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Normally, this is the point where people start hating me. I got the chance to go to Niagara Falls on a short, opportunistic trip to Toronto. Opportunistic because I took advantage of a pricing error on Air Canada, with a return flight to Toronto for €135. So I made the most of it and went to see these famous falls.
So yes, people say they’re overrated, that they’re not that big, that the Iguaçu Falls, Victoria or even Montmorency are bigger. Overrated? I don’t agree at all. And even if it were true, it can’t be unpleasant, because Niagara Falls are seriously beautiful, impressive and very photogenic!
So let’s set off on this very wet visit!
A quick introduction to Niagara Falls
Straddling the border between the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls is a legendary place, among the most famous waterfalls in the world.
Its name is said to come from the Iroquois “onghiar”, meaning “thunder of waters” (very Asterix if you ask me, the sky falling on our heads). These falls have always fascinated people, and many have tried to take them on in more or less absurd ways. And I’m being polite.
In 1829, a certain Sam Patch jumped next to the falls (on purpose, mind you) and was the first to come out alive. In 1901, it was Annie Edson Taylor’s turn to throw herself over, but… in a barrel. And she survived. In the idiots category, Kirk Jones was the first to survive jumping into the falls themselves, with no protection at all, in 2003. He tried again a few years later, with slightly less success, since he lost his life.
So Niagara Falls is 52 metres high, no less. OK, they’re not the highest in the world (Montmorency and Iguazu, for example, are around 80m). That’s not what they’re famous for, and they don’t pretend otherwise. What makes them reeeeally impressive is their power, their flow. It’s full-on!
The flow is 340,000 m3 per minute. And it’s the biggest flow of any falls in the world. Part of that flow is used to produce electricity. It would have been a shame not to!
Niagara Falls is actually a group of 3 waterfalls, the Niagara being the river that runs from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. There are:
- the Horseshoe Falls: the best known, the Canadian falls, named after their horseshoe shape. Surprising, right?
- the American Falls: the falls on the American side, hence the original name.
- Bridal Veil Falls: a tiny waterfall next to the American Falls
In the map of Niagara Falls below, I’ve listed the falls and the best spots, especially for viewpoints.
5 reasons to go to Niagara Falls
- It’s beautiful and impressive
- In low season there aren’t many people
- It’s not complicated to get there… from Toronto
- There are plenty of activities
- It can cost you next to nothing, shower included
Should you visit Niagara Falls from the American or the Canadian side?
So Niagara Falls is split between two countries, the United States and Canada. People generally say you should visit one side or the other, but in my opinion you should visit both. We’ll get to the practical side of crossing the border later, but the boat is better on the American side, and the viewpoints are maybe less impressive but still really great.
So go for the Canadian side first, but spending 2-3 hours on the American side is very easy and well worth it. You’ll be as close as it gets to the American Falls, but also to Niagara Falls, just across from the Horseshoe Falls, the most impressive of the falls.
I’ll show you what you can do on both sides further down in this article! And then you’ll understand why you have to do both.
Things to do at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side
At Niagara Falls, there really is something for everyone. Whether you’re into theme parks, casinos, boats, helicopters or just waterfalls (what an idea! you’d almost forget that’s what you came for), you’ll find something you like. Free or paid activities, tourist traps, there’s something for every budget too. Let’s have a look around.
The Canadian side has the best views and the vast majority of paid activities. The walk through Queen Victoria Park facing the Horseshoe Falls is free, open 24/7, and will probably be one of the most memorable moments of your visit. Everything else starts from there.
So yes, with this much water you can treat yourself to the cheesy rainbow photo 😀
Visiting Niagara Falls by boat
Taking a boat trip to get as close as possible to Niagara Falls and getting a good soaking is pretty much essential. And honestly, even if it’s “the thing everyone (or almost) does”, it’s a fun activity that doesn’t cost (all that much of) an arm and a leg.
The idea is pretty simple. You board a boat for 20 minutes, they hand you a sort of cape to protect you from the water and off you go! The goal is to get really close to the falls, take loads of water in the face, but try to come out as dry as possible. Obviously, that doesn’t work, and unless you bring your own rain jacket and something to protect your stuff, you’ll be drying off at the end.
The boat gets really close to the falls, which have one of the most powerful flows in the world. And it makes one hell of a racket. It’s really impressive.
Heads up, though: the boat doesn’t run all year round because the falls freeze. So it generally starts up again between March and April.
American cruise vs Canadian cruise, take your pick!
