Frequently Asked Questions
The Chicago Explorer Pass lets you choose a fixed number of attractions, while the All-Inclusive Pass lets you visit as many included spots as you can within 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days. Explorer suits slower trips, whereas All-Inclusive fits busy, first-time sightseeing days along the lakefront and in downtown.
A Chicago attraction pass for adults usually starts around $75–$85 for a small Explorer-style pass and around $149 for a 1-day All-Inclusive option. On Groupon, recent offers list 2-choice passes from about $75.60 and multi-day all-access passes from roughly $149, depending on length and inclusions.
Both passes cover many of Chicago’s headline sights, including Skydeck Chicago, 360 CHICAGO, major museums, architectural river cruises, and family activities along the river and lakefront. Exact lineups can change, so it’s smart to skim the current attraction list before you lock in your dates.
A Chicago attraction pass is usually worth it for a weekend if you plan to hit at least two or three big-ticket sights like an observation deck, a museum, and a river cruise. The more you stack into a short stay, the more that bundled entry typically outweighs individual gate prices.
The Chicago Explorer Pass is valid for 30 days from the moment you visit your first attraction, giving you a month to use your 2, 3, or 4 included entries. That longer window works well if you’re splitting time between sightseeing, work, or visiting friends around the suburbs.
The Go City Chicago All-Inclusive Pass runs for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive calendar days starting with your first scan, and you can visit multiple included attractions each day. Many visitors pair a morning museum with an afternoon river cruise or observation deck to maximize each pass day.
You can use a mobile pass for Chicago attraction access and simply have staff scan it from your phone, though printing a voucher is also accepted in most cases. This is handy when you are moving between the Loop, the Museum Campus, and Navy Pier without worrying about paper tickets.
Yes, you can often find Chicago Explorer Pass and Go City All-Inclusive offers on Groupon, with discounts on 2, 3, or 4 attraction options and on select day-length passes. Locals and visitors commonly use these vouchers to save on big-name spots while planning a flexible Chicago itinerary.