Since 1976, the 553-metre-high CN Tower has cut a solitary but magnificent figure in the Toronto skyline. It is the highest free-standing building in the Western Hemisphere. The Tower plays an important role in the city’s telecommunications and also serves as a symbolic function - a beacon of Canadian pride.
The 'Canadian Wonder of the World', as the Tower is also called, welcomes around 2 million visitors a year. The Tower offers cafés, restaurants and a 3D cinema. The view of the city is of course the biggest attraction, but if that's not enough you can also go for a serious adrenaline rush by taking a hands-free walk on a narrow ledge 356 metres above the ground.
Special lifts with glass floors whisk visitors to the top of the Tower in only 58 seconds. If that hasn’t given you a fear of heights, step out on the glass floor and look down a whopping 342 metres. Don't be afraid: it may seem dangerous but the thick glass is actually stronger than most concrete floors. The glass floor can bear a weight of 38,556 kilograms – the equivalent of 20 hippos, and those don’t fit into the lift.
Even higher, you will find the 360 Restaurant, which does a full rotation every 72 minutes so everyone can enjoy the view. The vista is complemented by delicious food and an award-winning wine list. However, you do not have to go to great heights: there is also plenty to do at the foot of the Tower with shops and the market café.