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

A Chicago pass that keeps options open.

This Go City Explorer Pass lets you build your own mix of big-name sights, museums, cruises, and family fun, with access to a digital guide and 30 days to use it after activation. You can change your mind on the fly based on where you are and what the day looks like.

What I like most is the flexibility, you do not pre-select attractions. I also like that the included lineup hits classic Chicago hits, like Willis Tower’s Skydeck and the 360 CHICAGO deck, plus signature museum campus stops.

One thing to watch: some top observation decks need advanced reservations, and if your mobile ticket and app setup are not ready, entry can get stressful fast.

Key things to know before you pick your tickets

• Choose up to 7 activities from 35+ options, no fixed itinerary.
• Mobile entry is the main game, save the pass on your phone or print at home.
• Digital guide includes instructions and hours, and it is updated in the Go City app.
• Skydeck Chicago (Willis Tower) needs reservations, and 360 CHICAGO does too.
• Many museum entries are straightforward, but double-check show options at each venue.
• 30-day validity gives you real breathing room to pace the trip.

How the Chicago Explorer Pass works, in plain English

After you buy, your pass shows up as your ticket and you can use it right away. I’d treat it like your keycard: keep it accessible on your phone, and if you can, also keep a backup like a printed copy.

The pass is built around the idea that you decide what to do each day. You do not need to pre-select attractions up front. Instead, you use the digital guide in the Go City app to pick the activities that fit your schedule, then you show the pass at the ticket area for direct entry.

Your validity window is 30 days from activation, so this is especially handy if you are mixing Chicago with suburbs or if your plans change due to weather. It also matters when you are juggling the practical stuff, like which museum campus you can hit on the same day as an observation deck.

Picking your best combo: Skydeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO

If you want skyline views without wasting time, these two are usually the heart of a Chicago visit. Skydeck Chicago sits on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, at 1,353 feet up, and it gives you famous sightlines from Navy Pier area across to places like Soldier Field. Plan on about 1 hour 30 minutes for the visit.

360 CHICAGO is the other “wow” deck, on the 94th floor, and you ride a fast elevator to get there in under a minute. It is listed for about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the viewpoint covers key landmarks such as Millennium Park and Soldier Field.

Now, the big caution: reservations are required for both Skydeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO. Go City says you need to use the unique link in the reservation instructions, and you also need to click through in the Go City app or you may be unable to make the reservation. So when you book, do yourself a favor and handle the reservation piece early, not after you arrive.

Also note that the pass does not remove the need to plan. Even if your admission is covered, the time slots and reservation rules are still how you get in.

Big-city sights fast: buses, river cruises, and speedboats

Chicago is a city where water and skyline belong together, and this pass leans into that. One included option is the 1-Day Classic Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Chicago tour, which is a practical way to get oriented. You can hop on and off at stops around the city, which is useful when you want to see the Magnificent Mile area and downtown towers but you do not want to constantly fight transit.

For a more guided story, you have architecture cruises. Shoreline Sightseeing includes an Architecture River Tour led by a professional guide, typically about 1 hour 15 minutes. The format works well because you see buildings while someone explains what you’re looking at, and it avoids the awkward guesswork of trying to interpret architecture from street level.

You also have Seadog-style options, including Seadog Extreme Thrill Ride (listed for 1 hour) and Seadog architectural and speedboat experiences tied to Navy Pier and the lakefront. One is the Seadog Architectural River Tour from Navy Pier (about 2 hours), and another is the Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour (about 1 hour). These are ideal if you want the city from water with a higher-energy vibe.

One caution I’d take seriously: a pass can cover admission, but it does not eliminate the need to show up prepared and follow the on-site entry rules. Keep your phone ticket ready, and if the weather is rough, have a Plan B for your river day, because cruise schedules can be affected.

Museums that fit real interests: Adler, Field Museum, MSI, and more

If you like structured learning, Chicago’s museum options are a strong match for this pass. Adler Planetarium is a standout, listed for about 2 hours and includes all exhibitions plus the historic Atwood Sphere interactive Chicago night sky experience from 1913. You also get your choice of two shows, including a newer sky show called Imagine the Moon.

At Adler, the value is not just the building, it’s the included mix of exhibits and timed shows. That means you can spend a couple hours and still leave with a clear experience, not just wandering.

