Is it Worth Going to the Top (Observation Deck) of the CN Tower?
Why it's Worth Going to the Top (Observation Deck) of the CN Tower
During my visit to Toronto, Canada, one of my first questions was, “Is it worth going to the top (Observation Deck) of the CN Tower?” After a brief search, I realized that almost all of the reviews of the “La Tour” of the CN Tower were positive. La Tour is the name of the package that takes visitors to the observation deck, which is 1,136 feet tall. There is also an option to purchase a ticket to go to the Skypod, which is 1,465 feet tall.
My research told me that the CN Tower was built in 1976, and the name “CN” stands for Canadian National. Canadian National was the company that built the tower. An interesting fact is that the CN tower was the world’s tallest free-standing structure until 2007 and the world’s tallest tower until 2009. As of 2022, the CN Tower is the tallest structure in the Western Hemisphere and the ninth tallest structure in the world.
Even before my visit, I knew the CN Tower would be the highlight of my visit to Toronto. I love going to the top of tall buildings, and the CN Tower did not disappoint.
Here are Ten reasons I enjoyed my visit to Toronto’s CN Tower and why I feel it is worth going to the top of the CN Tower.
1) CN Tower sells tickets for a scheduled time slot, which means that the observation deck will not be overcrowded.
2) The main observation deck of the CN Tower is a circle which provides a 360-degree view of the greater Toronto area.
3) There are multiple glass floors at the CN Tower. Glass floors are found in the elevator and on the main observation deck.
4) The windows of the CN Tower’s observation deck and Skypod were clean and designed in a way that made it easy to take photographs.
5) There is a restaurant with seating on the observation level, and the food was reasonably priced.
6) The CN Tower’s Skypod has a device that showed visitors how much the tower was swaying from the wind.
7) For those who are more adventurous than I am, the CN Tower offers a package where visitors can walk on the edge of the CN Tower. This package is called the “Edgewalk” and starts at C$195 per person.
8) After my visit, I could say that I went to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
9) I was issued two paper tickets for the CN Tower’s main observation deck and Skypod that I could keep as a souvenier.
10) The employees were super helpful and friendly, and I never felt rushed during my visit to Toronto’s CN Tower.
Is it Worth Going to the Top (Observation Deck) of the CN Tower? - Table of Contents
- Why it’s Worth Going to the Top (Observation Deck) of the CN Tower
- How to Visit the CN Tower’s Observation Deck
- The Observation Deck of the CN Tower
- CN Tower’s Observation Deck vs Skypod – Is the Skypod Worth the Money
- Zoomed in Photos from the CN Tower
- A One-Minute Video Tour of the CN Tower
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliate Partners
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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How to Visit the CN Tower's Observation Deck
Now that you know it is worth going to the top of the CN Tower, let’s cover how to visit the CN Tower. The Tower can easily be reached by taking public transportation. The best transit stop for the CN Tower is Toronto’s Union Station, which is served by GO Transit, the Toronto Subway, Metro Link, and VIA Rail. From Union Station, it is easy to walk to the CN Tower.
Once arriving at the CN Tower Plaza, visitors will need to purchase tickets. There are self-serve ticket kiosks outside the tour entrance that are staffed by helpful agents. The cost of the main tour of the CN Tower is C$43, with the option of adding the Skypod, which costs an additional C$7.50.
When purchasing tickets, please note that the CN Tower requires visitors to schedule their tour during a specific time slot. Be certain to select the correct time slot as no refunds or exchanges are allowed.
Once you have your tickets, enter the entrance marked “La Tour CN Tower” at your designated time.
Before arriving at the elevator, visitors will go through a long hallway with scenes of the CN Tower.
When you reach the CN Tower’s elevators, if there is a wait, it will be very short. The lack of a wait is due to the scheduling of time slots. During the elevator ride, be sure to look down at the glass floor.
