NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA

The Rainbow Bridge links Niagara Falls New York, USA, to Niagara Falls Canada (Ontario) with the spectacular Niagara falls backdrop. The Niagara Falls are made up of 3 waterfalls, the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. With the Niagara Falls Canadian overlooking Horseshoe Falls, which is the largest of the three.

Which side of Niagara Falls should I stay?

It wasn’t a question I even considered before looking into it more closely. There are pros and cons to staying on both the American and Canadian side; however, I decided to go with consensus and head over to the Canadian side. I am glad I did as this side felt more lively, with newer facilities and “Vegas-like” feel to the area.

Things you should know before you go

Weather

With Winter going as low as 0 degrees Celcius and summer reaching around 27 degrees Celcius, I would highly recommend choosing a warmer month to explore. 

Getting to Niagara Falls Canada

Driving in Niagara Falls Canada 

Driving from either Canada or the US is comfortable and renting a car from either side is also easy. You may pay a little extra if you decide to pick it up in the US and drop it off in Canada, but it is worth it if you are making a long road trip from New York City (as I did).

Flying to Niagara Falls Canada

There are three airports that you can fly into (choose wisely as some are closer than others), which is Niagra Falls International Airport, Niagara District Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Canadian Shuttle

Check-in at Canadian Shuttle and get a quote.

Niagara Airbus

Booking 72 hours in advance you will receive a 5% Early Bird discount for Niagara Airbus.

Uber/Lyft –

Ensure you uploaded the app before arriving and set up your account so that once you visit it is as easy as adding in your pick up location and destination. 

Visa

If you are unsure whether you need a visa or not, you should check ivisa as it takes the stress out of searching the embassy information. It is a one-stop-shop for all visa enquiries.

Insurance

SafetyWing is the world’s first International Travel Medical Insurance developed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and remote workers travelling or living abroad worldwide. I can not recommend travel medical insurance enough! For those who are going to be away for long periods, live and work abroad or are a nomad traveller.

 Accommodation

Marriott Niagara Falls Hotel Fallsview & Spa

 There are a few to choose from, but I highly recommend The Marriott Falls hotel FallsView as I was not let down by both the spectacular view my room had and the location and facilities this hotel had to offer. Situated within walking distance to the Journey Behind the Falls, which I highly recommend.

Transport

Everything is within walking distance to major attractions. However, there is a bus called WEGO that you can catch, and as a Marriott guest, it is offered for free if you wish to use it. I did purchase a falls incline railway ticket, as I wasn’t sure if I could get down to the tunnels any other way. Well, although it is a quicker way to get there, there is no need to catch it as the distance is not that far.

Where to start – Niagara Falls Canada

Falls Incline Railway

Even though I had free tickets for the WEGO bus, I would highly recommend the Falls Incline Railway. You can purchase a return ticket (probably worth just buying one way if you want to experience it) and head down to my number one ticket item, the tunnels for a little bit of history.

Journey behind the Falls Niagara Falls Canada

You must head down to Journey behind the falls; this is an informative and fun way to learn more about the history of Niagra Falls. Beware, you do get wet, so they issue you with a raincoat for the spray you will experience in one of the many balcony viewing areas of the fall. It is a must though, it is incredible how close you come, and the result will have you amazed at the force of this gorgeous fall.

Queen Victoria Park 

If for nothing else, this lovely promenade is a great walk is excellent for people watching. There is plenty of things to do and see here. Whether you decide to be more adventurous and hop on the zip line or sit back and enjoy Horseshoe falls in all its glory. The landscape is pretty, the crowd is plentiful, and for me, the weather was perfect.

Hornblower Niagara cruise 

I was warned previously that The Maid of the Mist boat tour is no longer approachable from the Canadian side, so I wasn’t disappointed when I purchased my ticket for the Hornblower. Okay, so I wasn’t able to wear the infamous blue poncho. However, the red one was just as good, and I got just as wet either way. This cruise is probably the one thing you can not miss, yes it is touristy, and yes it is busy, and yes it is a little cheesy. But and that is a big but, it is worth it, you really can not appreciate the force of this magnificent place unless you are on the rooftop of the Hornblower cruise being sprayed at full strength by this beauty. I am glad I did it, I came, I conquered, and I ticked it off my bucket list.

At night 

The streets are busy, full of people walking around, lots of noise and entertainment. It does have a mini Vegas feel, with hotels sprawled along the road with a casino (along with with a colourful fountain) smack bang in the middle. There are many restaurants to choose from in this area. Still, we went with something we were familiar with and headed over to Margaritaville where karaoke was the main attraction (no we didn’t sing, and yes we sat as far away from the stage as possible).

Niagara Falls’ Canada nightly illuminations

Niagara Falls nightly illuminations transform the water into a colourful cascade. It can be viewed from all over this beautiful area, but there is nothing more impressive than looking out of your hotel window.

Fireworks in Niagara Falls Canada

During summer you have the added bonus of fireworks over this spectacular area. So head over for the 10 pm start of this must-see event.

Falls View Casino Resort

If you are not ready for bedding and are wanting a little more than the Falls View Casino is your best option. Whether you are there to bet, see a show or just settle down with a drink, this is an excellent place for all three options.

There are loads of attractions in and around Niagara; I only scratched the surface, but this did not bother me in the slightest. I came to see the main attraction, and she did not disappoint. I am glad I stopped by. I am happy with what I experienced and enjoyed every minute of the time I spent there.

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