Toronto city skyline at twilight, Canada.

©Deejpilot/Getty Images

CN Tower

Top choice in Entertainment & Financial Districts


Dominating Toronto's skyline, the CN Tower is a marvel. At a height of 553 metres, the communications spire stands over the city like a beacon. Queues can be long and tickets are expensive, but the wait and the cost are worth it. 

Three observation levels reveal unforgettable views – even Niagara Falls can be seen on a clear day. There are floor-to-ceiling windows, glass floors, and an 'EdgeWalk' for those with the backbone to walk around the perimeter of the main pod, with no fence and no windows, just you, tethered to a track. 

Riding one of the glass elevators up what was once the world's highest freestanding structure (553m) is one of those things you just have to do in Toronto. Even if you don't, you're bound to catch a glimpse of the tower at night: the entire structure puts on a brilliant (free) light show year-round. It’s worth noting that on a clear day the vista from the top is astounding – a bird's-eye view of the city and lake, the falls in the distance, even helicopters flying below you; if it's hazy you won't see a thing. 

If you’d prefer to just check it out from the ground, the best street-level vantage point for the tower is at the intersection of McCaul St and Queen St W, due north.

shutterstockRF_1052009102.jpg
Walk along the outside of CN tower's on the Edgewalk © Patricia Burilli Fencz / Shutterstock

CN Tower Edgewalk 

Daredevils aged 13 and up can do the EdgeWalk ($195), a 20-minute outdoor walk around the unbounded perimeter of the main pod (356m). It's not for the fainthearted. Tickets include a keepsake video and printed photos. Participants also get a Tower Experience Ticket which grants access to the LookOut, Glass Floor, and SkyPod levels. The tickets can be used once for up to two days after the Edgewalk. 

Tickets and other practicalities 

Queues for the elevator can be up to two hours long in each direction. Tickets start at $38 CAD for an adult. During summer, you can pay an additional $7 for a timed ride to the top…though not back down. Buying tickets online, or using the CN Tower app, saves 15%. There's the obligatory revolving restaurant (called 360°): it's expensive, but the elevator price is waived for diners. Opt for the SkyPod (447m; an extra $15) – though you may not notice much difference to the regular view.

 


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Entertainment & Financial Districts attractions

1. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

0.07 MILES

Arguably one of Toronto's best attractions for both young and old, it has more than 16,000 aquatic animals and 5.7 million liters of water in the combined…

2. Rogers Centre

0.09 MILES

Technically awe-inspiring, the Rogers Centre opened in 1989 with the world's first fully retractable dome roof and seating for up to 53,500 people. Tours…

3. Toronto Railway Museum

0.14 MILES

Located in Toronto's historic John Street Roundhouse, this tiny museum tells Toronto's history of railway with artifacts, photos and even a train…

4. Harbourfront Centre

0.32 MILES

An artistic powerhouse, this 4-hectare complex educates and entertains Toronto's community through a variety of year-round performances, events and…

5. Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery

0.39 MILES

Easily recognized by its painted smokestack, the Power Plant gallery is just that: a former power plant transformed into Toronto's premier gallery of…

6. TD Gallery of Inuit Art

0.43 MILES

A quiet pause amid the bustle of the Financial District, the TD Gallery of Inuit Art provides an exceptional insight into Inuit culture. Just beyond the…

7. Spadina Quay Wetlands

0.5 MILES

A former lakeside parking lot has been transformed into the 2800-sq-meter Spadina Quay Wetlands, a thriving, sustainable ecosystem full of frogs, birds,…

8. Design Exchange

0.51 MILES

The original Toronto Stock Exchange now houses eye-catching industrial-design exhibits. The permanent collection of this rather tiny museum includes more…