Ontario has a lot to offer, but one of the most popular attractions is undoubtedly Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls consists of 3 waterfalls (2 on the American side) and Horseshoe Falls (aka Canadian Falls) is the most popular one. It is also the most powerful waterfall in all of North America in terms of water flow rate. Luckily, us Canadians also get the best panoramic views of the majestic Falls and we can get right to the edge of Horseshoe Falls.
Not only is it one of the most famous waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is also known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World for over 200 years. With the beautiful nature that surrounds the Niagara area, plenty of restaurants to choose from, and a multitude of tourist attractions, it is no wonder this part of Canada is well-known and frequented by travelers all over the world.
Ready to experience Niagara Falls up close? Here’s everything you need to know on planning your trip to one of Canada’s most famous landmarks.
How Much Time Is Needed At Niagara Falls?
For Canadians who live in nearby cities, we usually just take a day trip to Niagara Falls. Since it is so easily accessible for us, we can make the trip often and therefore we don’t need to stay overnight. Unless you plan to go clubbing or partying, a one night stay is common as well.
For first time visitors to Niagara Falls, 2 nights 3 days is a good amount of time to explore the area at your own leisure without feeling too rushed. If you’re tight on time, a 1 night 2 day stay is doable too, but you want to make sure to make use of the second day as well.
How To Get To Niagara Falls
If you’re coming from nearby cities, or let’s say Toronto, you can easily drive 1.5 hours to get to Niagara Falls.
If you’re taking public transportation, there are also options on Go Transit, VIA Rail, and coach buses like Coach Canada, Greyhound or Megabus. You will arrive at the Niagara Falls Train Station or The Niagara Falls Bus Station and are both located in Downtown, Niagara Falls. To actually get to the Falls, hotels, and the main tourist areas, you will need to take a taxi/Uber or use local transit, which is about a 5 to 10 minute ride depending on which mode of transportation you take.
If you’re arriving in Pearson International Airport, you can actually take the Niagara Airbus and book a one-way or round trip ticket which goes directly from the airport to Niagara Falls.
When To Visit Niagara Falls
I personally think that Niagara Falls looks beautiful year round, but the most popular seasons I would say is definitely summer and winter since you see the Falls in different elements.
Summer – May to August
Summer is the most popular time of the year to visit Niagara Falls since the weather is the best and a lot of people get time off during the summer to visit with their families.
Winter – Late January to February
I think Niagara Falls is especially beautiful in the winter just because the Falls gets so cold and parts of the water begins to freeze and ice over, which also makes it look like the Falls has stopped. Ice builds up but the water continues to flow and it hasn’t completely frozen over since 1848 when it was frozen solid.
Where To Stay In Niagara Falls
There are plenty of hotels, motels, and Airbnbs in the Niagara area. The most convenient however, is to stay in the Clifton Hill or Fallsview area. I normally just do day trips to Niagara Falls, but I actually stayed overnight for the first time recently because I found an amazing deal on Groupon for $87 USD which included a one night stay at the Four Points By Sheraton Niagara Falls Fallsview and multiple coupon vouchers to eat at restaurants like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Benihana, TGIFridays, iHOP, and more as well as access to the Fun Zones in both Clifton Hill and Fallsview. There are multiple popular hotel chains in the area that offer the same deal! So take a look at the reviews, your preference in hotels, location, and offerings they have before booking.
Also, if you’d like the full experience of the Falls, book a hotel that offers rooms with a view of the Horseshoe Falls! The hotels that offer this are the Embassy Suites Fallsview, Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa, The Tower Hotel, and Niagara Falls Hilton.
Where To Park In Niagara Falls
I have to say that one of the biggest headaches in Niagara Falls is parking. It can get extremely busy and hard to look for parking at times, especially when it’s high season and every car is just looking for a spot. Depending on which location and lot you choose, it may be really overpriced.
During low season, parking is about $10 during the day, $25 overnight, and $50 to $70 or more to park on hotel property overnight.
During high season, parking ranges from $20-30 during the day, even when you’re parking a 20 minute walk from Clifton Hill.
I usually like parking at the lot by Victoria St and Magdalen St since it is about $3 for the day during low season. But honestly, parking rates change all the time depending on how busy it is so be prepared for some ridiculous prices.
Best Things To Do In Niagara Falls
Albeit touristy, visiting Niagara Falls is still one of the more entertaining things to do near Toronto and the good thing is that it includes gorgeous views, a lot of nature, and a variety of activities for all ages. It’s also great for a weekend getaway for fun and relaxation.
Here are the top things I’d recommend doing in Niagara Falls:
Niagara Falls
The number one main attraction! Why else would you be coming here? Although this area has a ton of things to do, and even if we’ve seen the Falls more than once, we keep coming back to enjoy the magnificent views. From the Clifton Hill area to Fallsview Boulevard is about an 18 minute walk or 1.5 kilometres. You can walk along the sidewalk and see different areas of the Falls and get all the way to the edge of Horseshoe Falls.
