A pretty cool place to go to once. I thought it was pricey considering the little they have. My advice would be to take your time during the museum/gallery walk (there is no rush!) take pictures there too! They let you in about 15 min before so use that time too. I didn't like that they time you to take pictures(almost 30sec per person!). I thought it was crazy but just how they stay work there. Get back in line until you are satisfied with your picture (you paid a lot already so get a good pic!). I went with a group of 5 and we were there for about 5 hours and we split up have less people in a box. Oh & your ears may pop on the way up but overall really fun experience read more

Skydeck - Sky deck 103 floors - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not bad. Lines move pretty fast. You're allotted a certain amount of time. So know how you want to take a pic before getting there. They should get better photographers though. 360/The tilt is better though. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Willis Tower is 1,450 feet of pure Chicago. The Skydeck sits at 1,353 feet, which is the highest viewing area in the United States. Willis Tower is the 12th tallest building in the world and 2nd tallest in the Western Hemisphere. It's all in Chicago's front yard, and I had to see for myself. On Sunday at 10:00AM, we were told the line would be 45 minutes long. We took the escalator down and then another escalator. We stood in line for a good 30 minutes minutes for security. The ticket line was another hour. Then, the line for the elevator was another 45 minutes. There is a huge wait line because about 25,000 people come to the Willis Tower, everyday. Some other cool statistics that I learned (while waiting) are about as ginormous as the experience itself. It takes 861,567 Willis Towers stacked on top of each other to reach the moon. It takes 283 Barack Obamas to reach the height of the Willis Tower. It takes only 60 seconds for the elevator to go from top to bottom. It took two years to build the skeleton of the Willis Tower. So many facts to learn! The view itself wasn't worth the wait. I could hardly see the view over the mass crowds. We waited for another 30 minutes in the shortest line to actually get into a Skydeck. The time we had in the glass box was just over a minute due to the lines. But, the crowds aren't impossible to escape. If you go on a random weekday, the lines aren't as bad. On a clear day, you can see up to 50 miles. Being on the 103rd floor isn't so bad, unless you are afraid of heights. Would I come here again? Not for $24. Was I glad I went? Of course! This is truly an awe inspiring experience. It's not everyday you can walk on glass that holds 10,000 pounds and is suspended 1,353 feet above ground. It's cool to see once! read more

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I'm giving this a five but with a caveat, we had the expedited pass, this made it worth it, 100%. Without a pass you would be stuck in lines forever. We can up and down in the time it took the people in the normal lane who arrived with us to get up. The pad gave us more time to get photos and made it quick, fun and worth the price. Honestly get the City Pass It was a fun little activity, I wouldn't say it's a must do, but if you can do it quickly it's worth it, it would not be worth the long lines, if you don't want to pay more or stand in lines, this probably isn't the activity for you, there are better things to do. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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3/5 stars for the once (and arguably still) tallest tower in the US (spires don't count). Growing up, I use to obsess over one day setting foot on to the observation deck of the Sear's Tower (as locals forbid calling it the Willis). Fast forward to decades later, that day had finally come after having the opportunity of riding on an airplane from The Golden Coast to The Windy City, waiting over an hour in line, and riding a swift elevator to the 103rd floor, to wait another 30-40 minutes, we were finally able to observe "All of the Lights" of the Windy City from the tempered glass observation deck known as the Skydeck for a total of 60 seconds before being rushed off so that the people behind us would get a chance to experience it. In summary, I'm glad I had a chance to experience the Skydeck. However, for others who value taking their time to admire the gorgeous views the city itself has to offer over essentially pure hype and some potentially cool social media photos of posing on top of the city through a transparent sheet of tempered glass , I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND 360 CHICAGO at the John Hancock Center instead as there is a cozy lounge on the observation deck to chill out in. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's expensive, but what tourist attraction isn't? The merchandise is cute, but overpriced, as well. I will say, it's worth it, though! The exhibit before the elevator ride is captivating and really goes into depth about Chicago architecture. They even have a nice area for photos! The elevator ride was crowded (expected), and your ears will pop, but it was quick! The actual viewing windows and ledge were amazing. Chicago is a beautiful city. The only thing that sucked was that you only got 60 seconds to be in the ledge and take photos. Which, granted, is understandable, but tickets aren't cheap, especially for more than one person. It is overshadowed by the fact that you get to stand OVER Chicago, though! read more

