Such an AMAZING experience. I really love being able to get a true Birds Eye view when going to big cities. The sky deck gives you the opportunity to have some fun while you float above the ground in a glass box. But also the tower itself has so many vantage points of the city and lake that you can really take it all in! If you or your partner are afraid of heights I still recommend doing it because it is a true experience! Something that you have to do. read more

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We had such a great time here! Views were breathtaking and we enjoyed the activities and photo ops prior to taking the elevator up. The last time I visited the tower was in 2013 and it was definitely a wonderful experience with new additions. read more

Skydeck - View - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was very busy on a Thursday night, right before sunset. A lot of people in line for the photo with the views where the machine takes it for you. They time it by the number of people in your party. So if you have 2 people, they give you 1 minute to take as many photos as you wish. It was pretty hot with all of the people and the floor to ceiling glass windows at 360. Views were spectacular though! They have a mini exhibition interactive activities before heading up! read more

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Beautiful views! We couldn't pass up the chance to visit the Skydeck during our Chicago visit. You can see everything! We really enjoyed ourselves. It is also a perfect place to get those Insta-worthy photos. As I stood in line for The Ledge experience watching everyone else ahead of me, it didn't seem so bad. Then it was my turn, and man, the view looking DOWN, was very trippy! You can really feel how high you are when there is nothing but glass below you. All in all it was a fun trip. Make time to check it out if you're ever in the city! read more

Skydeck - Views from the top - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Thankfully the Skydeck is generous and kind to the military as $45-50 per ticket would be too expensive for this sightseeing experience for me. Granted, I've been to other sightseeing attractions and think a more reasonable ticket would be $25-35 but they do have high rent/lease so totally understandable. The waiting line wasn't too bad as they kept it flowing but we were in and out within 20-30 minutes. Good place for sightseeing if you get a deal otherwise save your $ for Deepdish pizza or something yummy. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I decided to check out this local Chicago attraction week while I was in town. I was surprised that when I got to the counter, the young lady informed me that the entrance fee was wavered because I was retired military. They informed me that active duty or retired members with proper identification can get in free. As I walked through this building I noticed that it was very clean and well maintained. I did noticed that the COVID-19 pandemic precautions were not being enforced though. I saw a few cleaning people doing a great job wiping exhibits down behind visitors, but they was also not wearing a face mask or gloves. Now once I got to the skydeck itself I was very surprised just how many people they were letting in st once. It was very crowded and I was unable to maintain 6 feet social distancing between other visitors. The views are very nice and impressive, and I would recommend this place to visit while you are in town. read more

You pay for a time slot and the still have to wait 2 hours in line to get 1.5 mins for blurry pictures. Was one thing I was looking forward to during my visit but was not worth it. read more

You get to go thru a cute little museum as you head to the elevator that takes you to the skydeck Great for photo ops and groups The skydeck itself goes by quick Each group has 2 min to take pics and they also take professional pics of you Its was def a thrill I think its a must see when youre in chicago' We had a blast PS take a shot if you're scared of heights! read more

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I absolutely enjoyed the Skydeck :) Was here mid- Feburary as to where it was raining, snowing and most especially windyyyyy. So yes the elevator going up/down was a bit shaking - scary. The time we went which was mid morning time was not at all crowded..... so we had the skydeck - glass area to ourselves for a while. Took great photos and enjoyed the view too. read more

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Got the C3 pass, definitely recommend. Amazing photos. Lines are long but worth it. Definitely take your time going up there, you walk through a museum with amazing photo opportunities. read more

Skydeck - The ledge - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was a pretty cool exhibit to visit! (Especially if you're a Chicago first timer like me, haha). I like doing basic things lol. It really is pretty scary at first to look down when you're out on the ledge. But, you get over it haha. There was barely anyone there when we went at the 3:30pm reservations (you could book on the same day like 2 hours ahead ~$35 per person). But it might only be because it's the winter time and less crowded. I'm not sure. Regardless, we had fun. There's 110 floors. They call it the Willis Tower now, but it was always and still is known as the Sears Tower. You should def check it out if you're in town! 10-15 min bus ride there from River North. (Sort of reminded me of World Trade Center back in NY) read more

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You have to go , you have to do it, it's worth it. If you are the type of person that is amazed by by human ingenuity then this is a perfect stop for you. You will be blown away in many respects. Very touristy and tons of people but the views I will never forget. I spent an hour just looking out the windows and could have stayed longer. The next evolution would to be open up a lounge with low sitting leather couches on the 104th floor for a cocktail hour or early morning mimosas. read more

