Chicago CityPASS: worth it or not, and when it pays off
Chicago CityPASS is a choice pass: you pick a set number of attractions from its list. CityPASS sells it in one option from USD 144 for one adult, checked October 2026.
It includes 7 attractions in our Chicago data, 7 with a published gate price, and leaves out 8. The figures below are arithmetic on those prices, not a rating of the pass.
For one adult, the 2 fixed plus 3 choices option at USD 144 does not pay for itself with the attractions we price on it.
One adult pays USD 144
Pays off for one adult on the 2 fixed plus 3 choices option: not with the attractions we price.
5 things
2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, ranked 3 of 5
Gate tickets for the planUSD 331.90
With Chicago CityPASSUSD 339.90
Pass USD 288 still at the gate USD 51.90
Close call
USD 8 more than the gate, 2% of the gate total, for this plan
Prices checked October 2026. All 3 plans, worked out: further down.
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Options and prices
CityPASS lists one option. Prices for one person in USD, from the seller's page in October 2026. The last column is the engine's break-even for one adult, with the cheapest attractions on the pass first.
Chicago CityPASS options and prices in USD, checked October 2026
Option
What you get
Adult
Child
Youth
Pays off for one adult
2 fixed plus 3 choices
3 picks, valid 9 days
USD 144
USD 114, child 3 to 11
Not published
Not with the attractions we price
Children
Child price for ages 3 to 11, on every option.
No price is published for children under 3, so the calculator leaves them out of this pass and names them on the result.
From age 12, a child pays the adult pass price. At the gate the same child may still get a youth price, which the math counts.
Days and visits
2 fixed plus 3 choices: 9 days hold up to 18 visits at a relaxed pace, 36 packed. Its 3 picks fit at either pace.
What it includes
7 attractions in our Chicago data, dearest at the gate first. Gate prices for one adult in USD, checked October 2026. The terms are our summary of what the seller states. US gate prices are before sales tax.
What Chicago CityPASS includes, with adult gate prices in USD
Chicago C3 covers all 7 attractions we price on CityPASS. The lists match, so price, picks and days decide. C3: 3 picks, valid 9 days at USD 109. CityPASS: 3 picks, valid 9 days at USD 144.
Go City Chicago All-Inclusive Pass covers 6 of the 7 attractions we price on CityPASS. Only on CityPASS: Art Institute of Chicago. Only on Go City All-Inclusive: Big Bus Chicago Discover Ticket, Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake Tour and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. One adult pays from USD 149 for Go City All-Inclusive, against USD 144 here.
3 plans, worked out
2 adults, no children, a packed pace of up to 4 visits a day. Each plan takes the attractions on this pass with a published price: our first visit picks first, then the dearest. These are worked examples of the math, not a rating of the pass.
Skip itRanked 4 of 5 for this plan
2 things
2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 128 for the 2 attractions listed below.
First on this plan: Chicago C3, Skip it; it costs USD 90 more than the gate (70% of the gate total).
2 fixed plus 3 choices. The only option for your trip. It uses 1 of its 3 picks.
USD 160more than the gate, 125% of the gate totalfor this plan
Gate tickets for the planUSD 128
With Chicago CityPASSUSD 288
Pass USD 288
No further included attraction with a published price makes this pass pay off for this plan.
2 visits in 3 days fits a packed pace of 4 a day.
Covered by the pass
Skydeck ChicagoUSD 64
Art Institute of ChicagoUSD 64
Paid at the gate
Nothing: the pass covers the whole plan.
Pass price per person
Adult x 2USD 144
Close callRanked 3 of 5 for this plan
5 things
2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 331.90 for the 5 attractions listed below.
First on this plan: Chicago C3, Close call; it saves USD 2 (under 1% of the gate total).
2 fixed plus 3 choices. The only option for your trip. It uses 3 of its 3 picks.
USD 8more than the gate, 2% of the gate totalfor this plan
Gate tickets for the planUSD 331.90
With Chicago CityPASSUSD 339.90
Pass USD 288 still at the gate USD 51.90
No further included attraction with a published price makes this pass pay off for this plan.
4 visits in 3 days fits a packed pace of 4 a day.
Covered by the pass
Skydeck ChicagoUSD 64
Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River TourUSD 92
Art Institute of ChicagoUSD 64
Field MuseumUSD 60
Paid at the gate
Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryUSD 51.90
Pass price per person
Adult x 2USD 144
Close callRanked 4 of 5 for this plan
Everything: 7 things
2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 435.90 for the 7 attractions listed below.
First on this plan: Go City Chicago Explorer Pass, Close call; it saves USD 13.90 (3% of the gate total).
2 fixed plus 3 choices. The only option for your trip. It uses 3 of its 3 picks.
USD 8more than the gate, 1% of the gate totalfor this plan
Gate tickets for the planUSD 435.90
With Chicago CityPASSUSD 443.90
Pass USD 288 still at the gate USD 155.90
No further included attraction with a published price makes this pass pay off for this plan.
4 visits in 3 days fits a packed pace of 4 a day.
Covered by the pass
Skydeck ChicagoUSD 64
Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River TourUSD 92
Art Institute of ChicagoUSD 64
Field MuseumUSD 60
Paid at the gate
360 CHICAGO Observation DeckUSD 54
Adler PlanetariumUSD 50
Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryUSD 51.90
Pass price per person
Adult x 2USD 144
Prices checked October 2026. US gate prices are before sales tax. Worth The Pass compares published prices on the date shown. Passes change what they include; check the seller's page before you buy.
It depends on how much of it you use. For 2 adults at a packed pace, at gate prices checked October 2026, on the plans worked out on this page: 2 things: Skip it, it costs USD 160 more than the gate (125% of the gate total); 5 things: Close call, it costs USD 8 more than the gate (2% of the gate total); Everything: 7 things over 3 days: Close call, it costs USD 8 more than the gate (1% of the gate total). Tick your own plan in the Chicago calculator to see your figure.
How much does the Chicago CityPASS cost?
Chicago CityPASS costs USD 144 for one adult (2 fixed plus 3 choices), checked October 2026.
What does the Chicago CityPASS include?
Chicago CityPASS includes 7 attractions in our Chicago data, 7 with a published adult gate price. The dearest at the gate: Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour (USD 46), Art Institute of Chicago (USD 32) and Skydeck Chicago (USD 32). It leaves out 8 of the 15 Chicago attractions we list.
Is there a child price for the Chicago CityPASS?
Chicago CityPASS for a child: USD 114, child 3 to 11. Child price for ages 3 to 11, on every option. No price is published for children under 3, so the calculator leaves them out of this pass and names them on the result. From age 12, a child pays the adult pass price. At the gate the same child may still get a youth price, which the math counts.
How long is the Chicago CityPASS valid?
Chicago CityPASS comes in 2 fixed plus 3 choices (3 picks, valid 9 days). The math fits your visits into those days at the pace you choose, 2 visits a day relaxed or 4 packed.