Bought my ticket online and zipped through line on a Friday afternoon! It took a solid 20 minutes from getting my ticket zapped to getting to the Skydeck. I caught eyes with a number of fast pass people and we ended up in the same elevator. I'm sure if it were much busier it would be a different story. Enjoy all the factoids while you make your way to the front of the line! The Skydeck is a tourist trap. When you get to the top, the first thing you're greeted with is a gift shop. This works well to control the crowds. For the rest of us, we just run over to the Skydeck portion. If for some reason you forgot your drone or Icarus wings at home, this is definitely worth the price of admission. You can see the city and beyond! I admit I got a little vertigo when I stepped on the Skydeck. I even saw some ladies crawl on and off the ledge. When you realize you're 100+ stories up in the air you definitely think about how far of a drop that is. Regardless, get your pictures to prove you were there! read more

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Absolutely amazing view, food, and people! This is a must Go for sure! Enjoy yourself and be surrounded by magnificence!

We had a pretty horrible experience at the Skydeck. Honestly, skip this attraction. LONG lines (100 minutes, not even kidding), no air circulation, and the view wasn't that great at night for pictures because of the reflection of the light indoors. We got in line at 3:50 pm outdoors and didn't get to the top until 5:30 pm. You stand in the same line outside, even if you bought tickets online. After about 10 minutes, we were let inside, but the wait was about 90 minutes more from there. If you want to go on the ledge, be prepared to wait an additional (minimum) 45 minutes!! Furthermore, we'd been trying to catch the sunset but completely missed it by an hour because of the wait. read more

Skydeck - Horrible line - almost 2 hours long - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very overpriced compared to 360Chicago, wasn't all that. Won't be back. $200 for 4 tickets compared to $120 for 4 tickets.

The SkyDeck at Willis Tower is a MUST if you're in Chicago! There are so many top of the city views at all of the major cities but most of them are from inside or on a balcony. This one is a balcony with glass walls and floor! I'm not fond of heights so it was pretty nerve wracking but I would regret it if I didn't try it. If you went to Chicago and didn't come home with a Skydeck photo, you didn't really go to Chicago. We went on a Thursday afternoon so it was only a 30 minute wait, so if you can avoid going during peak times then I highly recommend it! The line moved quickly for us. I really liked how the photographers at the decks would multi-task with two groups at a time, and let you take your own photos after the professional photo is taken. I feel like most touristy places rush you out right away but this place really wanted you to take in the full experience. The professional photos are available at the end for $30 but with an experience like that, the $30 photo just might be worth it! read more

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Pretty price for the view, but a good experience regardless since you're kind of in a glass box view the Chicago city skyline. I probably won't go to Chicago for a very long time again, so I wanted to make sure I do all the tourist attraction, and this one is one of the top ones in the city. There are multiple decks you can pick from and the background is more or less the same. There is a line for each deck. From my experience the line goes by fairly fast. They do make each person take a picture from their cameras and you have the option whether or not you want to pay for it at the end. The staff taking the pictures a tad rude as they're trying to rush each person/couple to take their own pictures and take their professional camera one. Though do I kind of understand them wanting to be mindful of other people's time, but given the price that we pay to get up there, I want to take my time. Go early! The earlier you go, the less people and shorter lines. read more

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The Skydeck is like any other observatory. You ride an elevator up to the tippy top, gaze at the beautiful views, take some pictures, buy a souvenir then go home. Three stars because the fact that they only allow you 60 seconds on the sky deck is not cool. And you have to share the space with another group of people. My friend and I got back in the long line three times to get all of the pictures we wanted. read more

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The SkyDeck is an absolute must when you're visiting landmarks in Chicago unless you have serious fears of heights or vertigo. In fact, it's one of the main reasons people (including myself) travel there to take a picture for the 'gram sitting in the glass box that extends about 4 feet out from the building looking down 110 stories. I just got nauseous writing that sentence. How can anyone resist the gorgeous views of the concrete jungle in Chitown? With that said, definitely try to go right when the doors open because lines will form for the skybox. Although the lines move quickly, it's still great to skip the traffic. Both times, I've gone during the spring so it's been prime time tourist season before the wave in the summer. What's nice is that the CityPASS allowed us two visits within a 24-hour period which would have been nice during the day and night; we didn't make it however and we went to the 360 Observation Deck during the day instead. My boyfriend and I got beautiful scenic photos at this destination and the workers were so patient and full of smiles taking photos for us. We definitely splurged on some professional photos too because we figured it's so worth it. I can't wait to visit again! read more

