All You Need To Know About The Chicago C3 CityPass

Chicago is filled to the brim with amazing museums and attractions that are well worth a visit, whether you’re a visitor or a local!

The Chicago CityPASS and its companion, the Chicago C3 CityPASS, allow ticket holders to experience many of these attractions at nearly half the original cost! Here’s all you can do with a Chicago C3 CityPASS and, of course, where to get one!

What is the Chicago C3 CityPASS and where can I go?

What is the Chicago C3 CityPASS?

We’ve already gone well into the details of the Chicago CityPASS, which grants access to five of the city’s best museums and attractions at a fraction of the regular price. 

The Chicago C3 is a smaller version of that all-inclusive ticket that allows ticket holders to choose three of the listed attractions to visit, rather than five. This comes in handy if you’ve already been to a few of the attractions and don’t want to pay admission for more museums than you want to, or if you’re short on time and don’t want to commit to five full attractions.

There are also a few museums included in the C3 that aren’t listed on the list of approved museums on the regular Chicago CityPASS, so you get unique experiences out of this ticket that you wouldn’t with the other. 

Here are the museums and attractions you can choose from to visit:

• Shedd Aquarium
• Skydeck Chicago
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Museum of Science and Industry
• 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck
• Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour
• Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier

That’s quite a bit to choose from, sure, but you don’t have to choose right away. You can pick what museums to visit after purchasing your ticket — giving you plenty of time to decide and, if you need to, change your mind as you go along.

How long is the Chicago C3 CityPASS valid?

The Chicago C3 CityPASS will expire a year from the date of purchase, giving you plenty of time to figure out what museum you’d like to visit first. Once you visit your first museum, though, you have just 9 days to use your next two visits before the ticket will void. 

Since many of these museums and attractions require reservations ahead of time, we recommend planning out your visits in advance so that you can guarantee space and time to see all that you want to see within those nine days. Depending on how interested you are in the subject or attraction, it may even be wise to allocate a full day to each museum so that you get the most from your purchase!

How much is the Chicago C3 CityPASS?

For an all-access pass to some of the city’s best attractions, the Chicago C3 tickets cost just $88 per adult (ages 12 and up) and $64 per child (ages 3-11). 

Put that cost into perspective against the prices for each of these attractions individually. If you were to attend three of these museums without using the C3 Pass, you’d end up spending a minimum of $90 and up to $150! 

Here are the prices for the attractions if you were to buy them directly from their ticketing offices. 

• The Shedd Aquarium: $45 per adult, $35 per child
• Skydeck Chicago: $55 per adult, $55 per child
• Art Institute of Chicago: $35 per adult, free for children 31 and under
• Museum of Science and History: $34 per adult, $22 per child
• 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck: $44 per adult, $44 per child
• Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour: $49 per adult, $27 per child
• Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier: $20 per adult, $17 per child

Not a bad deal!

Where can I go with the Chicago C3 CityPASS?

Five of the possible attractions available to visit with the Chicago C3 CityPASS ticket include:

• The Shedd Aquarium
• Skydeck Chicago
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Museum of Science and History
• 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck

All of which we have already covered in-depth in our blog covering All You Need To Know About The Chicago CityPASS.

Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour

One short walk through Downtown Chicago can convince anyone that Chicago is a city of great architecture. A rich history of immigrants, industry and innovation have shaped the city and its culture, and where better to see that physical display of history than in the city’s marvelous buildings?

The Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour does just that. It cruises up and down the Chicago River, and its knowledgeable tour guides offer exceptional information on the city’s rich architectural history.

Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier

Hop onto the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier for an unparalleled view of Chicago and Lake Michigan from a whopping 200 feet off the ground!

The enclosed gondolas on this towering Ferris wheel offer gorgeous views of the region all year ‘round, especially in those cold wintery days where dustings of snow cover the city’s many beaches. 

Once you’re done on the wheel, you can enjoy all the rest of the attractions, restaurants and entertainment at Navy Pier to your heart’s desire!

Where can I get a Chicago C3 CityPASS?

You can purchase a Chicago C3 CityPASS here at their official CityPASS website, after which they will send you an email containing your mobile tickets.

Or, if you’d prefer to purchase your tickets in-person, you can buy them at the ticket counters at any of the participating museums or attractions. 

Using the Chicago CityPASS and the C3 CityPASS is a must-do for both Chicago residents and Chicago visitors. If you live anywhere near our luxury Chicago apartments, then this is for you!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/TobiasBrunner