What You Need To Know About Chicago CityPass

I love being a tourist in new cities. Not the wandering around not knowing where to go part, but viewing things the city is known for. While not everyone likes to be a tourist, for those who do the CityPass is a great option. Chicago CityPass was a great addition to our trip to the windy city!

Who is CityPass?

CityPASS itself is a company that has combined top attractions around major cities so you can enjoy the major destinations at a fraction of the cost. They offer passes in most major cities like New York City, Boston, San Francisco, and many more!

What is included with Chicago CityPass?

Chicago CityPASS includes:

Priority Entry to the Shedd Aquarium
Fast Pass to Skydeck Chicago
VIP Entry to The Field Museum
Museum of Science and Industry OR 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck-Express Entry
Adler Planetarium-VIP Entry OR Art Institute of Chicago-Fast Pass

Where is Chicago CityPass available?

Clearly, these are all located in Chicago, but depending on what your selections are, it is easier to hit some in groups. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium are all next to each other so plan to hit those all on the same day.

The view down there is arguably my favorite in the city so if you are making a day of it, try to stick around for sunset or later to see the city lit up. Chicago does have a bike sharing program with locations throughout the city as well to reach some of these destinations if you are up for a more scenic route.

The Museum of Science and Industry is the only one that is further down from most of the city, so keep that in mind when you are deciding where to go and if your schedule allows for the drive.

The Art Institute of Chicago is a quick walk from Cloud Gate and Buckingham Fountain so this one is very easy to get too.

Skydeck and 360 Chicago are both still easy to venture too. Depending on where you are staying, you might be able to walk to one!

When can you use Chicago CityPass?

The great thing about Chicago CityPASS is that it is good for a 9-day period. Whether you are going for a quick trip or want to spread things out, you don’t have to race to hit all of them within a day or two if you don’t want too!

Why you should get Chicago CityPass?

The reason for getting a Chicago CityPASS will differ between groups. We purchased ours because we feel that being tourists in a new city is something that really gives you a better understanding of the city’s history and what it has to offer.

We love hitting attractions that are off the beaten path as well, but after living in a major city for years, it baffles me how people will skip seeing certain things because they don’t want to appear as a “tourist.”

The CityPASS will easily save you money if you were to hit these places anyway. Before you buy the pass, look at the attractions and make sure they are places your group would want to visit in the first place.

Advice for using CityPass

I would 100% recommend this pass to anyone who wants to see the top places Chicago has to offer, but I have to explain a few things. For starters, the only real “express entry” passes that are helpful are Skydeck and 360 Chicago. The rest I’m not entirely sure how they get away with claiming they are quicker.

We waited at least 20 minutes outside to get into the Shedd Aquarium. If you go early enough, the express entry is almost negated because no one is there yet. When I say early enough, I mean before the doors open. We went to 360 Chicago the last morning we were there right when it opened. There were only 3 other people waiting in line.

When we went to Skydeck we arrived about an hour after they opened and the standby line was about 45 minutes long vs our 10-minute wait (which was mostly just walking through the line queue).

You should also really consider how much time the attractions will take. The museums can range from 1-2 hours easily each. Skydeck and 360 Chicago time really depend on timing and your group. The line can still be decently long for either depending on when you go.

You can also be up there for awhile taking in the sights of the city. If you are only in Chicago for a night, you will be rushing to get these done. We stayed for 3 nights and we had time to see what we wanted and get our money’s worth.