Which Chicago combo to book
First visit. Skydeck Chicago + 45-Minute Chicago River Cruise is the most-booked and best-rated pairing: the Willis Tower deck, then an architecture cruise on the river. If you have more time, take the version with the 90-minute cruise.
Choosing a deck. Chicago has two big observation decks. Skydeck is in the Willis Tower in the Loop; 360 CHICAGO is at the top of the former John Hancock Center on North Michigan Avenue. View-chasers can do both with Skydeck + 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck. Otherwise, pair 360 CHICAGO with a 45- or 90-minute cruise — it's the closer deck if you're staying around the Magnificent Mile.
Museum people. Art Institute of Chicago + Field Museum of Natural History covers art and natural history. The Chicago Top 3 Attractions Pass adds 360 CHICAGO. The Art Institute + 90-minute architecture cruise is a good pick for a half-day of art and buildings. There's also Field Museum + 360 CHICAGO.
Short stay. With one day, pick a single deck and a 45-minute cruise rather than two decks; the views overlap more than the river and the skyline do.
Navy Pier day. Navy Pier Centennial Wheel pairs with the Flyover Experience, an architecture cruise from Navy Pier, or Wendella's 90-minute lake and river tour. The cruise version from Navy Pier is the most discounted bundle on the page.
Skydeck Chicago + 45-Minute Chicago River Cruise
★ 4.8 · 44 reviews · from €59.21
Is a combo cheaper than separate tickets?
Here, yes, slightly. Almost every Tiqets bundle in Chicago is about 5% cheaper than its parts, and the Navy Pier wheel + river cruise pairing is about 10% cheaper. It's not a huge saving, but you get one checkout for sights you'd likely visit anyway. The three-part Top 3 pass is about convenience more than discount.
How the tickets work
- Each attraction gets its own ticket in the same order. Cruises leave at set times, so pick a departure that leaves room for the deck visit.
- Check where your cruise starts. Different operators use different docks along the river and at Navy Pier — the meeting point is on the ticket. Browse the options on Chicago sightseeing cruises.
- Observation decks can have queues at sunset, even with a ticket. Arrive a little early.
- Cancellation rules may differ per part. Check the conditions on the booking page. More in how combo tickets work.
Combos Tiqets doesn't sell here
For a lot of sightseeing in a few days, Go City's All-Inclusive and Explorer passes are on Headout, and GetYourGuide sells a Chicago Explorer Pass that includes Skydeck. GetYourGuide also has a First Lady river cruise + Chicago Architecture Center combo, a good alternative for architecture fans.
Other US cities with combos: New York, Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco.