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

Chicago’s best sightseeing can be expensive, and this pass lets you combine 360 Chicago, Skydeck, museums, cruises, and tours under one digital ticket. I like the freedom to choose attractions as you go, and I like the 30-day activation period, which gives you room to spread out your plans. The catch is that the pass only saves money when you choose carefully, and reservations or access problems can spoil that easy plan.

I also like the range. You can pair an architecture river cruise with the Field Museum, rent a bike, visit the Adler Planetarium, or take the kids to Navy Pier and LEGOLAND Discovery Center. But you need to read the current instructions in the Go City app before setting out, since attraction rules, hours, and reservation systems can change.

Key Points to Know Before You Buy

• Choose two to seven attractions: Select the pass size that fits your plans, rather than paying for a fixed sightseeing package.
• Use the pass for 30 days after activation: You can spread visits over several days, though the pass is based on attraction admissions, not unlimited entry.
• Reserve Skydeck and 360 Chicago ahead: These popular observation decks require reservations, and same-day space may be limited.
• Architecture tours give the best value: A river cruise, bus tour, or lakefront ride can be costly on its own and adds useful context to the city.
• The app is your travel manual: It contains operating hours, directions, entry instructions, and the latest attraction lineup.
• Check the fine print on included options: Some activities have limited versions, extra charges, or changing availability.

How the Chicago Explorer Pass Works

The Chicago Explorer Pass costs $84 per person and covers two, three, four, five, six, or seven attractions, depending on the version you purchase. You do not select your attractions at checkout. Instead, you activate the pass at your first visit, then scan it at each included attraction until you reach your chosen number.

That flexibility is useful. Chicago weather can turn from bright to rainy in a hurry, and you may prefer a museum one afternoon and a boat ride the next morning. You can also choose based on where you happen to be. The pass is valid for 30 days after activation, not just for one calendar day.

Save the pass in the Go City app on your phone, or print it at home. I would do both if possible. Several people have had trouble with QR codes, expired links, or passes that would not load through a booking intermediary. The attractions themselves sometimes helped, but spending 30 minutes sorting out a ticket is not a good use of a Chicago afternoon.

The app matters more than the sales page. Use it to confirm current hours, reservation rules, pickup locations, and what is actually included. The attraction list can change. Do not assume that an attraction mentioned in an older description is still part of the pass, and do not assume every admission skips the line.

The Two Great Views: Skydeck and 360 Chicago

You can use the pass for both of Chicago’s famous observation decks, but I would not automatically do both unless you have enough time and care about city views.

At Skydeck Chicago, you rise to the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, about 1,353 feet above the ground. The views reach across downtown, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, and Lake Michigan. The glass ledges are the main draw, giving you a dramatic look straight down over the streets.

Plan about 90 minutes, though the total time can grow with queues and security. Reservations are required. The pass instructions direct you through the Go City app and a unique booking link, so do not simply arrive with a QR code and expect immediate entry. Past problems have included unclear reservation steps, assigned time slots, and confusion about a possible additional charge after a daily allotment.

360 Chicago sits on the 94th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue, the building many people still call the John Hancock Center. Its position on the lakefront gives you a different view from Willis Tower, with Millennium Park, Soldier Field, Lake Michigan, and the long sweep of the city below.

The elevator ride takes less than a minute, and you should allow about 90 minutes for the visit. Reservations are also required here. If you have only one day for sightseeing, choose one deck and use your second admission for a boat tour or museum. If you have two or more days, doing both gives you two useful angles on Chicago.

Architecture From the Water and the Street

Chicago’s architecture is easier to understand with a guide than from a sidewalk. The included architecture river tour by Shoreline Sightseeing lasts about 75 minutes and follows the Chicago River past the buildings that made the city famous for modern design.

A professional guide explains the buildings and their historical importance while you ride. This is one of my favorite uses of the pass because the experience is not just a view. You leave with a clearer sense of why the river, downtown streets, and skyscraper districts fit together as they do.

The pass also includes a one-day classic Big Bus Chicago hop-on hop-off tour. The route covers major sights such as the skyscrapers and Magnificent Mile, and you can leave the bus at a stop, explore, then board again. It is useful early in your visit, when you want to get your bearings without walking across the entire city.

Do check the current app instructions carefully. The attraction information has at times been confusing about the hop-on hop-off bus and the Chicago Riverwalk. Treat the app as the final authority for the exact route and boarding details.