To do this boat trip, you have two options. One on the Canadian side, one on the American side. It’s a bit like left Twix versus right Twix.
It’s Hornblower, a company used to American cruises, that runs it for our Canadian friends. The advantage is that you don’t have to cross the border. On the other hand, the boats are pretty big and, above all, packed.
The boats are modern, but it’s more expensive than on the other side, 47 CAD before tax (OK, with the exchange rate it’s almost the same price, but you know how biased I am). You can also get your ticket from the official ticket office or on platforms like Getyourguide.
This activity, although very popular, is essential in my opinion. It’s hard to be any closer to the falls or more connected to them, given all the water you get! And it’s fun! This is where you realise just how powerful Niagara Falls is!
In high season, the queues can be long. Remember to book in advance, and why not save some money with the package!
There are also night tours with fireworks!!
Niagara Falls at night
At night, the falls are lit up, in white or in colour, and it’s pretty nice. It also lets you take some great photos and, above all, there are far fewer people than during the day, and it’s cooler. It’s really pleasant.
For a good part of the year there’s a firework display over the falls. Annoyingly, it started a few days after I was there, so I didn’t get to see what it was like. But judging by the website, it looks pretty good. You can check the dates here so you don’t miss it 🙂
Going inside Niagara Falls – Journey Behind the Falls
Another fun attraction, but one that gets you a bit wet, is the Journey Behind the Falls, which lets you go down and get really close to the falls. And obviously take loads of water in the face too, but otherwise it wouldn’t be fun.
It costs 33 CAD (maybe a bit pricey for what it is, I have to admit), for just under an hour, but the poncho is included, if that helps the pill go down.
The Skylon Tower – Niagara Falls from way up high!
Like any self-respecting North American city, Niagara Falls has a tower with a great view over the falls as a whole: the Skylon Tower. It closes late, so it can be a nice spot to watch the sunset or the fireworks. I went during the day, and honestly it’s beautiful. The viewpoint lets you appreciate the sheer size of Niagara Falls. You can have dinner up there, apparently it’s pretty good, but I couldn’t give you an opinion on that. The view on its own is already great.
You can book your skip-the-line ticket for the Skylon Tower here.
Flying over Niagara Falls by helicopter
This one I didn’t do, so I can’t give you my opinion on it. I wanted to do it but, as always, I took too long and didn’t manage it. That said, the various blogs I’ve read give it a good write-up, and the photos show a superb view.
On the other hand, it’s pretty expensive. A good hundred euros for a quarter of an hour’s flight. If I go back to Niagara Falls (I hope so, anyway!), I’ll try to do it this time 🙂 The reviews of the various guides are good, by the way, as you can see here on Getyourguide.
MistRider Zipline: thrills above the river
The activity I didn’t get to do when I was there (well, no surprise, I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat!). The MistRider Zipline flies over the Niagara Gorge for more than 670 m at a height of 60 m, with a direct view of the American and Canadian falls. Four parallel cables, a start from a raised platform, a finish near the river. Guaranteed thrills and a crazy view! It costs 70 CAD.
Power Station & Tunnel: the little-known history of the falls
Opened in summer 2022, the Niagara Parks Power Station is one of the most original new attractions in the area. This former power plant built in 1905 — which once supplied the whole region with hydroelectricity — is now open to the public, with a spectacular night-time tunnel tour: lights, projections and a breathtaking soundscape right inside the generators.
- Day tour: 33 CAD adult / 21.50 CAD child
- Night tour (Currents): 33 CAD adult, from 5-6pm
- Season: March to December (10am–5pm during the day, until 10.30pm in the evening)
Niagara SkyWheel to see the falls from above
The 53 m SkyWheel Ferris wheel gives you a bird’s-eye view of the falls and the whole Clifton Hill area from its air-conditioned gondolas. Let’s be honest: it’s as touristy as it gets, but it’s fun, and it’s even better in the evening when the falls are lit up below.
Niagara Falls, the kitsch town: casinos, Clifton Hill and the rest
The town of Niagara Falls on the Canadian side really is a “mini Las Vegas”: Fallsview Casino, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, the Clifton Hill arcades, chain restaurants everywhere… It’s kitsch to the max, and it’s a real contrast with the natural beauty of the falls. If you’ve got kids or you just feel like going along with the show, you’ll find plenty to do. If you’re looking for authenticity, head to Niagara-on-the-Lake instead.
As for restaurants in town: expensive, greasy and rarely memorable. Go for the Table Rock House Restaurant (direct view of the falls) or a table in NOTL. Or a sandwich.
