Chicago Explorer Pass: 35+ Things To Do – Includes 360 Chicago

Chicago’s best sightseeing deal may be the one that lets you change your mind. The Chicago Explorer Pass gives you access to two, three, four, five, six, or seven attractions from a list of more than 35, including 360 Chicago, Skydeck Chicago, architecture cruises, museums, and family activities. You activate it when you first use it, then have 30 days to finish your chosen number of attractions.

I like two things right away. First, you can build a day around the weather: take a river cruise when the sun is out, then choose a museum when the skies turn gray. Second, the pass covers several of Chicago’s expensive headline sights, so careful planning can produce real savings. The catch is that some popular attractions require reservations, and the mobile pass has caused frustrating access problems for some purchasers.

Key points at a glance

• Two to seven attractions: Choose the pass size that matches your schedule and appetite for sightseeing.
• 360 Chicago and Skydeck included: You can compare two very different views from high above the city.
• Architecture by boat: Shoreline and Seadog tours offer some of the best ways to understand Chicago’s famous buildings.
• 30 days after activation: The pass is flexible, but it is not an unlimited attraction pass.
• Good museum selection: The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry are major draws.
• Plan before you arrive: Reservations, changing attraction rules, and ticket-scanning problems make the Go City app essential.

How the Chicago Explorer Pass works

At the listed price of $84 per person, you are buying admission to a set number of attractions, not unlimited entry for a certain number of days. The available versions cover two through seven activities.

Your pass appears as a mobile ticket after purchase. You can save it to your phone or print it at home, then show the pass at the designated ticket area. The included digital guide lists each attraction’s hours, directions, entry instructions, and reservation requirements.

The pass activates when you use it at your first attraction. From that date, it remains valid for 30 days. That is useful if you are staying in Chicago for several days, or if you want to combine a Chicago visit with outings to Oak Park or the Forge Adventure Park.

You do not need to select every attraction in advance. That sounds simple, and it can be, but I would still make a rough plan. The most popular attractions may require timed reservations, and an attraction can change its hours or participation status. The Go City app has the current information, so check it before setting out.

The best pair of city views: 360 Chicago and Skydeck

The pass includes two famous observation decks, and they offer a useful comparison.

At 360 Chicago, you ride an elevator to the 94th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue, formerly known as the John Hancock Center. The ride takes less than a minute, and the viewing area looks over Millennium Park, Soldier Field, and the city around Lake Michigan. Allow about 90 minutes.

Skydeck Chicago occupies the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, 1,353 feet above street level. From there, you can see across the city toward Navy Pier and Soldier Field. The building was formerly called the Sears Tower, a name you will still hear often in Chicago.

Both attractions require reservations. This is the most important practical point about the pass. Your QR code alone may not get you straight into a preferred time slot. Follow the booking instructions in the PDF or Go City app, and use the unique link connected to your pass.

I like having both decks available because they show Chicago from different parts of the city. The drawback is cost and time. If you have only a two-attraction pass, using both leaves no room for a museum or boat ride. If your schedule is tight, choose one deck and pair it with an architecture cruise.

Chicago from the water: the strongest use of your pass

Chicago’s buildings make more sense from the river. A Shoreline Sightseeing architecture cruise lasts about 75 minutes and includes a professional guide explaining the buildings along the Chicago River and their place in the city’s story.

Other water options include the Seadog Architectural River Tour from Navy Pier, listed at about two hours, and the Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour, listed at about an hour. The Seadog Extreme Thrill Ride adds a high-speed ride across Lake Michigan.

The cruise is one of the pass’s best-value choices because it combines sightseeing with context. You are not just looking at towers from a sidewalk. You are seeing the city from the water, where the different eras and styles of construction become easier to compare.

The main issue is scheduling. Boat tours operate at set times and can be affected by weather or availability. Reserve ahead when the app requires it, especially during a busy period. Also note that the attraction list can change, so check which specific cruise is available before you make your plan.

The Big Bus tour and Chicago Riverwalk

The pass includes a one-day Classic Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Chicago tour. It is designed to help you reach major areas such as the Magnificent Mile and other central sights while giving you an overview of the city.

