Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower Entry Tickets

The Ledge is a series of glass-floor balconies extending 4.3 feet from the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, 1,353 feet above Chicago's streets. The glass panels are 1.5 inches thick and allow guests to look directly down to the streets below while standing suspended beyond the building's wall with nothing visible beneath them except the city far below. The Ledge is included with standard general admission at no additional charge. On busy days Ledge visits are approximately 90 seconds per group, and guests may rejoin the queue as many times as they wish.

General Admission includes the elevator ride to the 103rd floor Skydeck and access to The Ledge, the museum, and all viewing areas. During peak periods, wait times for the elevator and The Ledge can reach 1 to 2 hours with a standard ticket. Expedited Entry tickets provide priority access to the elevator and are designed to put guests within 2 to 4 elevator rides of the Skydeck, significantly reducing total wait time. Expedited Entry starts at $55 per person versus around $32 for General Admission. Chicago CityPASS includes Expedited Entry as standard.

On a clear day views from the 103rd floor extend up to 50 miles in every direction, encompassing four states. To the east, Lake Michigan stretches to the horizon with Indiana's shoreline visible beyond it. To the northeast, Wisconsin's landscape emerges beyond the northern suburbs. Michigan's landscape is occasionally visible on exceptionally clear days. Chicago's extraordinary skyline, including the John Hancock Center, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, and the river system, fills the immediate panorama below.

Skydeck Chicago is the public observation deck on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, at 233 South Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago. At 1,353 feet above street level, it is the highest observation deck in the United States. The experience includes a lower-level interactive museum on Chicago's architectural history, a high-speed elevator ride to the 103rd floor, 360-degree views stretching up to 50 miles on clear days, and The Ledge, glass-floor balconies extending beyond the building's wall.

Skydeck Chicago is one of the more intense observation experiences available in the United States due to The Ledge specifically. Walking onto the glass-floor balconies extending beyond the building's wall produces a powerful sensation of exposure that some guests find very challenging. The observation deck itself without The Ledge is a more conventional experience with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Guests do not have to step onto The Ledge. The experience is fully accessible and Sensory Compliant, with optional sensory bypasses available in more stimulating exhibit areas.

Yes. Skydeck Chicago is one of the five attractions included in Chicago CityPASS, which bundles admission to Chicago's top attractions at up to 50 percent savings compared to individual tickets. CityPASS includes Expedited Entry to Skydeck, which provides priority elevator access and reduces wait times on busy days. CityPASS tickets are valid for use across all included attractions over a 9-day period from the date of first use.

Most guests spend 45 to 60 minutes at Skydeck Chicago, covering the lower-level museum, the elevator ride, the observation deck, and The Ledge. Visits during peak periods may be longer if wait times for the elevator or The Ledge are significant. The best times to visit are immediately after opening or after 19:00 when crowds thin. One hour before sunset is widely recommended as the best combination of daytime clarity and evening light.

Willis Tower is at 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. Enter Skydeck through the Jackson Boulevard lobby on the south side of the building. By CTA, the Quincy and LaSalle stations on the Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines are within a two-minute walk. The Loop is served by numerous bus routes. Parking garages are within a 2 to 5 minute walk of the building. Willis Tower parking is expensive in the immediate area; public transit is strongly recommended.