February 25, 2019

Visiting the CN Tower in Toronto: Things to know before you go

If you are wanting a Birdseye view of Toronto, the CN Tower needs to be on your list of things to see while visiting. While staying in March we got up early and arrived shortly after the tower opened. There were no lines and we had the viewing deck almost completely to ourselves.

Some fun facts about the CN Tower:

It took almost 3 1/2 years to build the CN Tower.

For a while it was the world’s tallest building at 1,815 feet (553.3 meters).

The tower is struck by lightning 75 times per year.

On a clear day you can see Niagara Falls from the observation deck.

It takes less than a minute to go from the ground floor to the observation deck via elevator.

It takes a lot longer to climb up the 1,776 steps to the observation deck.

There are a few things to know before going. There are 3 viewing levels of the CN Tower. The Glass Floor Level, the LookOut Level, and the SkyPod Level. The Glass Floor level is an area of the floor that is clear glass. What’s below? A 1,122 feet (342 meter) drop to the sidewalk. Walk on the glass to get a real perspective of how high up you are. The LookOut Level at 1,136 feet (346 meters) is a circular room where all the windows are glass panels. Here you can view the city, watch planes fly onto the islands, and walk out onto a balcony to see how windy it is outside. The SkyPod is the highest level in which you can peer over the city at 1,465 feet (447 meters)!

As of when this article was written, it costs $38CAD for an adult and $28CAD for children ages 4-12 to get the general admission ticket which covers the Glass Floor Level and LookOut Level. If you are wanting to visit the SkyPod along with the other 2 levels it costs $53CAD for an adult ticket and $43CAD for a children’s ticket. There are family passes where families with 2 adults and 2 children can get a general admission package for $98CAD and a family package with SkyPod access for $158CAD. If you have purchased the Toronto City Pass the general admission ticket is covered by your pass. If you have the City Pass and want to still visit the SkyPod you can upgrade your ticket for $15CAD. Also, if you want to skip the long lines during the busier parts of the year you can reserve a time spot for $7CAD extra. During the summer if you are feeling adventurous you can try the Edge Walk. Dare devils can walk out onto the edge of the tower at 1,168 feet (356 meters). It costs $225CAD which includes the walk, pictures, a video, certificate, and access to all 3 viewing levels.

Another cool activity to check out is the 360 restaurant. This is a restaurant in the CN Tower that spins in a circle so over 70 minutes you get views of the entire city. The restaurant also holds the Guinness World Record for having the highest wine cellar. Their cellar holds up to 9,000 bottles of wine from around the world. It is recommended you make reservations. The minimum cost for each person is $60 which will get you a 2 course meal. With this cost a complimentary admission is given for the Glass Floor and LookOut Levels. So in other words, if you are planning on spending $20 on your next meal and plan on getting the general admission ticket to the tower, you might as well combine both and eat at the 360 Restaurant. If you are using your City Pass and want to eat at the 360 Restaurant, unfortunately you still have to pay the $60 per person minimum. There is also a Horizon’s Restaurant that is used for business meetings a lot of the time and Le Café which carries quick, snacky foods. Both these options are much cheaper and you get basically the same view but without the rotation.

Parking options are in abundance around the CN Tower. Just search “parking around CN Tower” on Google and many options will pop up. Or if you have a bike available and are within the city, just ride your bike. It’s free 🙂 Finally if you want to avoid the long lines without having to pay extra, try to go in the morning during a week day. Or better yet, a morning during the low season.