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Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower

Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower

Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural BuildingsObservation Decks & Towers
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
Skydeck Chicago is the breathtaking, thrilling observatory atop the iconic Willis Tower. The highest observation deck in the United States, Skydeck provides views of the city spanning up to four states and 50 miles on a clear day. Skydeck features The Ledge; five glass floor balconies extending 4.3 feet from Willis Tower and made up of three layers of half-inch thick glass laminated into one seamless unit. After an extensive transformation, Skydeck offers a can’t miss, one-stop attraction to discover and see all that the city of Chicago offers from an incomparable vantage point. The revamped attraction features a brand-new, lower-level, museum-like interactive experience that celebrates the unique personality, history, neighborhoods, and sites of Chicago.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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£35.12
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Top ways to experience Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown / The Loop
Often visitors' first stop in Chicago, The Loop is a good starting point to sample the city's energy and flavor. This central business district boasts Michelin-rated restaurants, upscale hotels, premier shopping, and enough arresting architecture to keep your camera busy for hours. You won’t find too many photo galleries of downtown Chicago without a shot of Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. A stunning skyline coupled with cultural attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago present a Downtown where work and play peacefully coexist.
How to get there
  • Quincy • 3 min walk
  • Chicago Union Station • 5 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Melissa N
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved it!!
    We went on a Tuesday morning in October. There were extremely low crowds so we were able to take our time and take as many pictures as we wanted. We had expedited entry due to CityPASS, but we didn’t need it.
    Thank you very much for visiting us and for your rating! We are glad that you enjoyed your experience at Skydeck Chicago.
    Written 6 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 October 2023
  • maifun
    224 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must stop in Chicago
    I don't love heights but went on this anyway with family. It was honestly not as anxiety inducing as I worried it might be. The elevator up is a trip, in the very quick minute or two it takes you to go up that high (while your ears are popping) there are graphics showing you how you've now passed the height of other several famous tall landmarks. Once the door opens and you're out on the observation floor, it's not really all that scary. No more so than sitting in the window seat of a plane and looking out and down, and here you get to take your time and there are lots of signs and guides to show you what you're looking at. It's actually very cool to see the city from this viewpoint. I'm an 80's girl but I hadn't known that this was the building where they filmed the scene from Ferris Bueller where Ferris and Sloane stand and lean up against the glass looking out over the city... here they have a sign up on that corner of the building and little footprints on the floor so you can re-create it for yourself :) There are lines of people to take their turn in the actual ledge boxes; if you pay extra for priority you can bypass the lines and get in whenever you are ready, but once you're there they time you for about 2 minutes I think? And they'll take one pro shot of you that you can buy later, but you get the rest of the few minutes to take your own shots in the glass box. Altogether a fun experience, if only to just be that high up!
    Thank you very much for visiting us and for your rating! We are glad that you enjoyed your experience at Skydeck Chicago.
    Written 12 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 7 October 2023
  • Dorothy M
    Incline Village, Nevada237 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bird’s-eye view of Chicago
    The initial entry into the building is a little poorly marked for the SkyDeck. You go down to go up. We went on a cloudy day but they showed us the camera view from the top and were willing to change our reservation. You need a reserved time entry. It is not a glass elevator, for those who aren’t fond of heights. Of course, the views are exceptional and the Glass Ledge was fun. You have to have the usual cheesy photos taken at 2 points.
    Thank you for visiting us at the Skydeck! It is fantastic to hear that your experience at the Skydeck was exceptional. We are happy that you were able to take pictures hovering 1,353 feet above the streets of Chicago on The Ledge! We appreciate your review.
    Written 12 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 October 2023
  • Mariana
    Sao Paulo, SP2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing experience
    Amazing place to understand Chicago icons and History. Wonderful view. Outstanding customer service. Special thanks to Andres Carino who could locate a lost scarf and sent to me in Indianapolis prior to my departure back to Brazil.
    We are so happy that your experience at Skydeck Chicago was great. Thank you very much for visiting us and for your glowing review!
    Written 25 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 24 October 2023
