We visited Willis Tower during our December trip to Chicago. We didn't book the ticket in advance because it was cloudy the day before. When we arrived in the morning, the cashier told us that we should wait in the afternoon and hopefully, the sky cleared up. So, we bought the 2pm tickets. Luckily, the fog was gone by 2 pm and the sky cleared up. There were lots of photo props before we entered the elevator. Once we were at the top, there were several spots to experience the Ledge but we had to line up. The line looked long but it moved relatively quick because each family was only given 90 seconds to take pictures on there. Yeah, it was way too little time but you can actually rejoin the line if you're still want to take more picture. Overall, it was a very cool experience to be standing on the glass floor on Ledge! read more

Willis Tower - The view from Willis Tower during our - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I last visit the Sears Tower in 2014 so it was nice to come back and see all that has changed! The staff were all welcoming and friendly. The food options located in the building are excellent and provide great service as well. I visited the Skydeck which was amazing! I enjoyed learning about the history of Chicago's architecture and taking in the views of the city from the skydeck. read more

5 stars for the SEARS Tower, will ONLY ever call it the SEARS Tower! Love the new cool historical origin videos they have in the elevators as you go up! The sky deck is now more organized and time limited/regulated than it was originally a free for all. Make sure to spring for the VIP skip the line passes and you go right up with no wait in the long lines, you even enter a separate VIP only elevator without any crowds or anyone else even. In the lobby the food is so damn good. Get the shrimp tacos at Tortazo best shrimp tacos ever! read more

I've been here multiple times, both during the day and at night, and the views are always amazing! Seeing Chicago from the top never gets old -- daytime gives beautiful city and lake views, while nighttime is stunning with all the city lights. The Skydeck and glass ledge experience is super cool and definitely worth trying. The staff is also helpful and take really good pictures, which makes the visit even more memorable. Whether it's your first time or a repeat visit, this place is always worth it. One of my favorite attractions in Chicago! read more

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Spontaneous visit to Sears Tower on a Saturday afternoon! I haven't been here since I was a little kid, and that was before they added The Ledge and before it was renamed to Willis Tower, so I've been wanting to come back to experience it again. Surprisingly on a Saturday around 1:30pm, it wasn't crowded at all and there was 0 wait times for anything. I loved the museum you walk through before getting to the elevator that takes you up. The part featuring Chicago foods and the mirrored deep dish pizza was especially cool. When we got up to the top, we enjoyed the amazing views and then headed over to The Ledge. There are two lines, but it did not take long at all because they only allow people 90 seconds to take photos and there are multiple ledges. There's also a bunch of restaurants located here, so you could truly just make a day out of it. They also have other exhibits sometimes, and I think this time around it was the Color Museum. Love that they also added a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop recently! read more

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They have military discounts! But you can't take advantage of the discount unless you purchase tickets onsite. We were not prepared for the crowd on a weekday. Pro tip, you can line up for entry 15 minutes before your entry time. But at about 17 minutes before entry everyone rushes to the line, lol. The line moves fast, so no biggie. Once you enter, you go through security (another line) then they do photos (another line) then you walk through several very interesting exhibits, with multiple photo opportunities (more lines) but my hubby was focused on getting to the top, so we skipped the photo ops. Next you get in line for the elevator. After shooting up so fast your ears pop, you are treated to a wonderful view that pictures just don't capture. If you choose to go out on "The Ledge" its another line. They also take your picture. I can attest that you can accomplish the photo without ever looking down. Yes it's a lot of standing in line, but how often are you up where planes are flying by at eye level? And boy is the city breath taking from this vantage point. read more

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I went to Willis Tower at 5 PM on a weekday with absolutely no idea what kind of crowd situation I was 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. read more

The best place to go to get the best of the Chicago skyline. Whether you are going here as a tourist or local it's a great experience. There is a cafeteria on the ground floors with plenty of options to eat. After that you can go up to the sky deck and take pictures and learn about the history of Chicago. The tickets are a little pricey so it's something I wouldn't do on a frequent basis. It's definitely worth it to do at least once while you are in Chicago. read more

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The bottom floor has several places to eat and it has access to the color factory and the sky deck! I love all the lighting and the table set up read more

