Niagara Falls is one of the most popular tourist attractions in North America. Visited by millions of people per year, it is quite possibly the most impressive natural wonder east of the Mississippi. But Niagara Falls isn’t for everyone. In this post we will go through 5 reasons why you should visit Niagara Falls and 5 reasons why you should not.
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Niagara Falls – Quick Facts
What is Niagara Falls?
Niagara Falls is a massive waterfall in the Niagara River that drops the rushing river over 161 feet (57 m). It has the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world. The sheer power of the water at Niagara Falls is enough to blow you away. 242 million cubic meters of water pass through the waterfall every day.
Where is Niagara Falls?
Niagara Falls is on the border of New York State and Ontario, Canada along the Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and forms the border of the US and Canada. On either side of the waterfall there are small cities: Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, NY.
The closest major cities are Buffalo, NY and Toronto, Ontario. Niagara Falls, ON is a decent sized city with significant accommodation options for visitors. It’s New York counterpart is smaller, but still has a lot of lodging options for visitors.
How to get there
One of the reasons Niagara Falls is such a popular tourist destination is due to its convenient location between Toronto and Buffalo. No hikes through the jungle necessary. It’s just right there, next to major cities and massive hotels.
Most visitors to Niagara Falls arrive by car, as it’s within a day’s drive of a significant portion of North America’s population. Niagara Falls and the accommodations are set up for heavy vehicle traffic and there are massive parking lots and garages everywhere. Just be prepared to pay $35 CAD if you want to park right at the Falls on the Canadian side.
If you’re not within driving distance of the Falls, there are two airports you can fly to. The closest is Buffalo, though it’s more of a regional airport. From Buffalo Airport it’s about a 40 minute drive to Niagara Falls.
If you’re coming from afar, it’s probably easier to take a direct flight to Toronto, which is well connected to the rest of the world. From Toronto Pearson airport it’s about a 90 minute drive to Niagara Falls, though there is often heavy traffic.
If you’re flying in you’re going to want to rent a car from the airport. It’s possible to visit Niagara Falls without one, by taking public buses. But this is really a place where you need your own wheels.
For renting cars in Canada we use Rentalcars.com. You can book a great rate on a rental car from the Toronto Airport using the search bar below.
American side or Canadian side?
There are two distinct sides of Niagara Falls and they lie in different countries. There are views of the falls from both the US side and the Canadian side.
People often wonder which side to visit. My answer is simple: visit both. Crossing the border is quick and easy. Customs and Border Control might ask you to pop your trunk but that’s about it. You can even walk across the bridge if you don’t want to deal with that.
But if you’re wondering which side has the better view the answer is also clear: the Canadian side. The Canadian side has better viewpoints and you can see the entire falls, whereas you don’t get a great angle of the entire waterfall from the US side. You do get some awesome views from the American side. Just not of the entire falls at once.
Weather and when to visit
The weather in this part of the world varies significantly by season. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are brutally cold and snowy. The shores of Lake Erie are known for massive blizzards. You can visit Niagara Falls in the winter, just don’t be surprised if you get snowed in.
Summer is the busiest time in Niagara Falls and sees visitors from all across North America and the world. The nights are long and the days warm. The sheer number of visitors is enough to make you reconsider a summer visit though.
Late spring and early fall are nice times to visit with slightly less people and still favorable weather. The window for visiting is about early May – early October. People do visit in the winter in hopes of seeing the falls frozen. Don’t count on that though, as that doesn’t actually happen. The mist formed by the falls can create the illusion of a frozen falls, however.
Money
It might sound obvious but on the US side you’ll need US dollars and on the Canadian side Canadian dollars. If you’re paying with credit card it doesn’t matter though, and just about everywhere takes cards.
As it’s such a touristy area, Niagara Falls in general is pretty overpriced. The cities themselves are run down and depressing and would never be able to charge top dollar for goods and services were it not for the falls. Expect to be overcharged.
