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Attraction Passes Chicago
Chicago Attraction Pass, Go City Card and Other Pre-Packaged Chicago Attraction Pass
Chicago city has many things to do and see, and if you are planning to visit as much as you can during your visit then it may end up very expensive. But, thanks to discount Chicago attraction passes.
In this post, I have covered all available Chicago attraction passes – Chicago City Pass, Go City Chicago Card and other pre-packaged Chicago attraction passes, which can save you a lot of money on admission to top attractions.
This post will help you get all necessary details associated with each Chicago attraction pass, along with comparison of discounted Chicago attraction passes for you to decide whether which Chicago tourist discount pass fits best for your trip.
Brief about Chicago Attraction Passes – Chicago Discount Passes
Go City Chicago Cards
Go Chicago City passes come in two different types – Go City Chicago all-inclusive pass and Explorer Pass that let you pick attractions of your choice.
All-inclusive Go City Chicago pass includes admission to over 26 attractions, tours and activities. This all-inclusive pass comes in different number of days for different prices.
Considering the number of included Chicago’s top attractions, all-inclusive Go City Chicago pass will cost you more compared to other Chicago attraction pass.
If you are planning to spend few days in Chicago and explore as much as you can then all-inclusive Go City Chicago pass is your best choice.
With all-inclusive Go City Chicago Card, you can explore for 1, 2, 3, or 5 calendar days in a row. You will be able to save over 55% on admission to top attractions, but be prepared to explore Chicago continuously.
Explorer Pass gives you an opportunity to explore 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from included top attractions, for one low price.
Go city explorer pass attractions selection list contains fewer attractions compared to all-inclusive Go city Chicago pass. I would say, still the selection list of attractions is large.
With go city Chicago explorer pass, you start saving more as you add more attractions to your pass. You can save up to 25% with Chicago explorer passes.
Chicago City Pass
Chicago City Pass can save up to 55% on admission to Chicago’s top 5 attractions. If you are planning to visit 3 or more attractions in Chicago then Chicago CityPass can save you good amount of money.
Is it Worth Using Chicago Discounted Attraction Passes ?
In my opinion, traveler must consider to utilize tourist attraction pass to explore Chicago. At first, you may think that tourist passes are expensive, lot of money! But keep in mind, it is one price for included attractions on the selected tourist pass.
When you calculate the individual admission tickets costs of attraction, you will be able to find out that these Chicago attraction passes can save you big amount of money.
I recommend that visitor must decide the list of attractions they are planning to visit in advance before coming to Chicago. Once you have list of attractions, find out which Chicago attraction pass fits well for you.
I insist visitors to utilize Chicago attraction pass, either Go Chicago Card or Chicago City Pass to explore Chicago. These Chicago attraction passes are good if visitors are planning to explore at least three or more attractions.
Chicago Discounted Passes – Chicago Attraction Passes
Go City Chicago Cards
Go City Chicago All-Inclusive Pass
All-inclusive Go City Chicago Card includes Chicago’s almost all attractions. It gives visitors an opportunity to explore as much as they can for one low price.
Go City Chicago pass comes in length of different number of days – 1, 2, 3 and 5 consecutive days. Visitors must keep themselves busy exploring Chicago if they want to take full benefit of the all-inclusive Go city Chicago pass.
All-inclusive Go City Chicago pass can save up to 55% on admission to top attractions. As of 2019, there are total 29 attractions and activities are included on all-inclusive Go Chicago Card.
You have one full year from the date of purchase to use Go Chicago Card. Visitors can get refund for unused cards within 30 days of Go Chicago Card purchase.
Your all-inclusive Go City Chicago Card gets activated with the first use at any attraction. I recommend to use attraction pass early in the morning to get the full day of access.
These Go City Chicago attraction pass doesn’t go by hours, it goes by 12:00 am to 12:00 am, 24 hours validity. If you activate your Go City Chicago Card in the middle of the day then you have only few hours to access attraction, as attraction closes in the evening, they are not open 24×7.
