Which Chicago Tower is Greatest? Willis Skydeck vs. 360 Chicago
Anybody who has seen a photograph of the Chicago skyline can most likely pick town’s most well-known constructing – a 108-story asymmetrical black behemoth with two spiky antennas which can be colorfully lit up at evening. Add a blazing crimson eye between the antennas, and also you’d have one thing proper out of “Lord of the Rings.”
This, after all, is the Willis Tower – often called the Sears Tower till July 2009.
The Willis Tower’s “Skydeck Chicago” on the 103rd ground is definitely Chicago’s hottest vacationer attraction, drawing greater than 1.3 million guests per yr to its 360-degree views out over town.
However, whereas the Skydeck is wildly common, it really has some competitors a mile and a half away on the 100-story constructing sitting at 875 North Michigan Avenue*. This constructing boasts an observatory much like the Skydeck on its 94th ground, often called 360 Chicago, with views out over Lake Michigan and town of Chicago.
*This increase till a pair years in the past was often called the John Hancock Middle, however presently is anonymous. You will nonetheless seemingly see it known as the Hancock constructing, although.
So which tower is REALLY higher? Which one is extra price your time (and cash)?
I’m going to attempt to reply that query for you on this Chicago Tower Smackdown by evaluating numerous options of every tower.
Going to be visiting Chicago quickly? Make sure to choose up a Chicago CityPASS, which incorporates fast-track admission to each of town’s well-known towers, and might prevent greater than $100 on attraction entry all through town.
Willis Skydeck vs. 360 Chicago comparability
Info/pricing final up to date Could 2024.
Right here we go! All the things it’s essential to know to decide on between visiting the Skydeck or 360 Chicago.
NOTE: Each towers are actually requiring timed tickets to be able to go to. Make sure to e-book your tickets upfront if you wish to go to at a selected time!
Location
The Willis Tower is situated on Wacker Avenue, with the Skydeck entrance on Jackson Boulevard. The tower is principally on the coronary heart of downtown Chicago, with buildings and busy Chicago streets throughout it.
The 360 Chicago is situated on common Michigan Avenue, proper subsequent to Lake Michigan. You’ve gotten water on principally two sides, and Chicago on the others.
Smackdown Winner: Draw, as a result of each are situated in good areas, inside strolling distance of public transport.
Tally: Skydeck — 1 360 Chicago — 1
Costs
Visiting the Skydeck will value you anyplace from $28-$36 for grownup normal admission ($22-$26 for teenagers), relying on what day/time you wish to go to. For $50-$55, you may get Expedited Entry, which can enable you skip among the traces.
360 Chicago expenses $35 for grownup normal admission ($25 for teenagers), however gives a $5 low cost should you e-book on-line. There are additionally a number of completely different packages you should buy, together with their “Sip, TILT & View” package deal for $57.50 that features skip-the-line admission, a drink from the Cloud Bar in a memento glass, and one trip on the TILT.
Smackdown Winner: 360 Chicago, however solely simply. Should you e-book forward and wish to add on the extras, it finally ends up being a barely higher deal.
Tally: Skydeck — 1 360 Chicago — 2
Hours
This can be a small factor, however nonetheless necessary.
The Skydeck is open 12 months a yr. From March by September, the Skydeck is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. From October by February, it’s open from 9 a.m. to eight p.m. (9 p.m. on Saturdays), with the final entry half-hour earlier than closing.
360 Chicago can also be open 12 months a yr. Its hours are 9 a.m.-11 p.m. on daily basis year-round, and final entry is one hour earlier than closing.
Smackdown winner: 360 Chicago, as a result of it’s open barely extra hours, it doesn’t matter what time of yr.
Tally: Skydeck — 1 360 Chicago — 3
Wait Occasions
Until you go up both of those towers on an overcast day, chances are high you’ll have to wait in line to purchase tickets, after which wait to get into the elevators that may whisk you as much as the commentary decks. Each the Skydeck and 360 Chicago recommend visiting early within the morning, or within the night (after 5 p.m.) for the shortest wait instances.
Wait instances are utterly depending on the climate, day of the week, and the season. However right here’s an concept of what to anticipate:
The Skydeck, being the extra common of the 2 choices, can have some actually lengthy traces and wait instances. I visited on a sunny, Saturday afternoon in mid-March – proper round Spring Break time for many highschool and schools – and once more on a sunny Saturday afternoon in April a number of years later. There was a line to easily board the elevator that takes you right down to a safety checkpoint and the ticketing counters, after which one other wait to board the elevators as much as the Skydeck. Complete wait time from the entrance doorways was quoted at about 2.5 hours for normal admission.