  • BriannaW2323
    Montgomery, Texas244 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cool experience
    Worth going up and seeing the views. It’s organized but takes quite a while. Look into getting express passes if you can. You only get a short amount of time to take pictures at the top so know which poses you want ahead of time.
    Thank you very much for visiting us and for your rating! We are glad that you enjoyed your experience at Skydeck Chicago.
    Written 25 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 October 2023
  • Cheryl J
    Indianapolis, Indiana590 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Chicago must do
    Really well done. Lots of signage and lots of available clean restrooms. Plenty to see and read on your way to the elevators. Well organized. They will even take pictures with your phone! Felt like we had plenty of time on the actual ledge! A MUST DO when in Chicago.
    Thank you very much for visiting us and for your rating! We are glad that you enjoyed your experience at Skydeck Chicago.
    Written 16 November 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 November 2023
  • LaurenSCO
    Scotland, United Kingdom112 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing - a must visit!
    We visited at 9am on a Wednesday, it was quite quiet and we got up to the 103rd floor very quickly! We had expedited entry which I would recommend. The staff were all lovely! So friendly and helpful. There was no wait for the ledge and the staff allowed us to spend as much time there as we wanted! We were not rushed at all. The views are amazing and the whole experience is worth every penny! Would highly recommend if in Chicago!
    We are so happy to hear that your experience at the Skydeck was amazing and a must see! We appreciate the positive feedback on our team. Thank you very much for visiting Skydeck Chicago and for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
    Written 28 November 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 November 2023
  • Brandon
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania999 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a View!
    This attraction is amazing to get a 360 view of the city. The ledge is an exciting experience that lets you stand over the city and get a picture of you above the clouds. Definitely get the city pass because it gets you into the expedited entry and lets you skip the line.
    We are so happy to hear that you found the panoramic view from the Skydeck to be amazing and that you were brave enough to step out on The Ledge! Thank you very much for visiting Skydeck Chicago and for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
    Written 28 November 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 November 2023
  • Paul G
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Thrilling Views with a Glass Edge
    Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower offers breathtaking views of the city skyline. The iconic glass ledge is a thrilling experience. However, long wait times can be a downside. Overall, it's a must-visit for the stunning panoramas.
    Thank you for visiting Skydeck Chicago! It is terrific to hear that you found our panoramic views to be breathtaking. We encourage you to share your photos with us on Instagram and on our Facebook page! It is great that you were courageous enough to step out onto The Ledge and hover 1,353 feet above the streets of Chicago. We appreciate your review and thank you very much for visiting Skydeck Chicago.
    Written 1 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 21 March 2024
  • Orlando Airport Transportation MCO
    Orlando, Florida26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chicago
    The Best City,Great Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871, on the original flag. The points of the star signify transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness and salubrity (health). World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, on the original flag. The points of the star signify religion, education, aesthetics, justice, beneficence and civic spirit. Century of Progress Exposition, added in 1933. The points of the star represent significant attributes of the city: world's third largest city (in 1933), Chicago’s motto "Urbs in Horto," the “I will" motto, Great Central Market, Wonder City
    Thank you for visiting Skydeck Chicago! It is terrific to hear that you found our one-stop Chicago experience to be great. We encourage you to share your photos with us on Instagram and on our Facebook page! We appreciate your review and thank you very much for visiting Skydeck Chicago.
    Written 18 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 15 April 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles17,964 reviews
Excellent
9,910
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5,288
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1,865
Poor
497
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Aaron G
Naperville, IL7 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I am extremely disappointed with a recent visit to Skydeck Chicago. We arrived to a waiting room not long after opening and found the queue lines were already full. The waiting room had to be 80 Deg. F. due to so many people with heavy winter coats packed into the area, all waiting to go through security. We waited in line for 2 hours, making it half-way to the security check. At that point, if we waited another 2 hours before reaching the security check plus waiting time to get to the ledge, we would have wasted half the day.