The Falls Activities
There are many options when it comes to exploring Niagara Falls. Whether you want to see it from the sky, down below in the water itself, on the boardwalk and more.
On Foot
1 – Niagara Glen Nature Reserve
Address – 3050 Niagara Pkwy
Parking – It is metered parking at the Niagara Glen Nature Centre, but it does get very busy so coming at an earlier time may help you find a spot.
Admission – Free
Time Spent – minimum half an hour. Keep an eye on the trail markers otherwise you can lose the path you’re on and it can take you some time to find your way out.
Description – There are stairways that lead to 4 kilometres of trails that lead you through the Carolinian Forest with up close views of prehistoric geological formations overlooking the Niagara River. You can hike and boulder here.
2 – White Water Walk
Address – 4330 River Rd
Admission – $17 CAD for people aged 13+
Time Spent – up to 90 minutes
Description – Right on the edge of Niagara’s whitewater, you’ll take an elevator down to a tunnel which connects to the boardwalk overlooking the Niagara rapids. The Whirlpool was formed over 4,200 years ago by the upstream erosion of the Niagara Escarpment. Trillions of gallons of water pours through this gorge and creates Class 6 Whirlpool Rapids and travels at 48 km/hr.
On Boat
1 – Journey Behind The Falls
Address – 6650 Niagara Pkwy
Admission – $15.50 CAD for people aged 13+
Time Spent – 30 to 45 minutes
Description – Descending 125 feet below to explore 130+ year old tunnels, you’ll get to the observation decks to view the thunderous Falls in front of you. In the spring and summer you’ll receive a poncho to protect you from the mist of the Falls. Once you get behind the Falls, you’ll get pretty wet. It might be safe to say to bring rainboots or waterproof shoes as well.
2 – Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
Address – 55 River Frontage Rd
Admission – $73.95 CAD for adults
Time Spent – 45 minutes, but you’ll need to arrive about 45 minutes earlier to check in
Description – You’ll be taken on a jet boat at 80 km/hr and your river guide will tell you about the history of the Niagara region, local points of interest and the mechanics of the boat you’re on. You’ll also get to experience the Niagara rapids up close and you will get soaked so remember to bring a complete change of clothes. It does get pretty intense!
In The Air
1 – WildPlay Niagara Falls Zipline To The Falls
Address – 5920 Niagara Pkwy
Admission – $59.99 for one guest
Time Spent – 60 to 90 minutes
Description – Zipline to the Falls where you ride into the gorge towards the base of Horseshoe Falls. You’ll be gliding down 2,200 feet and getting the best view of both the American and Canadian Falls.
2 – Whirlpool Aero Car
Address – 3850 Niagara Pkwy
Admission – $17 CAD for people aged 13+
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Description – This aero car has been running since 1916 and has been upgraded several times. It soars 3,500 feet above the Niagara rapids and travels between 2 points on the Canadian shore and will take you across international borders between Canada and the US 4 times because of the way the river flows.
Clifton Hill
This is where you would find a lot of restaurants, tourist activities like haunted houses, laser tag games, specialty stores, confectionary stores, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, the Upside Down House, the SkyWheel and more. If you have time, you can take a leisurely stroll through this entire area and really enjoy taking in all the scenery.
Although a lot of the restaurants here are chain restaurants, I like to call out Antica Pizzeria & Ristorante. They’re known for the wood oven pizzas and usually have lines to get in especially during high season since they don’t take reservations. Keep in mind, this is a major tourist area and you may find that a lot of the chain restaurants may be overpriced.
I also really enjoying walking through Hershey’s Chocolate World every time since they have a variety of chocolates in limited flavors and giant sizes you don’t normally see in stores. Another fun store to walk through is the Always Refreshing Soda Shop which is basically a Coca Cola Shop. It has the old-school diner vibes and offers floats, ice cream, shakes, and sodas with flavor shots of your choice along with Coca Cola merchandise.
You can also visit the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens with 99 acres of award-winning landscape with beautiful blooms and gardens, visit the Butterfly Conservatory and discover a tropical oasis, or explore the Bird Kingdom as it is the largest free flying indoor aviary in the world.
Fallsview Casino
Address – 6380 Fallsview Blvd
Description – For those who like to take a chance at the slots and tables, Fallsview Casino is probably the most popular casino here. When I was younger, my friends and I used to come here to get one of the casino cards just to get free parking (life hack for avoiding $30 parking fees!). However, we do love walking around and people watch and occasionally have some food there. I also enjoyed attending the Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club.
If you have more time and would like to extend your stay, or simply plan another road trip in the Niagara Region soon, don’t miss Niagara-On-The-Lake as you’ll find some of the best wineries in the country nearby. Here’s an Itinerary For A 1 Night Wine Country Getaway In Niagara-On-The-Lake!
For other destination inspirations, check out these blog posts.