Over on the 360 Chicago, an worker mentioned that wait instances can rise up to 1 hour on busy summer season days, however normally common between 10 and half-hour. I went as much as 360 Chicago twice on the identical March weekend that I visited the Skydeck – as soon as on a barely overcast afternoon, and once more on a transparent evening – and didn’t even wait 5 minutes to go up both time. On my most up-to-date go to (a Sunday morning in April), there as soon as once more was no line to take an elevator up.
Shopping for an categorical entry ticket forward of time at both tower will help keep away from a few of these traces. In reality, I might say it is a should on the Willis Tower on busy days!
(Shopping for a Chicago CityPASS consists of Expedited Entry to the Skydeck, and skip-the-line entry to the 360 Chicago!)
Smakdown winner: 360 Chicago, as a result of it is going to most likely all the time have shorter wait instances.
Tally: Skydeck — 1 360 Chicago — 4
The Journey Up
When you lastly make it to the elevators that may whisk you as much as the Skydeck, it takes about 60 seconds to ascend 1,353 ft to the 103rd ground of the Willis Tower.
The massive elevator will most likely be packed, however you’ll be entertained for that minute by a flat-screen tv throwing out some enjoyable details and explaining how excessive you’re climbing, whereas evaluating that peak to different well-known constructions around the globe.
It was cool to see the Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower falling away as we rapidly ascended, and the function helped put into perspective simply how tall the Willis Tower is.
The 360 Chicago elevators, whereas smaller, may additionally probably be crowded on a busy day. The trip as much as the Observatory takes 40 seconds to climb 1,000 ft, making these the quickest elevators in North America.
The trip up is accompanied by a witty narration, principally explaining how briskly you’re going (greater than 20 mph).
Smackdown winner: Skydeck, as a result of the function evaluating your peak to different well-known constructions is fairly cool.
Tally: Skydeck — 2 360 Chicago — 4
Chicago Tower Views
This explicit part might be the one everyone seems to be most concerned about — which Chicago tower has the perfect views? Properly, the reply is totally depending on private perspective and style. However I’ll provide you with my tackle it.
The Skydeck has nice views on all 4 sides of the constructing. You may see out over downtown Chicago, look down onto the Chicago River, and see all the best way to Navy Pier and Lake Michigan. The Willis Tower is the tallest constructing within the metropolis, so nothing stands in the best way of your view. On a transparent day, you’ll be able to actually see for miles.
The 360 Chicago additionally has nice views on a transparent day. It sits proper on Lake Michigan, and you may see throughout the lake to different states on good days. You can even look proper down on Navy Pier, and see out over downtown Chicago. You may’t see the river from right here, however you CAN see the Willis Tower within the Chicago skyline, which is fairly cool.
I felt like 360 Chicago has a extra “open” feeling to it, with bigger glass panes on its home windows and mirrors on the ceilings. You might be additionally capable of get nearer to the home windows on the 360 Chicago to take photographs.
After darkish, I additionally really feel like 360 Chicago has the benefit. True, one aspect of the constructing will simply be darkish since there aren’t any lights on Lake Michigan, however seeing the Chicago skyline (*together with* the Willis Tower) lit up at evening is fairly particular.
Smackdown winner: I believe I’ve to go together with the 360 Chicago, as a result of I preferred with the ability to see the Willis Tower within the skyline, in addition to the attractive colour of Lake Michigan on a sunny day. However this one was actually shut.
Tally: Skydeck — 2 360 Chicago — 5
Each of the towers provide some “extras” on the high to attempt to entice extra guests.
The Skydeck boasts “The Ledge,” that are a set of glass bins that stretch roughly 4 ft out from the aspect of the Willis Tower that overlooks Wacker Avenue. The bins – added in 2009 when the Skydeck underwent a renovation – have glass bottoms, so you’ll be able to look down and see the road 1,353 ft under.
Should you stand in a single field and have a pal stand within the subsequent field over, you’ll be able to take some cool photographs of one another.
The glass-bottom function is the true draw right here, as a result of the bins sit on the aspect of the constructing with the least spectacular view (in my view).