Niagara-on-the-Lake and icewine: the trip you shouldn’t miss
20 minutes from the falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the prettiest villages in Ontario, surrounded by more than 35 wineries. This is the world capital of one very special wine—icewine, that exceptional dessert wine made from grapes harvested frozen at -8°C, in the middle of the night.
So what exactly is icewine? A dessert wine made from grapes left on the vine until they freeze naturally (around -8°C), then picked and pressed by hand in the middle of the night. The result: a golden, sweet nectar with incredible richness. Canada is the world’s leading producer of icewine, and the Niagara region is its heart.
In January, the Niagara Icewine Festival turns the village into a big wine party for 3 weeks. A great reason to come in winter!
Things to do at Niagara Falls on the American side
On the US side, the atmosphere changes completely. You’re in Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the US, free to enter, and it’s much more natural, much less crowded, with a better value-for-experience ratio than on the other side. This is where you really get closest to the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. Crossing the Rainbow Bridge from Canada to get to this side is worth it on its own.
Taking a cruise on the famous Maid of the Mist
The famous Maid of the Mist company has been operating since 1846, no less. Apparently it’s the oldest tourist attraction in North America. The boats have a nice design, not too big, so it feels less like a cattle pen than across the river (although the new electric boats aren’t bad in that department either!).
Until 2013, this company operated on both sides, but it eventually gave way to Hornblower and now runs exclusively on the US side. You get to the boarding area via a platform with a great view of the falls. And which you can access for $1
If you’re only on the American side, the cruise is essential. If you’re also going to the Canadian side, there’s no need to do both. But I think you can go for Maid of the Mist!
- Price: 30 USD (before tax, obviously).
- Opening hours: roughly 9am to 8pm, but best to check
- You can book your ticket in advance either on the online ticket office or on Getyourguide (with other outings)
- More information on their website
Cave of the Winds: right at the foot of the Bridal Veil Falls
Only on the American side, and one of the most intense experiences in the area. Wooden walkways take you just a few metres from the curtain of the Bridal Veil Falls — the “Hurricane Deck” level literally puts you in the spray, under the falls. Sports sandals are provided. Get ready to be soaked from head to toe, but you’ll be back for more.
- Price: 21 USD adult / 17 USD child
- Season: mid-May to mid-November
- Good to know: prices are lower in winter
Prospect Point, Goat Island, Luna Island: the free walks
Prospect Point is the main lookout on the American side, with a direct view of the American Falls and a different perspective on the Horseshoe Falls from the other bank. It’s free, less crowded than across the river, and the photos come out excellent in the late afternoon.
Carrying on on foot towards Goat Island, you cross this large natural island that separates the American falls from the Canadian falls. The walk follows the river with constant views, and you get very close to the rapids before they tip over the edge.
Luna Island is a tiny island suspended between the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls, linked to Goat Island by a footbridge. Here you’re right at the edge, a few metres from the drop, with a direct view of a waterfall on each side. One of the most impressive photos you’ll take at Niagara Falls. And it’s completely free.
Niagara Gorge Trail: hiking in the gorge
Less known to tourists, this hike goes down into the Niagara Gorge along the rapids. The main trail (Gorge Rim Trail) follows the edge of the canyon, with views straight down onto the raging river. More physical and demanding than the walks around the falls, it’s the ideal activity if you want to get away from the crowds a bit.
- Access: from the Niagara Discovery Center or the State Park entrance
- Duration: 1 to 4 hours depending on the trail you choose
- Good to know: some sections close in winter because of ice
Rainbow Air Helicopter: seeing the falls from the sky on the US side
For a helicopter flight on the American side, Rainbow Air takes off from the American bank and gives you an aerial view of the three falls, the gorge, the Rainbow Bridge and the rapids. One of the best “intensity of the experience / price” ratios on the US side.
- Price: from 189 USD
- Season: April to November (closed Tuesday-Wednesday)
Fallsview Balloon: going up in a hot-air balloon above the falls
A tethered balloon (attached to the ground by a cable) that rises up to 150 m above the American side, with a panoramic view of the three falls and the Canadian skyline. Less well known than the helicopter, cheaper, and a really different visual experience — particularly impressive in the evening when the lights come on.
- Price: from 65 USD
- Season: seasonal
Itinerary ideas for visiting Niagara Falls in 1 or 2 days
Niagara Falls in 1 day from Toronto
Visiting the falls from Toronto in a day is totally doable. It’s a busy day, but it’s fine because it’s not that far (about 2 hours 30 by bus). Here’s the plan:
- Leave Toronto by bus around 7.30/8am with Flixbus or Megabus, the two main bus companies.