The Observation Deck of the CN Tower
So the main observation deck is the number one reason why I feel like it is worth visiting the CN Tower. The observation deck is located 1,136 feet in the air and provides a 360-degree view of the greater Toronto Area.
Decked out in Canada’s red and white colors, the observation deck of the CN tower has slightly tinted windows. This tint helps visitors avoid the glare from the sun and take better photos.
During my visit to the observation deck of the CN Tower, the first thing I did was photograph the city looking in every direction. As you can see from my photos below, the 360-degree panoramic view provides a wonderful opportunity to see and photograph the Toronto Skyline, Toronto Islands, Lake Ontario, Billy Bishop International Airport, and Rogers Centre.
Buzz’s Tip: When taking photos from the observation deck of the CN Tower, hold your camera lens up against the glass. Doing this helps avoid a glare from the sun and background light.
The window of the observation deck of Toronto’s CN Tower are designed in a way to make it easy to look straight down. The two photographs below show two examples of looking towards the ground.
There is a wonderful cafe on the main observation deck of the CN Tower. During my visit, I ordered an ice cream sundae and enjoyed eating it while looking out the large windows. There is plenty of seating, although it is reserved for customers. I was surprised at how reasonable to price of the was for being located at a major tourist attraction.
One of the highlights of the main observation deck is the glass floor. I have been in tall buildings before that have a small glass floor that is usually around a square foot in size. The CN Tower has multiple glass floors that provide a unique and somewhat scary perspective.
The two pictures below show the view from the CN Tower’s glass floor. These photographs were taken using my zoom lens and do not fully show the proper perspective of how high up the observation deck is.
The next photo of the CN Tower’s glass floor is not photographed with a zoom lens. This photograph should show the true perspective of what it looks like to stand on the glass floor.
CN Tower's Observation Deck vs Skypod - Is the Skypod Worth the Money
Now, I hope you have already decided that it is definitely worth going to the top of the CN Tower. The next question to ask should be, “is it worth going to the Skypod level of the CN Tower?”
In my opinion, yes, it is worth the extra C$7.50 to go to the Skypod. The photographs below show the main observation deck on the right and the Skypod on the left. You can clearly see that the Skypod is quite a bit higher than the main observation deck. If you truly want to get the best views from the CN Tower, then it is totally worth the money to go up to the CN Tower’s Skypod.
To get to the CN Tower’s Skypod, visitors take a second elevator from the main observation level. Entrance times for the Skypod are reserved, so make sure that you arrive at the elevator five minutes before the designated time.
The Skypod level of the CN Tower is much smaller than the main observation deck. Also, the windows are at a slightly different angle. This angle provides visitors a much different perspective than the lower, main observation deck.
Below are two photos of the same view. The photo on the left is from the main observation deck, and the photo on the right is from the Skypod. These photographs hopefully show the difference in perspective and will help you decide that the Skypod is definitely worth the extra money.
The moment you exit the Skypod’s elevator, you will notice a strange feeling. This feeling is because the CN Tower is actually swaying slightly back and forth. If you don’t believe that, there is a device on the Skypod level that will show how much the CN Tower is moving.
Don’t worry, there is no danger as the CN Tower was designed to sway in the wind. The swaying is a unique feeling that can only be felt on the Skypod level.
While the windows create an interesting perspective, it is much more difficult to take photos on the CN Tower’s Skypod level. The photos below show how much smaller the Skypod is than the main observation deck, as well as the unique angle of the windows.
Zoomed in Photos from the CN Tower
The photos in this section are some unique shots captured from the top of the CN Tower with my zoom lens. Included in these photos are a ferry boat with the Canadian Flag, a Porter Airlines flight taking off from Billy Bishop Airport, a rooftop pool, some unique green space, and Toronto’s railroad tracks.
I hope this page has been helpful and convinces you that a visit to the top of the CN Tower is totally worth it. Happy travels!
A One-Minute Video Tour of the CN Tower
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