If you're using CityPASS, this is one of the attractions you have to visit. Since I'd already been to 360 CHICAGO, I wasn't sure how different the experience would be, but the views are actually quite different. From here, you get a much better view of Chicago's skyline and all the surrounding buildings, whereas 360 CHICAGO offers more views of the lake. On a clear day, you can even see into two other states, which I thought was pretty cool. My CityPASS included access to The Ledge, so I was able to skip the long regular line and use the expedited entrance. The process was well organized. A staff member takes your photos and guides you through the experience. Since I was traveling solo, I also asked one of the staff members to take a few photos with my phone, and they were more than happy to help. My only small complaint is that the time on The Ledge felt a little rushed. I understand they have to keep things moving because of the crowds, but I would've loved another 30 seconds or so just to soak in the view instead of feeling like I had to leave right away. Overall, it's an iconic Chicago experience and definitely worth visiting, especially if it's included with your CityPASS. read more

Willis Tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I will always call it the Sears Tower. I can't help it, that's what it was called the first time I ever 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. read more

Cool place to be! Theres a ton of shops and things to see. Was told there are offices that are in between the sky deck and the bottom floor. Really cool that it used to be the tallest building in the world! read more

We visited on a Saturday morning knowing the wait could be long, but decided to go anyway. We purchased wristbands, which came out to a little over $200 for our group, and waited nearly two hours to reach the Skydeck. Once you're in, you're given about 90 seconds to enjoy the view, after getting your photos taken. Honestly, you're better off visiting the John Hancock Building from the restaurant or bar. You'll get similar views with a more relaxed experience. This is a one-and-done visit for us, we wouldn't come back again. read more

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. read more

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While walking the city to get to my meeting, I had to walk past the Sears Tower... This might be called the Willis Tower, it's still and will always bee the "Sears Tower" to me! It's huge! It was humbling standing at the bottom and looking up. I didn't go up it, but liked the view from the bottom! read more

Willis Tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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. read more

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Beautiful tower I went to the skywalk decks and it was an incredible view of the city

Besides the views there is a tribute to Ferris Bueller in the exact spot where he stood when making the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off which is easily one of my all time favorite characters and movies. read more

Willis Tower - My view from my seat.... - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Worthwhile stop while in Chicago. Nice exhibit before you get to the elevator to take you to the observation deck, which was very worthwhile, although fairly pricey. I would hate to come on a really busy day and wait in line for an hour or more, but it was pretty easy access for us on this day. Very enjoyable to do on a nice day where you can see things at a distance. read more

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It'd been about 10 years since I last went there and they added a whole "experience" to take photos with iconic Chicago landmarks and people. It was fun for the kids especially! read more

Willis Tower (or as all Chicagoans call it, Sears ) was definitely worth the visit. I got my ticket through CityPASS, which automatically includes the express lane--absolute game changer. The ride up was a dope experience, especially with all the Chicago history along the way. Of course, the highlight was the Skydeck boxes free-hanging over the city... equal parts terrifying and amazing. The entire place was clean, well-kept, and very well organized. Definitely a must-do Chicago experience. read more

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I have been to the SEARS tower before, but after my wife and I recieved a date book of fun things to do in Illinois, we decided to do the Ledge. (I've done it in the past). It's pretty pricey but it's Chicago and it's a tourist trap. Views were amazing as ever. The pictures look a lot better than the ones I've taken in the past thanks to technology. read more

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Tallest building in Chicago!! A must to see!. Take the elevator up to the 110 floor. The interactive part which details Chicago and the building history of the Willis/Sears Tower. read more

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Great place for tourists in downtown Chicago. They sell tickets to take the elevator to the skydeck area. Your ticket includes the ability to go onto these glass out pockets in the side of the building at a specific time window. You can see completely below you and get some awesome pictures of Chicago. read more

Willis Tower - Willis Tower - spelled S-E-A-R-S - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I didn't pay up to go to the top and go out on the ledge. What I did do was take the elevator to the fourth floor and lay out on the grass and stare straight up enjoying two skyscrapers. This was so calming and reminded me as a kid flat on my back and enjoying the clouds in the sky. However on this day no clouds were to be had. The lawn here is nice. It would have been nice to have a picnic here. read more

