Do you dare to walk on air?
You have a chance to face your fear of heights at the Skydeck ledge in Chicago.
Willis Tower formerly known as the Sears tower is 1,450 feet (443 meters) high – 1,730 feet (520 meters) including twin antenna towers. Willis Tower is the eighth-tallest building in the world; it remains the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall.
The Skydeck is 1,353 feet (412 meters) above the ground.
Due to increased security post 9/11, you will begin upstairs and then be directed to the lower level to wait to go through a security checkpoint.
If you don’t enjoy waiting in line, I would highly recommend purchasing the CityPASS which gets you into 5 must see Chicago tourist attractions. The City Pass also includes the Fast Pass. CityPASS admission is $89 for ages 12 and up and $79 for ages 3-11.
Children under 3 are FREE! We used a CityPASS several years ago and it was defitntiely the best value for tourists.
With CityPASS, you’ll skip most ticket lines and you have up to nine days to use all the tickets. Purchase CityPASS online or from a Skydeck cashier. Tip: Advance online purchases allow guests Fast Pass admission immediately upon arrival.
If you don’t have the CityPASS you can purchase the $40 Fast Pass where you can go through a separate security line that is A LOT shorter. You also have the option to bypass the “Reaching For the Sky” theater presentation and the interactive exhibits to go directly to the Skydeck. *Children under 3 are FREE.
While you wait in line there is a lot of trivia on the screens and interesting facts about the building. After you pass the security check, you can get your picture taken in front of the green screen.
After you purchase your tickets, you go into the Interactive museum that tells you more about the city with hands on displays.
After the museum, we went to watch the “Reaching For The Sky” movie.
The elevator ride is quick, their elevators are among the fastest in the world going 1,600 feet per minute. During the ride to the top, their screens show you different famous buildings as you surpass their height.
The view at the top is absolutely gorgeous at every angle. You get a 360 degree view of Chicago at the Skydeck.
Next, came The Ledge.
There are 4 glass boxes where you can step out on the ledge. On the ledge to the far left, you can purchase a professional picture taken while on the ledge. The other 3 glass boxes are for visitors who want to take their own pictures.
The Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor, which give you incredible views of the city at a very unique perspective.
From the Skydeck, on a clear day, you can enjoy views of 4 states and up to 50 miles!
While you are on the Skydeck, you can also learn about the different parts of town.
The Skydeck is open 365 Days a Year
- April through September from 9am-10pm
- October through March from 10am-8pm
- Last entry 30 minutes prior to close
Tickets for the Skydeck are $18 for Adults ages 12 and up and $12 for youth ages 3 to 11.
Disclosure: I was given complimentary admissions for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Skydeck is located at 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, Illinois.
Terrific pictures and great advice for the Citypass! Sometimes you wonder if it is worth purchasing fast track passes because they are not always needed and the costs can add up. But with your experience and recommendation it may be a wise idea to purchase one!
It’s not that bad. My kids were a bit nervous a first but then once you see the view it’s worth it.
WOW! Beautiful pictures! I don’t know if I could step out – that would be kind of scary for me since I’m kind of scared of heights!