Is Chicago CityPASS Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itYes if you'd visit Shedd Aquarium, the Willis Tower Skydeck and three of the Museum Campus or river options anyway. CityPASS puts the regular total at $288.90.
- Skip itNo if Shedd or Skydeck isn't on your list. Both are fixed, so you'd pay for a visit you won't make.
- Skip itNo for a long weekend of Millennium Park, the Riverwalk and food: those cost nothing.
- $144 adult
- Shedd + Skydeck + 3
- 9 days to use it
What is Chicago CityPASS?
Chicago CityPASS bundles two fixed tickets, Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck at Willis Tower, with three you choose from six; all five must be used within nine days of the first.
In Chicago it bundles the Museum Campus (Shedd, Field, Adler) with Skydeck, so two days on the lakefront cover most of it.
The seller advertises savings of up to 50% compared with buying each ticket separately. Realistic for most first-timers doing all five.
- Attractions
- 5 (2 fixed + 3 of 6)
- Price
- $144 adult, $114 child
- Time to use
- 9 days
- Advertised saving
- Up to 50%
How to get the most value out of Chicago CityPASS
Shedd, the Field Museum and Adler sit side by side on the Museum Campus; pick them together.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Do Skydeck and 360 CHICAGO both | Two observation decks with similar views. Pick one and use the slot on the architecture cruise instead. |
| Leave reservations to the day | Shedd, Skydeck, the cruise, 360, Griffin and Adler need reservations. Book in the CityPASS app. |
| Do Shedd at midday at the weekend | It's busiest then. Book the first slot. |
| Pick both decks | Skydeck is fixed in the pass; use your choice on the architecture cruise instead of 360 CHICAGO. |
| Head to Shedd Aquarium without checking how busy it is | Check Shedd Aquarium's live crowd level on beatthecrowd.co first. If it's busy, do another Chicago sight on your pass and come back later. |
Before you set off for Shedd Aquarium, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. An hour in a queue is an hour of your pass gone.
Check live crowds in Chicago →Who Chicago CityPASS is for
Good fit
- First-time visitors spending 3-5 days in the Loop
- Families: child tickets $114 for ages 3-11
- Museum Campus fans: Shedd, the Field and Adler sit side by side
Skip it if
- You'd skip Shedd or Skydeck
- You only want the Art Institute (from $32) and one deck
- $144 adult
- Shedd + Skydeck + 3
- 9 days to use it
What the pass covers
Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck are fixed, plus 3 of these 6:
- Shedd, the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium share the Museum Campus, so three of your five can be one long day.
- 360 CHICAGO and Skydeck are both observation decks; with Skydeck already fixed, most people use the slot elsewhere.
The big sights
- Shedd AquariumBook a slot
- Skydeck ChicagoBook a slot$32 on its own.
- Architecture river cruise (Shoreline)Book a slot
- Field MuseumIncluded
- 360 CHICAGOBook a slotFrom $27 online.
- Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryBook a slot
- Art Institute of ChicagoIncludedFrom $32 for visitors.
- Adler PlanetariumBook a slot
- $144 adult
- Shedd + Skydeck + 3
- 9 days to use it
Pass vs individual tickets
CityPASS sets $144 against a box-office total of $288.90 for its five. Skydeck and the Art Institute alone are $64, so the pass pays off once you add Shedd and two more.
Our prices for three of the five
| Attraction | Adult ticket bought separately |
|---|---|
| Skydeck Chicago | From $32 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | From $32 |
| 360 CHICAGO | From $27 online ($35 at the door) |
| Chicago CityPASS (5 attractions) | $144 |
- $144 adult
- Shedd + Skydeck + 3
- 9 days to use it
Fine print
- Validity
- 9 days from your first visit; start within a year of purchase.
- Reservations
- Most attractions need one.
- Refunds
- CityPASS gives a full refund on unused tickets within 365 days of purchase. Once you've visited any attraction it can't be refunded, and tickets bought through a reseller are refunded by that reseller.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: Chicago CityPASS is CityPASS's own product, sold through GetYourGuide.
- Reassuring: Refunds: CityPASS gives a full refund on unused tickets within 365 days of purchase. Once you've visited any attraction it can't be refunded, and tickets bought through a reseller are refunded by that reseller.
- Watch out: Most attractions need reservations.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Skip the architecture cruise | It's one of the best uses of a choice slot. |
| Book late in the nine days | Book every reservation as soon as you start. |
| Queue at Shedd Aquarium at peak time | Check beatthecrowd.co for Shedd Aquarium's quiet hours before you go. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value in Chicago. Check which sights are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, starting with Shedd Aquarium.
Check live crowds in Chicago →- $144 adult
- Shedd + Skydeck + 3
- 9 days to use it
Alternatives
Planning your order and avoiding queues is the simplest way to get full value: see how busy Chicago’s attractions are right now →
- $144 adult
- Shedd + Skydeck + 3
- 9 days to use it
FAQs
Is Chicago CityPASS worth it?
+
Yes if Shedd, Skydeck and three more are on your list: CityPASS puts the regular total at $288.90, against $144.
What's included in Chicago CityPASS?
+
Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck, plus 3 of: the architecture cruise, Field Museum, 360 CHICAGO, Griffin Museum, Art Institute and Adler Planetarium.
Does Chicago CityPASS include the Art Institute?
+
Yes, as one of the six options. On its own it's from $32 for visitors.
Which Chicago CityPASS attractions need a reservation?
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Shedd, Skydeck, the Shoreline cruise, 360 CHICAGO, the Griffin Museum and Adler. Book them in the CityPASS app.
How long do I have to use it?
+
Nine days from your first visit or reservation; start within a year of buying.