- You arrive around 10am (normally in the centre with Flixbus)
- head to Table Rock, the best viewpoint facing the Horseshoe Falls
- at 11am, go and do the Journey Behind the Falls for a… wet experience! It takes just under an hour.
- 12.30pm: next, book your ticket for a boat trip as close to the falls as it gets. It takes about half an hour
- 1.15pm: you can go and grab a quick bite at Table Rock facing the falls, or else a bit further up in Queen Victoria Park, for a pretty much identical view
- Walk up to the Rainbow Bridge for views of the American falls, it’s really nice, especially if the weather’s good!
- 3pm: go to the Skylon Tower to enjoy the falls from above!
- 4pm: you can’t miss the ultra-kitsch, wacky town centre of Niagara Falls, it’s funny, it’s worth seeing! Mainly around Clifton Hill
- 5.30pm: you can stroll back to your bus stop for a departure around 6pm, which gets you back to Toronto around 8.30pm. For example, there’s a Flixbus at 6pm.
Tip: check out the combined tickets for activities! In particular, there’s a ticket that includes, for €110:
-
- the Hornblower cruise
- the Journey Behind the Falls
- the Skylon Tower
- More information on the combined ticket!
In one day, you normally won’t have enough time to go over to the American side, unless you arrive much earlier and leave late, because the border crossing can take a long time.
📍 Niagara Falls, Ontario · Skylon Tower
A glass lift whisks you up in a matter of seconds to the observation deck, two hundred and thirty-six metres above the falls.
- Pre-booked ticket, open all year from 9:00 to 22:00, until 23:00 on Saturdays
- View of the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls from the platform
- ⚠️ Only the lift is included: parking, meals, drinks and souvenir photos are extra
Free cancellation
From 15 € / person
📍 Niagara Falls, Ontario · Niagara Parks
Thirty-eight metres down into the bedrock, to the portals dug behind the curtain of water of the Horseshoe Falls.
- Outdoor observation deck right at the foot of the Horseshoe Falls
- Lift down to the underground tunnels and poncho provided by Niagara Parks
- ⚠️ Entry ticket only: no guide, no stated duration, you go at your own pace
Free cancellation
From 24 € / person
📍 Niagara Falls, Ontario · See Sight Tours (3.5 to 4 hrs)
The guided option that strings together the Skylon Tower, Journey Behind the Falls and the boat trip at the foot of the falls.
- Covers both tickets from the cards next to it, but with a guide and the boat
- Pick-up available and panoramic view of all three falls
- ⚠️ The boat trip only runs from May to December · guided in English
Free cancellation
From 102 € / person
Visiting Niagara Falls from Toronto with a tour company
Don’t want the hassle of organising it all? Good timing! Tour companies are there and offer lots of options for discovering Niagara Falls in a day from Toronto. And honestly, they’re worth a look! They’re à la carte packages, you pick what you want to see, and here’s what’s on the programme:
- transport is included
- the Hornblower cruise (optional)
- Journey Behind the Falls (optional)
- the Skylon Tower (optional)
- a tour of all the viewpoints
- a visit to the town centre
Prices start at €40 and go up to €100, transport included. You can find out more here!
Visiting Niagara Falls from Toronto in 2 days
If you have the time, this is what I recommend, because in 2 days you have time. Time to enjoy the Canadian side, but also to go over to the American side, because it’s really nice!
Basically, do exactly the same first day:
- Arrive in the morning
- visit Journey Behind the Falls (check availability)
- the Hornblower cruise (find out more about the package)
- the Skylon Tower (check availability)
- spend the late afternoon in town (because yes, even if it’s kitsch, it’s worth a look)
- and the evening facing the falls as they light up. You can even take a night cruise !
For where to stay, here’s what I recommend depending on your budget:
- the Tower Hotel at Fallsview, sleep in a tower with a crazy view of the falls, and on top of that it’s not expensive out of season!
- for smaller budgets, the Cadillac Motel Niagara, a real American-style motel, but very good and close to everything!
The second day is dedicated to the falls on the US side.
- Get up fairly early
- Head to the Rainbow Bridge, go through the turnstile ($1 in coins)
- And go through US customs. Make sure you have your ESTA!
- Arrive at Niagara Falls State Park around 10am (quieter and quicker than on the Canadian side)
- Go and see the main viewpoints, which are superb:
- Prospect Point
- Goat Island
- Luna Island
- Then, around noon or 1pm, it’s time for the cruise on the Maid of the Mist !
