Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Skydeck Chicago

    3.5 (947 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Skydeck Chicago Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Skydeck Chicago

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Alex A.

    Fun experience, however at a "high" cost as well. Like $55 per person--HINT, get the Groupon for $28!!!!! It's more that then staring down 103 floors from a glass floor. On the way there, it is a brief history of the building and what chicago has to offer like food, the Obama, sports teams..., which is very well done and great photo ops. Also, things are well organized. Each group gets 90 secs of taking all the photos from the glass floor--which is nicely monitored and you can always get in line again for a 2nd or even 3rd round! They also do take photos for you at 2 different spots, however at $40 = no thanks. Would def recommend, however get the tix thru Groupon to make ot more affordable....

    Anjali G.

    Fun experience. It's all inside. The view where you can see down is super busy and you have 90 secs to see. I wish there was an actual deck you could walk around on the outside. Still cool to see. It's not close to the magnificent mile so definitely need to uber.

    Celia Monique W.

    Let me start by saying the main purpose of this visit was to step outside of my comfort zone--because I am terrified of heights. The staff at Skydeck Chicago were all very sweet and friendly throughout the experience. As you make your way up, you walk through a series of exhibits and fun facts about Chicago, which was a nice touch and made the wait feel more engaging. It really highlights what makes the city special. Once we reached the top, I quickly realized I had underestimated just how high the building actually is. When it was time to step out onto the ledge... I completely punked out! They tell you not to look down, but of course, your natural reaction is to do exactly that. There's a photographer ready to capture the moment when you step all the way out onto the glass, but truthfully, I couldn't make it all the way out. I gave it about 2.5 seconds of bravery before my fear kicked in! Even with my moment of panic, I'm still really glad I went. It was definitely an unforgettable experience and a fun way to challenge myself.

    Cecilia N.

    Must see while in Chicago. We went in expecting to do the SkyDeck overlook but were really surprised and excited to see they had a whole walkthrough prior to reaching the elevator up to the sky deck. This was an all about Chicago museum that showcased history, culture, food, architecture, sports, television, and overall Chicago experience. The SkyDeck itself was amazing. Views were nice. We had to wait in line to step into the deck and you get 90 seconds for pictures, videos, or whatever. You are able to get in line again if you want another 90 seconds. You can do this as many times as you want. Keep in mind the line gets longer the later it gets into the day. The staff was really nice and helpful with taking pictures.

    Mr
    Michelle A.

    I thought I came here after few years ago, but that must have been the 360. My son and I had go city passes and we took the big bus here. We didn't have reservations on time but she just added us. They had cute chicago food displays. My son and I took pictures and walked to the ledge for pictures. I did splurge and bought the $35 photos they took too. The views of Chicago from up high at 103rd floor were awesome. Highly recommend!

    The city
    Tiff H.

    Our activity while in Chicago was to check out the Sky Deck. Tickets were a bit pricey but, I would suggest trying Groupon for discounted tickets. The location is inside of building with a large food court. I was not expecting a full on museum of all of popular food, culture and celebrity natives of Chicago but, I absolutely love it. It was pretty crowded especially when we got upstairs however, the line was moving pretty quickly. We were able to take pictures and see great angles of the city. The Ledge was pretty cool. Definitely a must visit

    View
    Travis P.

    I've been to many observation decks, and this one, in my opinion, isn't as impressive. It's just a short walk around one floor with nothing much besides a gift shop and the glass ledge where you can take pictures standing on the see-through glass. We finished walking around in about ten minutes. We got our tickets through the CityPASS, which gave us expedited entry (definitely worth it since the regular lines were long). Expedited entry also includes fast access to the ledge, and you can go back in line as many times as you want for photos. The regular line looked like a 1-2 hour wait--totally not worth it!

    Read sign if it's not obvious.
    Ken S.

    "Do one thing every day that scares you", Baz Luhrman sang. Visiting the Skydeck checked that box. (Acrophobia is REAL!) We got there in broad daylight and stayed until it was dark. Both were sensational in different ways. We saw some amazing things, in more than one sense! Plus, visiting on 9/11 made it extra special. Chicago, we were really impressed. Never forget! Just for the record, the name should have stayed "Sears Tower".

    Ledge photo
    Joselyn M.

    I'm honestly confused on the 3.5 rating. The first time I visited Chicago, my friend and I went to the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and I prefer this experience. Being able to go through a bit of history before getting to the gift shop and the ledge is such a nice touch. If you're visiting out of town, I definitely recommend you do this prior to going on a boat architecture tour. Learning more about the architecture around the city, then seeing it in person is a nice sequence. We went at night and we maybe waited 20 minutes in line? I didn't think it was an extensive wait. It's two parties per box and you both get a photo before your 60 seconds start for your own photos. It was a little rushed but you feel grateful when you realize how much longer you would have to wait in line if this wasn't enforced. We really liked the photo they took of us and thought it was worth buying. If you buy any prints, you get all the digital photos.