Skydeck - SkyDeck views at night! - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing experience! Its one of those busy tourist spots but well worth it. admission to enter is quite pricey but I think it is worth it. Once on top of the 103rd floor you get to see amazing views. We were lucky to see part of Michigan(where we live now) and other states near by since it was Summer and the skies were clear. My absolute favorite was The Ledge! We had to wait in line in order to step on the glass box and take pictures. It was well worth it. One thing to do while you are waiting in line for The Ledge is plan who will be taking pictures and what kind of poses you want to do because you only get a small amount of time to snap as many photos as you can. We also saw a couple in front of us getting engaged on The Ledge! One of my top favorite activities we did in Chicago. read more

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Looking for an Interesting way of seeing some of Chicago's spectacular views 103 floors high?!? I highly recommend Skydeck observation deck. Skydeck is one of the incredible ways to see Chicago from high up inside the Willis tower (that was previously the Sears tower). I came with my sister around 11:30am during the week. Our hands are on the door handle; We lightly push and it begins rotating, one foot in front of the other, moving along until we're both inside. There were escalators that takes us down to the entry of skydeck, which everyone must take two flights down to get to. Security line was not long; must take off coats and place electronics inside coat pockets. Once that is over with and you're cleared, we made way to will call to pickup our tickets. I handed my ticket to the ticket taker and my sister did the same; everyone was super awesome. There is also a green screen where someone will take your photo. Reaching a point where you must choose to go left or right, and we went right to see what there was to see. A bit of chicago history and a wall that read in big bold lettering "Windy City Chicago Chi-Town". There are a few interactive informational machines in this area; my sister spotted a powder blue wall that piqued her attention and wanted to snap a few photos there. We did not spent too much time here as we didn't want the queue to be super long so we began to make out way back. We seen more writings on the wall this time it read "Reach for the sky" once again in big bold letter--I thought was so appropriate and very nice photo with Chicago's skyline. We reached the queue, which took us about 35 mins to reach the elevator. Once you're in the elevator there is a stop at the 33rd floor and again at floor 102; then everyone must exit to another elevator a short distance away to reach this 103rd story skyscraper (there is an elevator that goes straight available during certain times of the year). Wow, we're really 103 floors high--yikes! Did I mention we're 103 stories high?!? I've been to a few other observation decks including the OUE skyspace in Los Angeles and the Shard in London, but this is by far super awesome as the deck has had a glass ledge that extends out making it look like you're standing on top of the world or Chicago in this case. We walked around, my sister and I, and then we reached the ledge which is a glass balcony that gives that illusion of being outside on the inside. We were able to see a good 20 miles which was just fine as the next few days were projected to be even lower--However, on a good day you can see 4 states so I'm told. Back to the glass ledge, this is freaking awesome! There are four sections which is great, from the left, we were in the third ledge. They snap two photos of you before you begin to take your own. I did a few forearm stands and my sister snapped a few other shots of me. I also had my vlog camera on my portable tripod rolling and capturing footage. Then it was my sisters turn and she was a bit more scared but when I told her to look up she was just fine. We came at a good time as we were leaving more people we coming to the ledge. We made our way to the elevators and the process is the same as when we came up. Friendly vibes! I don't think anyone should leave Chicago without visiting the skydeck as they have 360 views and different events throughout the year. It's such an awesome experience and one of my many reasons for coming to Chicago. You should also call before going to make sure the visibility is good for the day you're going. Hours: 10-8p Daily (Holidays may vary). To whomever is reading this I hope something awesome happens for you today! :) "It's you against you everyday. Make sure the right you wins!" -Jason Shurgot read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely breathtaking. You literally feel like you could reach up and touch the sky. You get about 60 seconds on the ledge which doesn't sound like very long but it was plenty of time to get some great pictures and take in the views. I recommend getting the expedited tickets to avoid the lines and get to the ledge with no waiting. read more

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Not worth the cost. You wait forever to get upstairs & then you wait more once you're upstairs. The only highlight is the glass floor area. Being from nyc I've been on high floors 838829929277 times so the rest of the area wasn't overly exciting. You only get a minute for photos which wasn't enough time for my group. We also shared the deck space with someone we didn't know which limited the amount of space we had to take the photos. It also took forever to get back down stairs. We had to get on like 5 elevators since they don't all go straight up to the top. We felt like it was a waste of time and money. read more

