If you’d prefer to just check it out from the ground, the best street-level vantage point for the tower is at the intersection of McCaul St and Queen St W, due north. It’s worth noting that on a clear day the vista from the top is astounding – a bird's-eye view of the city and lake, the falls in the distance, even helicopters flying below you if it's hazy you won't see a thing.

Even if you don't, you're bound to catch a glimpse of the tower at night: the entire structure puts on a brilliant (free) light show year-round. Riding one of the glass elevators up what was once the world's highest freestanding structure (553m) is one of those things you just have to do in Toronto. There are floor-to-ceiling windows, glass floors, and an 'EdgeWalk' for those with the backbone to walk around the perimeter of the main pod, with no fence and no windows, just you, tethered to a track. Three observation levels reveal unforgettable views – even Niagara Falls can be seen on a clear day. Queues can be long and tickets are expensive, but the wait and the cost are worth it. At a height of 553 metres, the communications spire stands over the city like a beacon. Dominating Toronto's skyline, the CN Tower is a marvel.

Cn tower toronto