Go City Chicago Explorer Pass: the full 2026 guide

How it works

Pick a number, pick your attractions

You pick a number of attractions (Go City sells 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7-choice tiers; some resellers also offer a 2-choice option), then choose that many from the 38-attraction menu — in any order, deciding on the day based on weather and mood. There's no need to pre-select when you buy.

• It's fully digital. The pass lives in the free Go City app; you scan a QR code to enter each attraction. Several popular attractions require advance reservations through the app.
• Validity: 30 days from first use. Once you scan in at your first attraction, the clock starts and you have 30 days to use the rest. This changed recently — Go City cut the window from 60 to 30 days for passes bought after April 2025, so ignore any older guide citing "60 days." You have up to a year from purchase to activate.
• Free cancellation within 90 days on non-activated passes, plus a "Savings Guarantee" — if you don't save versus gate prices, Go City says it'll refund the difference. Once activated, it's non-refundable.

2026 pricing

The pricing ladder

Adult prices, current as of mid-2026:

The 3-choice tier ($109 adult / $79 child) is confirmed on Go City's official page. Note how the per-attraction cost falls as you add choices — going from 6 to 7 costs under $10, while 2 to 3 costs $25 — so only add choices you'll actually use.

For context, Go City's other Chicago products are the Essentials Pass (3 fixed-shortlist attractions, $99 adult / $69 child) and the All-Inclusive Pass (unlimited attractions over 1–5 consecutive days, from $104 adult). The Explorer sits in the middle.

The menu

What's included: the 38 attractions

Here's the current Chicago Explorer menu, grouped by type.

Premium headliners (reservations required)

Skydeck Chicago (Willis Tower), 360 CHICAGO, the Shoreline Architecture River Cruise, the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off 1-Day tour, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, the Adler Planetarium, and 10pin Bowling & Pizza.

Other major attractions

Field Museum, the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel & Rides, Flyover Chicago, Museum of Illusions, the Shoreline Skyline Lake Tour, Seadog Lakefront Speedboat, Seadog Extreme Thrill Ride, Chicago Children's Museum, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago History Museum, American Writers Museum, Heritage Museum of Asian Art, the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace, the International Museum of Surgical Science, the Butterbeer Experience at the Harry Potter Shop, city bike rental, kayak and paddleboard rentals, a pizza-and-drink combo, a street-art "spray paint 'n' sip" workshop, the Forge Adventure Park, the Big Bus Sunset Live Tour, and Lincoln Park Zoo rides.

Tours & experiences

Frank Lloyd Wright Oak Park and Robie House self-guided audio tours, architecture walking tours (river and Magnificent Mile), a food-and-culture walk, a TV-and-movie-sites walk, mob/haunted walking tours, a Lincoln Park ghost hunt, a "solve a mystery" game, a movie at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and the Chicago Theatre tour.

The two exclusions that decide everything

• The Shedd Aquarium is NOT on the Explorer Pass. Chicago's most-visited paid attraction is only on the Go City All-Inclusive pass and on CityPASS/C3. If the Shedd is on your list, the Explorer is not your pass.
• The Art Institute of Chicago is NOT on any Go City pass — Explorer or All-Inclusive. It's only on CityPASS and C3.

Also note that premium add-ons aren't included: the pass covers general admission only, so 360's TILT ride (a $10–15 extra) and Skydeck's expedited entry are not part of it.

Is it worth it?

The break-even math

This is the part that matters, because the Explorer can save you a lot — or cost you more than gate prices — depending on your picks. Using representative 2026 adult gate prices (Skydeck ~$32, 360 ~$30, Shoreline cruise ~$46, Big Bus 1-day ~$58, Field Museum ~$43, Griffin MSI ~$38, Adler ~$40, Navy Pier Ferris Wheel & Rides ~$62, Seadog Extreme ~$62, Museum of Illusions ~$42, MCA ~$22, Chicago History ~$19, American Writers ~$16):

3 choices ($109)

• Strong combo: Big Bus + Shoreline cruise + Field Museum = ~$147 at the gate → save ~$38.
• Premium combo: Seadog Extreme + Big Bus + Museum of Illusions = ~$162 → save ~$53.
• Weak combo: MCA + Chicago History + American Writers = ~$57 → you'd lose ~$52.

