Planning the Perfect Niagara Falls Itinerary

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When creating and researching the perfect Niagara Falls itinerary, one needs to decide how long they will stay in Niagara Falls. Whether you are trying to squeeze your itinerary into one day or have a few days, follow the following Niagara falls itinerary suggestions to enjoy everything the Canada Side Has to offer.

If you are looking for some free things to do on the United States side of Niagara Falls Check out this Niagara Falls Free Views Itinerary.

One of the first questions to answer when decided on where to visit in Niagara Falls is debating if you want to stay in the United States or Canadian side of Niagara Falls. This Niagara Falls itinerary will follow staying on the Canadian side.

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What and Where is Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is located on the border of the United States and Canada. The three falls that make up Niagara are viewable on either side, but from my numerous trips to visit Niagara Falls, I prefer to stay on the Canadian Side and explore from there.

I find that staying on the Canadian side and viewing the American side gives you better views because all of the Casinos and Hotels on the Canadian side does not block or distract from the gorgeous falls.

Getting to Niagara Falls

The two easiest ways to get to Niagara Falls is by flying into the Toronto Pearson International Airport or the Buffalo Airport. Both airports are easy to get to by air and have a direct route the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The easiest way to get around is to rent a car or take public transportation.

If you are flying into Toronto, make sure to budget some time to see Casa Loma or Black Creek Pioneer Village. If you are flying into Buffalo, New York save some room to try the original Buffalo Chicken Wings.

Crossing the Canadian Boarder to Niagara Falls

When entering Canada, you will need to have a passport and a valid visa, if necessary. United States citizens can also cross the border with a Passport Card or an Enhanced Driver’s License.

There are three bridges to cross into the Niagara area: Rainbow Bridge, Peace Bridge, and Lewiston-Queenstown Bridge.

When arriving at the Buffalo airport, make sure to check the border crossing wait times on the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission’s Website.

Pro Tip: If driving from New York, check to see what the wait times are to cross the border. More often than not, I’ve found out that it is better to cross the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge rather than the Rainbow Bridge.

The Niagara Falls Adventure Pass

One of the best ways to explore Niagara Falls and all of the items in this itinerary is by purchasing an Adventurer Pass. There are three different levels of buying the Adventure pass, but to do everything on the list you will need to buy the Adventure Plus Pass.

Niagara Falls Itinerary

There is so much to do in the Niagara Falls area; I’m not talking about the casinos, shopping, and food, but the nature, beauty, and wonder of Niagara Falls.

Of course, you need to see the Falls. There are many ways to experience the falls: riding the Hornblower, walking on the Journey Behind the Falls, or having a bird’s eye view from Skylon Tower.

Day 1
Falls Incline Railway

Reg. All Ages: $12.39

The Niagara Falls area has a few hills, so depending on where you are staying the Falls Incline Access is the best way to get from your hotel to the boardwalk to see Niagara Falls. The Incline Access allows you to view the falls area and save some steep steps while descending (or ascending) up the large hill.

Hornblower Niagara Cruis

Reg. Adult (13+): $25.95, Reg. Child (6-12) $15.95

If you are going to spend money on anything you need to go to the Hornblower. The Hornblower is like no other attraction (well it is very similar to America’s Maid of the Mist on the New York Side) in the Niagara area.

Everyone receives a complimentary poncho because everyone on the boat will get soaked! I was very excited to get my poncho because I knew we were going to get extremely close to the falls. And we were going to get wet!

Pro Tip – Take a GoPro or a waterproof camera. When you get close to Horseshoe Falls, the mist is so strong you will get soaked and so will whatever you have.

Niagara’s Fury

Reg. Adult (13+): $15.00, Reg. Child (6-12) $9.75

Niagara’s Fury is really a hit or miss attraction if I am honest with y’all. If you are traveling with kids, then this is such a fun adventure to learn and experience the history of Niagara Falls.

If you are traveling with just adults, I will skip this attraction, unless it is included in a package that you already purchased. Chip the Beaver and his pals will escort you throughout this 4-D experience where you will learn how the ice age formed Niagara Falls.

Skylon Tower

Reg Adults (13+): 16.24, Reg. Child (4-12) $10.44

Skylon Tower is an excellent way to see the falls from a unique perspective If you love taking in 360-degree views, make sure you visit this unique feature of Niagara.

To enjoy the views longer, one can reserve a table at the Revolving Dining Room, the Summit Suite Buffet or go straight to the top to soak in the sights.

Fortunately, when we stayed at the Holiday Inn, they gave us complimentary tickets to see this attraction, so we did not need to pay the $15 per head to experience this wonder.

Journey Behind the Falls

Reg. Adult (13+): $19.95, Reg. Child (6-12) $13.00

This unique attraction gives visitors a way to walk through the tunnels and pop out very close to the Horseshoe Falls. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes because some of the walkways may be slippery.

Once you pop out of the tunnels, you will have a chance to view the Hornblower get close to the Horseshoe Falls.

Eat at Syndicate Restaurant

6863 Lundy’s Lane

When traveling, we love to move away from the touristy areas and try something new. Most of the time when we are looking for places to eat, we ask the locals or search Farm to Table on Yelp. Both search techniques led us straight to Syndicate Restaurant.

For CAD 24 you can receive a pre-fixe three course, farm to table dinner. Everything we tried on the menu was delicious, and you cannot beat the prices at this restaurant. The restaurant is also a brewery, so we were able to taste a beer flight with our dinner.

Day 2
WeGo hop on Hop Off Bus

Reg. Adult (13+): $35.84, Reg. Child (6-12) $25.67

The WeGo Hop on Hop Off bus system is a partnership between the City of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Parks Commission to help provide bus service to visitors and tourists.