Other water choices include the Seadog Architectural River Tour from Navy Pier, a Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour, and the Seadog Extreme Thrill Ride. The architecture trip is the thoughtful choice. The lakefront rides are shorter and more about speed, spray, and skyline views. One hour is enough for a fun change of pace, but not enough to replace the slower architecture cruise.

You can also use the pass for a kayak rental at Ohio Street Beach through Bobby’s Bike Hike. The rental lasts 60 minutes. This is weather-dependent and requires more effort than sitting on a cruise boat, but it gives you a different view of the city from Lake Michigan.

Museum Campus: Adler, the Field Museum, and More

The Adler Planetarium is on Museum Campus, alongside the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium. Admission includes permanent exhibitions and experiences, including the historic Atwood Sphere, which shows what the Chicago night sky looked like in 1913. You also receive a choice of two shows, including Imagine the Moon.

Allow about two hours. Adler works well for families, but adults who enjoy astronomy will find plenty to keep them interested. It is a good indoor choice when the weather turns poor, and the lakefront setting gives you fine skyline views before or after your visit.

The Field Museum needs more time. Its admission covers permanent exhibits, including SUE, the famous T. Rex, an ancient Egyptian tomb, and exhibits on more than 10,000 years of Chinese history and culture. Three hours is a sensible minimum, and you could easily stay longer.

I would not try to combine the Field Museum, Adler, and another major attraction in one rushed morning. The pass rewards full visits, not frantic box-checking. Pick one museum, then add a nearby outdoor stop or meal.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is farther south, so allow travel time. It is the largest science museum in the country and focuses on hands-on exhibits for all ages. The pass covers permanent exhibits and one film at the five-story Giant Dome Theater.

Plan about three hours at MSI. It is particularly good for families and for anyone who learns best by trying things rather than reading long labels. Because of its location, it makes more sense as a half-day outing than as a quick stop between downtown attractions.

Navy Pier, Family Activities, and Indoor Fun

Navy Pier is a 50-acre lakeside entertainment area with food, shops, rides, movies, and cruises. The pass can be useful here, but the wording matters. It does not provide general admission to every activity at the pier.

The Chicago Children’s Museum is included and takes about two hours. Its hands-on exhibits and daily art classes make it a strong pick for families with younger children. Pair it with Navy Pier’s rides or a walk along the lake, but check each pier activity separately before promising the children a particular attraction.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is another family choice, geared toward children ages 3 to 10. It includes LEGO exhibits, building areas, construction demonstrations, and interactive attractions. Allow around two hours, and note that it is not in the downtown core, so transportation takes planning.

The Museum of Illusions has more than 80 rooms and exhibits designed for playful photos and optical tricks. One hour is enough for most visits. It suits families, couples, and anyone wanting a lighter stop between museums.

At 10pin Bowling Lounge in River North, the pass includes 90 minutes of bowling, shoe rental, and a pizza lunch. This is a useful evening option when everyone needs a break from formal sightseeing. It is also one of the less obvious inclusions, and that can make the pass feel more personal than a standard list of major landmarks.

The Harry Potter Shop Chicago includes a Butterbeer experience at the Butterbeer Bar. The listing shows this as free admission rather than one of the counted attractions, so read the app instructions carefully before using it as one of your selected visits.

Frank Lloyd Wright and Chicago’s Past

Architecture fans should save one pass admission for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio in Oak Park. This was Wright’s home and workplace during the first 20 years of his career, when he designed projects such as Robie House, the Larkin Building, and Unity Temple.

Allow two hours, including the trip from central Chicago. You see personal and professional spaces together, which makes this more revealing than looking at a finished building from the outside.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust also includes the Frederick C. Robie House Tour. The Robie House is considered one of the key buildings in American architecture, and the tour lasts about an hour. It is near the University of Chicago and makes a good pairing with the Museum of Science and Industry, though you should check travel time before scheduling both.

The Chicago History Museum takes about two hours and is a sensible first museum if you want to understand how Chicago developed. The American Writers Museum, downtown, focuses on writing across genres through interactive exhibits and programs. Literature fans should allow about an hour.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is another downtown option. It focuses on living artists, rotating exhibitions, and performance. Allow 90 minutes, then walk the nearby Magnificent Mile or use the time for a meal.

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. It is a good choice if you enjoy old theaters and behind-the-scenes access.

In Oak Park, the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum includes a 45-minute guided tour of the house where Hemingway was born. It works well with the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio on the same outing, but you need to account for the trip beyond downtown.

