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Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls, Niagara Falls

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Niagara Falls

Updated 7 October 2026 · 16 things to do

Pictured: Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls

You hear Niagara before you see it: a low, steady thunder, then a column of mist rising above the trees like smoke. Then the river simply drops away. An almost unbelievable volume of water pours over the brink every second, green as bottle glass at the lip and white all the way down. However many photographs you have seen, the real thing makes you stop and stare.

The falls sit on the border between Canada and the United States, and the Canadian side has the better view, facing the cataracts head on. Around them has grown a town of two halves: stately riverside parkland on one hand, and the neon fun-fair of Clifton Hill on the other. Beyond both lies something gentler, a countryside of vineyards and one of the prettiest small towns in Ontario.

Don't miss

  1. 1The Horseshoe Falls
  2. 2A boat trip into the mist
  3. 3Journey Behind the Falls
  4. 4The falls by night
  5. 5Niagara-on-the-Lake

The falls up close

Four ways to get wet, and one to stay dry.

  1. The Horseshoe Falls

    Landmark

    The Horseshoe Falls at Niagara
    Photo: Photo (c)2007 Helen Filatova, CC BY 2.0

    Niagara is really three waterfalls: the American Falls and the slender Bridal Veil Falls on the United States side, and the mighty Horseshoe Falls, by far the largest, curving across to Canada. At Table Rock you can stand a few feet from the edge of the Horseshoe and watch the river slide over the lip.

    It is free, it is open in all weathers, and it is the single most thrilling spot in town. Expect to get damp when the wind blows the spray your way.

    Tip: Come first thing in the morning to have the railing almost to yourself.

  2. A boat trip into the mist

    Activity

    A cruise boat approaching the Horseshoe Falls
    Photo: Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0

    The classic Niagara experience. Boats leave from the foot of the gorge, pass the American Falls and push right into the churning basin below the Horseshoe, where the roar is deafening and the spray comes at you like rain. Everyone is handed a poncho. Everyone gets soaked anyway, and comes off grinning.

    Boats sail from both the Canadian and the American banks in the warmer months. It suits all ages and it is the one thing nobody should skip.

    Tip: Keep your phone or camera in something waterproof, and stand at the front if you want the full drenching.

  3. Journey Behind the Falls

    Activity

    The observation deck of Journey Behind the Falls
    Photo: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A lift at Table Rock takes you down through the rock to tunnels cut more than a century ago behind the Horseshoe Falls. Openings look straight out through the back of the falling water, and an observation deck at the base puts you beside the cataract as it crashes down. You feel the power of it in your chest.

  4. Niagara Parks Power Station

    Museum

    The Niagara Parks Power Station
    Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A grand hydroelectric plant from the early 1900s, just upstream of the falls, restored and opened to visitors. You tour the generator hall, then descend in a glass lift and walk a long, brick-lined tunnel that once carried the spent water away. It ends at a platform at river level with a superb view back to the Horseshoe Falls.

  5. Skylon Tower

    Landmark

    The top of the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls
    Photo: Taxiarchos228, CC BY 3.0

    The tall concrete tower with the flying-saucer top has been part of the Niagara skyline since the 1960s. Glass-fronted lifts climb the outside to an observation deck high above the gorge, where you finally see the whole picture: both countries, all three falls and the river curving away upstream. It is the best way to stay completely dry.

Around town

  1. The falls by night

    Activity

    As dusk falls, banks of coloured lights are trained on the water and the falls glow pink, blue, green and gold until late. On many evenings, especially in summer, there is a firework display over the gorge as well. The promenade along Queen Victoria Park is the place to watch, and a room with a falls view is even better.

  2. Clifton Hill

    Neighbourhood

    Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls with the SkyWheel
    Photo: K2HWY, CC BY 4.0

    A short, steep street running up from the river, crammed with arcades, wax museums, haunted houses, crazy golf, fudge shops and a giant observation wheel. It is brash, loud and lit up like a pinball machine, and children think it is the best place on earth. Purists roll their eyes. Go after dark, embrace the silliness and ride the wheel for a view of the illuminated falls.

  3. Queen Victoria Park

    Nature

    The green ribbon that runs along the edge of the gorge facing the falls, laid out in the nineteenth century to keep the view free of clutter. Lawns, old trees and immaculate flower beds give you somewhere to sit and take it all in, with thousands of daffodils and tulips in spring. A stroll through it is the best free activity in Niagara.

Along the Niagara Parkway

Follow the river north and the crowds fall away.

  1. White Water Walk

    Nature

    The Niagara River rapids at the White Water Walk
    Photo: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Below the falls, the whole river is squeezed into a narrow gorge and turns into some of the wildest rapids in North America. A lift takes you down to a boardwalk right at the water's edge, where huge standing waves surge past a few feet away. It is a short walk and a surprisingly humbling one.

