You simply can't beat the view and the unique experience. Even for my family members who are a bit iffy with heights enjoyed it. If you go to Chicago, it is a must. read more

Willis Tower - View from the tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just go inside Willis Tower and took break. Very nice building. Stay there for 20 minutes to charge my phone haha read more

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Beautiful Architect Building, This Building Plays a big role in Chicago Skyline, United Airlines' Main Headquarters is here in this Building, Just like Jetblue Airlines is Based in New York, NY (Queens- Long Island city section of Queens, N.Y.C ), Spirit Airlines is based in Boward County/Fort Lauderdale/Miami ( Dania beach) in Florida and Delta Airlines is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and American Airlines Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Frontier Airlines based in Denver, Colorado, Southwest Airlines Based in Dallas, Texas, Sun Country Airlines Based in Minnealopolis, Minnesota, Alaska Airlines Based in Seattle, Washington, Breeze Airways based in Cottonwood heights, Utah ,ETC airlines, Anyhow back to the Willis Tower back then this building was called Sears Tower ( Famously known after the Sears Fashion Department store ) now Sears is an online business, most of Sears in-store Department closed down since filing for bankruptcy -chapter 11, Sears Department stores was based in Chicago, Illinois. The Willis Tower is like the World Trade Center or the Empire State Building & the Williamsburgh Savings Bank /Brooklyn Tower on (Flatbush Avenue, Bklyn) & Hancock Whitney Center in New Orleans, Louisiana or Wilshire Grand Center in L.A., or the Effiel Tower in Paris, Big Ben in London or the Burj Khalifa in Dubai There are important skyscrapers that play big roles in cities that people know, When someone thinks about Chicago you cant forget about Willis Tower /Sears Tower because it plays big role in these cities, Two Thumbs up Chicago on this beautiful Architect -Art Design structure Building !!!! P.S.: This building is literally across the street from 900 building shops so go treat yourself to Bloomingdales Department store, etc store, and also close to Red Line Subway -CTA and CTA bus !!!! read more

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

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Get tickets ahead of time otherwise you will need to wait. There are a few options that you can do to pass the time that are located in the building. read more

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

If you're not afraid of heights, and you want to walk out on a glass window the ledge. This is a place to go. It was fun going through the museum downstairs and then shooting up in the fast elevator to the top floor. I marveled at the stunning vistas of Chicago, observing the bustling city streets and encountering incredibly friendly and humorous locals who eagerly snapped photos. I thoroughly relished the experience and am certain to repeat it in the future. read more