Given that this was my husbands first time in Chicago, we purchased the City Pass and made a reservation for the Skydeck. Taking into consideration the other destination spots or museums we wanted to go to and their schedules, we just happened to only have room for Skydeck during the end of our trip - which happened to rain as a result of a small storm. A day before this, we had scheduled in 360 Observation Deck, so the Skydeck wasn't anything too spectacular since the view looked the same as the day before - just as foggy. We didn't really have much else to do by the time we had our skydeck reservation (5:30pm on a Saturday), so we stopped up at 5PM to see if we could go in early. We were hanging around the Willis tower for about 3 hours with nothing to do as we were under the impression that the tower would have shops and things to help us kill time, but there were really just a few restaurants open and one level of food court. We took a small nap here since we had no idea what to do with our time in-between. At the entrance of Skydeck (which is at the bottom level of Willis Tower), we were told that there is "no visibility today." Due to the storm and fog, there was not much to see beyond the city - the sky was basically obscured. He let us know that we could technically "reschedule" our visit, but it being a hassle aside because we made the reservation through the City Pass Portal rather than through Skydeck's website directly, we also didn't have another day in Chicago left where we could reschedule to. We decided to go anyway and was allowed in half an hour early. At this time, there weren't too many people - maybe because of the weather, maybe because of the time, I have no idea. We walked through some engaging panels and art that talked about the history of Chicago, which was pretty cool. I don't remember this from my visit back in 2017, so I'm not sure if I just have bad memory or if this is something new. We found it super neat as we learned a bit more about the city, and found the actual view on level 103 to be underwhelming. My husband is afraid of heights, so his legs were jelly - he says the Skydeck did its job "10/10!!". There are a lot of reviews from the past where a common complaint was that there was poor regulation for individuals going up to The Ledge to take turn for photos. I do remember this being an issue when I visited back in 2017 - we waited over an hour just to get up to floor 103, waited another hour to finally get our turn at The Ledge, then waited another hour to get back down to leave the tower. This time around, the wait was no more than 10-15 minutes, and there were 1-minute timed allowances for photography at The Ledge per party. Each person stood at a Ledge to monitor it and they actually would set a 1-minute timer on their phones, then shoo you off for the next person. Overall, the experience took 30-minutes total. We didn't buy anything from there and we certainly didn't pay for the photos, but it was a nice little experience. Was it worth waiting all afternoon? Not really, but not we can both say we've experienced it and will likely never return again. read more

Can some other tall pointy buildings just add in these big clear boxes facing the city too so we don't have to pay $24 to wait in the lines for blurry pictures? Don't get me wrong the views are gorgeous but this place has been way overhyped by insta. As a tourist from LA, I was not super impressed. Maybe because we have similar style attractions/views. You wait in very long lines to finally get up to the top. It probably took us about 45 minutes to get some pictures and this was a Monday night. On the far left side of the floor, there is an "express" line where an employee takes your pictures for you with your phone, and you also take a picture that is optional for purchase. The lady took like 5 pics of me and only one was not blurry... and my mouth was open...you'd think someone who does this all evening would be able to take some half decent pictures with an iPhone.. So we had to get in another line to take our own pictures which took about 25 more minutes. These turned out way better. Use other phone flashlights to create better lighting for your pics at night! On the way out they show you the TERRIBLE quality pictures their "professional" camera took of you in the fast lane. The guy working there seemed to hate his job and was so rude. Also don't forget to visit the billion overpriced gift shops with boring souvenirs on your way to the exit too! They really know how to get your money but cannot provide a half decent service. read more

Skydeck - The blurry pics you wait in line for so long for!! - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Incredible views of Chicago, but god it is EXPENSIVE. I was shocked how little time you get to actually take photos in the skydeck. They gave us about 60 seconds each to take photos for about $70? We did end up getting the professional shots, which came out nice thankfully and I managed to take some good shots, but good lord come READY. The preview area going up to the tower was actually filled with photo ops, which we should've taken more advantage of. There wasn't a line that day so we were rushing through it in retrospect that might not have been the best idea. I went because my friend really wanted to do this for his birthday and I wanted to make it happen for him, so I'm glad I did. I think as long as you know what to expect its not bad at all. Don't regret at all. read more

