Canada

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Niagara Falls

Canada's waterfall city

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Best time to visit: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency: CAD
Time zone: UTC-4
Country: Canada

Photo: Gzzz, CC BY-SA 4.0

Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River, built around the Horseshoe Falls, one of the world's most powerful waterfalls. Visitors come for the falls views, boat and tunnel experiences, the Clifton Hill promenade and the casinos and hotels of the Fallsview tourist area.

Largest cities

Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Calgary
Ottawa

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Canada
Capital: Ottawa
City population: 88,071
Population of Canada: 37M
Country area: 9,984,670 km²
Official language: English and French
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD) · 1 USD ≈ 1.43 CAD
Time zone: UTC-4
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 188 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	0°	2°	8°	14°	20°	26°	27°	26°	23°	17°	9°	4°
Low	-6°	-7°	-1°	4°	10°	16°	18°	17°	14°	9°	2°	-3°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$75
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$160
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$340

Plan a trip to Niagara Falls

Top things to do

≈ $20
Journey Behind the Falls
Tunnels from the Table Rock Welcome Centre lead to observation decks beside and behind the Horseshoe Falls; book a time slot in summer as queues are long.
- Half day
- Table Rock and Queen Victoria Park
- Good for kids
≈ $15
Skylon Tower
An observation deck and revolving restaurant give a full view over both falls and the gorge; go near sunset for the illuminated falls.
- Half day
- Fallsview Tourist Area
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
≈ $12
Niagara SkyWheel
A large Ferris wheel above Clifton Hill with views of the falls and the river; a short ride that works well after dinner.
- Half day
- Clifton Hill
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Clifton Hill promenade
A walk along the arcades, wax museums, haunted houses and themed restaurants of the city's main tourist street; free to stroll, individual attractions charge separately.
- Half day
- Clifton Hill
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $15
Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory
A glasshouse with hundreds of free-flying butterflies in a tropical garden; a good rainy-day stop north of the falls along the Niagara Parkway.
- Half day
- Table Rock and Queen Victoria Park
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $18
Bird Kingdom
An indoor aviary with free-flying birds and reptiles in a restored building near the falls; allow about an hour.
- Half day
- Fallsview Tourist Area
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Niagara-on-the-Lake and wineries
A day along the Niagara Parkway to the historic town and its wineries, with the Shaw Festival theatres in season; a car or a tour bus makes the stops easier.
- Full day
- Queen Street
- Good for kids
≈ $20
Niagara Glen and Whirlpool
Hiking trails down into the gorge to the whirlpool rapids north of the falls; sturdy shoes are needed and the climb back up is steep.
- Full day
- Chippawa
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Most visitors need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter or transit through Canada; British citizens and many other nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 6 months but usually need an eTA if arriving by air. Land and sea arrivals from the US do not need an eTA, but must carry acceptable travel documents. Temporary Ebola-related border measures are in place for travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, and have been extended until August 29, 2026. Check the official Government of Canada page to see whether you need a visa or eTA before booking.

Official website

From the airport

The closest major international airport is Toronto Pearson (YYZ), about 130 km away; buses, GO trains and the seasonal GO weekend train run from Toronto to Niagara Falls station, and the drive takes roughly 1.5 hours. From the station or the Fallsview hotels, the WEGO tourist bus and local taxis cover the last few kilometres in 10–20 minutes.

Getting around

Niagara Transit runs local buses and the WEGO tourist bus links the falls, Clifton Hill, Fallsview and the Table Rock area, so a car is not needed for the main sights.

Local tips

The falls are illuminated at night and the Winter Festival of Lights runs in the colder months, so bring a warm layer even in summer evenings.
Ontario's legal drinking age is 19; carry photo ID if you plan to visit bars or casinos.
Prices are in Canadian dollars; cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep small change for buses and tips.
Summer weekends and holidays are the busiest and most expensive; spring and autumn are quieter with lower hotel rates.