- After that, you absolutely have to do the Cave of the Winds! It’s completely different from Journey Behind the Falls on the Canadian side.
- After all those thrills, go and explore downtown Niagara Falls, like Old Falls Street. You’ll eat better and for less than on the Canadian side!
- Right, it’ll soon be time to head back to Canada to leave! Around 3.30 or 4pm, cross back over the bridge and the border (it can take a while).
- And your bus around 6pm
📍 Goat Island, American side · Niagara Regional Tours (1 to 2 hrs)
A guided walking tour designed for autumn and winter, billed as having no queuing in the cold outside the Cave of the Winds.
- Budget group option, meeting point near the Tesla arch on Goat Island
- Fees, taxes, snacks and a drink included · wheelchair and pushchair accessible
- ⚠️ The Cave of the Winds ticket isn't listed in what's included, and Maid of the Mist is excluded
Free cancellation
From 43 € / person
📍 Niagara Falls, American side · Niagara Skyline Tours (3 hrs)
Three hours that string together Maid of the Mist, the observation tower, Goat Island, Luna Island and the Cave of the Winds.
- Maid of the Mist included, unlike the other card: that's what explains the price gap
- Hurricane Deck and close-up views of the American and Bridal Veil Falls
- ⚠️ Guided in English only, like the tour next to it
Free cancellation
From 89 € / person
Visiting Niagara Falls on the US side from New York
In practice, visiting the falls from New York in a day is almost impossible, because it’s 9 hours by train. So you can either take a night bus to arrive early, or you’ll need to stay 2 days. That’s really the option I recommend, because you’re coming a long way, so you might as well stay a bit longer to really make the most of it.
This itinerary is designed for travellers heading to Niagara Falls by train from New York, on the Amtrak Maple Leaf — the only train that gets you there by mid-afternoon. It leaves Penn Station (Moynihan Train Hall) at 8:20, arriving at Niagara Falls, NY station around 16:30 (about 9.5 hrs of travel). Bring your passport: customs checks are carried out on board, at Niagara Falls, NY.
💡 Good news: the Amtrak station in Niagara Falls, NY is less than 5 km from Niagara Falls State Park. A taxi or Uber will drop you there in 10 minutes (about 8–12 USD).
Day 1 — Arrival and a first look at the American side
~16:45 – Prospect Point
Drop your bags at the hotel and head straight to Prospect Point, the iconic lookout in Niagara Falls State Park. The late-afternoon light is ideal for photographing the American Falls from the American bank. Free entry to the park.
~17:30 – Goat Island & Luna Island
Walk across to Goat Island, then on to Luna Island, the islet suspended between the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. Breathtaking view, smaller crowds at the end of the day.
~19:00 – Night-time illuminations
Every evening from mid-May to mid-October, the falls are lit up at nightfall. Stay on the American side for the show, or walk across the Rainbow Bridge to admire the illuminations from Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side (pedestrian toll: 1 USD in coins, passport required to cross back).
~20:30 – Dinner
Old Falls Street or one of the restaurants around the Seneca Niagara Casino.
I recommend staying at the Hyatt Place Niagara Falls, very good, close to the falls and not particularly expensive for a hotel of this standard.
For smaller budgets, the Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls is excellent!
Day 2 — American side in the morning, crossing into Canada in the afternoon
9:00 – Cave of the Winds (mid-May to mid-November)
Start with the most spectacular experience on the American side. The Cave of the Winds takes you to the foot of the Bridal Veil Falls on wooden walkways: be ready to get soaked. Allow 45 min to 1 hr. Ticket: about 23 USD adult / 19 USD child.
10:15 – Maid of the Mist (late April – early November)
Carry on with the Maid of the Mist, the legendary cruise that heads right into the basin of the Horseshoe Falls. Boarding from the American bank, 30 min on the water. Ticket: about 30 USD adult / 20 USD child. Poncho provided.
⚠️ Off season (November to April): the Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds are closed. Swap them for a visit to the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center and a hike on the Niagara Gorge Trail.
12:00 – Lunch on Old Falls Street
The pedestrian street on the American side has a cluster of restaurants. Make the most of it before crossing into Canada.
~13:30 – Crossing into Canada via the Rainbow Bridge
On foot from Prospect Point (about a 15-min walk). Toll: 1 USD in coins. Passport required. On the Canadian side, you come out right on Falls Avenue, a stone's throw from Table Rock.
~14:00 – Table Rock & Horseshoe Falls
The head-on view of the Horseshoe Falls from Table Rock is the most impressive on either bank. Free. Ideal for photos in the mid-afternoon.