GLASS CEILINGS From 103 stories above Chicago's Wacker Drive, you can see for mile after Magnificent Mile. ((note: this is purely for the Sears Tower observation deck -- the famous skyscraper gets its own unique review)) Though I've spent my entire life living in the Windy City suburbs, I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually visited the tallest building in the midwest. Maybe it's because it's so close that I never really bothered......until the brother of my girlfriend came into town. Arriving in the early afternoon, the three of us waited patiently for what felt like an eternity (I'm guessing it was 2+ hours in total) on the Sunday before Thanksgiving 2017. There was a lengthy line that stretched outside and continued indoors on the lower levels, which I'm told is quite common on busier days/weekends. You'll have to go through a security checkpoint and buy your ticket ($23 for adults), THEN stand in an impossibly long queue that weaves & snakes through the underbelly of the mammoth building before reaching the elevators. We made friends to help pass the time, but believe me when I say that it can take a LONG while. Once you rocket up the elevators, you'll emerge onto the 103rd floor. Depending on the time of your visit, you'll either be greeted with clouds (gross), sunshine (yay!) or a clear view of the city at night (double yay!) We lucked out with the latter and I happily took tons of photos facing all four compass directions. There's a gift shop selling cool Chicago items -- a big drinkable Sears Tower thingy, ornaments, snowglobes, etc -- and restrooms up here as well. The view facing south is perhaps the most dramatic, but everyone comes up here for one reason: ---___The Ledge___--- A trio of all-glass boxes extend 4 feet beyond the walls and can hold up to 4-1/2 tons of weight. So in case you're like me and fear that your fat ass will cause the whole thing to come crashing down onto South Wacker Drive, don't worry. The engineers added redundant safety features to ensure that even the most portly visitor can (try to) do a handstand. We waited for another 45 minutes just to get on The Ledge and have a group picture taken. When our time finally came, I had some butterflies going on (after all, a couple inches of plexiglass is the only thing separating your butt from a 1,353ft drop). The photo they sold us turned out great but holy god was it expensive!! Something like $30 for a "framed" photo, basically a bullsh*t cheap cardboard border. What a racket! * TL;DR * Though $23 is a reasonable amount to pay for admission, waiting nearly 3 hours to take selfies in big glass cubes is just too damn long. As a guy who's accustomed to standing in multi-hour waits for roller coasters, even I have to admit that this was excessive idle time. Sure it's basic and overly touristy, but the views are quite dramatic and it gives a unique perspective on the city of Chicago. Go up once with friends, snap a decent profile pic, and move on with your day. read more

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Visited Skydeck/Willis Tower again and would highly recommend if you're vacationing in Chicago. You get a good view of the city, which looks even better during sunset, which is when we visited; we got reservations for 4PM with sunset happening around 4:30PM in November. This location includes glass ledge where you get to step above the city above you, looking down through 1.5 inches of glass! This feature is free, included with your ticket however there is a line so if it's busy you may wait for a bit. And depending on the size of your party you get about 1-2 mins on the glass ledge. Plan your poses and take pictures quickly! read more

Not worth the money. Not even close. If you've ever been in a tall building before (I used to work at the Aon Center) this is the same thing- except the views are from a higher vantage point. Instead of wasting $152 for a family of four at the Skydeck, go to "The 96th floor of the Signature Room" of the John Hancock building and get some drinks. About $100 less expensive, better views, and no stress in fighting the masses for elevator space or standing in line for two hours to see the view. By the way, does their air conditioning at the Skydeck even work? It was an honest 79 degrees in there. What stingy little clown runs this place? Skydeck has become a developing world-like tourist crap trap where they stop you (yes, they actually STOP you) to take your photo as soon as you go through the magnetometers. No mention that this is to sell you tourist photos rather than being a part of their security in case you want to throw people off the roof or something. Then they do it again during your precious 1 minute in the "Ledge box"! Yes, they actually waste about ten seconds of your 1 minute of time in the "Ledge box" by taking your photo. And when you are done with the visit- they tell you that you MUST pay for the photos they took. I actually saw a non-English speaking family (tourists to the USA) pay an obscene amount of money for photos because they were "told" to. They were targeted by the tourist trappers because they know who will pay and who won't pay. They asked the dad to turn in his "red card" that he was given upon check-in. He turned it over, and then they said "right this way, sir." He did what he was told and was led to the stash of photos. Then they said, "That will be $60". He was upset but he paid. The nice thing is that if Chicago has one of its usual 1,200 person riots going on downtown while the police do nothing as their squad cars are smashed up by the local youth- you will be safe because you are 99 floors up. And one last thing- the greedy owners of this dumpy sweat box actually have just ONE family bathroom for the whole tour. Yes, there are 2 small women's bathrooms and 2 small men's bathrooms, but just one tiny "family" bathroom. If you have small kids, and one of them needs to go potty or have a diaper changed, you can go to the women's bathrooms, or get in line at the ONE family bathroom. Don't bother with the men's bathroom- they don't have a baby changing station in there. read more

