Chicago CityPASS Review: Is Chicago CityPASS Worth It for Families?

Chicago is one of the coolest cities to visit with kids in the United States. It’s also one of the most expensive cities to visit!

Costs add up quickly, from astronomical parking charges to hefty admission fees for top museums and attractions.

As a family of 6 that loves to travel often, we’ve perfected the art of budget travel so we can take trips more often and splurge on the experiences we value most.

That’s why the Chicago CityPASS was a valuable investment for us. We live fairly close to the Windy City and have visited many times over the years, but we’ve skipped many of the major attractions because of the cost. On our latest visit to Chicago, we had the intention of visiting the most popular tourist destinations, so we decided to use the CityPASS in order to maximize our dollars.

I reached out to CityPASS and received 2 adult passes in exchange for editorial consideration. Our family purchased 3 Child CityPasses, since our 4th child is still free for most attractions.

In this article, I’ll walk through what the CityPASS is, what attractions it includes, how it saves you money, and tips for getting the most out of your Chicago CityPASS.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What is the Chicago CityPASS?

The Chicago CityPASS is a sightseeing pass that gets you free entry into the city’s top museums and attractions. With one easy online purchase you’ll have access to 5 attractions, making the planning process simpler, which is so important for parents planning a trip!

By grouping admission fees together into one easy purchase, the city pass saves you up to 49% at the included museums and attractions. This was really important to us as parents, because the cost of visiting top sites in Chicago add up quickly with 4 kids!

We bought our tickets online and received them immediately via email, and we were able to use the QR codes from the email at the ticket counters.

You also have the option of printing out the passes, but we felt like that step was unnecessary.

How much does the Chicago CityPASS cost?

The Chicago CityPASS price is $109.00 for adults and $89 for kids ages 3-11.

Buy your Chicago CityPASS Adult (age 12+) here
Buy your Chicago CityPass Child (age 3-11) here

What is Included in the Chicago CityPASS?

There are currently 6 options included on the Chicago CityPASS, and you can choose 5 of them to visit with your pass. 3 of the attractions are always included, and you can choose 2 of the 3 options in the second category.

Always Included in the Chicago CityPASS:

Skydeck Chicago (Adult $55.00 / Child $55.00)
Shedd Aquarium (Adult $44.90 / Child $34.90)
Field Museum (Adult $40.00 / Child $29.00)

Choose 2:

360 CHICAGO Observation Tower (Adult $44.00 / Child $44.00)
Art Institute of Chicago (Adult $35.00 / Child $0.00)
Museum of Science and Industry (Adult $33.95 /Child $21.95)
Adler Planetarium is currently closed, but will be added to this category in March of 2022)

Benefits of Using the Chicago CityPASS

In additional to the permanent exhibits at the Shedd Aquarium, you’ll also have access to a 4-D experience. This would normally be an upgrade of $4.95 per person, so you’re getting even more bang for your buck! We chose the Octopus: Blue Planet II 4D Experience® since we visited later in the afternoon, and the Splash and Bubbles: 4-D Undersea Adventure, an experience geared toward little kids, only shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Expedited entry to the 103rd floor for Skydeck Chicago and admission to The Ledge
VIP Entry and All-Access Pass to the Field Museum, including a digital 3D Film.
Fast pass admission to the Art Institute Chicago.
For the Museum of Science and Industry you get to choose one timed entry experience (Giant Dome Theater film or Fab Lab)
…and Express entry to the 360 CHICAGO Observation Tower

So not only are you getting entry to these attractions at reduced prices, but for many of them you’re also getting add-on experiences or faster entry! Totally worth it with kids, in my opinion.

Is the Chicago CityPASS worth it if I’m traveling with kids?

YES! The Chicago CityPASS is worth it for families visiting Chicago. As you can see from the prices above, a Chicago CityPASS for children quickly pays for itself, even if you only visit the top 3 included attractions.

Before our trip I had debated accepting the two adult passes, but not buying the passes for kids. We were only visiting for 24 hours, and I wasn’t sure how many of the attractions we would make it to. I was worried that with long wait times we wouldn’t visit enough spots to make it worthwhile.

Despite our best effort, we only made it to the top 3 attractions, and just missed out on getting entry to 360 CHICAGO Observation Tower because we didn’t make reservations ahead of time and didn’t want to wait for 2 hours to get in.

I was feeling really mad at myself for now making a reservation, but when I added up the costs of the 3 things we had done (Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Skydeck Chicago), the kids’ CityPASS easily paid for themselves. What a relief!