    Dana S.

    Great views. A trip to the ledge will set you back $54/person plus a processing fee. Exhibits leads you to a line to queue for the elevator which takes you to the 103rd floor. Another queue to get to the ledge. Timers are set for 90 seconds once on the ledge to keep the line moving. Great views and less scary than you'd think. On a clear day it's definitely worth a visit. Several food options in the main level including shake shack and a sushi bar.

    Tiffany J.

    At the time of our visit (August 2022), the interactive museum was new. It was really cool to walk through and see the highlights of Chicago. We probably spent 20-30 minutes going through the exhibit. I liked the mock L-train ride and it felt like you were really riding the train. The museum featured things like the Chicago culinary scene, architecture, sports, and local celebrities. There were lots of photo ops too. Once we got to the 103rd floor, we didn't have to wait long to get on the deck (less than 5 minutes). It was a bit foggy and rainy so the views weren't as great, but it was still cool to be up there. The glass deck wasn't that scary (the elevator ride was more scary to me than the views from the glass floor lol). They allow 90 seconds for each party to hang on the deck so take all of the photos that you can. We did end up paying for the professional photos as a keepsake. Once you get your photos on the ledge, you can roam around and take in the views. They have a few information panels that point out other landmarks depending on the direction that you're facing. There's also a gift shop that sells Chicago themed merchandise. Even though the weather wasn't great, I still enjoyed our visit.

    Michelle M.

    The Willis Tower is a cool spot in Chicago as it's home of the SkyDeck, the viewing spot on the 104th floor. Here you can walk around and embrace the skylines, and you can also wait in line to stand in one of their glass boxes for a free photo op included in your ticket. We visited right before close at night so there were long lines to visit the glass boxes. They only give you 90 seconds to take photos--good for line management, rushed for enjoying. You also had to walk through a "museum" type features before hitting the elevators. It was cool but we didn't take our time through it since we went through so late at night. It took us about 10 minutes to walk through with very little stops. After you finish that, you get to the elevators Overall it gave a cool perspective of the city. It's on opposite ends of the other tower that offers this, so you see different views.

    Lauren D.

    Had a great time on Monday up high! The line to get up and down moved quickly but still could have been managed a little better. The museum aspect was really cool and loved getting to learn more about Chicago and the area The sky deck itself is so cool! I love the mechanics and experience. It's thrilling and a great memory to make

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    A spectacular and wonderful experience. An opportunity to view the city of Chicago from the 103rd floor.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy Y.
    438
    1242
    3957

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Trinity P.
    3
    249
    211

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rinell D.
    50
    19
    14

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ginette P.
    753
    2022
    14735

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike F.
    2089
    975
    11316

    4 years ago

    Helpful 34
    Thanks 0
    Love this 28
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Allison P.
    0
    412
    841

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason P.
    1540
    1339
    1190

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tank G.
    346
    3533
    41976

    4 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 22
    Thanks 1
    Love this 18
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Xia Y.
    255
    740
    2402

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judit C.
    410
    376
    14478

    2 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 2
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 24

    Skydeck Chicago Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Skydeck Chicago

    Can you make dinner reservations here?

    Only if you want to eat Doritos - there are no dining options on the Skydeck.

    What is the best(cheapest) parking near Willis Tower?

    There are parking garage 's down there but it's best to catch the bus it lets you off right in front

    Has anyone ordered Skydeck general admission off of Tiqets site? It's asking for us to pick a time to visit, will we still wait in line?

    Yes, you will. I went this past weekend, and asked two different workers to confirm but you still have to wait in the general admission line even if you prepurchase a time slot. Hope this helps!

    How bad are the wait times first thing in the morning on a Sunday?

    It was about 30 mins if you get there right away. People always get there and wait in line before the restaurant even opens. I recommend a reservation for guaranteed seating!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Skydeck Chicago

    The Willis Tower is a cool spot in Chicago as it's home of the SkyDeck, the viewing spot on the 104th floor.

