Fall for Niagara Tour
Toronto
Our Fall for Niagara day tour includes round trip transportation to and from Toronto, riverside viewing and exploring at Niagara Falls, and ...
C89 | Rating 4.81 / 5 [853 ratings]
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Niagara Falls Waterfall
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Last updated: 02 March, 2023
You hear the Falls long before you see them: the roaring cascade of water plummeting down a 50m gorge at a rate of millions of litres per second. The world’s second-largest – but arguably most famous – waterfall is jaw-dropping in its scale and intensity.
They were formed around 12,000 years ago, at the end of the Ice Age, when large torrents of water were suddenly released from the melting ice. The water plunged over the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, draining into the Niagara River.The roadside viewpoints offer prime viewing, but there are several other great ways to experience the Falls. Boat trips take you right up to the torrent, and into the foaming spray. Spectacular short helicopter flights offer a uniquely panoramic view of the scale and surrounding scenery (nervous flyers should head to the top of the nearby Skylon Tower instead). You can also descend down via old tunnels to extraordinary viewpoints and caves behind the Falls themselves.
While you're there
If you’ve time after visiting the Falls, drive two miles upriver to the secluded White Water Walk, a quarter-mile boardwalk along the Niagara River, offering a front-row view of the tempestuous Whirlpool Rapids. Many visitors also take in the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, an ideal base for wine tasting at some of Canada’s oldest and most famous vineyards.
Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 4+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
Niagara Falls International Airport, on the US side, is a short taxi ride. On the Canadian side, tt’s an hour’s drive from Toronto airport. Alternatively, the daily train service from Toronto’s Union Station takes about 2 hours and deposits you just moments from the Falls.
There’s free parking at the Visitor’s Centre. The Falls are free to view, 24/7, from the public platforms.
The Canadian side of the falls – more powerful than the American – is probably the better side from which to experience them, but both offer a wide range of (fantastic) experiences. Boat tours run all day from around 8.30am-11.30pm, except in winter (at night time, the falls are illuminated with multi-coloured lighting). US-side cruises are run on the ‘Maid of the Mist‘, while Canadian-side cruises are run by Hornblower. Helicopter flights operate from both.
The Canadian side offers a ‘Journey behind the Falls’ experience, a 125-foot descent into 130-year-old tunnels to a special observation deck behind the falls. On the US side, you take an elevator down to the ‘Cave of the Winds’ – for fall-side viewing platforms.
When to do it
The Falls are most powerful after the spring thaw – May to July. Crowds are heaviest during July and August, but the site is so large, there is always plenty of space. Viewing platforms are open daily all year round, but in winter boat tours don’t run.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Marriott Fallsview
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada[1.5 miles]
Modern, functional but otherwise non-descript hotel – except for its unrivalled location right next to the Falls and the exceptional views.
Official star rating:
Pillar & Post Hotel
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada[18 miles]
Charming olde-worlde Victorian inn full of new-world luxuries, away from the tourist crowds, and the ideal based to explore Ontario fine wine country.
Official star rating:
The Charles Hotel
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada[19 miles]
Gorgeous Georgian mansion backing onto a historic green by the pristine Niagara-on-the-Lake waterfront.
Official star rating:
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
Skylon Tower
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada[0.7 miles]
For the bird’s eye view, take the elevator to the observation deck (52s) at the top of this 775ft tower. There are also two restaurants there – a family buffet restaurant, and the fine dining ‘Revolving Dining Room’ restaurant that rotates 360 degrees every hour.
Best for ages: 4+ | £10
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Experience
Niagara Wine Region
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada[15.7 miles]
The Niagara Peninsula is home to some of Canada’s oldest and most famous vineyards. The charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is the ideal base for exploring and wine tasting.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Round-ups that include this experience
55 Breathtaking natural wonders of the world
Multiple countries
Former travel editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine James Fair round-ups the earth’s greatest natural wonders, which will literally take your breath away.
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