Is the CN Tower Worth Visiting in 2024?
If you’re heading to Toronto and wondering if the CN Tower is worth visiting, then you’re in the right place.
As someone who is from Toronto, and has visited the CN Tower recently, I would say – yes, the CN Tower is worth adding to your Toronto itinerary.
It stands 1,815 feet (533 metres) tall, which makes its observation deck the highest in the Western hemisphere.
Having grown up in Toronto, I’ve been up the CN Tower at different stages of my life – once as a small child, another as a teenager, and again as an adult; just this year in 2024.
So I want to share with you why I think the CN Tower is worth it, and your five different options for experiencing the CN tower.
So, let’s jump in – is the CN Tower worth it?
Is the CN Tower Worth a Visit?
I do believe that it is worth going up the CN Tower while you’re in Toronto.
There are so many thing to do in Toronto; whether you’re here in winter or any other season. But in my opinion, nothing really compares with the view you can get from the top of the CN Tower, and the different kinds of unique experiences you can have up there (which we’ll get into below.)
Going up the CN Tower is one of the most iconic things about Toronto.
There are 5 different ways to get up the CN Tower – you can buy a basic ticket from the tower, or you can also get a package which includes other unique things to do up there.
Let’s go through your options below on the 5 ways to get up the CN Tower.
5 Different Options for Getting Up the CN Tower
1. Buy tickets directly from the CN Tower
The most basic way to visit the CN Tower is to buy tickets directly from the Tower. when you arrive, you’ll show the tickets and be allowed to take the elevator to the top.
You can buy your CN Tower tickets from the website here.You will see a few different ticket options such as a family pass, a timed admission, the skypod or the main observation deck.
The Skypod is the highest viewing area in the tower. It’s much smaller than the main observation areas.
If you want the highest views, then would recommend buying a ticket that includes the Skypod, because its the tallest observation deck in the western hemisphere.
Pro Tip: The cost for CN Tower tickets range from $40-$50 per adult ticket. It’s not a ‘cheap’ activity, but if you want to get your money’s worth, there are a few more options below.
2. Do the ‘Best of Toronto’ tour
The Best of Toronto Tour is a 4-hour small group tour which includes a drive around Toronto, and admission to a few of the highlights, including the CN Tower.
If you’re short on time (have 3 days or less in Toronto) then this might be an option to allow you to see a lot in a short period of time.
The Best of Toronto Tour includes:
- a Toronto harbour cruise
- admission to the CN Tower
- Casaloma (Toronto’s only castle)
- St. Lawrence Market and/or The Distillery District (depending on the season)
- Skip the line entrance to some of the attractions
The cost for the Best of Toronto tour is $189, but includes a local guide, transportation and your ticket to the CN Tower is built into the cost.
Check availability for the Best of Toronto tour here
3. Buy the ‘Sea the Sky’ package
Sea the Sky is a package that includes admission to the CN Tower and to Ripley’s Aquarium, which is right beside it.
Ripley’s Aquarium is a large aquarium with thousands of different animal species, an underwater tunnel, live dive shows.
I would especially recommend the Sea the Sky option if you’re in Toronto with kids, but Ripley’s is also something that adults might enjoy. (I even had part of my 30th birthday celebration at Ripley’s.)
Here are the Sea the Sky Combo ticket prices.
Adults: $74 *seniors 65+ only pay $50
Kids (6-13): $50
Kids (3-5): $20
If you already planned to go to Ripley’s, then I’d definitely recommend taking advantage of this deal. You can book the Sea the Sky package on the CN Tower website.
4. Dine at the 360 Restaurant
The 360 is a revolving restaurant at the top of the CN Tower, just above the observation decks. Dining in this restaurant allows you to visit the rest of the tower (including the Skypod) for free.
This is what we decided to do the most recent time we visited the CN Tower.
There are two things to keep in mind about dining in the 360 restaurant at the CN Tower:
- You must do your visit of the tower after you eat (not before.) They will not let you up the tower until its time for your reservation.
- Eating at the 360 restaurant is on the expensive side, because you’re paying for a higher-end meal with a view. The 2-course meal for adults is $70, and the 3-course is $90. Kids meals are $40. (Having said that, we found the food delicious.)
The 360 restaurant has options for vegans, vegetarians, celiac, and they even have an indigenous menu, and their own signature wine and beer.
360 is perfect for a date night, but its also one of the most kid-friendly restaurants in Toronto. They offered a colouring page and crayons to my daughter, and all around great service.
If you want to eat at the 360 restaurant, take a look at the menu options here. You’ll need to make a reservation online, and they are very strict about last-minute cancellations (you will need to provide your credit card in order to reserve.)
5. Brave the Edgewalk
The Edgewalk is for people who are looking for an adrenaline rush. It involves hanging over the edge of the CN Tower, with your feet on the edge, secured hands free with a bungee coard.
The CN Tower may not be the tallest free standing tower in the world anymore, but the EdgeWalk is still the world’s highest circle walk.
I have never done the EdgeWalk, because I don’t think I could stomach it. But I know lots of people who have done it; its very popular for both locals and tourists.
You must be at least 13 years old to do EdgeWalk, and the ticket costs around $200 CDN. This price includes:
- a ticket to visit the rest of the CN Tower
- photos and a video of the experience
- a certificate of achievement
You can reserve your EdgeWalk experience tickets on the CN Tower website here.
