Skylon Tower
Tower Niagara Falls observation tower with panoramic falls views
At Niagara Falls, Skylon Tower offers observation decks and a revolving dining room with direct views of the Horseshoe and American Falls; visitors ride glass elevators and time visits around mist and light displays.
Skylon Tower is an observation tower and tourist attraction on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, Ontario. It opened in 1965 and serves as an elevated viewpoint over the Niagara Gorge and the falls.
Multiple outdoor and indoor observation levels provide 360 degree views of the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Niagara River. The tower includes a revolving dining room that offers seated meals with panoramic vistas.
Built in the mid 20th century to expand visitor facilities at Niagara Falls, the structure has operated continuously as an observation and dining destination for tourists. It has been a fixed element of the Canadian falls skyline since opening.
The tower stands on the Canadian riverbank at Niagara Falls, Ontario, immediately overlooking the falls and the international border with the United States.
- Opening date: The tower opened in 1965 and is sited on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls overlooking the Horseshoe Falls.
- Best time to visit: Evening is a popular time to visit because the falls and surrounding attractions are illuminated after dark.
What to See #
- Observation decks: Outdoor observation decks with panoramic views over the Niagara Gorge and the Horseshoe and American Falls, reached by glass elevators.
- Revolving dining room: A rotating restaurant that completes a full turn over the course of a meal and faces the falls, offering seated dining with a view.
How to Get to Skylon Tower #
Skylon Tower is on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls in the Fallsview area. From Toronto take the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) to Niagara Falls - the driving distance is roughly 130 km (about 1.5 hours depending on traffic) - then follow signage to the Fallsview/Stanley Avenue area. In Niagara Falls the tower is a short walk from the central tourist district; local WEGO buses, taxis and falls-area parking provide direct access.
Tips for Visiting Skylon Tower #
- Buy tickets online or visit midweek mornings to avoid elevator queues; late afternoon into evening is the most rewarding time for views when the falls are lit and the city lights come on.
- Enter via the Fallsview Boulevard/Falls Avenue side for the shortest route from the main tourist cluster and the casino/hotel precincts - that side has the most direct pedestrian access to the tower base.
- If your goal is night photography of the illuminated falls, plan to arrive after dusk and check the illumination schedule; the tower's observation deck gives one of the most elevated, uninterrupted views of both Horseshoe and American Falls.
Best Time to Visit Skylon Tower #
For the best balance of crowd levels and weather, visit in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October); summer is busiest.
Weather & Climate near Skylon Tower #
Skylon Tower's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 27°C. Moderate rainfall (955 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -1°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 27°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with 97 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
![Maid of the Mist](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/"MAID-OF-THE-MIST"_SIGHTSEEING_BOAT_AT_DOCK_ON_THE_NIAGARA_RIVER_BELOW_THE_FALLS_-_NARA_-_549541.jpg?width=600)
