Chicago CityPASS and Go City Chicago Explorer Pass are both choice passes: you pick a set number of attractions from each list. One adult pays from USD 144 for CityPASS and from USD 109 for Go City Explorer, checked October 2026.
We price 10 attractions on one or both of them, and both include 6. Only CityPASS has Art Institute of Chicago; only Go City Explorer has Big Bus Chicago Discover Ticket, Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake Tour and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
On the 3 plans worked out below for 2 adults, Go City Explorer costs less on all 3. The figures are arithmetic on published prices, not a rating of either pass.
CityPASS, adult from
USD 144
Go City Explorer, adult from
USD 109
Priced on both
6 of 10
Prices checked
October 2026
The two passes on 3 plans
2 adults, no children, a packed pace of up to 4 visits a day. Each plan takes the attractions with a published price that either pass includes: our first visit picks first, then the dearest. Real cost is the pass for the group plus the tickets it leaves at the gate.
Chicago CityPASS and Go City Chicago Explorer Pass on each plan, for 2 adults in USD
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.
Options and prices side by side
Every option each seller lists. The last column is the engine's break-even for one adult, with the cheapest attractions on the pass first.
Choice of attractions, sold by Go City. Prices for one person in USD, checked October 2026.
Go City Chicago Explorer Pass options and prices in USD, checked October 2026
Option
Adult
Child
Pays off for one adult
3 picks, valid 30 days
USD 109
USD 79, child 3 to 12
Only with its 3 dearest picks within the seller's rules
4 picks, valid 30 days
USD 134
USD 99, child 3 to 12
Only with its 4 dearest picks within the seller's rules
5 picks, valid 30 days
USD 159
USD 109, child 3 to 12
Only with its 4 dearest picks within the seller's rules
6 picks, valid 30 days
USD 179
USD 119, child 3 to 12
Only with its 5 dearest picks within the seller's rules
7 picks, valid 30 days
USD 189
USD 129, child 3 to 12
After 7 of its priced attractions, within the seller's rules
What each one includes
11 attractions in our Chicago data are on one or both passes, dearest at the gate first. Adult gate prices in USD, checked October 2026; the terms are our summary of what each seller states. US gate prices are before sales tax.
Attractions on Chicago CityPASS and Go City Chicago Explorer Pass, with adult gate prices in USD
One of the picks. Booking needed, also with the pass. One visit
One of the picks
Adler Planetarium
USD 25from
One of the picks. Booking needed, also with the pass. One visit
One of the picks
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
USD 22
Not included
One of the picks
Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier
Price not published
Not included
One of the picks
2 things
Skydeck Chicago and Art Institute of Chicago. 2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 128 for the group. Go City Explorer costs USD 6 less than CityPASS for this plan: USD 282 for the group, pass and gate tickets together.
Skip itRanked 4 of 5 for this plan
Chicago CityPASS
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
Skip itRanked 3 of 5 for this plan
Go City Chicago Explorer Pass
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).
3 attractions. Of the options that fit 3 days at a packed pace, this one has the smallest loss. It uses 1 of its 3 picks.
USD 154more than the gate, 120% of the gate totalfor this plan
Gate tickets for the planUSD 128
With Go City Chicago Explorer PassUSD 282
Pass USD 218 still at the gate USD 64
It pays off only with dearer picks within the seller's rules: 2 more, for example Big Bus Chicago Discover Ticket and Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour.
1 visit in 3 days fits a packed pace of 4 a day.
Covered by the pass
Skydeck ChicagoUSD 64
Paid at the gate
Art Institute of ChicagoUSD 64
Pass price per person
Adult x 2USD 109
Also includes Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier, with no published standard price, so we cannot count it.
5 things
Skydeck Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. 2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 331.90 for the group. Go City Explorer costs USD 7.90 less than CityPASS for this plan: USD 332 for the group, pass and gate tickets together.
Close callRanked 3 of 5 for this plan
Chicago CityPASS
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 2 of 5 for this plan
Go City Chicago Explorer Pass
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).
4 attractions. Of the options that fit 3 days at a packed pace, this one has the smallest loss. It uses 4 of its 4 picks.
