CityPASS Chicago: The Only City Tour You Need

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Paulina Berkovich

March 4, 2017

Chicago Skyline

For Chicago residents and visitors alike, CityPASS is the best way to see five of the city’s best attractions for an unbeatable value.

CityPASS includes admission to the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower, and the Field Museum, as well as two choices: the Museum of Science and Industry or 360 CHICAGO at the Hancock Tower, and the Adler Planetarium or the Art Institute of Chicago. At just $99.75 for adults and $84.75 for children, the combined ticket provides a savings of over 50% compared to purchasing tickets separately.

The Field Museum, Aquarium and Planetarium are conveniently located close together, but the Field Museum could easily fill a day on its own. Admission includes access to special exhibits as well as a 3D film.

The Ancient Americas is a permanent exhibit tracing the history of civilizations such as the Inca.

Currently on view is an exhibit showing the long history of tattoo and its significance to various cultures, along with exquisite full-body designs by current artists. The Cyrus Tang Hall of China contains hundreds of objects representing the country’s dynamic history. One of the 3D film options, Mysteries of China, is the perfect complement. It brings the discovery of the Terra Cotta Warriors vividly to life.

The museum’s vast permanent collections are also well worth exploring. These include fascinating exhibits on the Americas and ancient Egypt. Families with children will enjoy Evolving Planet, with its towering dinosaur skeletons.

A gator at the Shedd Aquarium.

The Shedd Aquarium has collections of marine life from all over the world. The playful beluga whales are one of the highlights. Admission also includes a 4D experience. Lucky visitors may get to see a diver pointing out different species in the large center tank, or seals eating their lunch while floating on their backs, using their stomachs as a table.

The Adler Planetarium holds exhibits on the planets and the history of space exploration, along with a collection of instruments historically used for astronomical calculations.

One of the Adler Planetarium’s permanent exhibits describes the planets and describes the technology used for exploring the Solar System.

Admission includes two shows as well as a ride in the Atwood Sphere. This 17-foot planetarium has nearly 700 holes showing the positions of the stars. Visitors ascend into the sphere’s interior seated on wooden benches, and it revolves to show the positions of stars and constellations in all the seasons.

The Willis Tower is in the southern part of the Loop, about 45 minutes’ walk from the Museum Campus. It was the most crowded of the sites – we stood in line for an hour even with the Fast Pass priority admission. The view is breathtaking, with five states visible on clear days. There are ledges where visitors can step out onto a transparent floor to view cars the size of ants.

Looking north from 360 CHICAGO.

At 360 CHICAGO, in the John Hancock Building, the view is similar but provides a different perspective. We visited in the late afternoon, arriving in time to watch a stunning sunset. The spacious 94^th-floor exhibit included a Lego model of the building, with over 22,000 bricks. A video documentary described the challenges that arose during the building’s construction. For the adventurous, there’s an extra attraction: Tilt!, which lets visitors lean out outward and observe the city beneath.

The Art Institute has been voted the best museum in the world, and it’s easy to get lost in its enormous collections. Some of the most memorable works are the Thorne Miniature Rooms, detailed reconstructions of home interiors across multiple centuries. Other halls trace the history of everything from Greek pottery to medieval suits of armor. The museum is located on Michigan Avenue, right next to Millennium Park in the heart of Chicago.

The Museum of Science and Industry is further south than the other sites, but it’s well worth the travel time. Its exhibits span an enormous variety of topics, from weather patterns to the history of flight. Most spectacular of all is the German U-505 submarine, which American soldiers captured in World War II. With hands-on activities for all ages, this is another museum where visitors could easily spend an entire day.

Whichever options you choose, the CityPASS will give you a taste of Chicago’s most popular sites, cutting out all the hassle so you can enjoy the best the city has to offer.