Published on Jan, 2025
We had a great time visiting the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) in downtown Chicago. As the highest observation deck in the city, it offers breathtaking views in all four directions. Thanks to our Chicago CityPass, we enjoyed expedited entry, which was a huge plus since both the ground-level line and the wait for The Ledge seemed quite long.
While The Ledge is considered the highlight, we found ourselves more captivated by the experience of watching the city transition from daylight to the beautifully illuminated nighttime skyline. The 90-second limit per group on The Ledge felt a bit rushed, though still thrilling and absolutely worth doing, a more relaxed attitude really lets you soak in the views.
If you're debating between the Willis Tower and the John Hancock 360 Skydeck, we've visited both and found them equally impressive. Both offer a 360 degrees view over the city so you canāt really go wrong with either. If youāre using the CityPass, weād recommend sticking with the Willis Tower, as visiting both observation decks might not be necessary unless you have extra time to spare (the John Hancock center is also included in the CityPass, but as an optional activity as opposed to the Willis Tower which is non-optional).