Best time to visitAll destinations
What to see
Top Ten Natural WondersTop Ten Ancient WondersTop Ten Modern WondersBeachesIslandsMountainsNational ParksCitiesWaterfallsLakesDesertsWildlifeUNESCO Sites
Where
EuropeAsiaAfricaNorth AmericaSouth AmericaOceaniaMiddle East

CN Tower

Canada · North America
CN Tower Terrace Level after renovation in 2023
Photo: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
The short answer

Go here if you want a clear view of Toronto and the surrounding lake. Visit between June and September for the best weather, and plan to spend about three hours here.

Real tours in CN Tower, booked on GetYourGuide

Prices and availability come from GetYourGuide. If you book through one of these we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

How long to allow

Allow three hours for the elevator lines and viewing time.

Getting there

Most people arrive by walking from Union Station or taking the streetcar.

Tickets

Buy tickets online in advance to skip the main ticket counter line.

What catches people out

The glass floor is often crowded and smaller than it looks in photographs.

What it is like

You will spend most of your time on the observation levels. The floors are enclosed, so you stay comfortable regardless of the wind speed outside. Expect to see crowds near the windows as people wait for a turn to look down through the glass floor sections.

The elevators move quickly. You will feel the pressure change in your ears during the ascent. It is a functional space rather than a luxury one, designed to move high volumes of tourists efficiently.

Planning CN Tower?

These are partner links. If you book through one we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It does not change which places we pick.

Timing your visit

Summer months are the best time to go. The city visibility is often clearer, and the light stays bright until late in the evening. You can see the urban layout and the waterfront clearly from this height.

Winter trips are risky. Low clouds and fog often obscure the ground entirely. You might pay the full price only to look out at a wall of white mist.

Tickets and tours in CN Tower
Find a place to stay

The reality of the cost

A standard visit will cost around 320 CAD for a small group or couple once you factor in basic entry and a meal. It is an expensive outing for the amount of time you spend looking at the view.

The EdgeWalk is the most expensive activity here. It costs over 250 CAD per person for the harness walk. Decide if you need that specific experience before you arrive, as it requires a separate booking and more time.

What people wish they had broughtChosen for CN Tower

These search Amazon. If you buy through one we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It changes nothing about which places are on this site or what is said about them.

Check flights

Hotel and flight search by Trip.com. If you book through one of these we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

What a trip to CN Tower costs
CA$960
3 days

The EdgeWalk hands-free harness walk costs over $250 CAD.

The daily figure is an estimate and does not include flights. The exchange rate is real, and it moves once a day, not by the second.

The background

The CN Tower is a 553.3-metre-high (1,815.3 ft) communications and observation tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Completed in 1976, it is located in downtown Toronto, built on the former Railway Lands. Its name "CN" refers to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower. Following the railway's decision to divest non-core freight railway assets prior to the company's privatization in 1995, it transferred the tower to the Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation responsible for the government's real estate portfolio. The CN Tower held the record for the world's tallest free-standing structure for 32 years, from 1975 until 2007, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa, and was the world's tallest tower until 2009 when it was surpassed by the Canton Tower. It is currently the tenth-tallest free-standing structure in the world and remains the tallest free-standing structure on land in North America, the Western Hemisphere, and the entire Western world. In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It also belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers. It is a signature icon of Tor

More of CN Tower


Interior of CN Tower Main Observation Level
Photo: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
CN Tower Gift Shop after renovation
Photo: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
Model from the Main Pod of the CN Tower. Modeled after rough construction plans and photographies. Rendered with Blender.
Photo: Niabot, CC BY-SA 3.0
Interior of the CN Tower SkyPod in Toronto in 2023
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0

Guides that include CN Tower


Questions people ask

Is the restaurant worth the price?

The food is priced at a premium because of the rotation and the view. Most people go for the experience rather than the quality of the meal.

Should I go during the day or at night?

Daytime visits offer the best visibility of the lake and city streets. Night visits are better for seeing the city lights, though the glare on the glass can make photography difficult.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. Booking online saves you from waiting in the primary queue at the base of the tower.

Is it accessible for wheelchairs?

The tower is fully accessible. Elevators and viewing decks are designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Can I bring food inside?

Outside food is generally not permitted. There are concession stands and a restaurant available once you pass security.