For many visitors, Union Station is the cleanest way into the CN Tower area. It is connected to the tower zone by the indoor SkyWalk, which means you can arrive by TTC, GO Transit, UP Express, or VIA Rail and avoid turning the first part of the day into a downtown parking puzzle.
If this downtown route is your Toronto starting point, continue with GO Train from Toronto Union Station to Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford. For visitors planning more broadly, start with the Canada travel from Toronto hub. For a longer capital-city rail trip, use the Ottawa capital guide.
Union Station to CN Tower: distance and quick directions
How far is the CN Tower from Union Station? The CN Tower's accessibility guide lists the SkyWalk route at 700 metres, and GO Transit describes it as about a 10-minute walk. From a train or subway platform, allow roughly 10–15 minutes because the station is large and crowds or construction can change the route.
Stay inside Union Station and follow signs for the SkyWalk, CN Tower, Rogers Centre, or Ripley’s Aquarium. Continue through the SkyWalk corridor toward the attraction plaza, then exit near the CN Tower entrance at 290 Bremner Boulevard.
- Best arrival modes: TTC subway, GO Transit, VIA Rail, and UP Express.
- Typical walk: about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on crowds and your platform.
- Best weather move: use the indoor SkyWalk from Union Station first, then go outside only near the tower.
Official route checks: GO Transit's 10-minute walking estimate · CN Tower's 700-metre SkyWalk accessibility guidance · CN Tower access and current entrance guidance
Union is worth its own stop. It is not only a train station. It feels like a mall inside a transit hub: food counters, coffee, corridors, art programming, passenger lounges, big-city movement, and that classic “we are finally in Toronto” feeling for visiting relatives.
How to Walk From Union Station to the CN Tower Through the SkyWalk
- From your arrival concourse, use the station signs and map to find the Great Hall, West Wing and UP Express/SkyWalk connection. Your starting level depends on whether you arrived by subway, GO, VIA Rail or UP Express.
- The UP Express stop is inside the SkyWalk. Use it as a wayfinding landmark and continue on the pedestrian route toward the CN Tower, Rogers Centre and Ripley’s Aquarium; the airport train is not part of this walk.
- Follow the attraction signs toward the main CN Tower entrance at 290 Bremner Boulevard, between Rogers Centre and Ripley’s Aquarium. Allow extra time to orient yourself inside the station.
- For step-free travel, follow the signed ramps and elevators. If the indoor route is disrupted, check the street-level alternative along Bremner Boulevard or ask station staff before continuing.
If you are asking how to get to the SkyWalk from Union Station, do not leave the station too early. Look for the indoor SkyWalk signs first. The CN Tower describes this as a short walk from Union Station and says the SkyWalk connection is accessible by ramps and elevators. Street-level access along Bremner Boulevard is the alternative if your route through the station is disrupted.
For visitors who are new to Toronto, this walk is also part of the reveal. You move from the old train-station feeling into the stadium-and-tower district, with the CN Tower getting closer instead of just appearing after a car drop-off.
Save the wayfinding links: UP Express station details and current map · Union Station map (PDF, April 2026) · CN Tower entrance directions. Wayfinding checked September 11, 2026.
Union Station to CN Tower FAQ
How do I get to the SkyWalk from Union Station?
Stay inside Union Station and follow signs for the SkyWalk, CN Tower, Rogers Centre, or Ripley's Aquarium. The corridor leads toward the attraction district by the tower.
How far is the CN Tower from Union Station?
The CN Tower's accessibility guide lists the SkyWalk route at 700 metres, and GO Transit describes it as about a 10-minute walk from Union Station. Allow roughly 10 to 15 minutes from your train or subway platform to the entrance because station distance, crowds and construction affect the total.
Should I leave Union Station to get to the CN Tower?
Usually no. Look for the indoor SkyWalk signs first. Street-level access along Bremner Boulevard is the backup if station routing or construction changes.
Is the SkyWalk route accessible?
The CN Tower describes the SkyWalk connection from Union Station as accessible by ramps and elevators, but routes can change during construction or events, so check current signs on the day you go.
Before choosing your entry time: Check the official hours and last admission and observation-level closures, especially for a sunset visit. A closure can affect one level or part of it while other areas remain available. The walking estimate does not include security or admission queues.
More Photos From Union Station and the CN Tower
Start With Union Station
If your group has time, arrive early and let Union Station be part of the outing. The building has enough food, coffee, and indoor space to help people settle before the tower. It also hosts public art and exhibitions, including Union Art programming and rotating displays by local artists.
If someone is travelling by VIA Rail Business class, the business lounge can make the station feel calmer before boarding. Eligible TD Visa Infinite or Infinite Privilege cardholders may also have access to the TD lounge at Union Station if the lounge program is operating, so check current access rules before promising it to anyone.
Which CN Tower Ticket Makes Sense?
For a first-time visitor, the strongest plan is usually the ticket that combines the main observation areas with The Top, if the budget allows. The main observation level gives the classic Toronto-and-Lake-Ontario view, while The Top adds the extra “we really went up there” feeling.
If the group is cost-sensitive or nervous about heights, the main observation level is already a real experience. If the group has visitors from overseas, kids who love tall buildings, or relatives who want the iconic Toronto moment, adding The Top makes the day feel more complete.
Compare tours that visit the CN Tower
Want a guided Toronto outing? The Klook page below compares tours around the CN Tower, including options that combine the tower with other city stops. Read each listing to see whether tower admission is included.
- Match your plans: Check the tower levels, other stops, meeting point and tour duration.
- Check your date: Review availability, the total price for your group and cancellation terms before paying.
Ontario Local Trips may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Sunset, Rogers Centre, and the Downtown View
On a clear day, sunset can be the best time to visit. You get daylight views, the colour change over Lake America, and then the city lights. The tradeoff is that sunset windows can be popular, so timed admission and lineups matter.
From the tower you can see Rogers Centre, the baseball stadium many locals still call SkyDome out of habit. If there is a game or event, that view becomes part of the fun: you can point out the field, the roof, the rail lines, the waterfront, and the downtown towers from one place.
Who This Works For
- First-time visitors to Toronto who want the classic landmark experience.
- Families arriving by GO, TTC, UP Express, or VIA Rail who want an easy transit-based day.
- Relatives who enjoy indoor food options before or after the main attraction.
- People who like combining a station visit, a short indoor walk, and one major paid attraction.
- Visitors who want skyline photos, Rogers Centre views, and a strong Toronto memory.
Simple Day Plan
Arrive at Union Station, get coffee or food if needed, look for current art or exhibition programming, then take the SkyWalk toward the CN Tower. Visit the main observation areas first, add The Top if you bought that option, and leave time afterward for Rogers Centre, Ripley's Aquarium, or the harbourfront if the group still has energy.
This is not the cheapest Toronto outing, but it is one of the easiest to explain to newcomers: arrive at Union, walk indoors toward the tower, go up, look over the city, and come back with the feeling that you saw downtown Toronto from above.
Keep exploring Ontario
More CN Tower entrance and exterior views