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Some people steal for money. Others do it for the kicks. But one summer many years ago, me and my friends pulled off a heist just for the view from a skyscraper. The building in question? The Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, a large black monolith and the tallest building in Chicago, Il. You may recognize it as the skyscraper Ferris Bueller and co. visit in the classic 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 2018, a visit to the top floor of the tourist trap cost a king's ransom: "$30? Bro, I'm not paying 30 bucks to look out a goddamn window," spouted Ian, my former college roommate. Ian was brash - he always spoke his mind - but today he was right on the money (pun intended). We - that is, Ian, myself, and my high school bestie Sam - were strapped for cash on our brief trip to Chicago, and $30 could buy us a barrel full of hot dogs and a disgusting bottle of Malort to wash it down. As they pontificated about other plans, I refused to give up. I had found a link on the building's website where prospective businesses could book a tour to view office space. In a pre-Covid world, the entire booking process was devoid of verification and took all of 60 seconds. The Plan: The three of us would pose as a cryptocurrency startup called "Cryptex," which was poised to change the game... somehow. We would charm our way through the meeting and ask to see the best view the office had to offer. The Risk: Certain death. In reality, the risk was us getting chastised and asked to leave, which, at 22, feels like certain death. The Score: We see a nice view of the Chicago skyline and each save $30 ($38.67 when adjusted for inflation). Two days later, we stood before the behemoth of a building, sweating, in our disguises. Sam, posing as our "money man," wore a dark suit, sans tie. Ian, our "logistics expert," wore a polo, his hair slicked back to show that he meant business. I was supposed to be our awkward tech specialist, a role I was assigned due to my overall look and vibe. I donned an ill-fitting sports coat and a mostly-tucked blue dress shirt buttoned all the way to the top, and I could feel the button against my Adam's apple every time I swallowed. As we entered the grandiose, high-ceilinged lobby, dread began to sink in. This was a real building, with real adults, and we were just some dumb kids playing pretend. We entered the elevator and took a moment to breathe. Quiet before the storm. The elevator doors opened to reveal what I now know to be a pretty standard-looking office. At the time, however, it felt like we had walked into a G-rated version of Wolf of Wall Street. The secretary behind the front desk looked at us like we were kids playing dress-up, which technically, we were. "Hi, here to see Lori, we're from Cryptex," I sheepishly muttered. "Harry? From Cryptex?" I looked up to see a very professional-looking middle aged woman with dark grey hair that matched her pantsuit exactly. Lori led us into a conference room where we lied through our teeth about what our 'company' did. Then she gave us a tour. Afterwards, she led us to the elevator. Our heist, it seemed, was a failure... but when the elevator arrived, she stepped in with us. She scanned her keycard and hit the button labelled '87'. "Before I let you go, you must see the best perk of leasing at Willis." The elevator dinged and Lori led us to the promised land. Floors 87 and 88 were some sort of lounge. There was a coffee spot, folks sitting in cushy chairs on laptops, and a 25-foot east-facing window with a breathtaking view of downtown Chicago and the vast, ocean-like Lake Michigan. We had done it. Our dumb, little scheme had worked. Lori left us there in the lounge and we all laughed and celebrated each others' various deceptions. We had stolen a view. The problem with urban views, however, is they have a hard cap of about 5 minutes of enjoyment before they become boring. "Y'all wanna grab some food?" I asked, and we were off. Two brief postscripts: first, we got a followup email a week later from Lori asking if we wanted to move forward, so we really did convince her. Second, in 2021 a real company was formed under the name Cryptex. It now has a market cap of almost $8 million as I write this. So, I guess the morale of the story is that if you can pretend to run a business well enough to trick people, maybe you should just do that business for real? We're all just faking it until we make it, and as the real Cryptex has proven, we literally should have just made it. To wrap up my Yelp review, Willis Tower gets 3 stars. read more

Ride to the 103rd floor and go out onto the Skydeck! The view is awesome. When you come into the tower, front door staff will guide you on how to go down (yes, down) two floors in order to experience the Skydeck. When you arrive, check with staff at the window to see what the visibility will be before you go up. We went earlier in the day and were advised to come after 2pm because of the fog off Lake Michigan, so that's what we did and it was well worth the wait! read more

Willis Tower - 103 floors up! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good food options and the sky tower to boot. Close to CTA and Metra. Skip the start and end of the workday.

Get to the top of Chicago by climbing this famous skyscraper all the way up, or just take an elevator. It's been said this had a name change: whatchu talkin bout Sears? The Willis Tower was named in honor of Bruce Willis, who heroically threw Hans Gruber off the Nakamura Tower. A documentary of it shows it happened on Christmas. Whatever you call this tower, it's fucking humongous. A tourist trap to be sure, but it's fun once or so if you've never been in it before. It may cost a lot getting to the top. The only bad thing about it, but that's expected so whatever. Also this tower actually serves a function. There's lots of of businesses and offices inside. There's not just people coming for SkyDeck. A big food court is inside the main entrance. Overpriced of course, and there's also a pretty fancy restaurant. Most people want to go to the top of course. Takes awhile to get there. Lots of interesting information along the way to read about the history of the building. Things about how and why it was built and stuff. I was impressed the architect Fazlur Rahman Khan was inspired by a pack of cigarettes. The different heights of the tower give it stability. Of course everyone wants to go to the top and act foolish. There you can take pictures while walking on glass. Fun stuff, especially when the glass makes crackles. The first time hearing that it almost made me crap in there. Fun tourist stuff is what it is. It's worth going up to at least once. The rest of the tower is cool too and the two pointy things at the top can change colors for events or whatever. read more

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had a great first experience at Cava. location was clean, easy to access and quick. thanks again!