I love coming here when I'm in Chicago...the view is amazing. I came mid March before the city went into quarantine, so I was able to enjoy the beautiful view... It wasn't very busy due to everything going on. We waited about 10 mins to take pictures in the box, usually the wait is about an hour or more. They have workers who are there to take pictures of you and monitor your time so the line can move as fast as possible... The elevator ride up is a bit scary because you are going so high up you can feel the elevator swaying side to side and you can feel the pressure in your ears.. if you are afraid of heights I do not recommend checking out the skydeck it is not for everyone... The staff is very friendly and the place is kept very clean... They do not sell any food or drinks at the top, only downstairs in the lobby of the building... read more

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Your experience at the Skydeck will depend on the day of the week/time of day you choose to visit (oh, and the weather of course). We went early on a Saturday morning and got to the building before 10am, no major lines. We waited approximately 5 to 10 minutes until it was our turn to take the quick ride on the elevator up to the 103rd floor. Once there, you can spend some time walking around the building admiring the wrap around views of Chicago before lining up for the observation boxes. It being early, the lines for the boxes weren't very long. Given that each person or party only has 60 to 90 seconds on the box, the lines moves pretty quickly. You can line up for the boxes as many times as you'd like. The staff there were friendly and helped us take photos with our phones. We lined up for the boxes twice and that was enough for us. There is a souvenir shop and bathrooms on the top floor. We had a fun memorable experience at the Skydeck. I would definitely recommend this for your first time in Chicago, but go early or you might find yourself waiting in lines for over 2 hours. We left the top floor around 11:30am and saw big crowds and long lines at the ground floor entrance. Helpful tips: - buy tickets ahead of time on your mobile device - go before 10am (especially on weekends) - be nice to the workers if you want them to take photos of you read more

Skydeck - View from the 103 floor - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Being that it was my first time in Chicago, visiting the Skydeck was very high on my list! As I researched things to do while there and from word of mouth, the Skydeck always seemed to be a very popular attraction. So Sunday morning I head over to the Skydeck and by the time I ate breakfast and finally arrived it was around 12pm. Upon arriving we were told it would be a two hour wait which we were definitely not expecting but we were already there and realized it was very popular so we decided to make the line and just wait it out! Now the ticket entrance is $26 for general admission and the fast pass ticket is $76 and your wait time is around 30 minutes, that price seemed ridiculous to me so I went with the standard ticket. After finally arriving to the top of the building (103 floors) we finally had to make one more line toile the pictures in the little cubes/boxes. I was really shocked to see there was only four little cubes given that the building was so huge and it's such a large attraction. When we finally get to the front of that line we're informed that our party of two only gets 30 seconds for photos...... 30 seconds?? After waiting all this time? I was completely baffled and couldn't believe what I was hearing. We were informed that if we wanted to take additional photos we would have to remake the line. That infuriated me because at this point it is 3pm and we arrived at 12pm so I have been waiting for 4 hours and only get 30 seconds for a photo. Are you kidding me? And to make things even worst, the employee who was in charge of our cubicle was taking his job far too serious and was even using the iPhone timer to time the 30 seconds. I get that you can't just take all the time you want for photos but at least 1-2 minutes per group would be ideal. Skydeck needs to do something about this because it just ends up hacking up the wait time even more because people remake the line X amount of times to get a decent photo. After being so bothered I finally decided to just leave and deal with the few photos I did get and there was another line just to exit! Overall I had a really bad experience here and it's truly unfortunate because I was really looking forward to it. Moving forward I would not recommend the Skydeck to anyone visiting because you truly could live without this experience. read more

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Super disappointed ! Complete tourist trap and not worth the visit! Reason why it got three stars is because after waiting thirty minutes pass our allotted Scheduled time, staff finally noticed that we were express line as we had the city go pass. That was the only upside. We were rushed in taking photos which caused me to have to get the 33 dollar digital print photo that is taken by staff. Staff stated they could not assist in taking photos but when I visit other top attractions this was done. Would not recommend the hassle honestly read more