On top of that if you’re eating out on the Canadian side most restaurants charge an outrageous “tourist tax” of 3-12% on top of the usual sales tax. This “tax” goes straight to the business and is more of a service charge, as nobody benefits from it except the business owner. The US side does not charge such a tax.
Take Your Passport
Let’s not forget, folks, that these days you can’t cross the US-Canada border without a passport like you used to. They don’t stamp your passport like at an airport, but you still need it.
Unless your a Canadian who plans on not leaving the Canadian side or an American who doesn’t want to leave the US side, you will need your passport to cross the border. Do not forget!
Where to stay at Niagara Falls
There are tons of hotels, bed and breakfasts, and airbnbs in and around Niagara Falls. There is definitely no shortage of accommodation options.
Most people choose to stay on the Canadian side, as you get a better direct view of the falls from the Canadian hotels. Niagara can be very expensive for what you get, though. So expect to pay a lot for a mediocre hotel.
You can book a great place to stay on Booking.com on the Canadian side or the American side. A few particular recommendations are shown below.
Where to stay in Niagara Falls
Canadian side: Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls
American side: Hyatt Place Niagara Falls
Why visit Niagara Falls?
Good question. We will go through all the reasons why you should visit Niagara Falls in this post as well as some reasons why you might not want to. Keep on reading!
Travel Insurance
You’ll want travel insurance for any trip to Canada. If you’re American, you can probably get away without it. But it’s still a good idea. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. You can find a great rate with World Nomads by clicking the link below.
Five Reasons Why You Should Visit Niagara Falls
Now let’s talk about actually visiting Niagara Falls. To be honest, it’s not for everyone. So this section will present an honest, down-to-earth look at this incredibly popular tourist destination. Let’s start with 5 reasons why you should visit Niagara Falls.
#1) Niagara Falls is a breathtaking waterfall
Niagara Falls is one of the biggest and most spectacular waterfalls in the world. It’s a wonder to see in person. So much water falls over the cliff in the river each second that it creates an almost permanent mist in the air.
The waterfall is so stunning that millions of people come from all over the place each year just to see it. It single-handedly created two cities and an entire tourism ecosystem.
Niagara Falls is a beast of a waterfall that deserves your attention. You’ll be impressed by the magnitude of the falls and the beauty of the Niagara River.
#2) It’s super easy to get to and visit
Niagara Falls is located on the US/Canada border between Buffalo and Toronto. Due to its prime location, it’s very easy to get to and even easier to visit. Seeing Niagara Falls takes no more effort than simply parking your car and taking a short walk to the viewing points.
Unlike many of the United State’s other natural wonders, it’s literally in a city and requires no hiking or strenuous effort to see. This makes it accessible for all travelers regardless of any handicaps.
It’s basically a way to be in touch with nature without having to actually be in nature. You can visit the Grand Canyon with minimal effort once you make the drive there. But you can’t be seeing a movie in a theater or sipping wine at a rooftop wine bar 30 minutes later. That’s the difference in a visit to Niagara Falls.
#3) It has significant tourism infrastructure
Being such a popular tourist destination, the local governments have invested heavily in welcoming millions of people per year. There are plenty of hotels, numerous parking garages and lots, tons of restaurants and shops, and various man made attractions, especially for children.
On the Canadian side there is a free shuttle service from parking lots that are further away from the falls. And on the US side there’s a cantilevered observation deck that shoots out over the river. There’s just a ton of things that have been put in place to make your visit as pain-free as possible.
#4) It’s a family friendly destination
Being so accessible and with all the tourist infrastructure in place, Niagara Falls is a very family friendly destination. No dragging kids on hikes needed out here.
There are also things like haunted houses, aquariums, Ferris wheels, and other things that kids enjoy to please their senses. The are casinos on each side of the river, but we’re not talking Vegas level debauchery here. They don’t interfere with the family friendly environment.
Most kiddos are wowed by Niagara Falls and love the other things to do there as well. For a family vacation, it’s an easy option.