Aug 8, 2023 tuesday: Rsvp time at 630pm to go up. Before heading to the elevator to get up to the 103rd floor there is a maze like city views background that you can take pictures. Also, with the City Pass your entitled to go to the "Expedited " line to go up and when taking pictures on the ledge. They give you 90 seconds to take all the pictures you want after their own picture takes that will cost you $31 for 2 sets of pictures. Views are amazing. Go at night..it's even more beautiful with the city lights. Staff are nice. Souvenirs are expensive! The high life!!! read more

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We took a free tour by foot and after learning a lot about the Willis Tower, we decided to check it out and go up to the Sky Deck. Almost wherever you are in the downtown area or near downtown, you can see the monumental view of the Willis Tower...it's difficult to miss and/or not to awe at it. The Willis Tower (originally the Sears Tower) is a 108-story, 1,451-foot skyscraper. It was completed in 1974 as the world's tallest building, a title that it held for nearly 25 years. It is currently the third-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the 23rd-tallest in the world. Each year, more than one million people visit the Skydeck observation deck, the highest in the United States, making it one of Chicago's most popular tourist destinations. The building's facade is made of anodized aluminum and black glass.The structure was known as the Sears Tower from its construction until the naming rights were included in a 2009 lease with the Willis Group. Local area residents still refer to the building by its old name. As of April 2018, the building's largest tenant is United Airlines, which occupies around 20 floors. read more

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We had an amazing time in Chicago to celebrate my wife birthday She really enjoyed herself!

Amazing view! Im super scared of heights. This was a tough one but I made it! Wish I took more pics but I did have some anxiety being so high on the 99+ floors. I didn't look down to take the picture. We had to take 3 diff elevators to get to the 99th floor, and another to go to the sky deck. read more

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

Great experience. At first it was sold out for the day I wanted but when I checked later that night a 10:00 am spot had opened. We enjoyed walking through and reading the information leading up to the edge. Once we got up there were great views of the city. The edge was a little scary at first. They give you 90 seconds to take your own pics. I enjoyed the experience. read more

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We had a fun visit up the Willis Tower. We got dropped off right at the front of the building, and were confused at first since there were no signs. After walking around a bit, we finally found the entrance on the side of the building. Once inside, there is a food court area with a bunch of different eateries. There are also plenty of tables to eat at that are spread out. After taking the the escalators up, we were finally greeted by the employee. We had purchased our tickets online, so we luckily avoided the line. There were a lot of people ahead of us making their way up the tower. There are plenty of cute photo ops though along the way. Once at the top, the view is great. You see it all at the top. The see through glass has its own line going on. Here we waited about ten minutes until it was our turn. We each got 60 seconds to be able to take some pictures on the see through glass / floor. The gift shop is located right off the elevator on your way down. They had all your typical souvenir stuff, etc. This is a definite must stop when visiting the windy city! read more

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Awesome building. This is one of those must visit tourist views. I love photography and this building has it all. This is a great city to visit. Will for sure be back. read more

I feel like every time you visit a big metropolitan city, you have to visit a tall tower to see and enjoy the views. Therefore here I am at Willis Tower paying a pretty hefty price. The price point was only justified after I went inside and realized that it's not just the views you're paying for, but also the "museum" part of the experience where there's a lot of photo opportunities and history of Chicago. Here are some of my favorite parts: - The Skydeck is truly a great experience. Since you only have around a minute on the platform to take pictures and enjoy the views, it's hard to remember that below your feet, it's completely glass. The best part though is that you will get some sick pictures because the place is really amazing and the workers are quite good at taking pictures. I will say that there is quite a bit of a line for this but luckily there are 4 boxes to take pictures in. - I really like the mockups the "museum" has of other famous buildings in the area. It's interesting to see the model in 3D to then identify later while walking on the streets of Chicago. - I also very much appreciate the 360 views of the place, it's quite beautiful especially seeing Lake Michigan. Overall, good experience at Willis Tower. Not sure if I will shell out this amount again to see the views but glad I done it. But you know, I always wonder why not people just look outside the window while sitting on the airplane to see city skylines. After all, it's free since it comes with your airplane ticket and then you don't have to go to high towers any more. read more