Other Things to Do at the CN Tower
Regardless of which package or way you decide to get up the CN Tower, here are some things to take advantage of during your visit (which make the CN Tower even more worth it)
1. Relax and enjoy a cup of coffee
While I would recommend the 360 restaurant, a cheaper thing to do would be to head to the cafe on the main observation deck, or the basement.
The café in the basement area is right by the gift shop, and might be a nice place to grab something to eat before or after going up the tower.
There are many tables and chairs where you can sit, and a large viewing area where you can enjoy the view and take photos. The vibe felt very relaxed when we were there. (It was a Wednesday evening in March, so its probably busier during the summer.)
2. Play at the Kidzone (for kids 8 and under)
If you’re at the CN Tower with young kids, you should know that there’s a play area at the basement area, just past the gift shop.
It might be a good way to give little ones a chance to burn some energy before or after the tower visit. One parent can watch the kids while the other one shops in the gift shop.
3. Shop at the CN Tower gift shop
There are some great, high quality Canadian souvenirs at the CN Tower gift shop; some of the CN Tower specifically, but also some of Canada and Toronto.
When you take the CN Tower elevator back down to the bottom, the pathway out leads you directly in to the gift shop.
So, it makes most sense to do your shopping after, but you can do it before as well if it works for your schedule better.
4. Stand on the glass floor
The famous glass floor is a small section on the main observation decks.
The main observation decks of the CN Tower are actually two different levels, and both of them have glass floors (but the lower one gives you a much clearer view of the bottom.)
How Long to Spend at the CN Tower
A basic visit to the CN Tower includes:
- the elevator ride to the top, and back down (which takes about 1 minute each way)
- visiting the main observation deck, grabbing a drink or snack from the bistro, looking at the interesting exhibits up there and standing on the glass floor
- Visiting the Skypod
- shopping for souvenirs in the gift shop
- Playing at Kidzone (for kids between 3-8 years old)
In total, I would give yourself at least 2 hours to spend at the CN Tower (more, if you plan on doing the Edgewalk or eating at the 360.)
The views are incredible, and you want to be able to take your time to experience it, rather than simply rush through it just for the photos.
We saw some people seated right at the edge by the windows with a coffee, enjoying the view and thought it looked like such a nice way to experience the CN Tower.
CN Tower – Day or Night?
The CN Tower is open from 10am to 9pm, seven days a week.
Based on my experience, I would highly recommend visiting the CN Tower during the day.
While the night view is beautiful with the sea of city lights, you can see so much more during the day.
Our more recent visit to the tower was on a cloudy day, but our waiter at the 360 Restaurant told us that a clear day, you can see the mist from Niagara Falls from the CN Tower (which is on the other side of Lake Ontario.)
In addition, daytime will produce better photos. At night, there will be some glare on your photos from inside the tower. (You can see that a little bit in our photo above, if you look closely.)
Pro Tip: If you take my advise and visit the CN Tower during the day, its good to know that during high season and on weekends, anytime between noon and 7pm will be really busy. If you’re going to go during the day, then I would recommend arriving before 11am, as it starts to get really crowded after that.
Places to Stay Near the CN Tower
The CN Tower is located right downtown, in an area that we call the Business District. It’s a good place to stay – safe, and there are many hotels in the neighbourhood.
In addition to the CN Tower, there are also lots of other things to see within walking distance, such as the Rogers Centre, Ripleys Aquarium, and the Toronto Roundhouse.
Here are some good hotels within walking distance to the CN Tower and to Union Station (the main station in Toronto where you can catch a train to Niagara Falls, and a subway to other parts of Toronto.)
- Budget: Pembroke Inn – probably the most affordable place that is right downtown. Just a 10 minute walk from Union Station and the CN Tower
- Mid-range: Chelsea Hotel – very kid friendly (we perform here every year) and close to several downtown Toronto attractions
- Luxury: Radission Blu Downtown Toronto – rooftop swimming pool with a view of the CN Tower
CN Tower FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions about the CN Tower, if its worth the time and money, and how to get the most out of the experience
Is CN Tower worth the money?
The CN Tower is definitely worth the money. You can’t find an observation deck higher than the CN Tower’s anywhere in North America or Europe, so its quite unique. It has also recently been updated and there are a lot of special features to enjoy during a visit to the CN Tower.
How long can you stay in CN Tower?
You can stay as long as you want at the CN Tower. There is no time limit saying that you need to come down within a certain amount of time. Having said that, about 2-3 hours is enough time to see and experience everything at the CN Tower.
What is the best time to go to the CN Tower?
The best time to go to the CN Tower is on a clear day, but it is still worthwhile when its cloudy. I recommend heading up the tower first thing in the morning, before the crowds start to pour in. Another option is to go early evening on a weekday, so you can get a mix of daytime and nighttime views with fewer crowds.
Final Thoughts: Is the CN Tower Worth Visiting?
By now you probably have a more clear answer to your question, ‘Is the CN Tower Worth Visiting,’ I believe that it absolutely is, because its a record-breaking tower in both Canada and the world.
The CN Tower was once the tallest freestanding structure in the world. (It lost the title in 2007, when the Burj Khalifia was built.) Since then, the CN Tower been beat out by several other buildings as well, but is still the 10th tallest freestanding building in the world.
The nine (free standing) towers that are taller than the CN Tower are in the Middle East and Asia. The CN Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in both North America and Europe, and definitely worth a visit while you’re in Toronto.