The bus system easily connects the area hotels to all over the attractions for Day Two, and even have a Niagara on the Lake Shuttle for those who are not renting a car.

The Green line will bring you to all of the destinations for Day Two of your Niagara Falls Itinerary,

Niagara’s White Water Walk

Reg. Adult (13+): $13.00, Reg. Child (6-12) $8.45

One of the most peaceful areas to experience the natural beauty of Canada was on Niagara’s White Water Walk. This attraction is a boardwalk where visitors can see how the Great Gorge was created.

Walking on the edge of the river, guests can watch the raging whitewater pass right by them. This attraction is wheelchair accessible except for two areas which are reached by stairs.

Niagara Aero Car

Reg. Adult (13+): $15.00, Reg. Child (6-12) $9.75
This car began operation in 1916 and suspends from six sturdy cables. Guests will receive 360-degree views of the rapids.

When the Aero Car makes it to the halfway point, everyone walks in a circle so they can see the other side. This attraction is not wheelchair accessible, nor do I suggest getting in the car if one has mobility issues because one will need to walk in a circle with up to 34 other passengers.

Pro Tip – Don’t worry about where you are standing on the Aero Car. Once you are across the river, the attendant will have you all circle around halfway so that everyone can see both sides.

Butterfly Conservatory

Reg. Adult (13+): $15.00, Reg. Child (6-12) $9.75

The Butterfly Conservatory houses over 2,000 butterflies of different species. Guests guide themselves on a self-guided walking tour of the habitat.

If you are lucky, a butterfly may even decide to land on you for a photo op!

Visit the Floral Clock

Depending on when you arrive in Niagara, the Floral Clock will be in bloom. This clock is over 40 feet wide and is one of the largest Floral Clocks in the world. Each year, the face of the clock changes with 15,000+ colorful annuals.

The Floral Clock area is one of the most photographed areas of Niagara Falls.

Eat at Smoke’s Poutine

After exploring the areas away from the Falls area, come back to town and visit Smokes Poutine. Even though it is technically a chain, a chain that is focused solely on Poutine is right up my appetite.

The assembly of the Poutine was very speedy, soon after we ordered we received our food. While we were here, we got some adventurous poutine including a Chicken with Bell Pepper Poutine and a Cheeseburger Poutine.

Make sure you don’t leave the Niagara area before eating poutine.

Day 3
Visit Niagara on the Lake

As much as I love Niagara Falls and all the outdoor activities one can do in this area, I adore Niagara on the Lake. This town is about a 30-minute drive from the Niagara Falls City Center and is a wine country for this region.

Visit Wineries in Niagara on the Lake

My favorite wineries are Inniskillin and Jackson Triggs. These were the two wineries that we initially visited because we were given free vouchers from our hotel, Niagara Falls Marriot Fallsview Hotel & Spa. The vineyard is in excellent shape, and the winery tour was great.

We walked all over the winery and were able to try different wines in the various rooms – including the cellar! Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs are sister companies, and Inniskillin also has a just Icewine tour for CAD 15.

Drink Icewine in Niagara on the Lake

Anytime I go to Niagara on the Lake; I look up which wineries have Icewine. Even though it seems like most Canadians do not enjoy Icewine, I love it.

Icewine is a dessert wine that is produced from grapes that froze on the vine for 72 hours. At the 72 hour mark, usually in the middle of the night, the workers in the winery go out and pick the grapes.

During this process, the sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, which produces a concentrated, sweet wine.

Icewine is also made with the different variety of grapes; my favorite is the Cabernet Franc and the Sparkling Franc Icewine.

Pro Tip – If you stay longer than 48 hours Canada each person in your party can bring two bottles of wine back to the United States Duty-Free.

Walking around Downtown Niagara on the Lake

Niagara on the Lake also has a great downtown area for shopping, food, and fun. We usually spend a couple of hours walking around shopping and enjoying the weather. I highly suggest stopping by COWS on Queen Street and grab a quick ice cream cone.

Eat at The Garrison House

After touring Wine Country, eating at The Garrison House is one of the best bets. Another Farm-to-Table restaurant, the food here is delicious.

The Garrison Brisket Burger comes with a side salad and is one of the best hamburgers I’ve tasted. The meat was cooked to perfection, and the meal was a right size so that I didn’t feel overly stuffed or wasteful.

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Accommodations at Niagara Falls

I’ve stayed at the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa and Holiday Inn Niagara Falls – by the Falls. Out of these two, I highly suggest splurging and staying at the Marriott Fallsview.

The Marriott Fallsview has excellent views of the falls, but make sure you book your room on a high floor. While we were there, we had access to the breakfast buffet which was delicious, but trees block the views of the Falls.
There is a Starbucks inside of the Marriott, which comes in handy for all-day adventures.

Returning the to the United States from Niagara Falls

Depending on the length of stay, American Citizens can bring goods back to the United States duty-free. My favorite items to bring home are bottles of Ice Wine.

When traveling with wine, I use these wine sleeves to make sure the wine bottles do not break in my luggage while flying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit Niagara Falls without a passport?

Yes! You can visit Niagara Falls without crossing the border, by staying on the New York Side. Do not cross the pedestrian bridge without a passport because you will not be able to get back into States without a passport.

Are there two Niagara Falls?

Three waterfalls make up Niagara Falls. The American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls are on the United States side, while the Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadians Side.

Which hotel has the best view of Niagara Falls?

Many hotels have great views of Niagara Falls, but I suggest staying on a high floor of the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa.

Can you see Niagara Falls from US side?

Yes. You can see Niagara Falls from the United States Side.

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