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Of all the options on the GO Chicago card that we chose, this was my least favorite. The building is tall and the view is phenomenal but there are so many other options in the city for the views. This was the only attraction where you didn't have to turn in your GO card for tickets before getting in line. There were no signs or employees that made this clear. We felt like cattle being herded into massive lines. They kept shouting orders and warnings like: "It's at least a 2 hour wait to get to the top" and "take your medals off but leave your jewelry on." After standing in 3 different lines, security and a photo op we didn't even want, we were told we didn't need to stand in the last one and to just proceed to the elevator with our GO card QR code. Well, thanks for letting us know after the fact. We were shoved into an elevator like they were trying to break a Guinness record and I held my breath until we were at the top & could pour out into...another crowded room and more lines. Are you kidding me? There has to be a better way. The new lines for any of the sky decks (which you get to stand in for less than 60 seconds) were any where from 45 minutes to over an hour. No thanks. I elbowed my way into a couple of spots near a window, snapped a few pictures and jumped right back into the elevator to get out of there. I suppose if you are in the city on an off week and go right when they open, you will have a better experience. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So you think you queued up long enough to get to the top? Another long queue at the top for a chance to take pictures from Skydeck. For a group of 3 or less, you have 60 seconds to spend time there. For a group of 4 or more, you get to have 90 seconds. If they are not busy, you can go back and get in line again if necessary. As soon as I got to the top at 9am, I skipped everything and went straight to the Skydeck. No line at all, they let me take a bit longer than 60 seconds (until other people started coming). After I took several pictures, I went back to enjoy the view from the top. Professional pictures are available for purchase. $30 for the pictures they took at the bottom, and only $10 more to add pictures took at the Skydeck. read more

Skydeck - Only 60 second there allowed, I didn't check my pictures before I left, hence pictures without my head is all I have... - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Overpriced! But that's how touristy stuff always is. We came here and there was no line anywhere at all. It was a foggy day, so there was zero visibility. We decided to go up there anyway. Barely anyone up there. We did see a few groups here and there. It was past noon and yet, the clouds hadn't cleared. It wasn't all that cloudy down at the bottom of the building though. Once you've done these Skydeck views, they're all the same. I've done this before in another city. It's cool but it's just something to see. It was sad not to see any views of the skyline, but I highly doubt I'll try and come back here... The staff was quick and polite. They've got gift shops on the top and bottom floor. The elevator is fast! That was probably the most enjoyable part. You can get inside these clear "boxes" so that you can see the buildings underneath your feet. Bathrooms were upstairs and downstairs as well. They were clean. I did enjoy the 90s and 2000s music they were playing. read more

Skydeck - Zero visibility - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is amazing. Be prepared for the long line. And if you are going more than 4 people I would suggest you do separately but ask to get your group picture together if you are planning to buy. If not just check your limit of 90 seconds and jump to your group before your time is up and ask the attendant to take your group picture. Otherwise you won't have enough time. read more

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and frustration regarding my recent visit to the Willis Tower Skydeck. I had an extremely unpleasant encounter with the staff members who displayed a complete lack of customer service skills and professionalism. To begin with, the employees at the Skydeck were incredibly rude and unhelpful. Their behavior was unacceptable, especially considering the fact that I had paid $40 for the experience. Despite their own promotion of taking photos from one Skydeck to another, I was denied the opportunity to capture this moment. I was met with resistance and even argued with, creating a hostile environment. Furthermore, I had to endure long waiting times and queue up three times just to attempt to take the desired photo. Even after this inconvenience, I was denied the chance to take the photo I wanted within the allocated time frame. This entire ordeal was not only frustrating but also disheartening, as I suffer from a fear of heights and had hoped for some support or assistance during this challenging experience. This experience has left me deeply dissatisfied and frustrated. I expected a certain level of service and courtesy, especially considering the reputation of Willis Tower Skydeck. Unfortunately, my visit was marred by the unprofessional behavior of your staff, making it the worst experience of my life. I urge you to address this issue promptly and take appropriate measures to ensure that other visitors do not have to go through a similarly unpleasant experience in the future. Attached is the picture I wanted to take but I couldn't take, it was denied to me very rudely. The lady expended more time arguing with me refusing my desire of taking the pictures that the time I would expend taking the picture, it really uncomfortable. I flight from Miami especially to visit this place, I expended 3 days working on my afraid of highs to be able to get the courage to take the picture and them this happened. Very disappointed. read more

This is a must do activity for tourists in the city. It is very pricey and you might be able to get similar views from the signature room at 360 CHICAGO but the photo ops aren't really comparable. I do wish we had more than the 60 seconds of picture time at the sky deck for two people given the cost of the experience, but other than that, it was really fun and just one of those obligatory splurges as a Chicago tourist. read more

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Not much I can say about this as the views speak for themselves. You get one minute or two depending on the size of your group to be inside the view box to do as you please, which is mostly taking photos. The views are incredible and what this set it apart from other viewable schemes a is that you can look straight down underneath your feet. It's a little pricy, but hey, what tourist trap isn't??!!! You're in Chicago, go see it. read more

