Flowing between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the Niagara River is impressive unto itself. But the real claim-to-fame for this river is, of course, the Niagara Falls! It is split between the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls on the U.S. side. You can see the falls from either side of the border, and so both sides will be mentioned in this Niagara Falls guide!
I have only been to the falls once, from the American side. However I will give some details for both sides, in case you want to get the full experience and see it from both sides. So be sure to enjoy this guide into the U.S.’s first state park!
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Where are the Niagara Falls and How to Get There
The first part of a Niagara Falls guide is to figure out where the falls are, and how to get to them. If you plan to visit from the U.S. side, the best route would be the nearest major city, Buffalo NY. If you come from there, you can follow I-190 N for 20 miles to reach the falls. There are also buses that run to the falls (#40 and #52), but this will take longer (about 2 hours 15 minutes vs. 24 minutes by car).
For those coming from the Canadian side, the closest major city would be Toronto. However there are some smaller cities along the way (St. Catherines, Hamilton, and Mississauga) that could be used as starting points as well. From Toronto to the falls, it is about 1 1/2 hours away by car. St. Catherines is roughly the same distance to the falls as Buffalo NY is on the American side.
Crossing Between the Two Sides of the Falls
The best way to cross between the U.S. side of Niagara Falls and the Canadian side is by the Rainbow Bridge. Officially called the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge; it spans the falls and connects the two towns of Niagara Falls (each country has their own town with the same name).
Right now the only thing you need to cross the bridge is a passport (if you are over 15 years old). Regarding the pandemic, there are no restrictions in place for that currently either at the time of writing this. While I have not made the crossing into the Canadian side of the falls, I have heard from others that the Canadian side does offer better views…but both sides are still beautiful, as far as I am aware.
Finding Your Way Around at the Falls Once There
I would recommend getting a map of the falls as part of your Niagara Falls guide. Of course it depends upon which side of the falls you are on, regarding which map you’ll need. If you are on the U.S. side, use the official map from the Niagara Falls State Park’s site. From the Canadian side, the Niagara Falls Canadian Tourism site has a map for you to use.
Sadly if you are looking to take an alternate route between the two sides of the falls, there is no other option other than the Rainbow Bridge. The only international ferry between the U.S. and Canada is on the St. Lawrence River (not the Niagara River). There are ferries on the Niagara, but they are only one-sided (not crossing the border). And being a river means that there is no land border crossing, naturally.
What to See at Niagara Falls – Natural Attractions
As mentioned before in this Niagara Falls guide, the U.S. side and the Canadian side both have falls that make up the larger Niagara Falls system of waterfalls. If you go to the Canadian side, you’ll see Horseshoe Falls. It is the largest of the 3 falls that make up Niagara Falls at 167 ft. (51 m.) in height. It is also very wide at 2,700 ft. (820 m.)!
For those on the American side, there are 2 falls to see: American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. American Falls is the 2nd largest of the falls, at 110 ft. (34 m.) tall and 950 ft. (290 m.) wide. Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three falls at 78 ft. (24 m.) tall and 56 ft. (17 m.) wide.
Of course the falls themselves are not the only natural wonders of that area. A short distance away from the falls down the Niagara River on the Canadian side is the Niagara Whirlpool. The depth of the whirlpool is 125 ft. (38 m.), so it’s safe to say you shouldn’t go into it. But there is a cable car that goes over the whirlpool to offer a safe bird’s eye view! Also you can see it from a nearby overlook if you are not feeling that daring.
And of course, like most mighty rivers, the Niagara River also created the Niagara Gorge; which is a 6.8 mile (11km.) long canyon! Something also to see while at the falls is the Cave of the Winds! It is located behind Bridal Veil Falls on the American side, and is a natural cave. You will be offered some rain ponchos as it’s hard to not get wet there!
What to See at Niagara Falls – City Attractions
When someone thinks of a Niagara Falls guide, they usually don’t consider the cities bordering the river on either side. While it is true that both cities are very much “tourist traps”, full of souvenir shops and cheap entertainment, there are also some legitimately good things to do in town on either side of the border!
If you are on the U.S. side, you’ll see one of the two towers straddling the falls. This is the U.S. tower, called the Prospect Point Observation Tower or simply the American Observation Tower. It is 282 ft. (86 m.) tall, and offers an aerial view of the falls from land. If you book this tour, you can also get a glimpse of the illuminated falls at night as well!
