If you’re coming to the Windy City and would like to visit several of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, the most affordable way to do so is by purchasing a Chicago Pass.
Chicago skyscrapers seen over the river (Photo: Conal Gallagher via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
There are two different types of City Pass available in Chicago, both of which offer access to a wide number of the city’s most renowned landmarks, activities and experiences. Passes are typically valid for multiple days – sometimes an entire year – giving travellers the opportunity to keep their plans as flexible and spread out as possible. However, there are also key differences between the passes that you should be aware of when deciding the right one for you – and we’ve identified them below.
Chicago CityPASS
The Chicago CityPASS includes access to up to five designated city activities and attractions from a choice of eight: the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, an architecture river tour, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, the Art Institute of Chicago and Adler Planetarium. The digitally stored tickets are valid for up to 9 days from the first day of use and promise up to 48% savings on individual admission to the equivalent attractions. Pricing for the CityPASS starts at $139.
Chicago Go City Explorer Pass
For even greater choice, not to mention a slightly higher saving, The Chicago Explorer Pass by Go City allows you to pick from anywhere between 2 and 10 top attractions from a selection of 30. Passes are valid for two months and can save you up to 50% compared with booking tickets for the same attractions separately. Passes can be stored on your smartphone so you don’t need to worry about losing physical versions and they also act as digital guides offering tons of useful information about Chicago and the various attractions that are included. Pricing starts at $84 per person.