~14:30 – Journey Behind the Falls (all year round)
Head 38 m down through the rock to reach the century-old tunnels dug behind the Horseshoe Falls. The ideal experience after the Maid of the Mist: you've seen them from below, now you hear them from the inside. Allow 45 min. Ticket: about 33 CAD adult.
~16:00 – Queen Victoria Park
Stroll along the Canadian bank for one last view of all three falls before crossing back. The late-afternoon light is especially beautiful here.
~17:00 – Back to the American side
Walk back across the Rainbow Bridge and you can spend the evening in town before leaving the next day.
Departure: the next morning (D+2)
🚆 Important: there's no evening train from Niagara Falls, NY to New York. The two options are the Maple Leaf (departs ~6:35, very early) and the Empire Service (departs ~7:00, arrives NYC ~16:30). Plan for an extra night and an early-morning departure.
If you have time before the train, an early-morning walk to Prospect Point at sunrise — the falls without the crowds — is well worth getting up for.
Going to Niagara Falls from New York with a tour company
It’s packed, really packed, but it’s doable! Tour companies offer trips to Niagara Falls from New York in a single day. OK, it’s 24 hours including transport, because don’t forget it’s a 9-hour journey one way, no less. So you’ll have time to sleep.
But you get all the essentials for a good day:
- you arrive in the morning
- you do the famous Maid of the Mist boat trip
- there’s also the Cave of the Winds
- and all the best viewpoints!
Staying at Niagara Falls
The first question is: should you stay overnight? Honestly, I found that a single day there was too short. It barely gives you time to do the Canadian side. So I chose to spend the night there so I could also enjoy it the next day before flying back from Toronto. Plus, spending an evening there is great because the falls are nicely lit, there are fewer people and, depending on the season, there are fireworks. And finally, the next day is handy for going to the US side, especially for the boat.
Finding somewhere to stay in Niagara Falls is pretty easy, there’s a huge amount on offer, it’s very American (even on the Canadian side), and outside weekends and the peak tourist season, it’s cheap. I got a huge room (with an amazing bed) for around sixty euros.
Where to stay on the Canadian side
There’s a huge choice in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Nothing mind-blowing, but it does the job, it’s good and really cheap out of season. Here are a few recommendations
- on a small budget: the Cadillac Motel Niagara, under €50, as kitsch as it gets but comfortable and very good!
- a step up: the Niagara Grandview Boutique Hotel, in a beautiful 19th-century house, from €70, excellent reviews on Booking!
- the best view: it has to be the tower of the Tower Hotel at Fallsview! you look down over the falls, and on top of that it’s a great hotel
📍 Niagara Falls, Ontario · 7 min from the Skylon Tower
Fully renovated 1950s American motel, with spacious rooms and unapologetically retro décor. The falls are a twenty-minute walk away, the Skylon Tower seven.
- Value for money 9.0 and staff 9.4
- Forty-five euros a night, across 1 554 reviews
- Facilities 8.1: it’s a motel, not a hotel
From 45 € / night
📍 Niagara Falls, Ontario · 1.6 km from the Maid of the Mist
Former Art Deco dairy turned into a thirty-five-room spa hotel, with a private hot tub in the room and a fine-dining restaurant on site. The best score of the eight cards in this article.
- Staff 9.6, cleanliness and comfort at 9.5
- Value for money 9.1 across 2 146 reviews
- Hot tub in the room and full spa on site
From 100 € / night
📍 Niagara Falls, Ontario · Fallsview tower, facing the falls
1960s tower standing right opposite the falls, with a panoramic restaurant at the top. The Fallsview rooms look straight onto the Horseshoe Falls, the others onto the city.
- Location 9.5 and comfort 9.2, across 3 205 reviews
- Head-on view of the falls from the Fallsview rooms
- Value for money 8.4, the lowest in the Canadian group
From 110 € / night
📍 Niagara Falls, Ontario · nineteenth-century mansion
Nineteenth-century mansion turned into a boutique hotel, in a quiet spot on the bank of the Niagara. The falls are a twenty-minute walk along the river.
- Staff 9.6 and cleanliness 9.5, across 1 347 reviews
- Value for money 9.1, excellent for a boutique hotel
- Historic mansion, in a quiet riverside spot
From 110 € / night
Where to stay on the American side of Niagara Falls
Same thing here on the US side. It’s nothing special, but it does the job. The big advantage is that it’s really cheap outside high season, so you can treat yourself a bit when it comes to accommodation.