Skydeck - Inside elevator at the 103rd floor and still going. - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you are doing the touristy thing in Chicago this is a must. Yes the tickets are pricey but it's an experience I will never forget. We paid for expedited and that meant no line for the ledge and quick entry. The small bit of history and info that you get riding up the elevator is cool. Once you are up there you can take as long as you want! Love the interactive screens that help you identify buildings and landmarks. The ledge is crazy cool and I get that some people might complain that it's quick but guess what, there are tons of people waiting so having them set a timer makes sense! Overall so GLAD we did this! read more

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I just want to give a HUGE shout out to Cynthia in the photo department that was working ledge #2 on Friday 11/24!! My boyfriend popped the question on the ledge, and she took the most AMAZING photos & videos totally on the fly!! We appreciate you so much and thank you for being a part of it... We will cherish these photos forever!! read more

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Skydeck located at the old Sears tower now called the Willis Tower. We purchase our tickets online early to beat the crowds. Before they take you up to the Skydeck there's a museum full of facts about the town and its history. I really enjoyed taking pictures around the museum and reading and understanding the history. Once up there you have amazing views of Chicago, and you get about a minute there to experience the Skydeck. you are there on your own to take pictures any way you want. i didnt want to step into the glass because i am scared of hights but i definitely enjoyed my time up there. Its a must Do if you are in Chicago. read more

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Gives you a wonderful 360 view of Chicago. Glasses are not maintained does obvious staining could be observed. Each party are given 1 mins. To enjoy #theledge for friends led photo ops. The trip going up is worth it for history of chicago could be read read more

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The Famous Skydeck picture to have when in Chicago. Before going up, you get to go through a little history of the City and Skydeck. Only thing is that the lines get long and you have a time limit on the box to take pics. But the Views are amazing at 103 floors up in the sky. read more

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Going to the Skydeck on top of Willis Tower is in my top three best things to do in Chicago. For adults pricing was $35 per person, you should also purchase in advance. However I would not do the expedited entry unless you have gone up before. The regular entry offers a fun experience and the opportunity to learn more about the history of Chicago. You also save $20 per person to through the regular entry. The expedited entry route takes you straight to the elevator. You will miss all of the exhibits and opportunity to discover more about Willis Tower. Absolutely show up 15 prior to your "timed entry." If you have difficulty with heights this might not be for you but the views are amazing. Imagine looking down on a 1,128 foot tall building (as seen in pic). read more

Skydeck - Looking down on John Hancock Center 1,128 feet tall - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Formerly the Sears Tower, this 1973 skyscraper has 108 stories. While the tallest building in the U.S is technically One World Trade Center in New York, that building only has 94 stories. The discrepancy comes from the classification of those antennas on top of buildings. An antenna is just functional -- something with a technical purpose stuck on top of the building after it's finished. However, Spires are considered a continuation of the form of the building and counts towards a building's total height. After a 5-hour meeting by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in 2013, One WTC was determined to have a spire and the Willis tower is stuck with plain ol' antennas. But take the time to check out the Skydeck, it's the highest public viewing area in the United States. And take a step onto the Ledge's glass balcony that extend out 4 feet from the side of the building. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on our first day in Chicago as part of the Citypass attractions. Because we have Citypass, we get to skip the line. However, after looking at reviews of Skydeck, apparently there's a section of the attraction that talks about history of Chicago, which we didn't get to see. Also, the fast pass route was super confusing that we almost end up not even making to the elevator to go up to the top. Luckily, we realized we took the wrong turn and went back. While on the Skydeck level, there wasn't much to see other than getting in line for the glass case. And because of Citypass, we didn't have to wait in line, which was fantastic! Each group gets pictures taken from the establishment, which you have to pay about $30 if you want to keep. Then about 60 seconds to hangout in the glass case and take your own picture. Overall, I think it was great experience getting to stand on glass flooring. But now that I've done it, probably won't need to do it again. The view down was definitely epic (and also terrifying)! read more

