Chicago has two amazing observation decks that allow you to admire the city from above: Skydeck Chicago on top of the Willis Tower and 360 Chicago on top of the John Hancock tower. This automatically makes someone planning a visit to Chicago wonder which one is better. Is it necessary to visit them both? If you only have time to visit one, which one should you choose? Well, you don’t have to worry anymore. In this blog, I will compare Skydeck Chicago vs. 360 Chicago to help you make an informed choice according to your preferences.
Willis Tower & Skydeck Chicago
Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower) is a 443m high (520m including the antennas) skyscraper located in The Loop neighborhood. It was designed by architect Bruce Graham and its façade is made of anodized aluminum and black glass. Construction began in 1970 and it opened its doors in 1973.
For 25 years, it was the tallest building in the world. However, today it is the third tallest building in the western hemisphere and the 23rd tallest building in the world.
Skydeck Chicago
Skydeck Chicago is the observation deck located on top of the Willis Tower. It is located 412m high and it offers visibility of 65 – 80km around it. On a clear day, you can see four different states from it (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan).
Within Skydeck Chicago, you can find The Ledge which consists of 4 glass boxes that extend out of the building on the 103rd floor offering a clear view straight down. These boxes are built to withstand 4000kg and as a curiosity, they can retract into the building to facilitate cleaning activities.
John Hancock Tower & 360 Chicago
John Hancock Center is a 344m high (457 with the antennas) skyscraper located in The Magnificent Mile district. The building was also designed by the Peruvian-American architect Bruce Graham and it opened its doors in 1969.
When the building opened it was the second tallest building in the world, after the Empire State. Today it ranks as the 82nd-highest building in the world.
On its 44th floor, it hosts the world’s highest indoor swimming above ground.
360 Chicago
360 Chicago is the observation deck located on top of the John Hancock Tower. This deck is located on the 94th floor of the tower and same as Skydeck Chicago, on a clear day you can see 4 different states (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan).
360 Chicago is the home for Tilt, an experience that like its name suggests, tilts the visitors to 30 degrees over The Magnificent Mile (not recommended for people afraid of heights!).
Skydeck Chicago Vs. 360 Chicago
Now that we know some interesting facts and information about both towers and observation decks, it is time to compare them so that you can better choose which one to visit.
I will compare them based on 5 different characteristics: location, height, prices, opening hours & waiting time, views, and time of the day to visit.
Location
Skydeck Chicago is located on top of the Willis Tower at 233 S Wacker Dr. It is right in the middle of Downtown Chicago next to the Chicago River.
On the other hand, 360 Chicago is located on top of the John Hancock Tower at 875 N Michigan Avenue. It is at the end of the Magnificent Mile and closer to Lake Michigan.
This may not be an important factor for everyone but depending on where your hotel is located, it might be easier for you to reach one or the other.
Height
There is some height difference between both decks. Skydeck Chicago is located on floor 103 (at 412 m-high) whereas 360 Chicago is located on floor 94 (at 305 m-high).
Personally, I didn’t feel that much difference in height from one to the other. However, if you want to visit the highest observation deck, then Skydeck Chicago is the highest one.
View of the Navy Pier from 360 Chicago
The views from up there
Despite both towers not being so far from one another, the views from them are quite different. Here are some of the main differences you will notice:
- The most obvious difference is that from Chicago 360 you will be able to see the Willis Tower whereas from Skydeck Chicago you will have John Hancock Tower in your sight. If you like one tower better than the other, then this is something you should take into consideration.
View of the Willis Tower from Chicago 360
View of the John Hancock Tower from Skydeck Chicago
- Another difference in views is that 360 Chicago is closer to Lake Michigan than Skydeck Chicago. The lake is visible from both towers but your photos will feature more water from 360 Chicago.
- From 360 Chicago you will be able to see the Navy Pier but you won’t be able to see it from Skydeck Chicago.
- From Skydeck Chicago, you will be able to enjoy the coastal views of the southern neighborhoods of Chicago. On the other hand, from 360 Chicago, you will be able to see the coastal views of the northern neighborhoods of Chicago.
South View from Skydeck Chicago
North View from 360 Chicago
Prices
Another important thing to consider when choosing which tower to visit is ticket prices.
- General Admission to both observatories for Adults starts at 30$. However, prices may change depending on demand. To check the exact prices of both observatories please visit the official sites (Skydeck Chicago and 360 Chicago).
- However, General Admission to Skydeck Chicago does include access to The Ledge whereas general admission to 360 Chicago does not include access to Tilt. If you want to experience Tilt, then most probably 360 Chicago will be more expensive.
Lake view from Skydeck Chicago
Opening Hours & Waiting Time
Access hours are also an important factor that could impact your decision.
- 360 Chicago is open daily between 9:00 and 23:00. The last entry is 1 hour before closing.
- Skydeck Chicago has variable opening times. From March to September it is open between 9:00 and 22:00 (Monday -Friday) and between 8:30 to 22:00 (Saturday and Sunday). From October to February it is open between 9:00 to 20:00 (Monday – Friday) and between 9:00 to 22:00 (Saturday and Sunday). The last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Visiting at Sunrise or During Sunset
When visiting these buildings, the best moment to do so is either in the early morning (right when it opens) or right before sunset. Both will have their pros and cons.
- Sunrise: Visiting in the morning at opening time, will always guarantee you fewer people there during your visit. However, if you’re visiting during the summer months, the sun will already be out for a while and the lighting, if you want to take photos, will be less suitable.
- Sunset: If you’re visiting during sunset, then lighting for your photos will not be a problem. In this case, the main disadvantage is that sunset is always the most crowded moment to visit.
If you’re thinking about visiting Skydeck Chicago during sunset, you should know that The Ledge is facing west, so it might be difficult to get beautiful shots of yourself in those glass boxes.
The Ledge Vs. Tilt
The Ledge and Tilt are the way that each observatory has to make your visit a bit more thrilling.
The Ledge was quite fun to experience. The first step you take is a bit scary to do but once you have done it, it is actually quite fun to do. The only thing that was a bit disappointing is that the 4 boxes are facing west and you can’t get any views of the other skyscrapers of Chicago from them.
I didn’t try out Tilt because it was not included in the General Admission price, and I didn’t want to pay extra for it. However, if you really enjoy thrilling experiences, Tilt does seem more accelerating than The Ledge.
My Personal Opinion
If you have the time (and the money) I recommend that you visit both towers. They both have different and unique features which will make both visits quite special.
However, if I could only choose one, I would choose 360 Chicago and visit it during sunset. Maybe it was because of the sunset but the view of all the skyscrapers from there was really beautiful. I didn’t visit Skydeck Chicago at sunset, so maybe if I had my opinion would be different.
And what about you? Which one would you choose? Let me know in the comments.
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