The itinerary information labels one stop Chicago Riverwalk, but the description refers to the Big Bus tour. Treat the app as the final authority for the current boarding points, hours, and instructions.

I like this option for a first day because it gives you a quick sense of how Chicago fits together. You can use it to reach areas you might otherwise skip, then return to a favorite neighborhood on foot.

Do not assume the bus will operate like a private transfer. Transportation to and from attractions is not included beyond the stated attraction itself, and the bus has its own route and operating schedule. Some purchasers have also had trouble confirming whether the hop-on hop-off service was included in their particular pass. Check the current listing inside the app before relying on it.

Museum Campus: Field Museum and Adler Planetarium

The Field Museum is a strong choice for families and anyone who wants a large, varied museum. The pass includes the permanent exhibits, including SUE, the famous T. Rex, an ancient Egyptian tomb, and displays covering more than 10,000 years of Chinese history and culture.

Allow about three hours. You could spend much longer, but three hours gives you time to see major sections without turning the visit into an endurance test.

At the Adler Planetarium, admission includes all exhibitions and experiences, including the historic Atwood Sphere. You also receive a choice of two shows, including Imagine the Moon. The planetarium is on Museum Campus with the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium nearby, though the supplied attraction details do not confirm Shedd Aquarium as part of this pass.

Adler takes about two hours. It is a particularly good pick if you want something different from another art or history museum. The Field Museum and Adler also work well together because they are in the same general museum area, though you should allow time between them and check their separate operating hours.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is listed as the largest science museum in the country. Its exhibits are hands-on, so this is a better choice for children who prefer experiments and machines to display cases.

Your admission includes the permanent exhibits and one film screening at the five-story Giant Dome Theater. Allow about three hours.

The museum is not in the same area as the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium, so plan your day around location rather than trying to squeeze every museum into one afternoon. If you select the pass mainly for museums, this is one of the attractions that can justify the cost.

Navy Pier and family-friendly choices

Navy Pier is a 50-acre lakefront destination with food, shopping, rides, movies, and cruises. The pass includes access to the pier experience listed in the attraction lineup, but the exact activity or admission arrangement should be checked in the app.

The Chicago Children’s Museum is also on Navy Pier. Its interactive exhibits, hands-on programs, and free daily art classes make it a good two-hour stop for families with younger children. Pair it with the pier’s rides or a cruise, but do not assume every Navy Pier activity is included.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is another family pick, with LEGO exhibits, building demonstrations, interactive zones, and attractions aimed mainly at children ages 3 to 10. Allow about two hours.

The pass also includes a 90-minute bowling session at 10pin Bowling Lounge in River North, with shoe rental and a pizza lunch. This is a handy rainy-day option, though it is less central to a classic Chicago sightseeing plan than a museum, observation deck, or architecture cruise.

Architecture and Chicago’s literary past

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park gives you a look at the architect’s home and workspace during the first 20 years of his career. The tour lasts about two hours and connects the building to early Wright designs such as Robie House, the Larkin Building, and Unity Temple.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust also offers a tour of Frederick C. Robie House. That visit lasts about an hour. Robie House is considered one of the most important works in American architecture, so architecture fans may find both Wright attractions worth using as separate pass choices.

Oak Park also has the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum. A 45-minute guided tour of the home explains Hemingway’s early setting and life before his major literary career. The museum is outside downtown Chicago, so allow for the extra travel time.

Downtown, the American Writers Museum offers interactive exhibits covering many forms of writing. It takes about an hour and is easy to pair with other central attractions.

Art, theater, illusions, and unusual stops

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago focuses on living artists, with rotating exhibitions and performances. Allow about 90 minutes. It is a good choice if you prefer current art to large collections of ancient or natural history objects.

The Chicago Theatre Marquee Tour lasts about an hour and takes you through the historic venue, from its opening in 1921 to its current role as a concert and theater space. This is a guided tour, so check the schedule carefully.

The Museum of Illusions offers more than 80 rooms and optical exhibits. It takes about an hour and suits both children and adults. It is light entertainment rather than a traditional museum visit, which makes it a useful change of pace.

At the Harry Potter Shop Chicago, the pass includes a Butterbeer Experience. The listing identifies this as free admission, but check the current app details for the exact redemption process and availability.

