A quick and easy guide to experiencing Toronto’s best view in style

The CN Tower is Canada’s tallest building | **Songquan Deng / Shutterstock**

There’s barely a square inch of Toronto where the iconic CN Tower doesn’t completely dominate the skyline. Rising 553.3 metres above former railway yards, you’re only real way to not have this epic steel and concrete spire in all your Toronto Instagram posts is to stand at the top of it.

Pointing to the heavens like a colossal compass needle, the 1970s communications tower has gone from a pragmatic piece of infrastructure to tourist attraction with relative ease. It’s now pretty much Toronto’s defining icon and a huge draw for visitors who want to experience incredible 360 degree views of the city and Lake Ontario, or dangle over the edge to get their hearts racing.

From Unassuming Railyard to World Record Holder

Before Toronto’s iconic tower rose into the sky in the 70s, the area around it was a rail yard, owned by Canadian National Railways. When the railway commissioned the tower as a TV and communications platform, it took the name CN, a name it retains to this day.

When the gigantic Sikorsky helicopter ‘Olga’ lifted the final antenna into place in April 1975, the CN Tower became the world’s tallest freestanding structure on earth, a record that was only lost in 2008 with the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

However, the SkyPod observation deck, standing at 447 metres, and the EdgeWalk, are both still record holders for highest observation deck in the Western Hemisphere and highest full-circle, hands-free walk on a building respectively.

On a clear day, you can see Niagara Falls, a jaw-dropping 61 kilometres away!

Getting There

The closest major transit hub to the CN Tower is Toronto’s Union Station, around 600m away. The station is linked via a handy underground tunnel (perfect if temperatures are frigid) which takes you straight to the base of the tower.

If you’re driving, then park at 315 Front Street W, where there’s a handy municipal parking garage. Taxis will know exactly where to take you too, so just update your app or tell your driver and there will be no further questions.

Tickets and Admission

There is a wide choice of tickets for the CN Tower | **PixneySweden / Shutterstock**

Not long ago, you would have to either pre-book your tickets and still wait in line for a ride to the top, or spend several hours at the ticket office before waiting in the same line. Now, the traffic issues have been solved with a time-entry system, so you can book your slot online and simply turn up at the right time.

As of July 2025, a Timed General Admission ticket costs CA$45 (CA$47 if purchased on the day), CA$32 for seniors aged 65+ and kids aged 6‑13 (CA$34 on the day) and CA$16 for children aged 3‑5 (CA$18 on the day). For a total of CA$57, the Top + Timed General Admission bundle adds SkyPod access, which is 33 storeys higher than the main deck.

There are further options at extra cost, like Priority Access with shortcuts and queue jumps (perfect if it’s especially busy), but a great option is to grab a mutli-attraction ticket or combo pass.

For example, you can pick up a ‘Sea the Sky’ combo ticket that includes entry to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada next door for CA$79. The Toronto City Pass is also a cost-effective way to see multiple Toronto attractions without paying full price for any of them.

As you can imagine, the EdgeWalk, the tower’s incredible free-walking experience, comes in at a hefty CA$199 minimum. This includes photos, video and a certificate, but thrill seekers will absolutely love towering hundreds of metres above the ground with very little between you and the abyss.

Please note these prices may differ significantly when it comes to booking.

Opening Hours and When to Go

Sunset and early evening offer some of Toronto’s best views | **ACHPF / Shutterstock**

The observation levels of the CN Tower are open from 9am to 9.30pm, with the last elevator to the top running around half an hour before close. The gift shop remains open until 11pm, so you can wait until after dinner to grab your souvenirs.

The best time to visit the CN Tower, and therefore most popular, is at sunset. This allows for those all-important ‘golden hour’ photos and the ability to watch Toronto’s millions of lights flicker on as it gets darker.

If you’re keen to avoid the crowds, then visit mid-morning on a weekday and avoid Saturdays in summer at all costs!

Remember that the weather will have an impact on your experience, so aim for a clear day for the very best views. Thick clouds and fog can obscure the view entirely and particularly windy weather or storms can close the observation decks, so check the weather before you book.

Practical Tips for Visiting

The entrance to the CN Tower | **Pascal Huot / Shutterstock**

The best tip is to book your tickets well in advance to avoid both long waits at the ticket office and even disappointment if all time slots have sold out. You can also save a fair amount of money by booking online.

Arrive a good 15 minutes before your time slot to find the right place to go and to drop off your belongings in the lockers to save lugging them around. Bear in mind large bags must be checked in.

If you’ve booked the EdgeWalk, you’ll need sensible shoes with grip, so pack trainers / sneakers and wear a couple of extra layers to keep the wind at bay.

If you’re visiting with small children, you’ll need to fold your stroller and put bulky items like larger daycare bags into the lockers.

Accessibility

CN Tower is fully accessible with elevators, ramps and everything from additional changing spaces, toilets and everything you can imagine to make the visit smoother, so this is one part of your Toronto trip you don’t need to have to think ahead for! However, you can reach out to the Tower’s dedicated accessibility team ahead of time if you have any specific requests or questions.

CN Tower 360 Restaurant

The 360 restaurant offers full views of Toronto and as far as Niagara Falls | **starmaro / Shutterstock**

If you want to make your trip one to remember, consider booking lunch or dinner at 360, the CN Tower’s famous revolving restaurant. As you enjoy fine dining and a glass (or entire bottle) from the world’s highest wine cellar, the view changes roughly every 72 minutes.

The restaurant is almost always busy, so make reservations in advance and bear in mind the full dining experience lasts a little longer, if you have further plans for the day or evening.

The CN Tower EdgeWalk Experience

If the idea of hanging off the side of a gigantic tower in the sky sounds like your idea of fun, then it’s worth the extra splurge to experience the CN Tower EdgeWalk. After you’ve pulled on your jumpsuit, you’ll be clipped onto the overhead harness system, before edging out on the 356 metre-high catwalk – with no safety rail.

With your guide, you can dangle your toes over the edge, or even lean back right over the city, with photos and videos of the whole death-defying experience. With your hands completely free, you can strike poses and focus on taking it all in, rather than clinging on for dear life.

More Things to Do Near the CN Tower

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is a direct neighbour to the CN Tower | **eskystudio / Shutterstock**

Your CN Tower likely won’t take up the entire day, so consider pairing it with another downtown Toronto attraction. As mentioned, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada sits right next door, plus there’s a combo ticket option to include both attractions.

If you’re travelling without kids, a great option is to visit the CN Tower at sunset, then book a ‘Sharks After Dark’ tour of the aquarium when the crowds of little ones have gone to bed. For families, you can do tower first then aquarium, or vice versa depending on nap or bed time!

Another great family option is the Toronto Railway Museum. The museum celebrates Toronto’s railway heritage (after all, the national railway company actually commissioned the tower) and has a cute miniature train ride that will keep kids entertained.

If you time things right, you can climb the tower then catch a Blue Jays baseball game at Rogers Centre. You can also tour the ballpark if games aren’t in play, ideal for behind-the-scenes insights and dugout photos.

Final Thoughts

The CN Tower | **V. Ben / Shutterstock**

With some advanced planning and knowing the best times to visit for you, you can easily enjoy a stress-free trip to the top of the CN Tower.

Whether you’re dangling over the edge or sipping wine in the revolving restaurant, remember to grab plenty of snaps and ignore the crowds and queues – it’s worth it when a gap appears at the glass and you can enjoy a quiet moment staring over the city and way beyond!