Willis Tower - Lying on my back and enjoying the heavens. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great tour! I'm afraid of heights and I pushed myself to do it. The view is beautiful, it's spacious and plenty of room to walk around even being crowded. read more

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This formerly called Sears Tower is now Willis Tower is very nice and modern. So much happens here. The Metropolitan restaurant and the many sites here including the floor where you can see yourself with the bottom of your feet seeing all of Chicago through the clear glass. Bring ID for any events bc security is very strict. read more

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We had a very "Chicago" style experience you can say. We were there (walked in) at 2pm and noticed that the next available tix were at 3pm on the kiosk. But on the app 2:30 was still available but it wouldn't let us purchase the tix on the phone for some reason for the 2:30. We noticed another family having the same issue on the kiosk. They wanted to go at 2:30 but couldn't do 3. So an attendant came over to them and told them that if they wanted to go up before 3 then they need to do the expedited tix. She pushed all these buttons on the kiosk really fast and it came to $60+ per person instead of $30 something for regular admission. The family of 5 reluctantly did it, thinking it was their only option. It was painful to watch. $$$$!!! We decided to go over to the box office right next to the kiosks and ask the lady about the availability that we were seeing on the phone for 2:30 that wasn't showing up on the kiosk the same. She shrugged and she was quick to say i dont know and I am not familiar with the phone ticket ordering. I found that very weird considering she is front-facing box office person to visitors and there to answer questions! I then asked her if she can check her computer system. And very quickly she clicked like 2 times and said oh yeah there's some availability for the 2:30. She dismissively said just buy them for 3 and you'll be able to go in at 2:30. And indeed that worked! Therefore, that poor other family was duped by an employee to pay almost double when they could have just done what we did. Painful! Also, they do NOT check the ages on the tickets. Just bleep the code on the tickets. So, if you have a kid close to looking around age 12, then some one could hypothetically just put that age ticket for the reduced price. (Wish we had thought of that.) Then when we were about to go into our experience. these 3 young twenty something guys come from out of nowhere and cut everyone in line. Very arrogant guys! One dad in line was not having it and they exchanged words. Before the security check, they were getting physical and yelling. Security had to intervene - although did a poor job. There's a walk through history of Willis tower with photo ops once you go in. Kind of neat, if you have time. The views are great and you only get :90 on the ledge but can reenter the line anytime you want and go as many times as you want. At the end they say you can have one of the professional photos for $35 or all for $45 (they take them along the way unless you deny). We chose the one physical copy of a photo to purchase. We paid and then they said you now have a code with access to all the photos digitally. So we got all of them! So unless you want physical copies of all the photos, then just purchase the one photo so you can get the code for all digital...no sense in paying $45. read more

Typical tourist spot but it has nice views The observation deck has nice views of the city from all angles. The skydeck is a little underwhelming but still offers cool views. This is the only spot where you feel like cattle. read more

On my first trip to Chicago I tried to do as many things as possible in 48 hours. This was my first stop. I did the skydeck which had the most amazing views of Chicago including the beautiful lake. There are so many photo opportunities here and most of them did not disappoint. They also take you through a museum of sorts as you walk the path to the elevators. You learn about the Chicago fire, the royalty like Jordan and the Obamas. I learned that a Chicago hot dog does not ketchup! I never knew this fact. lol. I will go back when I come back to Chicago for sure. read more

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This special mindfulness event was pretty cool. "Up, Up And Away Yoga" on the 99th floor of Willis Towers. I've only taken a handful of classes in my lifetime. I understand there are many benefits to include yoga as a part of your daily regimen. Some examples are stress relief, improved flexibility and better rest. Nicole, our beautiful, well-toned, warm spirited instructor gave the group quite the workout. I was familiar with the 'tree' pose as it helps improve balance. I was also familiar with the 'downward facing dog' as it stretches the spine. The rest of what we did was all new to me, but fun to get the body moving. This ticketed event also included an express pass visit to the Ledge for a 90 second photo shoot. They literally set a timer. For our group there were yoga poses for pictures. For the next two days I could feel aches in muscles that don't get that much attention. I've got to do better. Thanks, Nicole! read more

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Pricy but if you are in town, great experience! They give you a timed 90 seconds to take your pictures so work fast! Pick a beautiful day, you can see for miles read more

Willis Tower - SKY DECK - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Go up the elevator for the magnificent view on a clear day. You will get you amazing photos & and unforgettable Chicago experience.

