We wanted the view from above before we’d worked out anything else about Chicago. Skydeck at Willis Tower was the obvious first stop — 103 floors up, with a glass box you can walk out onto and look straight down through. It was one of our three CityPASS C3 choices, and we did it on our first day.
Here’s what it’s actually like with children, what it costs in 2026, and the one decision worth making before you buy anything.
Quick verdict
- Worth it once. If you’re only doing one observation deck in Chicago, this is the one with the glass floor — and the glass floor is what your kids will remember.
- $32 adult (12+), $24 child (3–11), under 3 free. Included in CityPASS C3 and C5.
- Allow 1–1.5 hours for the exhibits, the lift, the view and the queue for The Ledge.
- Go early. The haze builds through the day and so does the queue.
- You probably don’t need Expedited Entry at $55 — see the maths below.
Booking and getting in
Skydeck runs on timed tickets, so you reserve a slot before you arrive. We booked ours in advance and showed our C3 pass at the door — no separate ticket, no extra payment.
One practical thing worth knowing: the entrance is on the south side of Willis Tower, on Jackson Boulevard. Not the main lobby. It’s a small detail that saves you walking around a very large building with children who have already decided they’re bored.
Going up
You don’t go straight to the lift. The route in takes you through exhibits on Chicago’s history, its architecture and the tower itself — and they’re better than you’d expect. With kids, don’t rush this part: it’s where the height you’re about to experience gets some context, and it breaks up the wait.
Then the lift. About 60 seconds to the 103rd floor, fast enough that it becomes part of the attraction rather than a queue you endure.
The Ledge
The Ledge is a glass-floored balcony that projects about 4.3 feet out from the side of the building, built from multiple laminated glass layers. You step out, and there is nothing between you and the street 412 metres below except the floor you’re standing on.
It’s both terrifying and exhilarating, and those two things arrive at the same moment. From up there the view runs for miles — Lake Michigan, the outlines of Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan on a clear day, and Chicago’s whole street grid laid out underneath you.
The part nobody warns you about: The Ledge is timed per group. You get roughly 60 to 90 seconds inside it. That sounds like plenty until you’re in there with two children, a phone, and someone waiting behind you. So decide before you step out who is taking the photo and what the photo is. If you want a shot of both kids standing on the glass, that’s one person filming and everyone else in position — you don’t get a second attempt without rejoining the queue.
Will your kids actually step onto the glass?
Both our kids were super excited to step out onto the glass, while we were waiting in the queue. Once there, they were really afraid to step out. Damian still enjoyed the moment, Marc instead was super afraid, and we were quick to take pictures as he steped back quick. Hubby and me, we felt uncomfortable, but the view that was opening was worth every second.
Skydeck or 360 Chicago? We did both
Most families do one. Almost nobody who’s done both writes the comparison honestly, so here it is.
| Skydeck (Willis Tower) | 360 Chicago (Hancock) | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 103rd floor, 1,353 ft | 94th floor |
| The gimmick | The Ledge — a glass box you stand in and look straight down | TILT — the window itself leans you out over Michigan Avenue |
| Is the gimmick included? | Yes, in the ticket and in CityPASS | No — TILT is +$18 per person on top |
| The view | The street grid, the lake, four states on a clear day | Straight down Michigan Avenue and the lakefront |
| Ticket | $32 adult / $24 child (3–11) | Included in CityPASS C3 and C5 |
On the numbers alone, Skydeck is the better family choice: it’s higher, and the thing children actually queue for is included rather than costing another $18 a head. For a family of four, TILT adds $72 to a ticket you’ve already bought — worth deciding at home, not at the counter with two kids who have just watched someone else do it.
Our 360 Chicago experience, the views and the TILT
Marc, who was 8 by that time, decided not to go for TILT, so he stayed away and waited for us 3 to have the experience. For myself, the Ledge was more impressive than the TILT, but of course everyone with theirs impressions.