  2. Whirlpool Aero Car

    Activity

    The Aero Car crossing above the Niagara Whirlpool
    Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A little further on, the river makes a sharp turn and spins itself into a great whirlpool. An antique cable car, designed by a Spanish engineer and running since 1916, carries passengers slowly out over the gorge and back, suspended high above the swirling water. It is gentle, old-fashioned and not for those who dislike heights.

  3. Niagara Glen

    Nature

    The Niagara Gorge at Niagara Glen Nature Reserve
    Photo: Mhsheikholeslami, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A nature reserve deep in the gorge, reached by a steep staircase from the Parkway. Rugged trails wind down through old forest and past house-sized boulders to the edge of the rushing green river. It feels miles from the tour buses, and walkers who want to stretch their legs will love it. Wear proper shoes.

  4. Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens

    Nature

    Beautifully kept gardens on the Parkway north of the falls, tended by students of the horticultural school based here. There are rose gardens, herb and vegetable plots, an arboretum and a glasshouse filled with free-flying tropical butterflies. Nearby is the Floral Clock, a huge working clock face planted with thousands of bedding plants.

Wine country and day trips

  1. Niagara-on-the-Lake

    Day trip

    Queen Street and the clock tower in Niagara-on-the-Lake
    Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Where the river meets Lake Ontario sits one of the best-preserved nineteenth-century towns in Canada. The main street is a picture of clapboard houses, flower baskets, tea rooms and old-fashioned shops, and the town is home to the Shaw Festival, a long season of theatre running through the warmer months.

    It is twenty minutes or so by car from the falls and feels like another world. Couples in particular should make time for it.

    Tip: Drive there along the Niagara Parkway rather than the main road. It is one of the loveliest drives in Ontario.

  2. Wineries and icewine

    Food

    The land between the falls and Lake Ontario is Canada's best-known wine region, with dozens of wineries open for tastings among the vineyards and orchards. The local speciality is icewine, an intensely sweet dessert wine made from grapes left on the vine until they freeze in midwinter. Try it with cheese or a fruit tart.

    Tip: Join a wine tour or name a driver. Tastings add up quickly.

  3. Fort George

    Museum

    Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake
    Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0

    On the edge of Niagara-on-the-Lake stands a reconstructed British fort from the War of 1812, when this frontier was fought over by Britain and the United States. Costumed staff in red coats drill, fire muskets and show how soldiers and their families lived. It is a lively slice of history and good for children.

  4. Niagara Falls State Park, USA

    Day trip

    The Cave of the Winds walkways at Niagara Falls, New York
    Photo: Billy Hathorn (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0

    Walk across the Rainbow Bridge and you are in New York State, in the oldest state park in America. The view is less panoramic, but you get astonishingly close: Goat Island sits between the falls, and at the Cave of the Winds wooden walkways lead to within feet of the Bridal Veil Falls.

    Tip: You are crossing an international border. Bring your passport and check the entry requirements for the United States before you go.

Where to stay in Niagara Falls

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Niagara Falls →

Getting around

The area around the falls, Clifton Hill and Fallsview is walkable, though hilly. A visitor bus network links the hotels with the attractions along the river, and an incline railway connects the Fallsview hotels with Table Rock. For Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wineries, drive, cycle or take a tour.

When to go

Summer is warm and by far the busiest season, with every attraction open. Late spring and early autumn are milder and calmer. Winter is cold and the boats stop running, but the falls rimmed with ice and frozen spray are a remarkable sight, and the town is at its quietest.

Questions about visiting Niagara Falls

What is there to do in Niagara Falls besides the falls?
Plenty: the amusements of Clifton Hill, the rapids at the White Water Walk, the Whirlpool Aero Car, walking in Niagara Glen, the botanical gardens, and the wineries and historic streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Which side of Niagara Falls is better?
The Canadian side has the wider, head-on view of all three falls and most of the hotels and attractions. The American side gets you closer to the water on Goat Island. With a passport you can visit both on foot across the Rainbow Bridge.
What is there to do in Niagara Falls with kids?
The boat trip into the mist, Journey Behind the Falls, the rides and arcades of Clifton Hill, the butterfly glasshouse at the botanical gardens and the soldiers at Fort George. Several hotels also have indoor water parks.
How many days do you need in Niagara Falls?
Two days is ideal: one for the falls and the attractions around them, and one for the Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wineries. You can see the highlights in a single full day.
Is Niagara Falls worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you wrap up. The boats and some outdoor attractions close, but the falls partly sheathed in ice are spectacular, there are winter light displays, and the town is far less crowded.

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