Active Choices and Out-of-Town Additions

Bike and Roll Chicago provides a two-hour bike rental from its Millennium Park location at 34 South Michigan Avenue. You can use the bike to reach parks, lakefront paths, and nearby neighborhoods without paying separate rental fees. It is a practical choice on a clear day and a poor one during heavy rain or strong wind.

The Forge Adventure Park and Ziplines is outside central Chicago. The pass includes Explorer Activities such as axe throwing, archery, laser tag, kayaking, canoes, paddle boats, and a children’s adventure zone. Climbing and zipline adventures are not included, so do not assume the name covers every activity.

Bacci Pizzeria on Taylor Street includes a pizza slice and a drink. It is a small food benefit rather than a full meal plan, but it can add value if you are already nearby. Flyover Chicago provides a bird’s-eye view through a one-hour attraction, giving you another way to see the city without a long tour.

Lincoln Park Hauntings Chicago Ghost Tour and Ghost Hunt takes about an hour on foot. The guide covers the area’s connection to the Great Fire of 1871, lost cemetery graves, and the so-called Suicide Bridge over the lagoon. Advanced reservations are required, so this is not a last-minute filler activity.

Is $84 a Good Deal?

The pass is not automatically a bargain. If you choose two low-priced activities, buying tickets directly may cost less. One person who used only two attractions found the pass more expensive than paying at the door, while another saved about 20 percent by choosing three substantial activities.

The strongest combinations usually include a major observation deck, an architecture cruise, a museum, or a boat ride. For example, Skydeck plus a river cruise and the Field Museum gives you three very different experiences and makes the $84 price easier to justify.

You should also value convenience, but do not pay extra for convenience you cannot use. The pass does not include transportation, so you still pay for trains, buses, taxis, or rideshares. Food and drinks are not included except where specifically stated, such as the 10pin pizza lunch and the Bacci slice-and-drink combination.

The pass is most useful for a first Chicago visit lasting several days. A one-day visit can work, but only if you reserve ahead and group attractions by neighborhood. Two observation decks, a museum, and a river cruise in one day would be exhausting and may not be physically possible.

The Main Practical Risks

The biggest risk is not the attraction quality. It is ticket administration. QR codes have occasionally failed to load or scan, and some purchasers have been sent between the booking platform and Go City for help. Save your confirmation, pass number, and app access before leaving your hotel.

Do not wait until you reach Willis Tower or 360 Chicago to discover that your preferred time is gone. Make those reservations first. Do the same for the Lincoln Park ghost tour and any cruise with limited departures.

Also check what a pass admission actually covers. Shedd Aquarium and some art museum options have caused confusion, and an older attraction list may not match the current one. The app gives the latest information, including special instructions.

The pass is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking. That makes careful planning especially important. If your schedule is uncertain, buy only after checking the cancellation terms and confirming that your chosen attractions are operating during your visit.

Who Should Buy the Pass?

I would recommend it to you if you want several major Chicago sights, enjoy mixing museums with tours, and can plan reservations in advance. Families can get good use from it by combining the Children’s Museum, Adler, LEGOLAND, 10pin, or the Field Museum. Architecture fans have especially strong choices.

I would skip it if you want only one or two inexpensive attractions, dislike using apps, or expect every listed experience to be available without planning. You should also compare the direct ticket prices for your exact choices before paying.

Final Verdict

The Chicago Explorer Pass can be a smart sightseeing tool, especially when you choose a river cruise, an observation deck, and a major museum. Its 30-day validity and wide selection give you room to adjust your plans, and the architecture options are the real prize.

But this is not a magic discount card. You need the current Go City app, working mobile access, advance reservations, and a clear idea of which attractions you will use. If you prepare those details first, the pass can save money and simplify a busy Chicago visit. If you buy it casually and hope the QR code solves everything, paying attractions directly may be less frustrating.

FAQ

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

You can choose a pass covering two, three, four, five, six, or seven attractions. Each included attraction counts toward the number selected.

How long is the pass valid?

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

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

No. You select attractions as you use the pass, based on your plans, location, weather, and available times.

Are reservations required?

Reservations are required for Skydeck Chicago and 360 Chicago. The Lincoln Park ghost tour also requires an advanced reservation. Check the Go City app for current instructions for cruises and other activities.

Can I use the pass on my phone?

Yes. You can save the digital pass on your mobile device and display it at designated ticket areas. You may also print the pass at home.

Does the pass include transportation and food?

No. Transportation to and from attractions is not included. Food and drinks are also excluded unless a specific benefit states otherwise, such as the pizza lunch at 10pin Bowling Lounge or the pizza-and-drink combination at Bacci Pizzeria.