Then there’s the Field Museum, listed for about 3 hours. The headline is SUE, the world’s largest T. Rex, plus an Egyptian tomb experience and a large sweep of Chinese history and culture. This one is well suited for anyone who wants big rooms and lots of content in one stop.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, also about 3 hours, is another strong Chicago family pick. MSI includes all permanent exhibits and one film screening at the five-story Giant Dome Theater. That Giant Dome piece matters because it turns the museum visit into something you can anticipate, not just passively see.

If you prefer Chicago’s story in a museum format, the Chicago History Museum is included for about 2 hours. The MCA, Museum of Contemporary Art, is listed at about 1 hour 30 minutes and focuses on living artists with rotating exhibitions and performances.

For a very focused topic, the American Writers Museum is included for about 1 hour. If your interest is language, history of authors, and interactive writing exhibits, this is a good tempo change from big general museums.

There’s also the Museum of Illusions, about 1 hour, built for hands-on fun. It can work as a rain plan, or as a family-friendly break between heavier museums.

Frank Lloyd Wright stops that feel like a Chicago superpower

Frank Lloyd Wright is a Chicago identity, and this pass includes two ways to meet his work. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio tour is about 2 hours and covers his personal and professional spaces, plus the period when he created major works like the Robie House, the Larkin Building, and Unity Temple.

Then you have the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Frederick C. Robie House Tour, listed for about 1 hour. The Robie House is described as one of the most important buildings in American architecture, and that alone is a reason to place it on your “must do” list if you care about design.

The practical win here is that these tours are not generic museum visits. You are shown the context of the architecture. That helps you look at the details instead of just taking photos and moving on.

If you pair one Wright option with a nearby neighborhood day, your schedule tends to feel more coherent and less like a checklist.

Navy Pier and the downtown edge: where your day can breathe

Navy Pier is a landmark you will hear about constantly, and the pass includes admission for a 1-hour visit. It’s a 50-acre lakeside area with shopping, food, thrill rides, movie watching, and cruise hopping. Even if you only have an hour, you can get the vibe and choose what you want to spend time on.

Navy Pier also connects nicely to family-friendly indoor options. The Chicago Children’s Museum, included and based at Navy Pier, is about 2 hours and has interactive exhibits and hands-on programs, plus free daily art classes. If you are traveling with kids, this can be your “energy-friendly” day.

If you want a change of pace that mixes outdoors and movement, there’s Bike and Roll Chicago at Millennium Park, listed for about 2 hours. This gives you no-hassle bike rentals so you can explore green spaces and streets under your own timing. It’s also described as having two pickup locations, which helps if one dock is a pain to reach on your day.

You also have some fun Chicago classics in the pass mix. The Chicago Theatre Marquee Tour is about 1 hour and is a guided look at the venue’s history, from 1921 to its role as a concert and theater home. It’s a good pick if you want behind-the-scenes style instead of another museum hall.

For a ghost story option, the Lincoln Park Hauntings Chicago Ghost Tour and Ghost Hunt is included for about 1 hour, and it requires advanced reservation. If you hate missing out, that reservation requirement is not a small detail. Plan it like you would a museum time slot.

Neighborhood culture and quirky fun: Hemingway, Harry Potter, and more

This pass also touches the fun, offbeat side of Chicago. The Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home Museum is a 45-minute guided tour plus time at the site (listed at about 1 hour total). It is located in Oak Park, outside downtown, so it’s perfect for a half-day detour if you want a different feel than the lakefront.

If your group loves pop culture, the Harry Potter Shop Chicago is included with a Butterbeer experience listed as free and about 1 hour. This can be a surprisingly satisfying stop if you like themed stores with an easy, predictable time block.

There’s also a fun food stop included: Bacci Pizzeria on Taylor Street offers a Chicago pizza and drink combo, listed for about 1 hour. If you’re building an itinerary that needs a reliable meal time, this helps you avoid the “what do we eat now?” scramble.

Family-friendly power picks: LEGO, MSI, Children’s Museum, Illusions

If you are traveling with kids, Chicago can be hit-or-miss. This pass is built to reduce that risk with several kid-focused options.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is included for about 2 hours. It’s an indoor LEGO world with exhibits, construction-style demonstrations, and interactive zones, and it’s specifically positioned for kids ages 3 to 10.

The Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier is about 2 hours as mentioned, and it gives you hands-on exhibits and free daily art classes. It’s a good match for families who want learning without a museum lecture vibe.

