Can you really save money with the Chicago City Pass? Chicago is a popular destination for city breaks in the U.S. But if you try to see every single attraction, sightseeing in Chicago can quickly get expensive. The Chicago City Pass is often promoted as a great way to save money. But is it really worth it? In this article, I’ll compare which Chicago attractions let you save money.
Buy the Chicago City Pass online!*
More about Chicago:
➜ Top 20 Attractions in Chicago (+Map!)
➜ Chicago Food Guide
➜ Architecture in Chicago
➜ Helpful Information for Chicago
#1 Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower
With the Chicago City Pass, admission to both of Chicago’s top observation decks is included! The Willis Tower is THE must-see attraction in Chicago! From the Skydeck at the very top, you’ll have a fantastic view of Chicago and Lake Michigan!
By the way, the Willis Tower used to be called the Sears Tower, after the company that had the building constructed, and was actually the tallest skyscraper in the world when it opened in 1974. These days, it’s “only” the second-tallest building in the U.S. after One World Trade Center in New York, but hey, I can tell you, that’s still high enough!
On a clear day, you can see four states at once, and Chicago, with its 2 million residents, looks absolutely tiny.
By the way, the Skydeck Chicago features four glass balconies—the “Ledges”—made entirely of glass: walls, ceiling, and floor! The area measures about 2 by 3 meters. So when you step forward, you’re standing entirely on glass. Below you: over 90 stories! By the way, I thought I wouldn’t dare—but the idea of standing on nothing but a glass floor hundreds of meters above the street is so bizarre and unbelievable that my reservations vanished immediately.
The glass balconies alone make it worth a visit!
Regular price for the Day/Night package: $48
Visit the Skydeck Chicago with the Chicago City Pass!*
Advantage with the Chicago CityPass: The CityPass entitles you not just to one, but to TWO visits to the Skydeck on the same day. In addition to the regular daytime admission, you also get an evening admission starting at 6 p.m., so you can see Chicago at night, too! Highly recommended for taking photos.
#2 Art Institute of Chicago / Adler Planetarium
With the Chicago City Pass, you have to choose: art or science? The Chicago City Pass grants you admission to either the Art Institute of Chicago or the Adler Planetarium.
Art Institute Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is exceptional in the scope of its collection: From Byzantine art to contemporary photography, you’ll find everything here. It’s guaranteed to take a full day to see the entire exhibition. So it makes sense to think about what you’d like to see beforehand, before you get overwhelmed by so much art. I really wanted to see “Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper, and even if the name doesn’t ring a bell—everyone knows the painting. And there’s hardly any other painting that’s perceived as so quintessentially American.
At $25, admission is very expensive, but it’s well worth it—the collection is fantastic, and the temporary exhibitions are always interesting and varied. The helpful audio guide costs extra as well!
Regular price $25 + $7 audio guide = $32
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium is the must-see attraction in Chicago for all space enthusiasts. Here, you can see an old space capsule and many other interesting exhibits related to space exploration.
The film screenings (Sky Shows) are also highly recommended! Without them, the planetarium is only half as exciting!
Regular price for admission + 2 Sky Shows: $35
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#3 Field Museum
The Field Museum of Natural History is one of the most visited museums in the United States! It is known worldwide as a natural history museum and houses one of the largest collections of natural history and anthropological artifacts. Here, you can marvel at the best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found!
Regular Price for All-Access Pass: $40
#4 Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is the world’s largest indoor aquarium and has been around since 1929! Here, you can truly immerse yourself in the underwater world and see all kinds of marine life, amphibians, and insects—from seahorses to beluga whales—up close!
Regular price $39.95
Click here for the Chicago City Pass!*
#5 360 Chicago Observation Deck / Museum of Science and Industry
If you don’t want to go up to another observation deck, here’s your option: As an alternative to 360 Chicago, you can also visit the Museum of Science and Industry!
360 Chicago Observation Deck
The 360 Chicago Observation Deck is located in the John Hancock Center right in the heart of the Magnificent Mile—so it’s right in the thick of things!
In addition to the naturally fantastic view, TILT stands out for its floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that you can lean against and tilt forward along with the window!
TILT costs an additional $8; for Chicago City Pass holders, it’s an extra $7. There’s also a Day/Night package available, but it’s not included in the Chicago City Pass.
Regular price: 360 Chicago $25
Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the U.S. It features exciting and interactive exhibits on the topic of science. It’s not just kids and science buffs who’ll enjoy this elaborately designed museum! Downside: The Museum of Science and Industry is quite far from all the other attractions south of downtown. So if you don’t have much time, you’re better off choosing 360 Chicago.
Regular price $19.95
Pros and Cons of the Chicago City Pass:
Advantages:
- Long Validity Period: The Chicago City Pass is valid for up to one year after purchase. This means you can plan well in advance while still maintaining flexibility.
- Long Validity Period: The Chicago City Pass is valid for 9 days starting from the first day of use—that’s longer than most people even stay in the city! So you can take your time exploring everything without rushing!
- Instantly printable or mobile tickets: You don’t necessarily need the coupon booklet—you can print out the Chicago City Pass right after purchase or save it to your phone. At the attractions, all you have to do is show your smartphone.
- All the Major Attractions The Chicago City Pass covers Chicago’s major attractions—in other words, everything you’ll probably want to see anyway!
- Fast Entry: At some attractions, you can get in faster with the Chicago City Pass
Disadvantages:
- Unnecessary Options: The Chicago City Pass includes some options that you might not necessarily choose to add if you were buying them individually, such as the Sky Shows at the Adler Planetarium or the audio guide at the Art Institute
- Fast Track Isn’t Available Everywhere: Where it would really be worth it—namely, on the ride up to the Skydeck—the Chicago City Pass doesn’t grant fast access through the Fast Track entrance. The Fast Track pass costs $30 with the Chicago City Pass (regular price: $75). If you’re in a hurry, you should factor this additional cost into your budget.
Conclusion: Is the Chicago City Pass worth it?
I recommend the Chicago City Pass to anyone visiting Chicago for the first time and staying for several days! For example, the Skydeck, the Art Institute, and 360 Chicago were already on my Chicago bucket list! Without the pass, I would have paid $105 just for those three attractions—the Chicago City Pass costs $108.
The Chicago City Pass is a great value for first-time visitors and trips lasting several days!
So with 3 out of 5 attractions, you’ve already gotten your money’s worth (give or take $3). Since you have a full 9 days to redeem the other two vouchers and explore two more great (and otherwise expensive!) attractions, the Chicago City Pass is definitely worth it!
You can buy the Chicago City Pass online HERE!*
You should also check out my tips for Chicago!
Find out here what else there is to experience in Chicago:
