Location: 5200 Robinson St, Niagara Falls, ON | Visited in April 2026
To be honest, we almost left out the Skylon Tower on our agenda. With stunning views of the waterfall visible from the comfort of our room on the 30th floor, a part of me was wondering whether it was even necessary to have yet another viewing spot. I can say for certain now that I am very glad that we made that visit, for watching the falls from the Skylon Tower offers an entirely new view altogether.
Why We Went
We would already experienced the falls from ground level and from our Fallsview hotel room, and I wanted to see if there was something different about seeing it from above – a bird’s eye view rather than being right beside it or across from it. Spoiler: there is, and it is totally worth it.
The Guy With the Hat and Tie – The Real MVP
I have to talk about this because he genuinely changed the course of our visit. When we arrived, we were quickly realizing that there were quite a few options to navigate and standing there trying to figure out which options to choose from: “Ride to the Top with 3D/4D Movie”, “Ride to the Top & Daredevil Barrels of Niagara Falls Exhibit”, “Ride to the Top Observation Deck only”, “Ride to the Top Day + Night Pass”, and “the Ultimate Combo”. As a family of an odd number of people, we were doing mental math of trying to figure out how to maximize our experience without overspending.
The staff member, the one in the hat and tie, was incredibly patient with us. And I mean genuinely patient, because we were asking a lot of questions. He calmly walked us through every option, explained the differences clearly, and then gave us a tip that completely changed our plans: the Day + Night Pass at $24 CAD (before tax) lets you visit twice – once during the day and once at night – essentially making each visit around $12. You can do both on the same day, or visit one evening and come back the next morning when they open at 9 AM, which is exactly what we did.
That recommendation alone made the whole experience. I almost skipped the Skylon Tower entirely, and instead we ended up visiting twice and getting two completely different views of the falls. If you run into the guy with the hat and tie – try to listen to his recommendations.
The Day View vs. The Night View
They really are two different experiences and that’s not marketing fluff – it’s genuinely true. During the day you get the full scale and detail of the falls, the mist, the surrounding landscape. At night, the light show transforms everything and the falls take on a completely different atmosphere. We visited the evening around 8 PM when it was dark, and then came back the very next morning at 9 AM on Friday when they first opened. Both visits felt worthwhile on their own.
The Tower Itself
The place is conveniently situated – right in the center of the attraction sites at Niagara Falls, so it seamlessly blends into your day of exploring. There are three elevators available to take passengers, but the third one is what you need since it is facing the fall side, you will have the chance to enjoy the view even on your way up. We took this elevator twice, and each time it proved our good choice.
On the observation floor there are washrooms, some information boards containing historical facts and several exits onto the outside observation deck. It is well designed and visitors have enough space and time for sightseeing.
Since we visited on a weekday late afternoon and evening, and on a holiday morning, it wasn’t crowded either time – which made the whole experience feel relaxed and unhurried. If you’re someone who doesn’t love crowds, those timing windows worked really well for us.
The Gift Shops
There are two gift shops – one on the main level and one on the upper floor. Worth knowing: the upper floor gift shop stays open quite late and when it’s open in the morning, which is quite handy if you are visiting in first thing in the day or in the evening. The main floor shop was already closed by the time we visited at night, and wasn’t open yet when we came back in the morning, so we never actually made it in there. Just something to keep in mind depending on when you visit.
One thing I cannot speak to are the buffet or the dining experiences since we only did the observation deck both times, so the upper restaurant levels are outside my experience on this one.
The Optional Photoshoot
Before going up, there is one place on the ground floor that takes your picture using a green screen background featuring the Niagara Falls. This is totally optional; however, it’s quite entertaining while waiting for your ride to go up.
Tips & Practical Details
- Best value: The Day + Night Pass at $24 CAD before tax – roughly $12 per visit. Highly recommend over a single visit ticket
- Timing options: Visit the same day (day + evening) or split it across two days – evening one day, morning the next when they open at 9 AM
- Elevator tip: Take the third elevator as it faces the falls side for the ride up
- Crowds: Weekday afternoons, evenings, and early mornings were noticeably quiet both times we visited
- Gift shops: Upper floor shop stays open late; main floor shop may be closed in the evening and early morning
- Washrooms: Available at the top observatory level and lower floor
Is It Worth It If You Already Have a Fallsview Hotel Room?
Yes – and I say this as someone who had a 30th floor Fallsview room. The perspectives are genuinely different. The hotel view puts you across from the falls at eye level; the Skylon Tower puts you above everything. If you have the time and the budget, both are worth experiencing. And if you’re staying on the city view side of your hotel, the Skylon Tower becomes even more of a must-do.
Final Thoughts
The Skylon Tower ended up being one of those happy surprises of the trip – something I almost talked myself out of that turned into a highlight. The Day + Night Pass is genuinely great value, the views are stunning from both visits, and the staff (particularly the very patient gentleman in the hat and tie) made the whole experience better than expected. If you’re in Niagara Falls and on the fence about going up – just go.
Disclaimer: I paid for this visit entirely out of my own pocket – this is 100% my honest, unsponsored experience. Please note that attractions, pricing, and operating hours are subject to change, so I’d recommend checking directly with Skylon Tower or their website for the most up-to-date information before your visit.
Jen's One Fine Day 
Leave a comment