Oh boy, seems like folks who reviewed this place had a bad experience with the lines. I lucked out and came on a weekday afternoon with clear skies. I literally just walked through the whole area set-up with exhibitions and other things to keep you busy! To be honest, if it wasn't for the ledge, I would not come here. The windows are dirty, the staff is lifeless, and you get scammed so hardcore if you take a bunch of photos but can't afford to buy it. I heard 360 is better, and if I had to re-choose, I would probably do that instead. read more

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If it's one thing to do in Chi town, it's definitely the Sky deck! The view is stunning and breathtaking taking! Also during our way up, there were many displays of the history of Chicago. I absolutely love it! read more

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Of all the things that are a "must-see" in Chicago, this is definitely a MUST SEE. I enjoyed this attraction the most! Up at the skydeck, you get a true 360 experience! Watching people scared for their lives was my personal favorite. You're literally in a glass room where you can see down. So many people were scared to step on it, and my girlfriend and I are over here jumping around looking like we had a death wish. Overall this is a great experience, but there is one inconvenience. It might even be inconvenient enough to take away a star. It took about 30 minutes for us to get up there, and about an hour to get down, so I would most definitely wouldn't make dinner reservations immediately after. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Typical touristy spot. I'd recommend going to the Signature Room at 95th floor for some incredibly evening views and it's free to go (just buy a cocktail and enjoy the city views). However, if you want the obligatory sun deck photo (glass room where you can see yourself 103 floors up--if you're afraid of heights, probably wouldn't recommend), then absolutely come here. There are coupon specials online--aim for those to get discounted rate tickets. read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I definitely think this is something you should do when you're in Chicago at least once. I went the morning after Christmas at 9a during a long layover and it was still relatively crowded but I could imagine only gets worse later in the day. There's a fun walk through exhibit leading up to the elevators that has fun photo ops and facts about Chicago. The observation decks are what most people come for and do offer a unique experience and view of the city. However, for $30 entry I think a digital download of the photo shouldn't cost the same price! I wouldn't come back to this attraction at the price point unless I was visiting with someone who's never done it. read more

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I feel that my review may be a bit biased because: #1 I'm from Chicago, so our skyline is everything to me #2 I came early during a yoga event, so I got to skip the crowds and the lines. Not to mention that we had a nice relaxing yoga session while soaking in the breathtaking view, and afterwards we had mimosas and snacks. I have never went to the Skydeck, despite living in Chicago for 25 years because it always seemed super touristy. They do have events up there though, so if you are looking to have a different experience while visiting the skydeck, then I would check Facebook and search skydeck on their event page and see what pops up. I will say that once our event ended, and they opened up the Skydeck for visitors on a Saturday morning, those lines were crazy! As a tourist I would definitely put it on my itinerary, but if you are lucky enough to live in Windy City, then check out some events, or maybe come on a weekday when the crowds aren't so daunting. Of course you have to take a picture while hanging over the street, or else what did ya' come for? read more

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The Skydeck Chicago is glass box sitting 103 floors high in the Sears/Willis Tower. It is great for me (as a tourist), and other tourists to get a picturesque shots of Chicago and parts of Wisconsin. Someone even proposed to his girlfriend while we are up there! I got to see the Skydeck as part of the Citypass package. It is short 15-20 minute wait if you go right when they open. If you have a ticket, you can skip one of the admission lines. People were extremely friendly while waiting in line. The staff was also very friendly and very professional. Basically, you line up outside, walk a little, line up inside. You take an elevator the mid floors to watch a movie about the Skydeck and Chicago (you can skip this if you took an Chicago architectural tour, so that's what I did). Then you line up to take an elevator to the 103 floor. On the highest floor, you get 360 views of Chicago. There are 4 viewing decks. 2 are for you to take your own picture and 2 decks that are for the staff taking your picture with a professional camera. The windows are great for viewing all around the Sears tower. I liked looking around to see what landmarks I could recognize. One window has a map so you know what you are looking at. The ledge/glass box lets you see straight down. It was great to face your fear of heights in that box! And you get such wonderful views! I had a lot of fun playing with different poses and taking pictures of other people in that box! It was a wonderful time! read more