In high season, it’s touristy, but less so than on the Canadian side. Still, you really need to book ahead if you’re coming during the holidays or in summer. Otherwise you risk ending up in a so-so, overpriced motel.
Here are a few recommendations. Bear in mind I’m not going to suggest any rock-bottom budget hotels, because the quality just isn’t there:
- on a small budget: the Wingate by Wyndham Niagara Falls. The hotel is very decent, so are the rooms, and it’s from €60 a night. But the breakfast is really nothing special and parking is extra.
- mid-range: the Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls is really good, excellent value for money and very close to the falls. From €75
- more upmarket: the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino because it’s tall and gives you a great view, but it’s also a quality hotel, from €140
📍 Niagara Falls, New York · city centre
Recent hotel in the city centre on the American side, a ten-minute walk from the State Park and the falls. Modern rooms and a cocktail bar on the ground floor, for eighty euros.
- Eighty euros a night, the cheapest in the group
- Location 9.1 across 2 250 reviews
- Value for money 8.3, decent but no more
From 80 € / night
📍 Niagara Falls, New York · near the Seneca Casino
Standard Hampton Inn close to the Seneca Casino and the State Park, with an indoor pool and hot breakfast included. Rooms identical to every other Hampton in the country.
- Location 9.0 and staff 8.6, across 1 564 reviews
- Indoor pool and hot breakfast included
- Eight point two: the lowest score of the eight
From 100 € / night
📍 Niagara Falls, New York · Rainbow Boulevard
Marriott on Rainbow Boulevard, six hundred metres from the Maid of the Mist landing, with a heated indoor pool. It’s the least documented address in the American group.
- Heated indoor pool and gym
- Six hundred metres from the Maid of the Mist
- Only 767 reviews, the smallest sample
From 105 € / night
📍 Niagara Falls, New York · less than a kilometre from the falls
Twenty-six-storey resort-casino with a spa, indoor pool and several restaurants, less than a kilometre from the falls. Over four thousand reviews, the most solid base in the group.
- Comfort 8.8 and location 9.1, across 4 168 reviews
- Spa, indoor pool and six restaurants
- Staff 8.3: the weak spot, given the size
From 130 € / night
FAQ and practical info
- How much does a visit to Niagara Falls cost
Honestly, it can cost you nothing but the transport! Some of the paid activities are really fun (especially the cruise and the tunnel leading to the foot of the falls).
- How long do you need to visit Niagara Falls?
Allow at least one full day for the Canadian side. Ideally, plan a night there: that way you can see the falls lit up in the evening and go to the American side the next day. If you add Niagara-on-the-Lake and the vineyards, allow two days.
- Is it better to visit Niagara Falls from the Canadian or the American side?
The Canadian side has the best panoramic viewpoints and most of the activities. The American side is more natural, less crowded, and lets you get very close to the American Falls with the Cave of the Winds. Ideally, do both — crossing the Rainbow Bridge only costs 1 dollar. And that way you go for two days and hey presto, you
- What’s the best time of year to visit Niagara Falls?
September is a good time: all the activities are open, the crowds have thinned out and prices are lower than in summer. May is a good alternative in spring. Winter offers a unique spectacle (frozen falls), but some activities are closed. So basically: any time! But don’t forget that in winter you can’t take a cruise if the falls are frozen.
- Do Niagara Falls freeze in winter?
Not completely, the water keeps flowing with enormous power. It’s the edges, the rocks and the spray that freeze, creating spectacular ice formations around the falls. It’s one of the most photogenic sights the falls have to offer.
- Do you need a visa or an ESTA to go to the American side of the falls?
Yes. To cross the border and visit the American side, you need a valid ESTA (for European nationals eligible for the Visa Waiver Program). If you’re only staying on the Canadian side, you don’t need to do anything else if you already have your eTA to enter Canada.
- Can you do Niagara Falls in a day from Toronto?
Yes, it’s doable. Toronto is about 1 hour 30 from the falls (2-3 hours by bus with traffic). A well-organised day lets you see the essentials on the Canadian side. But to enjoy the night-time illuminations and go to the American side, it’s better to stay overnight.
- Where to go after Niagara Falls?
From the falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake (vineyards, icewine) is 20 min away. Toronto is 1 hour 30 away. Buffalo (USA) is 30 min away if you want to catch a US domestic flight. The falls fit really well into an Eastern Canada road trip or a Toronto + Montreal combo.
- Can you get to Niagara Falls from Montreal?