Willis Tower is filled with tons of restaurants and businesses. I stopped by with a friend to visit SkyLedge. Thankfully the line moved quickly and there were no issues with my reservation. The line leads you through a large, informative museum about the history of the surrounding area, the creation of the Willis Tower, the technology behind it and so much more. Of course, the views are absolutely stunning. The staff is friendly and efficient. Once we arrived to the ledge you'll notice that the staff is constantly keeping the glass clean to make for flawless views from over 1,000 feet in the air. I recommend visiting on a weekday. It's why the line was manageable and quick! read more

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The Willis Tower formerly known as the Sears Tower in Chicago, imo is a must go as a tourist is you visit the Windy City. Being inside the 1451 feet tall building is extraordinary. Going to the top skydeck is a must! The elevator takes approximately 45 seconds to reach the top from the bottom floor. On top, you will enjoy a 360° view of the city. Windows everywhere for your camera experiences to take spectacular pictures. Ideally, going there should be on a clear day. You'll see the whole city, Lake Michigan, along with the awesome artistic views of far away clouds along the Lake. The skydeck is a transparent box, built with plexiglass and glass for you to walk into to get a real life-like experience walking on air. You'll see everything directly below you. Of course, it's funner if you are afraid of heights. Lol. The time limit for staying in the transparent box is 90 seconds. A worker will take a photo of you, and will offer the picture of you before you you leave to purchase through a photo kiosk. The 360 deck floor also offers a gift shop, a snack store, and a bar for you souvenir needs, and your spirit enjoyment. You may hang out there as long as you want. Overall, it was a great experience. We finished the whole in about 90 minutes. The security along with the staff were very cordial. Yes, security check before going up. Enjoy the adventure! read more

My wife, her parents, and I all visited the Willis Tower on 13 May 2025. Great to see this marvel of architecture and the view from the Skydeck was amazing! read more

Willis Tower - The view at the Ledge! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went today on a semi cloudy day. We were warned about limited visibility but the sky cam showed us that we could definitely see and cloud were moving and we could see down below. We paid around $180 for 4 people got to the top and pitch white saw nothing . Got downstairs and where they take picture's form souvenirs the girl was rude as all heck. Didn't want to work i think read more

Willis Tower - Sky deck - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had SO much fun here. Scary to be on the glass just a little bit, but I loved every moment of this experience read more

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I recently visited the Skydeck at Willis Tower for the first time since its remodel, and it was an unforgettable experience--especially since I had the opportunity to bring some of my coworkers from China along for the ride. The newly updated experience has a historic museum entrance that talks about the rich history of both the skyscraper itself but also the city of Chicago, which was a nice touch for both us and our visitors who were seeing Chicago for the first time. It also had a ton of great photo ops with some things best known to Chicago :) Watching my coworkers step onto the sky deck priceless! They were both awestruck and a little nervous, but everyone ended up loving the experience. In terms of crowd management, I was impressed. Even though it was a sunny Saturday, the flow of visitors felt smooth, and we didn't feel too jam packed. read more

Willis Tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Formerly known as The Sears Tower - Willis tower is must do for tourists in Chicago. Besides the amazing part of going up to 103 floor observatory deck, how do you efficiently get thousands of tourists daily up there!? That's what makes this whole operation special. From the moment you enter Willis Tower, you realize everything is well organized. You are conducted through the food court to the lower level where you purchase your ticket. Then through the series of museum-like spots depicting Chicago history and landmarks all the way to the elevator. The ride up takes about a minute and there is a video and narrative depicting what height you are at any given moment as well as how that relates to other buildings around the world. The observatory deck on the 103rd floor is huge and yes it has The Ledge which I chose to bypass as I am faint of heart. The views are - well nothing short of spectacular.... The trip down is equally well organized and staff is very very friendly! Good Job! read more

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