Each year, millions of people flock to Niagara Falls to experience one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. Located on the border of Canada and the United States, this tourist attraction offers several different ways to experience the mighty falls. But like many popular destinations, it can be overwhelming to figure out what’s worth doing. To help you plan your trip, here are 10 tips and things to do in Niagara Falls.
Also important to note: we will only be referring to the Canadian side of the falls, which is the better side (sorry America).
1. GET TO THE FALLS EARLY.
If you are visiting Niagara Falls during the peak summer season, it’s no surprise that it will be incredibly crowded. To avoid the masses of people, you could visit during the spring or winter. However, not all attractions are open during those seasons. So if you do visit during the summer months, get to the falls early in the morning. This will allow you to enjoy the views from the free walkway without needing to squeeze in between the other visitors. However, if you go too early, you may be greeted with a dense layer of fog that will block your view of the falls before it clears up.
If you are driving, we suggest parking at the Falls Parking Lot A. It is close to Horseshoe Falls, the main visitor center (Table Rock Welcome Centre), and a WEGO bus station – more on this later! To ensure a parking spot in this gated lot, you can purchase one ahead of time.
2. BUY AN ADVENTURE PASS
Niagara Parks offers the Adventure Pass, which gets you access to multiple attractions at a discounted price. The Adventure Pass Classic (which is the cheapest tier) is what we recommend, especially if you’re only visiting for a day. It gets you access to:
- Journey Behind the Falls: Descend 125 feet to walk through 130-year-old tunnels that take you right up close to the falling water. You can really feel the power of the falls from the observation deck! However, if you’re claustrophobic, you may not love getting stuck in a long line in the tunnels.
- Niagara’s Fury: This is a fun 4D film experience that shows you how the mighty falls were created. You’ll experience visuals, audio, motion, and even precipitation! Don’t worry, ponchos are provided.
- White Water Walk: Experience the power of the falls further down the river and walk along the rapids on this self-guided boardwalk. It’s a great place to see the emerald-green hues of the water! (Note: this attraction is usually closed during the winter months. When we visited once in March, our Adventure Pass included admission to the Butterfly Garden instead of the White Water Walk.)
3. USE THE WEGO BUS SYSTEM
The Adventure Pass also includes a bus pass, which comes in very handy.
The WEGO bus system has multiple spots in the Niagara area to help you get to the attractions that aren’t within walking distance. This also saves you from paying for multiple parking lots or losing a parking spot at your preferred lot.
As we mentioned earlier, we recommend parking at Falls Parking Lot A. It is right by Table Rock Welcome Centre, which is where both Journey Behind the Falls and Niagara’s Fury is located. The parking lot is also right by a WEGO bus stop, which you should take to get to White Water Walk. Another attraction that is along the bus system is the boat tour, and speaking of the boat tour…
4. TAKE THE VOYAGE TO THE FALLS
Americans may be more familiar with the “Maid of the Mist”, which is the boat tour from the New York side. But if you’re on the Ontario side of the falls, the tours are operated by Niagara City Cruises. If you aren’t prone to getting seasick, we highly recommend taking a boat tour.
After receiving your ponchos, you will be taken on a 20-minute ride that gives you great views of Niagara Gorge, the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls. There’s no better way to truly experience the power and roar of the falls, and it’s a lot of fun for the whole family!
5. BOOK A FALLS VIEW HOTEL ROOM
If you are staying at a hotel in Niagara Falls, we highly suggest getting a room with a falls view if available. Our favorite is the Embassy Suites, which like other Embassy locations come with two-room suites, free made-to-order breakfast, and a complimentary happy hour.
Generally, we’re not the type of people who pay extra for a room with a better view. But in this case, it’s totally worth it. There’s nothing like being able to wake up and seeing the falls right outside your window, or enjoying the nightly light show and fireworks in the summer from the comfort of your room away from the crowds. Which brings us to our next point:
6. DON'T SHOW UP RIGHT BEFORE THE FIREWORKS
Niagara Falls offers fireworks every night during the summer season and at other select times of the year. But as you may imagine, fireworks attract BIG crowds. So if you are planning to drive in for the show, plan to arrive well before the start time. Or else, you risk being stuck in a traffic jam during the fireworks.
This is again why we recommend a falls view room if you are staying overnight in the area. Watching the fireworks out your window is going to be a much more pleasant experience than being surrounded by a giant mob of people.
7. COMPARE OVERNIGHT PARKING RATES
If you are staying at a hotel in the main touristy area, be sure to check what your parking rate is going to be. (Hint: it’s going to be outrageously overpriced.)
To save some money, compare overnight parking rates in other nearby lots and garages. For example, we paid a fraction of what we would’ve paid at our hotel by parking in the casino parking garage just down the street.
8. DINE WITH A VIEW IN THE SKYLON TOWER
A unique place to enjoy a meal in Niagara Falls is in the Skylon Tower, where you can dine 775 feet above the falls. There are actually 2 restaurants available: the Revolving Dining Room Restaurant and the more family-friendly Summit Suite Buffet.
Now the views obviously come with a price. But to save some money, visitors can take advantage of the Early Dinner specials. And as a bonus, if you dine at either of the restaurants, you get free admission to the “Ride-to-the-Top” and the observation decks!
9. VENTURE OUT TO WTF BURGER CO.
The main area next to the falls have plenty of dining options offering all sorts of cuisines and price ranges. But if you want to escape the tourist trap for a while, check out We The Finest Burger Company. This burger joint is located in a strip mall about 15-20 minutes away from Horseshoe Falls in the residential area of Niagara Falls. Our family absolutely loved the burgers and poutine here.
10. VISIT NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
Lastly, if you are looking for another place to check out during your stay in the Niagara Falls area, consider visiting the nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. It sits right at the mouth of the Niagara River along the shores of Lake Ontario. The charming and picturesque downtown area whisks you away to a simpler time. Enjoy ice cream shops, horse-drawn carriage rides, wineries, and more.
If you need to escape to someplace less hectic, this is a great place to visit or even stay overnight in.
READY TO VISIT NIAGARA FALLS?
Niagara Falls, Ontario is a great place to visit for a family vacation. There’s plenty to do for all ages. Besides the falls and the attractions mentioned above, there’s also an aquarium, an amusement park, and numerous other activities.
We hope our tips and things to do in Niagara Falls were helpful as you plan your trip! If you have any additional questions, please drop a comment below. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out our other Trips and Tips!