass?

Book it if you can name at least three included attractions you truly want, with at least one higher-priced sight such as Skydeck, 360 CHICAGO, a river cruise, or a major museum. The 30-day validity gives you room to spread out, and the app makes the pass fairly easy to manage.

Skip it if your plan is mainly free sightseeing, one museum, and a walk along Navy Pier. Before paying, check the current attraction list, confirm seasonal hours, and reserve the popular stops. Used with that bit of planning, the Explorer Pass can cut both ticket costs and time spent at admission counters.

FAQ

How many attractions can I visit with the Chicago Explorer Pass?

You can choose a pass for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 attractions and tours.

How long is the pass valid after I use it for the first time?

After your first attraction visit, you have 30 days to use the remaining attraction selections.

How long can I wait before activating the pass?

The pass is valid for one year from the purchase date and activates when you visit your first attraction.

Is Skydeck Chicago included?

Yes. Skydeck Chicago is one of the listed attractions, and reservations are required.

Do I need a reservation for 360 CHICAGO?

Yes. Reservations are required for 360 CHICAGO.

Is the architecture river cruise included?

Yes. The Shoreline Architecture River Cruise is one of the included tour choices.

Can I use the pass for a hop-on, hop-off bus tour?

Yes. The pass includes the Big Bus Chicago 1-Day Discover Tour.

Does the pass include every attraction at Navy Pier?

No. The listed Navy Pier option covers the Ferris Wheel and rides. Check the app for the current details.

How do I receive and use the pass?

You receive confirmation emails and should follow the second email, titled Go City via GetYourGuide, to sync the pass with the Go City app. You can also save it to a phone or tablet, or print it.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.