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    Skydeck Chicago

    3.5 (945 reviews)
    Open 8:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

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    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.

    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.

    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

    Rachel H.

    If you do nothing else somewhat touristy while in Chicago you simply must do this (but clearly only do so if you are NOT afraid of heights). I was a little anxious about going out onto the ledge but am so very glad I did. It was so breathtaking and memorable! Being it was near Christmas there was also a LOT of fun photo ops all along the way up.

    Benedict C.

    I love a good view and Skydeck certainly offers good views. I got tickets through CityPass Chicago and booking a timeslot was pretty easy via the CityPass app. I went on Memorial Day and booked 9:30AM, one of the earliest time slots. Since we went so early there wasn't really a line and it wasn't so crowded up top. On our way down it was definitely getting more packed. You walk some halls that play videos and have little blurbs talking about the history of Chicago and the history of the building. I enjoyed that a lot. This all leads up to an elevator to the 104th floor. The walls of the elevator play a cool video as well which I appreciated. Once you're up you walk around and take in the views. One of the sides has "The Ledge" which is part of the experience that allows you to walk out into a glass box to get a different perspective. Honestly, it feels pretty freaky looking down and stepping into the box, but I'm also afraid of heights. You're limited to 90 seconds in the box and they're pretty tight with it; I heard a timer go off regularly. Apparently, you're allowed to rejoin the queue after your turn so I can see the line getting pretty long. All-in-all it's a good experience. Staff is friendly and the place is clean. Skydeck is definitely worth a visit, just try to go early. I also visited 360 Chicago during my trip to Chicago and I think 360 has better views. However, I think Skydeck was a better experience leading up to the observation deck. I don't think there's a clear-cut answer to which one is better, maybe you can do both and decide for yourself. If I HAD to pick just one though, I'd probably go 360 Chicago.

    If you want to go up, you gotta go down!

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    2 months ago

    Highly recommend, great way to see the city and the museum is a nice addition to learn more about the city

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    4 months ago

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

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    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 98 reviews

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    Yerkes Observatory

    Yerkes Observatory

    4.8
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    Visit the birthplace of modern astrophysics!…read more Yerkes Observatory is a historic astronomical research facility that was founded in 1897 by astronomer George Ellery Hale. It's known as the "birthplace of modern astrophysics," and it houses the world's largest refracting telescope, with a 40-inch lens. Fair warning: This isn't a place you can just pop in and visit, like a museum. It's more like a public education center, and I believe you can only visit by booking a tour online. They also offer workshops and put on the occasional festival. During the tour, you can explore the building's beautiful architecture, learn about the history of the observatory, attend a lecture or stargazing event, and visit the out-of-this-world gift shop, full of astronomy-themed souvenirs for all ages. Depending on the type of tour you book, you might even be able to gaze at planets and stars through the telescope. Tours require climbing stairs and sometimes navigating through some tight spaces, so they aren't accessible. Tours cost money, but it's free to walk around the outside of the observatory and explore the arboretum. This is a really cool place to learn about space and the area's history with astrophysics. My group was highly entertained by our tour guide, Walt, so if he is leading your tour, you're in for a treat.

    Did their candlelight luminary night walk. It was magical! What a beautifully restored historical…read moregem built in 1897. The refracting telescope is astonishing, and on clear nights you get fantastic views. The staff and volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable. Tickets are a little steep for adults, but well worth the price. We love coming to their special events. They even have special tours for schools at discounted prices. If you go to their website, they will have a listing. Plenty of parking.

    Skydeck Chicago - observatories - Updated June 2026

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