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3 stars for the line and the organization of the line. Several people cut in front of us while waiting to go through the security check and then again when we were waiting on line to buy tickets and nobody was monitoring this. You only get 60 seconds to take the picture after waiting in line for THREE HOURS at peak Saturday times. We went around 2pm and left at 5pm. You wait on a line to security then another line to buy tickets then another line to get on the elevator and finally a last line to actually take your photo. If you are with a family or a party of 4 or more you get 90 seconds. Make sure you have your pose down! No privacy to take your photo, everyone gets to stare at you and make you feel awkward about it too lol read more

Skydeck - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is once again another Chicago staple. Perhaps being one of the biggest attractions the city has to offer, come on a clear day and come early. Bring your 3 iPhones, 2 DSLRs, and your instagram worthy significant other because the view is not for the faint hearted. The toughest thing from my experience was the incredibly long lines and the stormy weather. It was hard getting good shots when the background was so foggy. I ended up coming back a second time during sunset to try to get the perfect picture. read more

Great experience! BUT ... we went on a weekday afternoon and there was hardly a line. I'd highly recommend doing the same because the place looks like its equipped for Disneyland type crowds, and that would not be worth it in my opinion. You'd be spending most of your day in a line for a short minute or two experience. Call me crazy but I'd rather see Chicago from the ground than being stuck in a building for hours on end. HOWEVER, our experience was great. No lines, beautiful views, and active duty military gets in free so it was a great deal. Once you make it to the 103rd floor you'll be surrounded by windows so you can see in every direction. They window boxes everyone is there for are on the West side of the building. You can purchase pictures they take, or take your own. Theirs are about $30/per picture haha. Enjoy! It takes your breath away when your standing on a glass floor way up in the sky. read more

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A very nice view of the city of Chicago on the 103rd floor. I would recommend getting the CityPass as it has it perks where you can somewhat expedite the process. The FastPass would be very beneficial here as this is probably where I did the most waiting out of all of the attractions in Chicago. The glass ledge is definitely what everyone came here for and it was about a 45 minute wait in line before it was your turn and then you were only given 60 seconds to take as many photos as you like before being booted. You were definitely rushed which is an added stress, but also at the same time, no one wants to wait in line forever. This is where the FastPass comes in handy so you can pretty much cut the entire line and probably just come back like 10 minutes later just to cut the line again to get in more photoshoots. I prefer the 360 Chicago a lot better as the views are a lot better and it's less popular so there's less of a crowd. Also the CityPass is your FastPass so you get to cut pretty much every line there. read more

Quick Tips: Buy the City Pass or whatever VIP line skip you can pre-buy!!! You will skip so much of the wait. From the moment we entered the building to the moment we got in the Skydeck line itself was less than 30 minutes. Skydeck lines can vary depending on how busy it gets. Go on a weekday before noon to beat the crowds. The Skydeck entrance is located on Jackson street. Go on a sunny day for the best visibility & some crisp photos of the views. For those saying "Just go to 360 Chicago instead," this is an option, but they offer totally different views. 360 Chicago offers a great view of the coastline & Navy Pier, but they're not quite as high up & don't have a Skydeck. They do offer a Tilt experience(For an additional fee), but it's overlooking a boring part of the city in my opinion & is over in just a few seconds. The Good: The City Pass VIP Line Skip option. The Views are great. There are 4 Skydecks to choose from. The Bad: If you don't purchase the City Pass VIP line skip or choose to go on a weekend afternoon be prepared to wait... & wait... & wait some more. The 4 Skydecks are not on the side of the building facing the City's beautiful Skyline so you'll have to take pictures of that on your own once you finish the skydeck. The Experience: Sears Tower(That's Sears, spelled W-I-L-L-I-S) because nobody calls it Willis. Once inside the building, you'll go into a lobby with an elevator that will take you up a few floors. Once off, you'll go through security, take a quick photo, then you will have the opportunity to use your VIP City Passes to jump the line if you bought them. Once we jumped the line(it wasn't a busy day so I'm not sure how much we actually jumped) we got on an elevator to the top. After about a one minute elevator ride up, we were let out on to the skydeck floor. Once up to the 103rd floor, it can be a bit of a free-for-all. There are 4 Skydecks at the top, all side by side on the same side of the building about 15FT apart from each other. The two in the middle have faster moving lines but do not have any staff to take professional photos. The staffed Skydecks will also take photos with your phone or camera at no charge. The two in the middle offer practically the same views however due to being unstaffed, the people in line with you might take longer to take their photos & move on since there's really nobody moving them along. On the way down, you'll pass through another gift shop with more stuff than what is for sale at the skydeck level. read more

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