CN Tower
Discover CN Tower
Last updated on October 2, 2026Introduction
The CN Tower is a 553.33-metre communications and observation tower on Toronto's former Railway Lands. Canadian National built it to lift television and radio signals above the high-rises transforming the city in the 1960s and 1970s. Broadcasting remains part of its work: the tower still serves more than 17 Canadian television and FM radio stations.
Its record needs careful wording. The CN Tower was the world's tallest freestanding structure from 1975 to 2007 and the world's tallest tower until 2010. It remains the tallest tower and the site of the highest observation platform in the Western Hemisphere, according to the operator's current record list.
The standard visit reaches the Main Observation Level at 346 metres and the Lower Observation Level at 342 metres. A separate add-on reaches The Top at 447 metres. The tower also contains the revolving 360 Restaurant, while the seasonal EdgeWalk circles the outside of the main pod at 356 metres.
This is both infrastructure and attraction. The tapering concrete shaft, broadcast antenna and lightning system still perform practical work; the glass floors, viewing levels and restaurant reveal how the same structure was adapted for public use.
Architecture
The structure begins as a broad Y. Three curved concrete legs meet a continuous hexagonal core, then taper toward the main pod. This plan spreads loads at ground level while reducing the surface presented to wind higher up.
The pod is carried rather than stacked. The seven-storey main pod wraps around the shaft at roughly 335 metres and contains the principal visitor and technical floors. Above it, the concrete core continues to The Top before the long metal antenna completes the 553.33-metre profile.
Concrete and tensioned steel work together. Hundreds of tightened cable bundles run through the legs and core, giving the tall, slender structure both strength and controlled flexibility. Weighted rings in the antenna help counter movement, while copper strips conduct lightning into grounding rods below the tower.
The architecture reveals its function. There is little applied ornament. The taper, exposed concrete, clustered technical levels and antenna form a direct expression of communications engineering. Later glass walls and viewing installations make that functional frame easier to read without disguising it.
How it was built and evolved over time
A deep foundation fixed the tower to reclaimed railway land. Crews excavated earth and shale before forming a heavy reinforced-concrete base. The footing had to resist not only the tower's weight but the overturning forces created by wind on a structure more than half a kilometre tall.
A moving mould created the shaft. Concrete was poured into a slipform raised by hydraulic jacks as each lift hardened. The form narrowed during the climb, producing the curved legs and hexagonal core as a continuous taper instead of assembling the tower from separate prefabricated floors.
The main pod was lifted into the structural sequence. Large bracket forms rose on cables from a temporary crown and created supports for the seven-storey pod. The upper observation level was cast around reinforcement and restrained by a steel compression band.
A helicopter finished what a crane would have prolonged. In March 1975, the Sikorsky Skycrane Olga placed the antenna sections above the concrete work. The tower was topped out on 2 April, though interior and operational work continued before the public opening in June 1976.
Later work changed the visitor fabric, not the structural idea. Transparent floor panels turned the lower observation level into a direct encounter with height; elevator glass followed in 2008. EdgeWalk added a steel ledge and overhead safety rail in 2011. The 2018 Main Observation Level renovation installed floor-to-ceiling Window Walls, and the continuing Terrace Level renewal extends indoor viewing and the glass-floor experience.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is the CN Tower?
It is 553.33 metres, or 1,815.5 feet, from the base to the top of the antenna.
How long should I allow?
The operator recommends about two hours for the main tower experience. The Top, a restaurant reservation or the 90-minute EdgeWalk programme may require more time.
Does general admission include The Top?
No. Timed General Admission includes the Main and Lower Observation Levels. The Top requires the combined ticket or a same-day add-on, subject to availability.
Do I need to book in advance?
All admissions use timed entry. Onsite tickets may be available, but booking ahead secures the intended date and time; the operator sells tickets up to 30 days in advance.
Is the CN Tower wheelchair accessible?
The main elevators and Main Observation Level are accessible. The first level of The Top is accessible, but its second level requires 12 stairs. Courtesy wheelchairs are limited, and accessible EdgeWalk arrangements must be made by telephone.
Can I bring luggage?
No. Bags must be smaller than 53 × 23 × 38 centimetres, and the tower has no general visitor lockers. All bags are inspected.
What happens if the weather hides the view?
Cloud, rain and other conditions can obscure the city and lake. Standard tickets are non-refundable, and operating schedules or individual experiences can also change because of weather.
What can I visit for free?
The Shop, KidZone and Canada Lands Square at the base do not require observation-level admission. The tower's exterior can also be viewed from surrounding public space.