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

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Very interesting Architecture history of Chicago walk thru. With the final stop the clear box. You get 90 seconds to take pics on your own. Then they take a picture(one!) which can purchase at the end for an exorbitant fee. I really enjoyed this. They did an amazing job. A little over $40 per person. Completely worth it. Been to Chicago a bunch of times but never went here I'm glad I did it this time read more

If you are questioning wether willis tower should be on your list of activities while in town, it should be a big yes! It's just not the skydeck but a fun informational and fun museum like walk through tour right before you ascend to the top. You'll get the best views and pictures from the top. Some critical advice: Do not show up and hope to go straight to the skydeck. Make a reservation. Plan to wait at the lobby in the skydeck to actually step into the glass deck. Lastly, you only get 2-3 minutes to take pictures on the glass deck depending on your party size. We waited about 30 minutes since we went on a Saturday but I hear it's relatively empty on weekdays read more

Willis Tower - You can do pretty much any pose you can think of - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Leading up to the elevators to go to the sky deck there's a really cool immersive experience that explains the history of Chicago. I thought that was super cool and entertaining, great for all ages to learn about the music, food, architecture, and more of the city. Masks are optional but recommended. The elevator ride to the top was quick and the sky deck was amazing. The views were amazing, but the line for the ledge pictures were 30-45mins and then you only get 1minute to take photos. That barely gives you enough time to even get in a pose because they take a photo of you first with their camera and that's included in the time which doesn't seem fair. We felt so rushed we didn't even get a chance to enjoy the view which was sad as well and I don't want to have pay $30 again just to get another minute so definitely be prepared and ready when you go. Quick in and out. read more

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I had never been this high in my life until now. My wife almost couldn't get out of the elevator. Because as you go up the feet just keeps getting higher and higher. I continue to be amazed at the architecture and engineering of Chicago. read more

Willis Tower - Incredible view of the lake with Chicago downtown - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a cool place to visit! We will definitely go back. Recommend going at sunset for even better pics.

My husband and I had to try this destination spot. We bought general tickets and got a 3:30 time slot. It takes a good 45-1 hour to get through before getting to the ledge. Hundreds of people are doing the same. It didn't bother us because it was the experience. Once you get to the ledge each attendant for the 4-6 ledges gives you 90 seconds to take as many pics as you want. Everyone is watching It was fun. Would definitely recommend. read more

Willis Tower - The Ledge at Willis Tower, Chicago IL. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The SkyDeck/the Ledge is well worth the price for its incredible views and the opportunity to recreate a scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Tickets sell out fast so make sure to reserve online in advance. We got the fast pass so we didn't have to stand and wait for hours on end. It was a brief visit and quite crowded but a Chicago must. read more

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The key is to not look down at all if you're terrified of heights. As one of the tallest buildings in the world, the view is magnificent, overlooking Chicago's architecture. It's best to come on a sunny day for a bright view without the clouds in the way. The line to go up was a bit of a wait but doable if you have good company. There's several boxes that you will wait in line for your turn to take pictures. This line was much shorter. Then you can go back in line or go to another box. There isn't a limit of how many times you can get back in line. You might spent about 30min to an hour up there. Probably next time when I'm back, I would go during the sunset until night time. The view would be even better. read more

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Impressive view of Chicago. The glass floor made me scared. It seemed like the glass would crack and I would fall 1,452 feet to the ground. Still if you want to have a picture from a skyscraper in Chicago go here. Up there it is a 360 view of Chicago And Lake Michagon. It's a must in Chicago. read more

Willis Tower - Rest of the Chicago Skyline facing north from the tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great views and wonderful place to take pics in the sky! The lines were long but worth the wait when our little people had their chance to pose in the glass box. read more

To me, this will always be the Sears Tower. Yes, it is just another observation tower. But what visit to Chicago would be complete without going to this iconic building, which is still the third tallest building in the country behind One World Center and Central Park Tower in New York. While we were there, there was a lot of construction going on in the lobby area. There is a small food court in this area which they are still working on. Once you get your ticket and go up, you are on the observation deck. It is a single floor where you can walk in a circle, but everything is enclosed with no exposed outdoor areas whatsoever. There was also a long line on this floor for people waiting to stand on a glass floor called The Ledge. This section of floor juts out slightly and lets you look down from over 100 floors up. It is a nice photo op but may not be worth the wait. Either way, you are guaranteed great views of the city and its skyline from any of the observation deck's windows. read more