What it costs in 2026
- General admission: $32 adult (12+), $24 child (3–11), under 3 free
- Expedited Entry: from $55
- Golden Hour / premium package: $65
- Included in CityPASS C3 and C5 — the C5 bundles expedited entry
We didn’t pay per ticket. Skydeck was one of our three C3 choices, so we booked a slot and walked in on the pass.
Is CityPASS C3 worth it for a family of four? The actual maths
CIs Expedited Entry worth $55?
Do the arithmetic before you tick the box. Expedited Entry is $23 more per person than general admission. For a family of four, that’s $92 — more than a third of what you’d pay for the whole family’s standard tickets — to move through the lift queue faster.
It’s worth it in one situation: a busy summer afternoon, when it puts you within two to four lift rides of the top. If you’re going at opening, on a weekday, or late in the evening, you’re paying $92 to skip a queue that may not be there.
Practical tips
- Entrance: south side, Jackson Boulevard. Not the main lobby.
- Book a timed slot — it’s required, not optional.
- Go early or late. Clear mornings and the hour before sunset are the two good windows. Hazy afternoons are the bad one, and summer afternoons in Chicago are frequently hazy.
- Don’t skip the exhibits. They’re genuinely good and they occupy children during what would otherwise be a wait.
- Check the weather that morning, not the week before. On a cloudy or rainy day you’re paying full price for a view of the inside of a cloud. If your dates are flexible at all, move it.
- Split your observation decks across different days if you’re doing both. One bad-weather day then costs you one view, not two.
Would we go back?
Yes, we loved the LEDGE and overall experience. I think it was even more impressive due to the fact that it was higher and you could see also other buildings.
Our full 3 days in Chicago with kids itinerary
Where to stay in Chicago with kids — the three hotels we booked
Skydeck Chicago With Kids: FAQs
Is Skydeck Chicago scary for kids?
The Ledge is a glass box extending about 4.3 feet from the 103rd floor, so you look straight down more than 400 metres. Many children take to it faster than their parents do, but some refuse, and that is fine — the main deck has floor to ceiling windows with the same view and a solid floor. Each group gets roughly 60 to 90 seconds on the glass, so decide who is taking the photo before you step out.
How high is the Skydeck?
The Skydeck is on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, about 1,353 feet or 412 metres above the ground. The lift takes around 60 seconds to get there. On a clear day you can see Lake Michigan and the outlines of Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan.
How much does Skydeck Chicago cost?
General admission starts at $32 for adults aged 12 and over and $24 for children aged 3 to 11, with under 3s free. Expedited Entry starts at $55 and a Golden Hour package at $65. Skydeck is also included as one of the choices in the Chicago C3 pass and the CityPASS C5, which is how we visited.
Is Expedited Entry at Skydeck worth it?
It costs about $23 more per person than general admission, so roughly $92 extra for a family of four. It is worth it on a busy summer afternoon, when it places you within two to four lift rides of the top. If you visit at opening, on a weekday or late in the evening, the standard queue is usually short enough that the upgrade is not needed.
Skydeck or 360 Chicago — which is better with kids?
Skydeck is higher, at the 103rd floor against 360 Chicago’s 94th, and its glass-floor attraction, The Ledge, is included in the ticket. At 360 Chicago the equivalent attraction, TILT, costs an extra $18 per person on top of admission, which is $72 for a family of four. If you are only doing one observation deck with children, Skydeck gives you more for the money.
How long does a Skydeck visit take?
Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. That covers the exhibits on the way in, the 60 second lift ride, time at the windows and the queue for The Ledge. Add more on a busy summer afternoon.
Do you need to book Skydeck Chicago in advance?
Yes. Skydeck uses timed tickets, so you reserve a slot in advance through the Skydeck website or through the CityPASS system if you are using a pass. The entrance is on the south side of Willis Tower on Jackson Boulevard, not the main lobby.
When is the best time to visit Skydeck for the view?
A clear morning or the hour before sunset. Haze builds through the day, especially in summer, and cloudy or rainy days reduce visibility to very little. Check the forecast that morning rather than booking a fixed day far ahead, and if you are visiting both observation decks, put them on different days so one bad weather day does not cost you both views.
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