    Mentioned in 99 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Observatories 1,156 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Landmark Theatres

    Landmark Theatres

    3.7
    (24 reviews)

    When we were looking for a local cinema to see Ne Zha 2 for the second time, this time with English…read moredubbing, we were happy to find Landmark at the Glen! It replaced Arclight which was in a decline. The cinema had been renovated 2 years ago. It was a Thursday afternoon, and the cinema was pretty quiet. There were big kiosks for ticket purchases, and the process was quick and easy. We got a small bag (which was not too small) for $10 plus tax, a little pricy for popcorn, but it was good. The popcorn guy was friendly, and he also doubled as the guy to collect our ticket stubs, and informed us which cinema room to go to. We were there for the preview of the movie, and we got the entire cinema #5 to the 3 of us! While the lobby and hallways of the cinema was nice and cool, this room was a little too warm. We totally understood that they would not cool down an entire room when there was no audience inside. I went to talk to the popcorn guy about the air temperature issue, and he promised to have it adjusted. As I went back to the cinema room. We could feel that cool air started to come out, and it was comfortable for the rest of the showing. The chairs were big, clean, and comfortable. Sound and picture were great. The movie itself was enjoyable just like the first time, and the English dubbing was perfect. The entire cinema was very clean. I was especially pleased with their restrooms being spotless clean. There is a bar in the lobby, and across from it was the biggest poster I've ever seen in a cinema lobby, it was a colorful digital poster of Ne Zha 2, very appropriate for such a spectacular movie. When we left the cinema after seeing the movie, there was another guy at the hallway collecting ticket stubs, and there was obviously more audience coming in. We enjoyed this cinema experience very much, and would definitely return to see other movies in the future.

    This movie theater's really cute. I think it's a hidden gem in the Glen. Located right next to Yard…read moreHouse in Glenview, IL. The guy was very helpful getting me a cup for water and had the whold theater to myself. Definitely coming back.

    Willis Tower

    Willis Tower

    3.8
    (1.5k reviews)

    I will always call it the Sears Tower. I can't help it, that's what it was called the first time I…read moreever saw it and you know how it is...some of us humans just don't adapt to name changes of places we know and love. Anyway, I have been to Chicago many, many times (if you see me at a Yelp event, ask me why) and I like to see the tower whenever I am in the neighborhood. No longer the tallest building in the world, it is still a spectacular sight. The history and origin and the fact that it was the first skyscraper still holds intrigue and meaning for any architecture lover. As you can imagine, it can be extremely busy because after all, it is a building that holds businesses. However, that is not always the case. I have been at various times of day and it just really depends on the time, etc. If you are going for the first time, you absolutely want to get a view from the deck (Skydeck). The views are beyond incredible.

    I went to Willis Tower at 5 PM on a weekday with absolutely no idea what kind of crowd situation I…read morewas walking into. I had mentally prepared myself for lines, chaos, and the slow march of humanity. Imagine my surprise when I basically walked right in. In fact, my longest wait of the entire experience was for an elevator, which feels like a very reasonable thing to wait for in a giant skyscraper. I also loooooooved all of the historical information provided throughout the experience. It kept things interesting and made the journey feel like more than just walking in and riding an elevator to a great view. The cute photo ops sprinkled throughout were a nice touch too. And can we take a moment to appreciate the bathrooms? There were plenty of them and they were so clean. THANK YOU. As someone who judges attractions at least partially on restroom availability, this earned major points from me. Supreme appreciation. Everything felt organized, easy to navigate, and flowed really well. I don't know if I should credit the time of day, the weekday timing, or if it's always this smooth, but whatever the reason, I was pleasantly surprised from start to finish. Would absolutely visit again.

    Cloud Gate

    Cloud Gate

    4.6
    (991 reviews)

    There it was! The giant bean that Chicago is very known for. Loved that it was accessible and ADA…read morefriendly so everyone could enjoy it. We came early on a Monday to beat the crowds. The later it got, the more people showed up. I was lucky to snap this photo before more people started to come in. Really cool sight to see. It's a giant mirror and has two sides, the park side and the city reflection side. So the view from both and don't forget to check out the middle.

    Cloud Gate, otherwise known as the Bean, sits in the middle of Millennium Park in downtown Chicago…read moreand is one of those public art installations that consistently surprises people who encounter it for the first time despite being one of the most photographed objects in the city. I walked up to a seamless polished stainless steel form that reflects everything around it without a single visible seam or joint across its entire surface. That engineering achievement alone is worth appreciating before I even started engaging with what the reflections actually do. The reflections are the experience. I watched the Chicago skyline curve and distort across the surface in a way that shifted constantly depending on where I was standing, and walking slowly around the perimeter gave me a different composition every few steps. Walking underneath the concave arch in the center, which locals call the omphalos, produced a funhouse mirror effect that reflected me and everyone else from overhead in a way that was consistently disorienting and engaging regardless of how many times I have seen it. On a clear day with blue sky the effect was particularly strong, with the skyline wrapping around the sculpture against a bright background. On overcast days the palette shifts toward silver and grey and produces its own version of the thing. Admission is free and the park is open and accessible, which made Cloud Gate an easy addition to my Chicago itinerary without any planning required. It gets crowded, particularly on weekends and during summer, and the area immediately around the sculpture fills with people taking photos throughout the day. Early morning visits before the crowds build give you a more relaxed experience and better light for photography. It is one of the few landmarks in any city that genuinely lives up to what people say about it.

    Skydeck Chicago - observatories - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...