4 choices ($134)

• Skydeck + 360 + Shoreline + Big Bus = ~$166 → save ~$32.
• Big Bus + Seadog Extreme + Field + Illusions = ~$205 → save ~$71.

5 choices ($148)

• Skydeck + 360 + Shoreline + Big Bus + Field = ~$209 → save ~$61.

Comparison

Explorer vs All-Inclusive vs CityPASS/C3

• Choose Explorer over All-Inclusive if you're selective and slower-paced — a fixed handful of attractions over a relaxed 30-day window, without doing 3+ per day. The long window is ideal for locals and repeat visitors.
• Choose All-Inclusive over Explorer if you sightsee fast: 3+ paid attractions per day across 1–5 consecutive days. The daily-unlimited math beats per-attraction pricing when you cram, and it includes the Shedd.
• Choose CityPASS or C3 over Explorer if your list includes the Shedd or the Art Institute. CityPASS ($134 adult) bundles Shedd plus Skydeck (with expedited entry) and three more; C3 ($109) lets you choose any 3 of nine (Shedd included, plus the Centennial Wheel).

Our full CityPASS vs Go City comparison runs all of these side by side — but the single biggest deciding factor is the Shedd: it's on everything except the Explorer.

Weigh it up

Pros and cons

What travelers say: reviewers praise the Seadog thrill ride and smooth scan-in at Big Bus, but recurring complaints center on the reservation process — confusing date selection, a rigid cancellation policy when a booking lands on the wrong day, and occasionally having to queue on arrival for a Skydeck time slot rather than reserving ahead.

Make it work

How to maximize value

1. Start with one question: do you want the Shedd or the Art Institute? If yes, buy CityPASS or C3 instead. If no, the Explorer's whole 38-attraction menu is open to you at the same $109 starting price.
2. Weight every pick toward the $40+ attractions — the cruise, Big Bus, Seadog, Flyover, and the mid-priced museums. Run your intended combo against gate prices before buying; if it doesn't beat them, don't buy.
3. The 4–5-choice tiers give the best value curve for a real sightseeing trip, since the per-attraction cost drops meaningfully from 3 to 5.
4. Book reservations the day you buy for Skydeck, 360, the Shoreline cruise, and Big Bus — summer slots fill days ahead.
5. Buy during a sale. Go City runs seasonal percentage-off promotions and offers a newsletter-signup discount; the price you pay can be well below list.
6. Time your activation. The 30-day clock starts on your first scan, so don't scan in until you're ready to begin.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does the Go City Chicago Explorer Pass work?

You choose a number of attractions (3 to 7), pick them from a menu of 38, and visit that many within 30 days of your first use. It's a digital pass in the Go City app.

How much is the Chicago Explorer Pass in 2026?

Adult pricing starts at $109 for 3 choices and rises to about $175.90 for 7 ($134 for 4, $148 for 5, $166.60 for 6). A 3-choice child pass is $79. Prices vary and go on sale periodically.

How long is the Explorer Pass valid?

30 days from the moment you first use it (reduced from 60 days for passes bought after April 2025). You have up to a year from purchase to activate it.

Is the Shedd Aquarium on the Explorer Pass?

No. The Shedd is only on the Go City All-Inclusive pass and on CityPASS/C3. If you want the Shedd, don't buy the Explorer.

Is the Explorer Pass worth it?

Yes, if you pick higher-priced attractions — you can save 25–40%. No, if you pick mostly cheap museums, where a pass can cost more than gate tickets. Always check your intended combo against individual prices. For more ways to cut your Chicago costs, see our guide to cheap Chicago tours and discount tickets.

Explorer or All-Inclusive — which should I get?

Explorer if you're selective and want a relaxed 30-day window; All-Inclusive if you'll do 3+ attractions a day over consecutive days (and it includes the Shedd).

Does the Explorer Pass include TILT or Skydeck expedited entry?

No — it's general admission only. TILT at 360 CHICAGO is a paid add-on, and Skydeck's expedited entry isn't included (that's a CityPASS perk). See our Willis Tower Skydeck & 360 CHICAGO guide for ticket prices.