Flyover Chicago offers an aerial-style, immersive view of the city and takes about an hour. It can be a good choice when you want a short indoor attraction between longer museum visits.

Outdoor activities and food stops

Bike and Roll Chicago offers a two-hour bike rental from the Millennium Park location at 34 South Michigan Avenue. You can use the bikes to explore Chicago’s streets and green spaces at your own pace. This is a good choice on a pleasant day, but it requires more energy and planning than a museum.

Bobby’s Bike Hike includes a 60-minute kayak rental at Ohio Street Beach. The pass covers the rental, but food, drinks, and transportation are not generally included in the pass.

At the Forge Adventure Park, Explorer Activities include axe throwing, archery, laser tag, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, and a kids adventure zone. The climb and zipline adventure is not included, so do not confuse the general activity access with the full adventure package. The Forge is outside the city center and deserves its own day.

The food inclusions are modest but useful. Bacci Pizzeria on Taylor Street includes a slice of pizza and a drink. The 10pin package includes pizza with bowling. These stops should be viewed as convenient extras, not reasons alone to buy the pass.

Price, savings, and the pass’s weak spots

At $84, the pass can save money if you choose several higher-priced attractions. A two-attraction pass may not. One purchaser calculated a saving of about 20 percent after using three activities, while another found that two selected attractions would have cost less when bought directly.

The math is simple: add the normal prices of the attractions you truly want, then compare that total with the relevant pass tier. Do not count an attraction just because it is available. Count the one you will actually visit.

The biggest risk is not the attraction selection. It is the administration. Several purchasers had QR codes that would not scan, passes that appeared inactive or complete too early, broken download links, or confusion between the seller and Go City support. Some attraction staff still helped them enter, but that can cost time and cause real stress.

I would save the pass in the Go City app before leaving your hotel, keep the confirmation email available, and screenshot important reservation details. Since the pass is non-refundable and cannot be changed after purchase, double-check the attraction lineup and price before paying.

Who should buy the Chicago Explorer Pass?

I would consider it for a first Chicago visit lasting several days, especially if you want 360 Chicago or Skydeck, an architecture cruise, and one or two major museums. Families can get good use from the Children’s Museum, LEGOLAND, Field Museum, Adler, bowling, or the Museum of Science and Industry.

It is less convincing for a short visit built around only two inexpensive stops. It is also a poor fit if you dislike advance planning or do not want to use an app for reservations and access.

Should you book it?

Book the Chicago Explorer Pass if you can name at least three included attractions whose regular admission adds up to more than the pass price. The best combinations are usually an observation deck, an architecture cruise, and a major museum.

Skip it if you want only one or two sights, if your preferred attractions require unavailable time slots, or if direct booking is clearly cheaper. The pass offers genuine flexibility, but you need to do the homework before activating it. Used with a plan, it can make Chicago sightseeing easier and cheaper. Used casually, it can become an $84 lesson in checking reservations.

FAQ

How many attractions can I visit with the Chicago Explorer Pass?

You can choose a pass allowing admission to two, three, four, five, six, or seven attractions.

How long is the pass valid?

The pass is valid for 30 days from the date you activate it at your first attraction.

Can I use the pass on my phone?

Yes. You can save the pass to your mobile device and show it at the designated ticketing areas. You may also print it at home.

Do I need to choose my attractions when I buy the pass?

No. You can decide which included attractions to visit after purchase. You should still check the Go City app because some attractions require reservations.

Are reservations required for 360 Chicago?

Yes. Reservations are required for 360 Chicago. Use the unique link and instructions provided with the pass.

Are reservations required for Skydeck Chicago?

Yes. Reservations are required for Skydeck Chicago. Check the accompanying instructions and Go City app before visiting.

Is transportation included?

Transportation to and from attractions is not included. The pass does include admission to the listed Big Bus tour, but check the current app for route, stop, and operating information.

Is food included?

Food and drinks are not generally included. Exceptions listed with the pass include the pizza and drink combo at Bacci Pizzeria and pizza included with the 10pin Bowling Lounge activity.

Can I cancel or change the pass after purchase?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after purchase.