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I am terrified of heights and still enjoyed it! The views of the city are unparalleled, I'll give them that. However, they only give you ONE timed minute for pictures and for what we paid (around $80), it seems very rushed. We were in and out in under 20 minutes. It was quick but could've been better! read more

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Great experience. Great views. Everyone is very kind and patient. Only down side is their backup elevator doesn't have the same AC or interactive features as their main elevator. read more

What trippy views of the city from below your feet. They have a floor that overhangs the city. It's so fun to just walk around all over the city. You can take some really trippy photos of the city a foot, literally. This is always a fun place to take my friends from out of town as well. read more

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Went here for the Skydeck experience and had a very nice experience. The tower is well maintained and feels very modern. On the ground floor itself, there are few restaurants and sitting areas. Very clean and well decorated overall. Clean floors, restrooms, and well self-guided building. The staff is very helpful too. There is a history attached to this tower and they have portrayed it very well all over the building, especially at the entrance of the skydeck experience. read more

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

We drove all the way to Chicago for our first anniversary. She was looking at the view while I was staring at her read more

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

This is a great place to come for views of Chicago and Lake Michigan! The Willis Tower/Sky Deck experience was a little on the pricey side; however, I think it was definitely worth the stop and would be happy to come back. The museum on the main floor prior to boarding the elevators was interesting and had good photo op locations, and then once to the platform, the glass-floor and glass wall overlooks provided a scary/fun opportunity for views and pictures too. read more

How many states can you see from the Willis Tower? If you're brave enough to make it to the top, on a clear day, you'll be able to see Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Just take the elevator, which itself can go as fast as 1,600 feet per minute! It is open from 9am and they start letting people line up around 10 till 9. If you pay for a special ticket, they let you in at 8am. General admission cost is $25. Online ticket is available for your convenience. I came here twice during my short visit to Chicago. One time at night after dinner and another time at 9am. I talked to several people who came at mid day and they told me queue was about two hours. There were no line at all both time for me. I think first thing in the morning or one hour before closing time is the best time to visit here. read more

Willis Tower - View from the top at night - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A MUST GO! its more than just a stunning picture,it was an incredible experience! I'm not typically afraid of heights, but this one definitely got to me! To get to the Skydeck, you must pay $25 dollars (or $20 through groupon) to go up to the 103rd floor. On your way up, the elevator gives you a serious of fun facts in regards to the tower and its height. Once up there, you have a 360 view of the view and walls filled, with fun facts about Chicago. Then, things get real. They have 3 glass extensions/balcony's for you to choose from (or you can do them all) , the only thing that changes is the view. Each balcony has its own line. Once its your turn you have about a minute to get all the shots you'd like. Apart from this, the staff also take a pic from a high angle, which you can purchase if you'd like on your way out. I didnt have much of a wait time, but then again, it was a Thursday early morning.Make sure to plan ahead as I hear this place get pretty packed. read more

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

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Came here for the Skydeck experience/The Ledge since it was my first time in the Windy City and it was amazing! Nothing like I have ever experienced! The Willis Tower is the third tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The Ledge is 1,353 feet in the air and you will be able to stand on a glass box that extends from the Skydeck and capture photos. I am not afraid of heights but my husband is, and he thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Everything in the facility was very well maintained and the staff was friendly. read more

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

Sky deck was amazing. However afterwards we sat on the stairs of the Willis tower waiting on our ride. The lady asked us to get up and we obliged. Afterwards the security guards came to us saying that the young lady felt uncomfortable and that we had an attitude because i rose slowly due to ankle issues. The management and security were pure trash and put us out in the cold because we didn't move as swiftly as the lady with the lil ponytail asked. read more

The sky deck was freaking terrifying lol I am not a fan of heights. But definitely recommend doing it once and knocking it off your bucket list. The wait wasn't very long even considering how busy it was. read more

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