So we decided to leave and return later, hoping for a shorter line. We returned later the same day and this time were rudely stopped by someone stating, "you are aware there is a 2.5 hour wait." The room where we waited earlier was completely empty, so we didn't understand why there is still a 2.5 hour wait. We tried to ask the unfriendly person at the door and they said "that's not the line" with no other explanation or assistance.

So we left again, having wasted two attempted trips to the Skydeck. Our out of town guests weren't able to experience the views and money was wasted due to the ridiculous long lines and Skydeck nonrefundable ticket policy.

Attempts to contact Skydeck by email were met with the same unfriendly canned response that tickets are not refundable and you can use them for 15 days. Overall this was a terrible experience. Skydeck should change their policy on refunds. In my opinion, Skydeck is not customer oriented.

Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TakenByTravel777
Kalamazoo, MI187 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We went to the Willis Tower as part of our long weekend in Chicago and there didn't seem to be many people waiting to go up. However, when we checked, there was a 60-90 minute wait on the lower floor and we were told there was nowhere to sit in the waiting line. Why not move the food court to the waiting area, or give out numbers to watch for?! We grabbed a great gluten free donut at Do-Rites and headed out.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting Skydeck Chicago and for writing a review. For future reference, to experience a shorter wait time, we suggest visiting first thing in the morning when we open to the public at 10 AM October through February or at 9 AM March through September, and pre-purchasing your tickets on our website. Thank you for visiting the Skydeck.
Written 5 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Keenomanjaro
Croydon, UK179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019 • Couples
What better way to orientate yourself in a new city than from the 103rd floor of one of the tallest buildings in the world. We'd read about long queues for the elevators, so set our alarm early and arrived about ten minutes before the doors opened, which meant there were only a small handful of people in front of us and ensured we had unobstructed views once we made it to the Sky Deck. The viewing area is very good, with dramatic views over the city's other skyscrapers and out to Lake Michigan. The highlight was definitely The Ledge - a glass bottomed, enclosed balcony which I assumed would be a bit of a novelty but was in fact a real thrill. The staff ensure everyone has a fair amount of time on The Ledge, but I imagine queues can build up pretty quickly. They were also happy to take photos so you can prove how brave you were to all your friends! A great start to our time in Chicago, I'd recommend this to all first time visitors to the city.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting us at Skydeck Chicago! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the amazing panoramic views from our 103rd floor. For future reference, to experience a shorter wait time, we suggest visiting first thing in the morning when we open to the public at 10 AM October through February or at 9 AM March through September, and pre-purchasing your tickets on our website. Thank you for visiting the Skydeck.
Written 13 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Debbie N
Clearwater, FL33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
Worth the money even if you are leery of heights. But don't do the slanted over view of the city if you fear them. You can still enjoy magnificent vistas, and if you're brave, pay the extra fee to enter the skyview booth which slants you over the city so you can look straight down. Weird and wonderful
Written 6 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for reaching out, it appears your review is for the observation deck at the former John Hancock Center.
Written 14 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rabz M
3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Friends
They should disclose when purchasing tickets that they only allow you 120 seconds in the ledge. For a group of 3 that was not enough time at all! We rushed to take pics which didn’t come out good bcuz we were rushing. We didn’t have a sec to even look and enjoy the view from the ledge before their timer went off! If there wasn’t such a short time limit it on the ledge it would have been amazing!
Written 25 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting Skydeck Chicago and for writing a review. Guests can spend 60-90 seconds on the Ledge depending on the group size. You are welcome to get back in line after you step out on the Ledge. For future reference, we suggest visiting first thing in the morning when we open to minimize your wait time—at 10 AM October through February or at 9 AM March through September. Thank you for visiting!
Written 14 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Benedict Hunjan
Coalville, UK482 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Expensive, very tatty (no evidence of money spent since 90s at actual viewing level), unnecessarily authoritarian staff who are a combination of rude or half-assed with nothing in between as they boss you around the place. Feels very poor compared to almost every similar experience in the world’s largest cities. I’d not recommend it, and would actually have given it a miss if I’d read some of the poorer reviews on here first.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for visiting us at Skydeck Chicago. We take customer service very seriously and would appreciate your feedback regarding our staff. If you would like to share your feedback with us please email Anita Vigil, our Director of Operations, at avigil@theskydeck.com.
Written 28 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

307leven
Stroudsburg, PA307 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
Visited the last Tuesday of April 2022. We arrived at the 9am opening, so there was no crowd to get in. We used CityPass for admission, which saved on the admission price, but by using CityPass, you also have to secure a separate admission pass (at no extra cost) for the Skydeck which required visitors to select a time of day for your visit. We quickly got in the elevator to the top which offered spectacular views of the city facing in all directions. We also stepped into the glass to get great views below the glass deck. After taking photos, we went to the first floor where they have a mini museum illustrating the history of the building and displays showing interesting facts about Chicago. It was well worth the visit and it didn't take that long - our entire visit lasted an hour. It was cloudy for us, but we still had good views. They did allow backpacks to carry water, snacks, umbrella, etc., but they check them for safety. Obviously, it's best to go on a clear day to get the best views.
Written 6 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting Skydeck Chicago! It is terrific to hear that you found our one-stop Chicago experience to be great. We encourage you to share your photos with us on Instagram and on our Facebook page! We appreciate your review and thank you very much for visiting Skydeck Chicago.
Written 18 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Phil C
Michigan47 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
I was not happy with the cost per person and the amount of time it took to move through each line and each elevator. But the views are amazing and the Skydeck itself was awesome!! I wish they were not so greedy as far as how much they charge and how many people they let in at each time slot. Having less than 2 minutes in the Skydeck itself goes by way to fast to both look out and enjoy the view and try to take pictures.
Written 28 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for visiting The Skydeck and for taking the time to write a review. We sincerely apologize that you were disappointed with your experience due to the wait time. We are using timed ticketing to help with our wait times. We thank you for visiting Skydeck Chicago and for sharing your thoughts on your experience.
Written 29 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dave Perry
Austin, TX13 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
We went at an off peak time so the lines were shorter. If I had to wait on an hour long line, this would be a much different review. The sunset views were good, and the ledge is pretty unique (we got to do it twice since lines were short). At over $30 per person, I would consider one of the other rooftop view options if the line was longer. There is an expedited experience for about $55 per person if you have the means.
Written 5 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We absolutely agree with you that the sunset view of Chicago is nice! Thank you for taking the time to visit Skydeck Chicago and for writing a review.
Written 8 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

swapnil
Lexington, KY293 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
Excellent view but very poor management. It cost you $35 for an adult to visit this place but they will allow only 60 seconds (for max 2 person) to be on the ledge. Out of 60 seconds they will ask you to pose for their paid photograph. Ridiculously expensive. The view is really good though.
Written 1 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting Skydeck Chicago and for writing a review. Guests can spend 60-90 seconds on the Ledge depending on the group size. You are welcome to get back in line after you step out on the Ledge. For future reference, we suggest visiting first thing in the morning when we open to minimize your wait time—at 10 AM October through February or at 9 AM March through September. Thank you for visiting!
Written 14 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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SKYDECK CHICAGO - WILLIS TOWER (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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