Yes, but it’s a long way! You have to go via Toronto, so allow at least 7 hours of travel. So you’ll need to spend a night there.
How to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto and elsewhere
You can get to Niagara Falls in various ways:
By plane – the nearest airport is Niagara Falls on the US side, but it’s only served by cities in Florida. Otherwise there’s Buffalo, which is bigger and served from pretty much all over the country, but not from Canada. Finally, Toronto is the nearest big airport.
By train – you can come by train from Toronto. From Montreal you also have to go via Toronto. It takes 2 hours at best, but watch out, because direct trains aren’t frequent. You often have to change at Hamilton. Plus it’s expensive. And finally, you can’t buy a train ticket if you don’t have a Canadian bank card.
By car – from Montreal, it’s complicated because you have to go via Toronto (6 hours 30) and then 2 hours from Toronto. But that’s the theory, when there’s no traffic, which is to say rarely, especially between Canada’s two big cities.
By bus – now it gets interesting. OK, from Montreal it’s still a pain, because it’ll take you between 7 and 11 hours, on top of costing around 80CAD. But from Toronto, for about 20CAD, you get a journey that officially takes 1 hour 30, but more like 2 hours 30 because of traffic. You can also go straight to Toronto airport, which is really handy. I took Greyhound and it was very good, but the company no longer serves this side of the falls. So now you can take Megabus or Flixbus! Check out the bus routes on Busbud to compare prices and timetables.
By boat – impossible, unfortunately. Given how powerful the river is, that might not be a bad thing. Not even at Niagara on the Lake, a small town on the shore of the lake.
As you can see, the only easy option is Toronto. For a single day there, a return trip from Montreal seems unthinkable, and the bus is still the most reasonable option in terms of time/price.
Crossing the Canada – United States border
Getting from the Canadian falls to the American falls is very simple. A bridge separates the two countries, crossing over the Niagara (the river, I mean).
Obviously, to go over to the US side, you need a valid ESTA, just as a valid eTA is required to enter Canada. You’ve already thought of that, haven’t you?
Crossing this bridge is a great moment. First because the view is superb. And second because you get to rub shoulders with the US border officers, who really don’t joke around 😀
To cross the bridge from Canada, you have to pay CA$1 (or 1USD) for the turnstile. That’s it. You get onto the bridge, enjoy the view, then reach the other side, on amewican territory, where mutants are waiting for you. 3 guys built like you wouldn’t believe (that is, like me, but better. Tall, muscular, not an ounce of fat and twice as wide as me), cap, sunglasses, gun and chewing gum, asked me loads of questions, kindly but firmly. Where I was coming from, why I was there, how long I was staying, whether I had my return ticket. My nationality (“we dya cofom”, have fun translating that one, when he’s holding the passport in his hand), all that. Always ultra polite, but firm. You know you’d better keep your mouth shut, so no little jokes, eh. But it’s the real cliché, just like in the films.
Once that step is done, a bit like in Fort Boyard, you move on to the next level. The real end-of-level boss, the one who gives you access to the safe. The one who hands out the stamp and asks the same questions, still just as firmly and politely, but minus the smile. With, as a bonus, the question “have you been to the Middle East in the last 4 years? ” “uuuh no I don’t think so, Egypt in 2010 must be it” “Are you sure?” “well yeah” “Sure sure?” (that’s when you know it stinks) “weeell…. yes”. He takes his stamp, applies it firmly (and politely) to the passport, hands it back to me… open at the page with my United Arab Emirates stamp -_- with a very pointed look. Message received 😀 And incidentally, the border crossing costs $30 (I’d paid 8, talk about inflation!).
The US-Canada crossing is about the same. You go back past the heavies with their ultra-bright smiles (no, I’m not jealous) who ask the same questions again, how long I stayed, why so short and so on. At the Canadian border, they’ll also ask you questions, but in a friendlier way. Well, the guy I got was as nice as can be. Just from this bridge, you can see the difference in culture and mindset between the two countries 😀
The border bridge linking the United States and Canada. The view’s not bad.
In conclusion
I hope this article has made you want to go and check out the falls. Even if it’s become a giant theme park, even if it’s not necessarily easy to get there, spending a day there is a really nice time, because the falls are impressive. And the good news is that there’s plenty to do for free: you can wander around plenty without spending anything apart from the transport, which makes for a cheap day.
On the other hand, if you’re coming from further away than Toronto, really consider spending a night there. One, because the falls are pretty at night, and two, because it’s far from everything, except Toronto.
But I’m definitely not disappointed with my little trip 🙂