If you are planning to visit fewer attractions then I recommend you to use Explorer Pass.
Go City Chicago Card comes with unlimited access in limited time.
I recommend to plan ahead to decide which attractions you will be visiting. You must try to group attractions together to save time on travel, and explore more. Chicago is known for traffic, so try to pick nearby attractions to save on commute time.
Planning your attraction itinerary in advance will help you take maximum advantage of all-inclusive Go City Chicago pass. You may like my sample one-day Chicago itinerary with Go City Chicago pass.
Attractions Included in All-Inclusive Go City Chicago Pass
As of today there are 29 attractions included with Go Chicago Card. Click here to check the full list of attractions, activities and tours included with all-inclusive Go Chicago card.
Go City Chicago Pass Price (As of December 2024)
1-Day:
Adults $134
Children (ages 3-12) $89
2-Day:
Adults $184
Children $124
3-Day:
Adults $209
Children $139
5-Day:
Adults $244
Children $179
Click here to get current price or to purchase all-inclusive Go City Chicago Pass.
How to buy all-inclusive Go City Chicago Pass ?
You can buy all-inclusive Go City Chicago pass online and get it delivered electronically to your email. Once you receive confirmation number in email, all you have to do is to download Go City App and sync your pass using confirmation provided in email.
Explorer Pass (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions)
Go City Chicago Explorer Pass gives you option to customize your pass from the list of pre-selected attractions. You get less number of attractions compared to all-inclusive Go City Chicago pass, but still it is large list that also includes top attractions such as Field Museum, Art Institute, Adler Planetarium and SkyDeck Chicago.
With Explorer Pass you get flexibility of not pre-selecting attractions at the time of purchase. You can choose attractions as you go from the list of included attractions on you custom Chicago attraction pass.
Your Go City Explorer Pass gets activated with the visit at first attraction. After your Explorer pass gets activated, you have 30 days to use your pass.
Attractions Included in Explorer Pass
There are list of attractions to select from to create your Explorer Pass. Visitors can select 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from the pre-decided attractions list. Click here to check the available attractions for Explorer Pass.
Explorer Pass Prices (as of December 2024):
3 Attraction Pass:
Adults $109
Children (ages 3-12) $79
4 Attraction Pass:
Adults $139
Children (ages 3-12) $89
5 Attraction Pass:
Adults: $154
Children (ages 3-12): $109
Click here to get current price or to purchase Chicago Explorer Pass.
You can save good amount of money on admission to top attractions with this Chicago attraction pass, especially if you visit expensive attractions such as SkyDeck Chicago, the Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium and more.
How to buy Chicago Explorer Pass?
You can buy Chicago Explorer Pass online and get it delivered electronically to your email. Once you receive confirmation email, download Go City app on your phone and use confirmation number from email to sync your pass on app.
It doesn’t activate your pass when you sync it on app, it only gets activated when you use it first time at any attraction.
Tips on Go City Chicago Pass
- All-Inclusive Go City Chicago pass is good for someone planning to explore Chicago as much as they can over few days.
- Activate all-inclusive Go City Chicago pass early in the morning to take advantage of full day.
- Explorer Pass is perfect for visitors planning to visit 3 or more attractions in Chicago.
- Both Go City Chicago passes come with 30 Days return policy.
- With Go City Passes, visitors can skip the ticket line at majority of attractions.
Chicago CityPASS
Tourists who are planning to visit Chicago’s top 5 attractions, then I recommend them to go for Chicago CityPASS. This Chicago attraction pass will save up to 50% on admission tickets, plus gets you admission to Chicago’s top 5 attractions.
Chicago CityPass has pre-selected set of attractions. Chicago City Pass includes three mandatory attractions and gives you choices for two attractions from the pre-selected choices.