Simply remember that there WILL be traces to get into these bins, so be ready to attend your flip. Additionally they ask that teams solely spend a minute or two inside to ensure that extra folks to maneuver by.
The 360 Chicago used to have the “Skywalk,” which was an open-air walkway alongside the aspect of the John Hancock constructing that confronted Willis Tower. When it was re-branded as 360 Chicago, although, they added TILT.
TILT is a row of 8 large glass home windows that tilt out 1000 ft over the Chicago streets under. The cool half is you could dangle onto handrails inside because the home windows tilt out, supplying you with an actual rush as you’re feeling such as you’re hanging out over town.
This can be a tremendous distinctive new function, though it does value an additional $9 to strive. (And whereas it would not look tremendous dramatic in these photographs, I can promise that it *feels* fairly dramatic as you are doing it!)
The 360 Chicago additionally gives some particular occasions like yoga courses on Sunday mornings, and sip-and-paint courses.
Smackdown winner: Draw, as a result of each towers provide extras which can be actually cool.
Tally: Skydeck — 3 360 Chicago — 6
The Facilities
Each towers have primary facilities like restrooms, and each even have partitions with enjoyable details about Chicago as a bit of additional leisure.
The Skydeck has a bit of memento store, multimedia reveals in regards to the tower, and a theater presentation referred to as Reaching for the Sky, which focuses on Chicago’s distinctive structure.
360 Chicago additionally has a memento store, in addition to a brand new bar (the CloudBar) with tables and chairs on the south aspect of the constructing. Each towers have full-service eating places on separate flooring, however the bar here’s a good contact. It suggests that you’re welcome to simply sit for some time and benefit from the views.
Smackdown winner: 360 Chicago, as a result of I like the truth that you’ll be able to seize a snack (or a drink!) and a seat. The Skydeck has no seating in any respect, which might be good should you simply stood in a line for two.5 hours!
Tally: Skydeck — 3 360 Chicago — 7
Photograph Ops
Each towers will provide to take skilled photographs of you in entrance of a inexperienced display screen earlier than you board the elevator. You may then buy these photographs in a while, with a wide range of Chicago backgrounds to select from.
The Skydeck gives one of many inexperienced display screen photographs on the backside of the tower. It additionally has a photographer on the high of the tower at The Ledge, who will take a photograph of you (for buy) standing in one of many glass bins, with town far under.
360 Chicago additionally has an expert photographer on the backside of the tower. On the high, you may as well get skilled photographs taken should you select to do the TILT. And there is a new 3D mural by artist Nate Baranowski referred to as CloudWalk that makes for enjoyable photographs up right here.
Smackdown winner: Draw, as a result of each towers provide related picture ops. (The costs are a bit of cheaper at 360 Chicago, although.)
Tally: Skydeck — 4 360 Chicago — 8
Getting there
Each towers are simply accessible utilizing Chicago public transportation. There’s an “L” (elevated practice) station only a block from the Willis Tower, and the Pink Line metro will get you inside strolling distance of the Hancock constructing. CTA buses additionally make stops close by each, or you’ll be able to all the time catch an Uber or Lyft.
Should you’re already downtown, it’s additionally fairly simple to stroll to both constructing.
Smackdown winner: Draw, as a result of each are comparatively simple to get to.
Tally: Skydeck — 5 360 Chicago — 9
Closing Outcomes: 360 Chicago wins!
The Skydeck on the Willis Tower is iconic in Chicago, which implies it’s additionally costlier and could have longer traces.
So, if you’d like a fantastic view however don’t wish to anticipate it, go to the 360 Chicago.
(Or, you’ll be able to all the time do what I did, and go to each! That approach you can also make up your individual thoughts.)
Chicago CityPASS
It can save you on admission to BOTH of those towers with a Chicago CityPASS (in addition to admission to the Shedd Aquarium, the Area Museum, The Adler Planetarium, and extra).
RELATED: 3 Reasons Why Buying a CityPASS in Chicago is Worth It
Or take a look at these Chicago excursions:
Disclaimer: I used to be given free, quick cross entry to each the Skydeck and (former) John Hancock Observatory on my first journey to Chicago, and acquired a complimentary CityPASS on my second journey to re-visit each towers. As all the time, although, all opinions are 100% my very own.
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Have you ever visited both the Skydeck or the Hancock 360 in Chicago? Or each? If that’s the case, which one was YOUR favourite?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!
