Get ready to celebrate the season from 103 floors above the city! Skydeck Chicago is located atop the Willis Tower and is the highest observation deck in the United States. Now through January 4, 2026 the Skydeck’s lower-level Chicago museum and observation deck have been transformed for the holidays, featuring beautiful photo ops, oversized ornaments, twinkling lights, and jolly holiday decor.
My family and I recently had the opportunity to attend Holidays @ Skydeck Chicago and we had an amazing time! Below I’ve outlined tips for families and details about what you will find on your visit to Holidays @ Skydeck Chicago.
The entrance to the Skydeck is on Jackson Boulevard on the south side of the building. The ground floor of the Willis Tower is decorated with a beautiful, towering Christmas tree. You will also find an array of dining options (this area is called Catalog) and tables to sit and eat. To reach the Skydeck you will proceed down two levels of escalators to lower level 2. Here you will find ticketing booths and the entrance to the museum and Skydeck.
It is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance because time slots can sell out throughout the day. Purchase your tickets in advance through Skydeck Chicago’s website and skip the ticketing line upon arrival.
Features of Holidays @ Skydeck Chicago
Our first stop was the Chicago museum which was added to the lower-level of the Skydeck in Spring 2021. The museum celebrates the history, neighborhoods and sites of Chicago. Explore the exhibits within the museum to learn about the Great Chicago Fire, the city during its formative years, architecture, and more. The museum is filled with fun photo ops that are decorated for the holidays and celebrate different elements of the city like the Taste of Chicago, Second City stage, Wrigley Field, Cloud Gate (the bean), and Chicago’s art installments. We really enjoyed the full-scale replica “L” train that is decked out for the holidays.
There are so many fun, holiday card worthy photo opportunities throughout the museum. You can sit inside of Santa’s sleigh, pose with a giant dreidel and menorah, and take a photo between floor-to-ceiling Tower antennas glowing red and green. My 3-year-old really enjoyed writing a quick letter to Santa and depositing it in the letter box. Most of the holiday decorations are within the Skydeck museum and they make it a fun and festive experience.
After the lower-level museum we made our way to the elevators to reach the observation deck. I was amazed how quickly the elevators make their way up to the 103 floor, the elevators are lined with screens playing a quick video as you ride.
The Skydeck is on the 103 floor and provides an unforgettable view of the city from 1,300 feet in the air. The 360-degree panoramic view of the city from the huge glass windows extends 50 feet in all directions and on a clear day you can see four different states (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan). Keep an eye out for footprints in the carpet near the glass where Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane pressed their foreheads against the window in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.
Our final stop was to visit the Ledge. The Ledge is five glass floor balconies extending 4.3 feet out from the Willis Tower, each made of three layers of half-inch thick glass laminated into a seamless unit. I will admit that we were a little nervous to step out onto the Ledge, but the view is breathtaking. Watching the city in motion below your feet is such a unique experience.
You can take your own photos from the Ledge and/or pose for a photo from Skydeck photographers. The camera is high above your head and takes it from an angle allowing you to see all of your surroundings. Photos are available for purchase as soon as you leave the Skydeck.
Each party has a general time limit of 90 seconds on The Ledge to ensure everyone gets a chance to experience it. You can rejoin the line for The Ledge as many times as you would like during your visit.
Planning Your Visit
You can expect to spend around 1.5 – 2 hours visiting the Skydeck Chicago, including time spent waiting in line for some portions of the visit.
Santa Photo Sessions
Santa Photo Sessions at Skydeck are available at scheduled times throughout the holidays:
- November 22 – November 30 from 11am–7pm
- December 1 – December 21 from 2-7pm on weekdays and 11am–7pm on weekends
- December 22 – 24 from 11am–7pm
They have a lot of festive events planned too:
- Holiday Décor & Photo Ops: November 14 – January 4
- Holiday Pie in the Sky: November 15, 20–22, 28–29; December 4–6, 11–13, & 18–20
- The Chicago Carolers at Skydeck: November 21 & 28 at 12pm
- Ho! Ho! Ho! Yoga in the Sky: November 15 – 16, 23, December 6–7, 14, 20–21
- Ballet 5:8 Nutcracker Performance at Skydeck: December 1, 6:30-7:30pm
- Free Selfies with Santa at Skydeck: December 1–19 (Monday–Friday) from 10am–1pm
- Live Holiday Music in Catalog: December 3 (10am) 4 (12pm), 9–11 (11am–2pm) & 17 (10am)
- Strolling Grinch in Catalog: December 9–11 from 11:30am–12:30pm
- Holiday Market in Catalog: December 9–11 from 11:00am–2pm
- Festive Rise Pilates Class: December 13 at 8am
- Holiday Jam Pajama Promo: December 22–26 (guests who visit Skydeck in their favorite holiday pajamas will receive a complimentary 6×8 printed photo to remember the occasion!)
Food
You may bring water or a small snack and eat it during your visit to the Skydeck. You can also eat at the tables located on the ground level of the Willis Tower. Catalog is located inside the Willis Tower and offers a variety of dining options to enjoy before or after your visit to the Skydeck.
Bathrooms
The Skydeck includes family bathrooms with a changing table on Lower Level 2 inside the Skydeck marketplace.
Hours
Winter Skydeck Hours for October 2025 – February 2026:
- Sunday-Friday: 9am-8pm
- Saturday: 9am-9pm
We always recommend checking their website or calling before going since hours are subject to change, especially around the holidays.
Prices
Prices vary depending on time and date. You can purchase tickets on the Skydeck Chicago website in advance. Advanced ticket purchasing is highly recommended to avoid a line to purchase your ticket and to secure your desired time slot.
- Adults (Ages 12+) – Starting at $32
- Youth (Ages 3-11) – Starting at $22
- Child (Under 3) – Free
Updated on November, 2025 and subject to change.
Recommended Ages
All ages are welcome to attend Holidays @ Skydeck, however I would recommend this for ages 4 and up. I think they would get the most out of the experience and would be better equipped to wait in line for the elevator ride to the observation deck or a chance to step out onto the Ledge.
Best Days/Times To Go
The best time to visit is just after opening or after sunset. The Skydeck is least crowded just after opening and after sunset you can experience twinkling nightscape views.
Accessibility
The Skydeck is accessible and ADA-compliant. Ramps make wheelchair access easy. The elevators can accommodate wheelchairs and scooters. There are also optional sensory bypasses for certain exhibits in the museum.
Strollers
The building is equipped with ramps and elevators to make navigating with a stroller easy. I would recommend bringing your most compact stroller because the museum and Skydeck can get busy. We were asked to leave our stroller in a designated stroller parking area prior to entering the elevator to the observation deck and Ledge. The elevators drop off in the same location following your visit to the observation deck so stroller retrieval is simple.
Transportation Tips
The Skydeck website has the most helpful tips on where to park. Some of the garages listed on their website provide discounted parking when you book in advance. The Skydeck is about a 5 minute walk from the Union Station Jackson Boulevard entrance or about 1/2 mile walk from Ogilvie Transportation Center if you travel by Metra train.
Fun Facts for Your Visit
Screenshot these fun facts about the Willis Tower to entertain your kids while you are waiting in line for The Ledge. You can also check out this Teacher’s Guide that includes a history of the building of the tower, an indoor scavenger hunt of things to look for during your visit, an I Spy from the sky list, and more.
Looking for more festive fun? Check out our Holiday Family Fun Guide.
