Go City Chicago Pass or Chicago City Pass

Chicago CityPASS vs Go City: Which Chicago Attraction Pass Saves You More Money?

Planning a trip to Chicago can get expensive fast especially once you start adding up ticket prices for museums, observation decks, cruises and attractions.

If you’ve landed here then chances are you’re trying to decide between two of the most popular sightseeing passes: Chicago CityPASS vs Go City.

As a Chicago local and travel blogger, I’ve helped thousands of visitors plan smarter Chicago trips and believe me this comparison comes up all the time.

I will be honest, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The better pass depends on how many days you have, how fast you like to travel and which attractions you actually want to visit.

In this Chicago attraction pass comparison  post I will break down all details about pricing, included attractions, flexibility, pros & cons and towards the end I will explain real-world scenarios so you can confidently choose the pass that saves you the most money and time.

👉 Primary goal: Compare Chicago passes & save money
👉 Secondary goal: Check current CityPASS prices before your trip

Let’s get into the comparison.

What Is Chicago CityPASS?

CityPASS is one of the most well-known attraction pass brands in the U.S. and Chicago CityPASS is created for first-time visitors who want to see the city’s popular attractions and landmarks without overplanning.

What Chicago CityPASS Includes

At the time of writing this post, Chicago CityPASS covers 5 major attractions with a mix of fixed and choice-based entries:

Included (must-do):

• Shedd Aquarium
• Skydeck Chicago

Choose 3 from the following:

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

Key CityPASS Features

• Valid for 9 consecutive days
• Mobile tickets accepted
• Skip-the-line entry at select attractions
• One upfront price, no decisions during your trip

I would say CityPASS is all about simplicity and value, as I believe that for the first time visitor your itinerary includes Chicago’s top museums.

What Is Go City Chicago?

Go City (formerly Go Chicago Pass) is a more flexible, build-your-own sightseeing option.

Instead of locking you into a fixed list of attractions this Go City pass lets you choose how many attractions you want to visit from included over 25+ Chicago attractions.

Go City Pass Options

You can choose between two formats:

1. All-Inclusive Pass (by days)

• 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days
• Visit as many attractions as you want per day

2. Explorer Pass (by attractions)

• Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions
• Valid for 60 days

Popular Go City Attractions

• Navy Pier Centennial Wheel
• Architecture River Cruise
• Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• Skydeck Chicago
• 360 CHICAGO
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Field Museum
• Adler Planetarium
• Chicago food tours
• Bike rentals

Go City is ideal if you want mix of everything such as tours and experiences beyond museums.

Chicago CityPASS vs Go City: Side-by-Side Comparison

Attraction Coverage

Feature	Chicago CityPASS	Go City
Number of attractions	5	25+
Museums	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Observation decks	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Tours & experiences	❌ No	✅ Yes
Food tours	❌ No	✅ Yes
Bus tours	❌ No	✅ Yes

If you want museums only → CityPASS wins
If you want tours + experiences → Go City wins

Pricing Breakdown: Which Pass Is Cheaper?

This part is my favorite as I love numbers and savings. Over the year I have noticed that pricing can change seasonally so always check live prices. But here’s the typical value comparison.

Chicago CityPASS Pricing (Approx.)

• Adult: ~$135
• Child: ~$115

If you buy admission tickets individually for these attractions then you will end up paying easily more than $200+. So in my opinion this makes CityPASS a solid value if you plan to visit all five.

👉 Check current CityPASS prices before booking

Go City Pricing (Varies)

• Explorer Pass (3 attractions): ~$109
• All-Inclusive 2-Day Pass: ~$139
• 3-Day Pass: ~$179

If you noticed then Go City can be cheaper or more expensive depending on how aggressively you tour. Exactly, it depends on the length of your stay in Chicago to explore number of attractions and experiences including tours.

Real-Life Scenarios: Which Pass Should You Choose?

Choose Chicago CityPASS If:

• This is your first trip to Chicago
• You want top museums only
• You prefer a slow, relaxed pace to explore Chicago
• You don’t want decision fatigue and get overwhelmed
• You’re traveling with kids or family

👉 Best for classic sightseeing in Chicago.

Choose Go City If:

• You want an architecture river cruise
• You like bus tours or bike rentals
• You want more flexibility
• You plan to see many attractions per day
• You’ve been to Chicago before

👉 Best for variety and maximizing value

Chicago Go Pass vs CityPASS: Flexibility Comparison

CityPASS

• Fixed list of attractions
• 9 days to use
• Minimal planning

Go City

• Custom selection
• 1–5 days (All-Inclusive) or 60 days (Explorer)
• I would say you need more planning to utilize it fully

If flexibility matters → Go City wins
If ease matters → CityPASS wins

Which Chicago Attraction Pass Saves the Most Money?

Like I said earlier that this depends on your travel style:

• 2–3 days, museums only → CityPASS
• 3–5 days, packed itinerary → Go City
• Architecture cruise included → Go City
• Family trip or first visit → CityPASS

👉 Compare Chicago passes & save money by matching the pass to your itinerary instead of just the price tag.

Chicago CityPASS vs Go City

I strongly believe that both passes are great options but it depends on your trip. Yes, there’s no bad choice but only a better choice for your trip.

In summary I will say it again as below….

Chicago CityPASS
✔ Simple
✔ Predictable
✔ Great value for must-see attractions

Go City
✔ Flexible
✔ More attractions
✔ Ideal for active travelers

As someone who lives in Chicago and helps visitors plan smarter trips every day through my blog, I always say this:

The best Chicago pass is the one that matches how you actually planning to travel.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicago CityPASS vs Go City

Is Chicago CityPASS worth it?

Yes, Chicago CityPASS is worth it if you plan to visit at least four of the included attractions. As a my local point of view that it offers good amount of money savings compared to buying individual tickets.

Is Go City Chicago worth it?

Go City Chicago is worth it if you want flexibility, tours and experiences like river cruises and bus tours. And of course longer duration of your stay in Chicago.

Which Chicago pass is better for first-time visitors?

Chicago CityPASS is usually better for first-time visitors because it includes the city’s most iconic attractions with minimal planning.

Can you do CityPASS and Go City together?

You technically can, but it’s rarely necessary. Most travelers will get better value by choosing one pass based on their itinerary.

• Compare Chicago passes & save money
• Check current CityPASS prices