From the Canadian side, you can see the other tower, Skylon Tower. It has an observation deck, but it does require a ticket for admission. For those who are more adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers, you can zipline past the Horseshoe Falls! But for a truly unique perspective that you just can’t get from the land or the water, you can book a 12-minute tour by helicopter from the Canadian side! And there’s still another way to view the falls with the SkyWheel! It’s a Ferris wheel that stands at 165 ft. (50 m.) tall and gives you a view of the falls as you spin around.
Goat Island – The Island in the Middle of the Falls
There are some natural islands near the falls, but only one of them is able to be visited with relative ease. That would be Goat Island, named after John Stedman rowed out to the island in 1778 with his herd of goats, to keep them away from wolves. No goats are there any more, but you can drive to it from the American side. While you can drive around for free, parking is $8-10 USD.
Once on the island you can visit Terrapin Point and catch a view of the falls on the American side. There are trails to walk around as well, and there’s a small bridge connecting Goat Island to nearby Luna Island too. This will afford you closeup views of both the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls without leaving land!
Dining at Niagara Falls – U.S. and Canadian Sides
All of the exploring on this Niagara Falls guide will probably make you hungry! There are some options to consider for food on both sides of the river. The Canadian side offers a surprise treat: Not only is the Skylon Tower good for views, it’s good for dining too! You can eat at the revolving dining room at the observation deck on top, or at the Summit Suite Buffet. You can also dine in style and elegance 33 stories up at the Watermark Fallsview Restaurant. This restaurant is located inside the Hilton Hotel & Suites in Niagara Falls, Canada. There is a special set 3-course meal available as well for this restaurant. And there is also a tour that offers dinner at the Table Rock House Restaurant that boasts a view of the Horseshoe Falls.
From the U.S. side, there aren’t any preset tours with food included at restaurants, but there are some great diners in town! Check out The Western Door Steakhouse, Savor, The Griffon Gastropub, or the 21 Club. Of course it will depend upon what kind of cuisine you are looking for while you are there, on either side of the river. Steakhouses seem to be the most common place to eat in Niagara Falls, though.
Where to Spend the Night at Niagara Falls – Both Sides
There are so many hotels to choose from when you are at the falls! If you are planning to spend the night on the Canadian side, here are some places I recommend:
- A lower priced option would be Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls.
- If you are looking for something mid-range, try the Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview.
- And for the higher priced premium option, go with the Embassy Suites by Hilton Niagara Falls/ Fallsview.
If you are going to stay on the U.S. side, I would recommend these hotels:
- For a cheaper priced hotel stay, try the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls-Scenic Downtown, an IHG Hotel.
- A mid-range hotel option to consider is Comfort Inn The Pointe.
- The hotel I stayed at during my stay at Niagara Falls is a great choice for a more premium option; the Red Coach Inn.
Taking a Tour of the Niagara Falls From Either Side
While I did touch upon this briefly earlier in this Niagara Falls guide, I did want to elaborate a bit more. If you are looking for a longer tour on the Canadian side, you can take a half day tour with a small group on a boat with this tour! There is also a similar half-day tour from the American side of the falls on The Maid of the Mist as well. If you want to go on the cruise on the Canadian side, this is the tour for you!
For a more all-inclusive tour, you can go on a helicopter ride, have lunch at the Skylon Tower restaurant and journey behind the falls with this tour! If you enjoy getting wet, try the 45-minute jet-boat tour here! Lastly if you just want it all taken care of from the start without any driving from town, try the all-day tour from Toronto!
Helpful Tips and Last Minute Guide Suggestions
If you’re looking for some extra options to consider and a few helpful pieces of advice, here’s some things to consider:
- Be sure to check out both sides of the falls! While I was only able to see the American side while I was there, both sides have their perks and benefits!
- Stay at least 2 days or more to get the full experience. You’ll probably be need more than just 1 day to see both sides of the falls
- Pack waterproof clothes and keeping things that can get wet at the hotel or in your car.
- Visit during the summer, as that is when most activities and tours are open. Also it is really cold during the winter, and that can be bad if you get wet.
- Consider including some free activities if you still have extra time after your main ones. These include:
- The Botanical Gardens on the Canadian side, to see all of the flowers there.
- The Floral Clock, which is also located there in the gardens.
- The Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, near the Niagara Whirlpool.
- The Fireworks over the Falls show that is offered on certain nights. Be sure to check if it is available during your stay.
- Dufferin Islands, located about a half a mile down from the falls.
- Check out all of the activities offered by the tours mentioned in this guide…there’s sure to be something for you!
That’s it for Niagara Falls! I hope you enjoyed this Niagara Falls guide to the New York side and the Ontario side of the falls! There’s so much to see, do, explore, and enjoy! You have so many options…what will you choose? Have you been there before? What excited you most? Please tell me in the comments!
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