Chicago CityPASS

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The Chicago CityPASS is your ticket to five of Chicago’s most popular attractions. The Chicago CityPASS is a great way to experience a taste of everything the Windy City has to offer visitors while saving a significant amount of money. Add it all up and you’re looking at saving roughly 50% off the price of standard admission tickets when you use a CityPASS to visit Chicago’s finest attractions.

Your Chicago CityPASS is good for admission at Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, and the Field Museum. From there, you’ll be able to pick two more attractions to visit from a list that features iconic choices like the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, and the Adler Planetarium. Your Chicago CityPASS will be valid for nine consecutive days from the time you first activate it, which means you’ll be able to save money at the same time you avoid the stress of an overly compressed schedule.

Top Included Chicago Attractions

  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Skydeck Chicago
  • Field Museum

Plus Two of the following. You can make your choices anytime.

  • Art Institute of Chicago
  • Museum of Science and Industry
  • 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck
  • Adler Planetarium

What’s Good with the Chicago CityPASS?

The Chicago CityPASS is perfect for those visitors who plan to prioritize seeing the city’s absolute most famous attractions while they’re in town. No trip to Chicago—especially for first-time guests—would truly be complete without a visit to the Field Museum, Art Institute, or Willis Tower (the legendary skyscraper that’s home to Skydeck Chicago). The Chicago CityPASS presents users with an affordable, effective means for getting to each one of these prime attractions.

Notice the emphasis above on “affordable.” That’s because one of the best elements of the Chicago CityPASS is how much money it can save you. Buying individual tickets at Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, the Field Museum, the Art Institute, and 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck would cost an adult nearly $220. Compare that amount to the price of an adult Chicago CityPASS and you’re looking at a savings of over $100.

What’s more, with a Chicago CityPASS you won’t need to stand in a long line at each attraction, waiting to buy yet another ticket. That’s because your Chicago CityPASS is the only thing you’ll need to cover admission at each attraction. In addition to money, this also saves you time and energy, as it allows you to walk right up to the entrance, get your CityPASS scanned, and start having fun straightaway.

In addition to the entrance fees many Chicago attractions include:

Shedd Aquarium – All-access admission including permanent exhibits, animal presentations, special exhibit and Stingray Touch (seasonal), plus a 4-D Experience.

Skydeck Chicago – Free Expedited Entry.

Field Museum – Get the All-Access Pass (admission to all permanent and regularly-priced ticketed exhibitions, andyour choice of one digital 3D film).

Plus your choice of admission to 2 of the following attractions:• 

Art Institute of Chicago – Fast Pass General Admission

Museum of Science and Industry, Bonus: Free one timed-entry experience (Giant Dome Theater film, Coal Mine tour, Fab Lab)

360 CHICAGO Observation Deck – Express Entry Admission

Adler Planetarium – TWO sky shows included

What Could get better?

Unlike some CityPASS options available in other cities, the Chicago CityPASS doesn’t include any sort of guided tour. Some visitors—especially those completely new to Chicago—may find this an unfortunate oversight. In a place like Chicago, where there’s so much to see and do, starting your visit with a guided tour can be a terrific way to get your bearings or see a little bit of everything during your time in town.

Likewise, some customers might be put off by the fact that two of the seven attractions available on a Chicago CityPASS are observation decks. Granted, both Skydeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO are well worth your time, but some visitors might be seeking a travel pass with a bit more variety.

Get Your Money’s Worth with a Chicago CityPASS

No matter how you approach your visit to Chicago, you’ll save a good chunk of change when using a Chicago CityPASS. Still, if you want to maximize the amount you save, you’ll do well to remember the primary rule of travel passes: always present them for admission at the most expensive attractions. That way you won’t be leaving any savings on the table whatsoever.

For instance, a Chicago CityPASS gets you in the door at Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, and the Field Museum. From there, though, you get to pick two attractions from a list of four. Your best bet in terms of savings would to be make those two picks the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck and the Art Institute of Chicago, because those two attractions have the highest standard admission price of the options available to you.

As a holder of a Chicago CityPASS, you’ll be entitled to a number of perks at several of the city’s most popular attractions. For example, your admission to Adler Planetarium includes a ticket to two sky shows, your admission to the Field Museum includes a ticket to one digital 3-D show of your choice, and your admission to Shedd Aquarium includes a ticket to certain special exhibits. Taking advantage of these bonus features will make your money go that much further while in Chicago.

Chicago CityPASS Insider Tips

Your Chicago CityPASS also entitles you to several bonus offers and upgrades. These offers and upgrades include treats like 10% off your purchase of $50 or more at Shedd Aquarium and discounted access to special exhibitions at the Museum of Science Industry. Be sure to check the official Chicago CityPASS website in advance of your visit to catch all the latest information.

Three Chicago CityPASS attractions comprise part of Chicago’s beloved Museum Campus: Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium. While it’s amazing that these world-class facilities are located directly next door to one another, and many visitors may find that incredibly convenient, don’t try and do everything in one day unless your schedule dictates that you must. You could spend an entire day in each one of these acclaimed museums, so don’t try and do too much in a single afternoon.

Some of the attractions on the Chicago CityPASS require advance reservations, and most of them aren’t open seven days a week. Make certain to take the time before your visit to look into what attraction is open when, and who requires what in terms of advance reservations.

Chicago CityPASS Coupon Codes

There are no current coupons for Chicago CityPASS. Check back again as we are constantly updating the site with new coupons.

Where to Buy the Chicago CityPASS

The card is available at many outlets. You can buy it at Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity or you can buy it once you get to Chicago but these are not great options as you may pay more. The best place the buy the card is at the CityPASS website. Buy with confide.