Museum of Illusions is about 1 hour and works for both kids and adults. If your kids get bored easily with traditional exhibits, this is a short reset.

And don’t forget MSI, also included for about 3 hours, with the added Giant Dome film. That dome show is often the kind of thing that keeps kids from asking when you are leaving every five minutes.

Active fun: bowling, kayaking, adventure activities, and Flyover

Not every Chicago day needs to be indoor or skyline-based. The pass includes some hands-on activities that can break up long walking days.

10pin Bowling Lounge in River North is listed for about 1 hour 30 minutes. Your ticket includes 90 minutes of bowling on a reserved lane, shoe rentals, and a pizza lunch. If you want a relaxed adult activity that still works for families, this is a strong choice.

For outdoor action, The Forge Adventure Park & Ziplines is about 2 hours. You get access to Explorer Activities listed as including axe throwing, archery, laser tag, kayaking, canoes, padal boats, and a kids adventure zone and more. The key note: climb and zipline adventure is not included with the pass. So if those are the headline attractions for your group, you’ll need to plan extra cost or a different booking.

You also have something water-based through Bobby’s Bike Hike. The pass includes kayak rental at Ohio Street Beach with a 60-minute hire. That can be a fun, low-thinking way to get lake time without committing to a long tour day.

For a big “wow” style attraction that is not on the water, Flyover in Chicago is included for about 1 hour. It’s described as an immersive flight over Chicago with a bird’s-eye view.

Value and timing: does the $84 price actually pay off?

At $84 per person, the value depends on how you use your chosen slots. The structure is simple: you can get admission to 2 through 7 attractions. The more you stack larger-ticket sights, the stronger the math tends to be.

There’s also a pattern to watch from real-world usage: when people pick only two attractions and they are not the biggest ticket items, the pass can feel less like a bargain. The better strategy is to anchor your itinerary with the high-demand, time-specific attractions like the observation decks or full museum experiences, then fill with cruises or activities.

Time matters too. Since some entries require reservation, you want to reserve early enough that you can actually use the slots you choose. A pass is only valuable if it matches your actual calendar.

One more practical point: your pass can be scanned directly at attractions, but it is still smart to have a backup plan for tech hiccups. Some issues are described with QR codes not scanning or loading properly when passes were handled through a third party, and that’s exactly the kind of problem that can ruin a day. If you have any choice, buy directly from the provider when possible, or at least test your ticket scan before heading to a reservation-heavy venue.

Logistics that are worth your attention before you go

The pass is built for smartphone use, but you are not fully in control of every venue system. The included info says attractions and tours can change, and the Go City app has the most up-to-date lineup, opening times, and access instructions.

A few practical tips that keep you out of trouble:

• Save your pass on your phone and keep a printed backup.
• Check the digital guide for the places that need reservations, especially Skydeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO.
• If your plan includes a reservation-required site, lock it in early so you do not arrive hoping for a slot.
• Build one flexible slot into your day, because weather can shift how much you want to be on the water.

Also, the experience provider lists a maximum of 15 travelers for the activity. That tends to make guided segments feel less crowded, but it does not replace the need to follow each venue’s entry rules.

Who should book this Explorer Pass

This pass fits best if you want choice and you like mixing categories: skyline views, architecture cruises, and museums. It’s also a good fit for people who do not want to overplan, because the pass lets you adapt day-to-day.

If you know you want two or three anchor sights, this can be a strong way to pack them into a trip without constantly buying separate tickets. It also works for families, since the included mix includes LEGO, the Children’s Museum, MSI, and Museum of Illusions.

If you prefer very simple, low-friction entry with no app setup at all, you may find the reservation requirements and digital ticket steps a bit annoying. In that case, you might want to compare to buying fewer tickets directly at the venues you care about most.

Should you book the Chicago Explorer Pass?

I’d book it if your trip includes at least one or two big priorities that match the included lineup, like Skydeck Chicago, 360 CHICAGO, or a top museum campus day. I also like it when you want architecture time, because the river cruise options and big-picture bus tour help you get oriented without guesswork.

I would not book it on autopilot. Do a quick check in the Go City app for any reservation-required items, and be ready to handle the reservation link setup. If you do that, the pass becomes a flexible way to see a lot of Chicago without wasting your precious hours buying tickets one by one.

If your plan is only one quick stop or two smaller attractions, you might find better value booking directly, since the pass shines when you stack the bigger experiences.