A World-Class View of Chicago via the Willis Tower Skydeck
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After 40 years of living in and visiting Chicago, I finally made it to the iconic Willis Tower Skydeck. This wonderful attraction offers the most dramatic views of what I and many others believe is the most beautiful skyline in the country. The 1450 foot tall Willis Tower (it will always be the Sears Tower to Chicago locals!) was at one point the tallest building in the world (until 1996 when the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia overtook first place at 1483 feet). Today, the 110 story architectural wonder still ranks as the 12th tallest in the world (and 3rd tallest in North America). The amazing observatory is the highest in the world. The views of the fabulous skyline and Lake Michigan via The Ledge are really out-of-this-world. After finally taking in the magnificent city views after all these years, my only regret is that I didn’t visit sooner!
More interesting facts about the Willis
The Skydeck
This observation deck is really cool in comparison to others as you will have the unique opportunity to view the city skyline from a glass platform. A bit scary for anyone scared of heights but a really cool experience for anyone else. You can see 4 states and up to 50 miles when skies are clear. I love the views of the lake and skyline – really, there is no skyline that can compare. The Ledge is the name given to the 1.5 inch thick piece of glass that keeps you from falling 100 stories to your death. There are 5 glass balconies which jut out 4.3 feet from the building. As I said before, if you are scared of heights, you may want to skip out on this one (great views of the skyline from the Adler Planetarium for anyone scared of heights).
Check out these beautiful city & lake views!
Strike your best pose
You will see people doing all sorts of crazy poses like headstands, jumps, and more. It was apparent that many people planned their perfect photo well in advance of their visit. I did my best to capture a fun jump without any preplanning. I’d love to go back sometime and plan a cool headstand or backbend photo.
Ferris Bueller photo opp
Anyone from Chicago has probably seen the classic 80’s film at least 100 times. The Willis has conveniently marked the exact spot where Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane stood and put their head against the glass.
“Sloane: The city looks so peaceful from up here. Ferris: Anything is peaceful from one thousand, three hundred and fifty-three feet.”
Mike and I recreating the famous scene from my favorite movie!
Best time to visit
It will be crowded pretty much the entire year as one of the city’s more popular tourist attractions. Despite the crowds, the line moves pretty past. Each person or party only has 5 minutes to take their photos which really is enough time in my experience. Winter after the holiday season is probably your best bet to avoid hefty summer and holiday tourists.
History of the Willis Tower
The building opened in 1973 as an office space for Sears, Roebuck, and Company which was the largest retail company at the time. Sears sold the building in 1989 and the name remained until 2009. It changed officially to the Willis in 2009 when the London insurance broker (the Willis Group) boght the space.
The Museum Experience
Before taking pictures and enjoying the views via Skydeck, you will be able to enjoy an immersive museum experience. This walk through exhibit is included with your pricey ticket, so I recommend taking some time to take a lot of photos and read through the various exhibits. You will find 7 rooms where you can take photos, watch videos about the history of the city, and pose next to famous people/exhibits.
Some of the highlights of the museum include:
- A replica of the famous “L” Train with video screens
- A history exhibit detailing the city’s origins including info on the Chicago Fire
- Architecture exhibits which also include detailed info about the Willis Tower
- Streetscape photo opps next to Wrigley Field, the iconic “bean” and a beautiful Chicago sign
- Photo opps next to Chicago’s most famous food items including a giant hot dog and deep dish pizza
- Character photo opps next to famous sports figures like Michael Jordan, Oprah, and President Barack Obama
- Photo opp where you can pretend to perform on stage at Chicago’s iconic Second City
Admission Pricing, Parking, and Location
Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
Hours: Open 365 days a year.
March-Sept (9am-10pm, 8:30 on Sat),
Oct-Feb (9-8pm, 9pm on Sat)
Pricing: Varies from $32-36 depending on date of weekend. Current as of 2024 – check website for updates. Express tickets start at $55.
There is a parking lot right across from the Tower. I recommend finding cheaper parking in advance as we shelled out over 50 bucks – more than the price of tickets just to park for 2-3 hours!
Note tickets are timed and sell out fast. It is best to book online in advance to ensure availability.
Discounts: Book parking in advance on the website for reduced pricing. Also consider a Citypass if you will be visiting other Chicago attractions.
Dining and shopping: There are numerous restaurants on-site (Shake Shack, Starbucks, SweetGreen, etc) as well as a large gift shop offering all sorts of Chicago based souvenirs.
More to do in The Windy City!
There’s lots more to do in the Windy City. Check out my winter vacation guide and top summer tourist attractions guide to fill up your itinerary each season.