Skydeck - Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Could have been more enjoyable if they weren't constantly trying to money grab. I went at night which was great except for all the glare from the gift shop which made it difficult to see so people were huddled against the glass. I went by myself and was forced to take pictures I didn't want that were then marketed to me later for $30 an image. I understand having it available, but being told you have to pose for a picture in front of several strangers to be allowed in does not sit well with me. Also, you only get 90 seconds on the ledge that are timed with an alarm. I was really looking forward to this experience and taking in the beautiful views, but the vibes gave super greed. Disappointing read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visiting ChiTown for the first time? Skydeck Chicago aka The Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) is a must! What is more thrilling than staring 103 stories below from the Skydeck and snapping some Instaworthy photos?! I visited during non peak season (early May to be exact) and waited for about 30 minutes in total to: buy a ticket, wait in line for the elevator and make our way up 103 stories. Would I wait over an hour in line? Probably not because I'm impatient and want to explore the city. But in the chance you have the time, it's a crazy cool experience and you can definitely kill some time viewing the city/state from up in the sky. Fun fact: it only takes about 1 minute elevator ride from the ground floor to the skydeck - crazy! Tips: 1. try to get there in the morning before the line gets crazy long 2. plan out your "poses" for the Skydeck while you're waiting in the photo line. You only get 60 seconds to snap as many photos as you'd like. If your first snaps don't work, you can always wait in line again - it moves quickly. 3. If you want to buy swag or gifts, there is a shop up top at the Skydeck or near the exit of the building. 4. If you have time & the extra $ - buy the dual ticket for the skydeck and art museum (it'll give you fast entry into the museum). read more

What a cool tourist experience highly recommended for those visiting Chicago for the 1st time. Terrific views and photo opportunities were available. They also will take your photos for you on the deck. We purchased some photos as well that they took. We had a great time and captured a bunch of great shots. Very organized. Recommended pre-register online. read more

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I haven't been the Hancock observatory, so no remarks there, but I've been to Skydeck Chicago and wow! Go, go, go! I went on a day that the weather was pretty blah. It made it so I could only see five miles or so from the top of the tower, but the view was staggering nevertheless. When you think of the height of this structure, it really is amazing what architecture can do. At the top, I definitely recommend having a Citypass. You avoid the lines and get first grabs at the ledge. You then have a minute or so take photos after they take one of you. They try to sell this to you later in a package. Anyway, once you get your photos taken, you know - the ones you actually take yourself - you're off. If you want to take more photos, then you have to make the regular line. Luckily for me, I was quite satisfied with my photos. As for the ledge itself, consider me naive, but the height and being in a box didn't bother me. Then again, the secret is to not think about it and not look down. You don't want to freak out. They have plenty of binoculars and telescopes at the top and even some signs showing you a bucket list of Chicago. And of course, you can purchase souvenirs up top. All in all, definitely get the Citypass because it helped me avoid the chaos of the regular line. Seriously, I've heard stories of people waiting for hours. read more

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We got the City Pass and went to both the 360 Observation desk (Hancock building) and the Skydeck (Willis tower). With the City Pass, can go in the expedited lines (which is definitely faster). I prefer the Skydeck with the glass balcony where you can get some good group photos. You only get 60 seconds on the balcony, but can get back in line again. The Willis tower also more options of restaurants at the bottom of the building than Hancock. read more

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Great views, but it is overpriced, especially when you also have to pay for parking. We splurged, as I'm sure most people do when visiting Chicago. I'm not going to say it's a must-see, but it's obviously cool to look out from such a high spot. I just feel that there might be a way to make it more affordable for families, even if the tickets were to include discounted parking. read more

What an amazing experience! It is best to go super early because the line is shorter. The view is amazing and you can see everything!

4/19/2024 This experience will never be forgotten! The entire process was amazing. Along the hallway to the Skydeck are several videos and historical pictures. The view of course is the winner!! A must see in Chicago. Funny thing, talking with local Uber drivers they hadn't visited the Skydeck. read more

Skydeck Chicago is an incredible experience! The views from the 103rd floor are absolutely breathtaking, offering a panoramic look at the city and beyond. A must-visit for anyone in Chicago! read more

Horrible service I asked for a picture like is in the website and he said it is only advertising, it means fake ads. Poor service for $50 read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing place to visit with family, with various attractions like the skydeck and 3d versions of Chicago favorite sites it is a must for tourists. read more

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If you'd like to enjoy the highest and prettiest view in Chicago, check out Skydeck for The Ledge at the Willis Tower. Last time I was in Chicago, I got to enjoy The Ledge during the daytime. This time around, I got to enjoy The Ledge at night time. My friends and I opted for the last time slot of the night on a Saturday at 9PM - 10PM. You have to stand in a queue to take The Ledge pictures. You have the option of taking a professional picture then using your own devices for pictures and vidoes. You're allowed 90 seconds per turn. There's an actual timer that counts down during your turn. You're more than welcomed to enter the queue again if you didn't get the shot or footage that you wanted. Skydeck definitely has one of the most beautiful views of the city! read more

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What an entertaining experience. Great family or even individual activity. What I really enjoyed was the initial self guided tour in the basement prior to entering the elevator. Filled with so much information plenty of photo ops as if it were an Instagram focused museum, I learned enjoyed walking through this part of the experience. Of course of you once you reach the top was great. We went in the morning to avoid any major crowd. Thus, we got a chance to take a ton of pictures at the ledge. I would definitely recommend coming here if you're visiting Chicago. read more

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