So if you do plan on visiting the iconic spots in Chicago that require entry fees, definitely consider purchasing the CityPASS for the whole family.

If you prefer walking tours, boat tours, splurging on restaurants, or just enjoying free parks and attractions, the CityPASS may not be for you. I think it’s a great investment for your very first visit to Chicago, though! Some of the attractions are can’t-miss, like seeing SUE the T-Rex at the Field Museum and seeing a panoramic view of the skyline from Skydeck Chicago or 360 Chicago Observation Tower.

Tips for Using the Chicago CityPASS

First and foremost, be sure you’re reserving entry to the attractions ahead of time. This can be difficult if you have a shorter visit like us, because we didn’t know how long each thing would take, so we would reserve our earliest visit, then try to put in reservations for the other ones as the day went on.
Along those lines, try to use the Chicago CityPASS on a longer visit to the city. It can be really hard to fit everything you want to do into a short weekend visit like we did, especially when young children are involved. They get tired of walking, they want to stop and rest or eat, and you don’t want to ruin the experience by rushing them around the city.
Try to group together a few of attractions that are closer in location so you can save on parking. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium (when it’s open again) are all located on Museum Campus near Soldier Field, so you can try combining your visits there!
Have your email with your ticket and your ID out and ready when you get to the ticket counter.
You have one year from the date of purchase to begin using your Chicago CityPASS, so feel free to purchase them ahead of time if you’re planning your trip to Chicago right now. Once you use your first ticket, you have 9 days until the pass expires.

SUE the TRex at Field Museum Chicago.jpg

Description of What’s Included with the CityPASS for Chicago

Chicago 360 Observation Deck

Chicago 360 Observation Deck is located the 94th floor of the John Hancock building. It offers panoramic views of the Windy City skyline in every direction.

Not included in the CityPASS is 360 Chicago’s TILT! TILT is Chicago’s highest thrill ride that offers downward facing views of the city for only $8 per person!

Since the lines for TILT were long, and we visited later in the evening with a tired toddler, we decided to skip it, but we hope to visit again sometime with our 8-year-old, since she was so disappointed she didn’t get to try it!

We loved this place because it was right across the street from our hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago!

Field Museum

This is a natural history museum whose claim to fame is the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton in the world named SUE.

If your kids are really into dinosaurs this is such a fun and educational place to go. Beyond dinosaurs, you can learn about other cultures, plants, animals, and artifacts from around the world. You’ll never be able to see everything in the Field Museum, so take your time perusing what interests you!

Don’t forget a 3D movie is included with your CItyPass!

Shedd Aquarium

We’ve been to MANY aquariums on our travels, but the things that stand out to me at the Shedd Aquarium are the beluga whales, which was my absolute favorite exhibit! You can even pay extra for a Beluga Encounter with a trainer. We didn’t have time to do that, but it looked so cool!

My daughter loved petting the stingrays, which is free and included in admission to the aquarium. The Polar Play Zone is perfect for families with little ones like ours, and we really enjoyed the Underwater Beauty Exhibit, which focuses on the colors, patterns, and rhythms of the ocean.

Art Institute of Chicago

If you love art or have a budding artist in your family, then be sure to stop at the Art Institute of Chicago to see a wide range of paintings, sculptures, and other exhibits that will leave you in awe.

Children under 14 have FREE admission to the Art Institute, and the museum even has designated family spaces such as the Ryan Learning Center and the Family Room

Skydeck Chicago

Located in the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), the Skydeck Chicago experience is awesome because it includes The Ledge, a glass box that extends over 4 feet from the building!

Similar to the 360 Observation Deck, this attraction offers incredible views of the city. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up fitting this into our trip because we forgot to reserve a time!

Museum of Science and Industry

Curious little learners will love this museum where you can learn about aviation, storms, energy, submarines, trains, ice, a fairy castle, a mirror maze, and more!

Not much beats a hands-on museum for keeping kids entertained! Don't forget that the CityPASS includes one timed entry experience here!

Adler Planetarium

The Planetarium is currently closed, but once it’s open again, you can learn about the solar system, view the sun safely in the Doane Observatory, or the stars and planets at night, learn about astronomy and more.

In my opinion, the Chicago CityPASS is well worth it if you plan on visiting the main attractions as a family.

Hopefully this pass helps you get the most out of your visit to Chicago. It’s an incredible city and one of the top destinations for families with young children. You’ll never run out of things to do here!