360 CHICAGO vs. Skydeck: Which Observation Deck Is Better for Your Chicago Trip?

Introduction to 360 CHICAGO vs Skydeck: Which Chicago Observation Deck Is Worth It?

This guide compares two of Chicago’s most visited observation decks: 360 CHICAGO (formerly the John Hancock Building) and Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower). 

✨ 360 CHICAGO and Skydeck: What Both Observation Decks Offer 

🎟️ Admission Ticket Discounts: available through the Chicago CityPass which I recommend because the lines were long! Reservations are required for BOTH!
🛍️Gift Shop & Restrooms: available downstairs and at the top on the observation deck.
⏱️Elevator Wait Times: to go up and down can be long so get in line 10 minutes before if you are on a tight schedule.
📸Photos: Staff take photos before your elevator ride. Photos can be picked out and purchase after you come back down the elevator ($40 USD when I visited).
🌆Views from the top: Unless you’re really detail-oriented, you likely won’t notice much difference in elevation between the two.

🧠 Engineering Fun Fact: Who Designed These Towers?

Both observation decks were brought to life by the same legendary duo: Bangladeshi-American structural engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan and architect Bruce Graham from the Chicago firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Together, they changed the face of Chicago’s skyline.

🌊360 CHICAGO Observation Deck – TILT, CloudBar & Views

📍 Official Name: 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly John Hancock Building)
🏙️ Also Known As: Hancock Center, Hancock Tower
📍 Neighborhood Location: Magnificent Mile which is closest to Lake Michigan and luxury shopping
🎟️ Admission & Chicago CityPass:
• Entry requires timed reservations.
• General admission tickets are discounted and included with the Chicago CityPass which I recommend because the lines were long!
• TILT is a separate add-on cost, but ticket for TILT is discounted if you have Chicago CityPass.
🎢 Special Feature TILT at 360 Chicago – a glass tilt-out ledge experience (no seatbelts, you hold bars). A corner is set aside for TILT; only ticket holders may enter.
🍹Food & Drink: No food available, but drinks (mocktails, coffee, cocktails) at CloudBar. There are lots of restaurants around the area outside the building though.
🍹Mocktail Pick: I really enjoyed the “Rainbow Beach”

🖼️ Nearby Attractions Around 360 CHICAGO

🖌️Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago – spacious but packed a powerful punch in only three floors
 (not included in the standard Chicago CityPass)

🏛️Richard H. Driehaus Museum – opulent Gilded Age mansion of the Nickerson Family. Art, architecture, and design of every room in the house is from a different country/region of the world. Self-guided (can easily walk around on your own but might miss the nuances as there are basic labels) or public tours available (on a first come first served basis)

🌇 Skydeck Chicago – The Ledge, Dining & Sunset Views

📍Official Building Name: Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
📍Neighborhood Location: South Loop neighborhood
🎟️ Admission & Chicago CityPass:
• Timed reservations for admission required even with Chicago CityPass. Entry and access to The Ledge are both included with Chicago CityPass.
🌉 Special Feature: The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago – walkable glass ledge with time countdown. walk to the special area with the sign & wait in line for it
📷 Photo Tip: If traveling solo, ask a staff to take your photo—there’s a strict time limit with an actual clock counting down regarding your time limit in the area
🌇 Views from the Top: sunset views were great and could see the whole city light up.
🍽️ Food & Dining: five levels of shopping and dining options inside the building which looks like a mall when you walk in. Dinner is served only on certain days and reservations must be made in advance if you want to eat anything at Skydeck with a flat fee of over $100 per guest.

🎨 Other Attraction Inside the Skydeck Chicago Building

Explore the Color Factory Chicago – a multi-sensory immersive art experience (separate tickets required and on a different floor than the Skydeck observation deck)

⛪ Nearby Attraction Around Skydeck

Guided Tour of Chapel in the Sky – the tallest church building in the world AND place of worship (Sky Chapel) being on highest building floor in the world
Chapel in the Sky Official Name: First United Methodist Church of Chicago
Chapel in the Sky Guided Tour Review: Guided Tours are available on certain days but aren’t ADA accessible (tiny elevators & lots of steps). The architecture of the sanctuary is pretty cool although I didn’t visit the sanctuary but you can do a sanctuary tour only which is on the ground floor.

💬Final Verdict: 360 CHICAGO or Skydeck – Which Is Better for Your Trip? 

I liked both observation decks, but I preferred the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck as I found it to be more spacious. This could be due to the timing of when I went, enjoying the peaceful lake views during daytime, and could easily walk to the other attractions which I was interested in.

That said, I don’t think anyone would miss out on anything life changing if they skipped one or even both of the observation decks. It’s a “nice-to-do,” not a “must-do.”

🌆 More From My Chicago Stories

• 🍽️ International Restaurants in Chicago – Food & Drink Guide – Explore five global restaurants across the city—perfect fuel before or after a skyline view.
• 🏙️ Chicago Unfiltered: City Guide Landing Page – An inside look at how this series came together—from personal stories to hidden gems across neighborhoods.
• 🇰🇭 Khmai Restaurant Review – Cambodian Food & Family Resilience – A quiet powerhouse of a restaurant that deserves your attention (and your appetite).
• 🌿How to Actually Get to Ping Tom Memorial Park Without Getting Lost – If you’re near Chinatown and need some calm after the crowds—this detour is for you.