Attractions Included in the Chicago CityPASS
Shedd Aquarium – PRIORITY ENTRY
SkyDeck Chicago – DAY/NIGHT ADMISSION
Field Museum – ALL-ACCESS PASS
Adler Planetarium – PREMIUM PASS OR Art Institute of Chicago – FAST PASS
Museum of Science and Industry – ENTRY +1 TICKETED EXPERIENCE OR 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck – EXPRESS ENTRY
The Chicago CityPASS is a good choice for tourists planning to cover at least 3 or more attractions at their own pace without feeling any time pressure.
Visitors get 9-day period from the first use of Chicago CityPASS. In my opinion, it’s one of the best Chicago attraction pass as you have plenty of time to cover all top 5 attractions in Chicago.
Chicago CityPASS Prices (as of December 2024):
Adults: $139 compared to admission ticket price at gate $268
Children (ages 3-11): $109 compared to admission ticket price at gate $220
Click here to get current price or to purchase Chicago CityPass.
I recommend to plan your Chicago itinerary ahead of time, even before coming to Chicago. That will help you utilize your time efficiently. Refer my suggested 3-Day Chicago itinerary using Chicago City Pass.
Day 1:
Stop 1: SkyDeck Chicago
Stop 2: Shedd Aquarium
Day 2:
Stop 1: Field Museum of History
Stop 2: Adler Planetarium or Art Institute of Chicago
Day 3:
Stop 3: Museum of Science and Industry – ENTRY +1 TICKETED EXPERIENCE OR 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck – EXPRESS ENTRY
Tips: SkyDeck Chicago and 360 Chicago Observation Deck are similar in nature, so I recommend to avoid 360 Chicago Observation Deck, unless you really want to experience TILT.
How to buy Chicago CityPASS?
You can buy Chicago CityPASS online or even at any one of their partner attractions. I recommend to purchase Chicago CityPASS online before you arrive to Chicago.
Pre-Selected Viator VIP
Pre-Selected Viator VIP: Willis Tower SkyDeck Early Access, Trolley City Tour and Chicago River Cruise
Viator VIP package is a group package that includes early admission to Willis Tower SkyDeck, 2 hours narrated trolley city tour and Chicago River Cruise. This package is a good option for first time visitors to Chicago, who wants to go around the city and explore in a day.
Name says it, Viator VIP package is only available through Viator. Your group tour of Chicago begins at Willis (Sears) Tower with early admission privilege. Enjoy excellent views of Chicago city skyline and walk outward on glass bottom window at 1,353 feet height.
After SkyDeck Chicago, you will board on 2 hours guided trolley city tour to explore the windy city. Chicago trolley tour will take you around Chicago’s world famous building, attractions and sights.
Trolley will stop at world famous Millennium Park, do not forget to take photos at the Cloud Gate, “The Bean”, and Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Your trolley tour will end at Navy Pier and you will have one hour time to relax and eat lunch before you board on 75 minutes long guided architecture Chicago River cruise.
Attraction Included in Viator VIP Package:
SkyDeck Chicago Early Access
2 Hour Chicago Trolley Tour
Architecture Chicago River Cruise
Viator VIP Package Price as of 2019:
Per Person: $124
Click here to purchase Viator VIP Package.
With this VIP Package, you do not save money. It’s more of convenience than savings. Just because your tour has SkyDeck Chicago, you must check weather before booking VIP Package. On cloudy and day, visit to SkyDeck is a big NO! You WILL NOT enjoy at all!
Conclusion
I recommend one of the Go Chicago Cards or Chicago CityPASS to explore more and spend less. All-Inclusive Go City Chicago Pass is perfect for visitors who are looking to spend 3 to 5 days to explore Chicago.
In my opinion, Chicago CityPASS is perfect for tourists who are looking to visit Chicago’s top 5 attractions. I would say the best Chicago attraction pass for 3-Days Chicago itinerary.
For those who are planning to visit Chicago for 2-Days then Chicago Explorer Pass is a good option for 2-Day Chicago itinerary.
