- Toronto’s CN Tower sees nearly 2 million visitors a year, and its construction has landed it a spot as an “engineering Wonder of the Modern World.”
- For 34 years after the tower was finished, it held the record as the tallest free-standing structure in the world – it’s still the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere, according to World Atlas.
- On a recent trip to Toronto, I decided to see if this iconic tourist attraction was actually worth a visit.
- I typically stay away from perceived tourist traps when I travel for fear of wasting half my day standing in lines, but I arrived at the tower just as it was opening and was back on the ground just an hour and a half later. I even went up to the Sky Pod, the highest observation deck in the western hemisphere.
- A ticket agent told me that the offseason – which started the week I was visiting – typically sees wait times of around 10-15 minutes to reach the elevator, while peak-season visitors – those who travel in the summer months – can end up standing in line for up to two hours.
- With no lines, the entire experience was really enjoyable and I was able to see what the Toronto cityscape looked like from above. I’m so glad I didn’t skip out on this attraction.
- Here’s what my experience at the CN Tower was like.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
When I hear “Toronto,” an image of the CN Tower immediately pops into my mind.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The towering landmark sees nearly 2 million visitors every year.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
It’s located near Toronto’s Entertainment District …
Foto: sourceGoogle Maps
… on the same grounds as other attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
In my experience with tourist attractions anywhere, it’s expected that visitors will endure some pretty wild wait times. The tower opens for visitation at 9 a.m. so that’s when I planned to get there — I wanted to hopefully beat the rush.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Surprisingly, there was no line. There were only a few other people waiting, and lots of empty stanchion chutes. After walking through the security vestibule, I passed through an empty, outdoor ticket booth …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… and continued on to the indoor ticket booths.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Again, it was fairly empty and I got my ticket quickly without an issue or a hold-up.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Ticket agents explained the different options available — I chose the $53 ticket for the main observation deck and access to the SkyPod.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
I thought it was worth it to spring for the pod experience — after all, it’s touted as one of the highest observation decks in the world at 1,465 feet.
Foto: The view makes normal skyscrapers look tiny.sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Source: CN Tower Experience
After getting my ticket, the agent told me to continue down a photo-lined hallway. Visitors can stop and read historical anecdotes about the landmark along the way.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Then, I was greeted by two men working a photo station — a classic feature for any large tourist attraction is that they take your picture in front of a green screen and then print it out at the end if you want to buy it.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
After walking around another corner, I was led toward an elevator that was going to take me up to the observation deck. Everywhere I turned there were stanchions set up for long lines, but nobody was there to fill them — a ticket agent said this is typical for the morning hours especially during the offseason.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Since there was hardly anyone else at the tower, it was just me and the CN Tower employee in the small elevator together.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
In 2008, the CN Tower elevators became the first in North America to feature glass floor panels, but they were small and difficult to see through.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The elevator attendant told me a little bit about the observation deck and what I would see when I got there. When the doors opened, I immediately saw the view.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The whole observation area is white and sterile-looking from the floors …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… to the café counters.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The main level of the observation deck has a combination of floor-to-ceiling windows …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… and half-walls.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The tower opens to tourists at 9 a.m., but the café doesn’t open until 10 a.m., which was kind of a bummer since I got there early.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
So instead I thought I’d explore the outdoor terrace. But again I was thwarted and found that the terrace wasn’t open yet either. — employees were waiting for security to come open the automatic doors.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
While tourists took photos on the glass portion of the floor, I remembered I had another option: the SkyPod. An employee on the main observation level scanned my ticket and showed me to another elevator.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
A couple on their honeymoon rode up to the pod with me. The pod kind of felt like the top of a lighthouse. It was cramped, had a small circumference of walk-around space, and was filled with natural light.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insdier
The SkyPod is 33 floors above the main observation deck.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
It’s said that on a clear day visitors can see Niagara Falls from the SkyPod.
Foto: sourceAaron Vincent Elkaim/Getty
Unfortunately, it was pretty cloudy when I was up there, so I didn’t see much. But it was still cool to be up that high.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The attendant came back up to get us after around five minutes — visitors can’t call the elevator from the SkyPod so the attendant on-duty makes a trip to the upper level every five minutes for those who have had their fill of the view. We went back down to the main level and I went straight for some coffee.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Iced coffee wasn’t on the menu, but the barista happily made one for me — the level of accommodation was really nice especially at a tourist attraction.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
I took the advice of foodies everywhere and decided to sit and really enjoy my coffee with a side of Toronto skyline as opposed to taking it to-go and finishing it in less than three minutes.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
As the morning went on, more and more people gathered to take photos on the see-through floor.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The thrill-seeker in me was disappointed because it wasn’t as jaw-dropping a view as I had hoped, but I imagine it’s a difficult feat to cover a huge floor with supportive glass.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
I finally made it out onto the outdoor terrace, and wow it was windy.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The outside area is covered with this metal fencing that obstructs the view but, of course, is meant to keep people safe.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The fencing made me feel like I was in an area I wasn’t supposed to be in — like I walked through the “employees only” door to this cool secret view.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
Of course, that’s not the case, and anyone with a basic ticket up the tower can access the terrace, but it was a cool feeling.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
I did a quick lap around, but the wind was a bit much for me to handle — my hair was flying all over the place and the air felt a lot colder than it did on the ground — so I went back inside.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
There’s a restaurant on the upper level of the main observation deck that’s quite fancy.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
It wasn’t open during the morning hours I was visiting, but I snuck a peek through the glass doors before heading back to the ground level.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
On my way back down, the elevator seemed to be moving a lot faster. But the employee in the elevator and I decided that was just because we were now “falling” toward the ground instead of soaring away from it.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
All visitors exit through the gift shop — of course — where they sell Canada-themed clothes …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… souvenirs …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… and have another cafe.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
On the way out, I passed one last counter offering the chance to purchase the photo they took of me before going up to the deck. I took a pass on that, though.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
On my way out of the attraction area — nearly two hours after I first arrived — I saw that ticketing and security lines were starting to form. But it still wasn’t anything overwhelming.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
When I exited the doors of the tower, I was able to explore the grounds — it’s a nice place to walk around.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
I saw the Blue Jays’ baseball stadium …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… the old roundhouse — a maintenance area for trains typically built in a semi-circle with a rotating piece of rail track in the center — across the road …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… which now houses a brewery …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… and a beautiful city skyline.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
The CN Tower is within walking distance of other Toronto neighborhoods as well as the waterfront, and visitors can reach the tower via their transportation method of choice.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
I’m usually someone who stays far away from tourist attractions when I’m traveling, but I’m glad I visited the CN Tower. Had I got caught up in lines or crowds of people, I probably would have thought differently …
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider
… but it’s worth getting up early and beating the rush to be able to see the whole of Toronto from the sky.
Foto: sourceRachel Askinasi/Insider