Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Cook County, according to Wikidata. On XTOUR it covers the city's observation decks, museum tickets, river and lake cruises, hop-on hop-off buses and city passes.
Country
United States
Type
City
Understand the place
Not only where to go, but what to eat, what things cost, what visitors get wrong, how accessible Chicago is, which scams to recognize and what is genuinely worth your time.
The complete guide
Start with the parts of Chicago that matter most to your trip, then move into the practical details.
Experiences & attractions
Attractions, experiences and places actually worth your time.
Eat like you understand the place
Signature dishes, local drinks, markets and eating well.
Where to stay & explore
Where to stay, wander and choose the right area for your trip.
Beyond the destination
Nearby places worth a day out from here.
Bring home the right things
What is genuinely worth buying and where to look.
After dark
What the evenings are like, and where to spend them.
Family travel
Family logistics, strollers, transport and practical planning.
When to go
When to visit and what the seasons really feel like.
Know before it happens
Common tourist traps and how to avoid them.
Money & budgeting
Budgets, payments and everyday prices.
Transport
Public transport, taxis, walking and common pitfalls.
Travel for more people
Mobility, transport and sensory accessibility.
Understand before you arrive
Local expectations, religion and visitor etiquette.
The details that matter
Connectivity, health, photography and useful local details.
Find your fit
Solo, women alone, older visitors, LGBTQ+, pets, remote work, budget and luxury.
Travel that holds up
Tourism pressure, supporting local people and animal welfare.
Traveler experiences
Traveler reviews will appear here after moderation.
Ways to visit
Bookable trips related to this destination, for when you are ready to move from research to planning.
General admission to the 360 CHICAGO observation deck on the 94th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue, with one option adding a drink for adults 21 and over. Options differ; check what your chosen option includes on SkyGate.
Big Bus open-top hop-on hop-off tours on the red Big Loop route around Chicago with a multilingual audio guide, sold as 24- or 48-hour tickets. Options differ; check what your chosen option includes on SkyGate.
A guided architecture cruise on the Chicago River with English commentary, sold with different lengths and departure docks on Michigan Avenue or at Navy Pier. Options differ; check what your chosen option includes on SkyGate.
A Chicago CityPASS covering admission to Skydeck Chicago and Shedd Aquarium plus three more attractions chosen from a list of six.
Admission to Flyover Chicago, a flying-theatre ride on Navy Pier with a pre-show and motion seats, sold as a Monday-Thursday or a Friday-Sunday ticket. Options differ; check what your chosen option includes on SkyGate.
A digital Go City pass giving entry to attractions, tours and activities in Chicago from the operator's list for a chosen number of consecutive days. Options differ; check what your chosen option includes on SkyGate.
A digital Go City pass for three Chicago attractions: one top attraction such as 360 CHICAGO, Skydeck Chicago, a river cruise or the Field Museum, plus two more from a list.
A digital Go City pass for a chosen number of Chicago attractions and experiences from the operator's list. Options differ by number of choices.
A sightseeing cruise on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan with live English commentary, sold as a daytime or a night departure. Options differ; check what your chosen option includes on SkyGate.
An adult general admission ticket to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, exchanged for an admission badge at the box office.
Admission to Museum of Ice Cream Chicago on North Michigan Avenue, sold as weekday or weekend tickets, with VIP options adding skip-the-line entry and a drink. Options differ; check what your chosen option includes on SkyGate.
A ride ticket for the Centennial Wheel, the Ferris wheel with enclosed gondolas on Navy Pier in Chicago.
General admission to Skydeck Chicago on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, including The Ledge glass balconies and the museum on the way up.
A fast-pass admission ticket to the Art Institute of Chicago that includes all galleries, non-ticketed exhibitions and a multilingual audio guide.
General admission to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, covering its general admission exhibits.
Explore deeper
2 guides
Four Chicago museum tickets and four attraction passes on SkyGate: the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the MCA and the Museum of Ice Cream, against Chicago CityPASS and three Go City passes. This guide shows which museums each pass can cover and how the passes differ.
Seven Chicago products on SkyGate for seeing the city from above, from the water or from a bus: two observation decks, two river and lake cruises, two Navy Pier attractions and a Big Bus ticket. This guide compares what each includes and where the options split.
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