USD 0.10more than the gate, under 1% of the gate totalfor this plan
Gate tickets for the planUSD 331.90
With Go City Chicago Explorer PassUSD 332
Pass USD 268 still at the gate USD 64
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
Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River TourUSD 92
Skydeck ChicagoUSD 64
Field MuseumUSD 60
Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryUSD 51.90
Paid at the gate
Art Institute of ChicagoUSD 64
Pass price per person
Adult x 2USD 134
Also includes Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier, with no published standard price, so we cannot count it.
Everything: 10 things
Skydeck Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Big Bus Chicago Discover Ticket, Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake Tour, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, Adler Planetarium and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. 2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 645.90 for the group. Go City Explorer costs USD 117.90 less than CityPASS for this plan: USD 536 for the group, pass and gate tickets together.
Close callRanked 5 of 5 for this plan
Chicago CityPASS
2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 645.90 for the 10 attractions listed below.
First on this plan: Go City Chicago Explorer Pass, Worth it; it saves USD 109.90 (17% 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 645.90
With Chicago CityPASSUSD 653.90
Pass USD 288 still at the gate USD 365.90
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
Big Bus Chicago Discover TicketUSD 98
Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryUSD 51.90
Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoUSD 44
Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake TourUSD 68
Pass price per person
Adult x 2USD 144
Worth itRanked 1 of 5 for this plan
Go City Chicago Explorer Pass
2 adults, 3 days at a packed pace, gate total USD 645.90 for the 10 attractions listed below.
Next on this plan: Go City Chicago All-Inclusive Pass, Worth it; it saves USD 103.90 (16% of the gate total).
7 attractions. Of the options that fit 3 days at a packed pace, this one has the highest saving. It uses 7 of its 7 picks.
USD 109.90less than the gate, 17% of the gate totalfor this plan
Gate tickets for the planUSD 645.90
With Go City Chicago Explorer PassUSD 536
Pass USD 378 still at the gate USD 158
It pays off already for this plan.
7 visits in 3 days fits a packed pace of 4 a day.
Covered by the pass
Big Bus Chicago Discover TicketUSD 98
Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River TourUSD 92
Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake TourUSD 68
Skydeck ChicagoUSD 64
Field MuseumUSD 60
360 CHICAGO Observation DeckUSD 54
Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryUSD 51.90
Paid at the gate
Adler PlanetariumUSD 50
Art Institute of ChicagoUSD 64
Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoUSD 44
Pass price per person
Adult x 2USD 189
Also includes Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier, with no published standard price, so we cannot count it.
The sellers' own pages
Passes change what they include. Read each seller's terms before you buy.
Which costs less, Chicago CityPASS or Go City Chicago Explorer Pass?
One adult pays from USD 144 for Chicago CityPASS and from USD 109 for Go City Chicago Explorer Pass, checked October 2026. The price alone does not settle it. For 2 adults at a packed pace: 2 things: Go City Explorer costs USD 6 less; CityPASS Skip it, Go City Explorer Skip it. 5 things: Go City Explorer costs USD 7.90 less; CityPASS Close call, Go City Explorer Close call. Everything: 10 things: Go City Explorer costs USD 117.90 less; CityPASS Close call, Go City Explorer Worth it. Tick your own plan in the Chicago calculator to see which comes out lower for you.
What does Chicago CityPASS include that Go City Chicago Explorer Pass does not?
Chicago CityPASS includes 1 attraction with a published price that Go City Chicago Explorer Pass leaves out: Art Institute of Chicago (USD 32). Prices for one adult at the gate, checked October 2026.
What does Go City Chicago Explorer Pass include that Chicago CityPASS does not?
Go City Chicago Explorer Pass includes 3 attractions with a published price that Chicago CityPASS leaves out: Big Bus Chicago Discover Ticket (USD 49), Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake Tour (USD 34) and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (USD 22). Prices for one adult at the gate, checked October 2026.
Do Chicago CityPASS and Go City Chicago Explorer Pass have child prices?
Chicago CityPASS: USD 114, child 3 to 11. Go City Chicago Explorer Pass: USD 79 to USD 129, child 3 to 12. Enter each child's age in the calculator: the band that applies is shown next to each price.
How long are Chicago CityPASS and Go City Chicago Explorer Pass valid?
Chicago CityPASS comes in 3 picks, valid 9 days. Go City Chicago Explorer Pass comes in 3 picks, valid 30 days, 4 picks, valid 30 days, 5 picks, valid 30 days, 6 picks, valid 30 days and 7 picks, valid 30 days. The math fits your visits into those days at 2 a day relaxed or 4 a day packed.