#5) Niagara Falls State Park in New York is beautiful
While the Canada side of the falls might be just a long stone walkway along the coast of the river, the New York side features a beautiful park. Protected from further building development, the park preserves Goat Island, a small island in the river that separates Niagara Falls from the smaller – but still powerful – America Falls.
It also extends past America Falls to the Schoellkopf Power Station to the north. There is even a hiking trail that lets you follow a path along the river. The river cuts through the land past the falls, creating a deep gorge that slowly tapers off until it reaches Lake Ontario.
Niagara Falls State Park is free to visit, though it costs $10 for parking if you’re not walking in from your hotel. Parking is a deal compared to the Canadian side. It’s worth it to be able to explore the park.
Five Reasons Not to Visit Niagara Falls
As I said before, Niagara Falls is not for everyone. There are a few challenges that you’ll meet when visiting. So let’s now go through 5 reasons why you should not visit Niagara Falls
#1) Niagara Falls is overcrowded
Make no mistake, Niagara Falls is incredibly crowded in the summer season. We’re talking people literally everywhere, standing shoulder to shoulder trying to get a good view of the falls. If you’re looking for a clear photo of yourself at the falls with no other people in the photo, you’ll need to go at sunrise, before the crowds start arriving.
The crowds are mainly on the Canadian side, as the best views are found there. But the NY side gets pretty damn crowded as well, especially at the observation deck.
I’m not gonna say that the crowds will totally ruin your experience, but they certainly diminish it. If you’re someone who needs your personal space you’re going to be very uncomfortable at Niagara Falls unless you visit in the off-season, which comes with its own set of – mainly weather related – challenges.
#2) The cities of Niagara Falls are ridiculously tacky and depressingly run down
Perhaps the biggest drawback of Niagara Falls is the cities themselves. Both the Canadian city and the American city. They’re both absolutely terrible.
What do I mean by that? Well, Niagara Falls, Canada is full of Medicare American chain restaurants, awful “attractions” like wax museums (seriously why are there so many wax museums?!?!) and haunted houses, and ridiculous souvenir shops. Niagara Falls, NY is not much better. Both cities are trying to capitalize on visitors who don’t really travel much, if you know what I mean.
On top of the tackiness, both cities are pretty run down. You don’t have to walk much past the main hotel zone on the Canadian side to start seeing dilapidated buildings, potholes all over roads, and seedy characters. The NY side is even worse.
My suggestion is to not venture past the main hotel zone streets. The family-friendly environment evaporates real quick once you get outside the tourist zone.
#3) The restaurants are mostly awful
The restaurants of Niagara Falls can be divided into two main categories: American chain restaurants and Indian restaurants. This is mainly to cater to the typical Niagara Falls tourist. Let’s break it down one by one.
Big chain restaurants dominate the Canadian side. Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse, Margaritaville, Ruth’s Chris, IHOP, they’re all here. In fact there are literally 5 separate IHOPs in downtown Niagara Falls. You can stand at one and see others. It’s ridiculous. The New York side is much better in terms of not having chain restaurants.
Chain restaurants don’t have a monopoly on Niagara though. There are dozens of independent restaurants as well. On average, these restaurants are also awful, however. Good luck finding a restaurant with a Google rating of over 4.0. One of the best reviewed restaurants had what I can only describe as the worst pizza I’ve ever tasted.
The second half of the Niagara restaurant equation is Indian restaurants. There are a freakishly high number of Indian restaurants on both sides of the border. This is to appease the clientele of Niagara Falls.
I am not exaggerating when I say at least 50% of visitors to Niagara Falls are south Asian or of south Asian descent. It’s a freakishly popular place for south Asians to visit. And due to this, Indian and Nepali restaurants are all over the place.
While some of the Indian restaurants are poor, most are actually decent. For some authentic – i.e. spicy – Indian food, head to the dinner buffet at Zaika on the American side. Everyone from India we spoke with really liked it. Even the wife, who typically hates Indian food in the US liked it, so you know it’s legit!
#4) There really isn’t that much to do
One of the biggest downfalls about a trip to Niagara Falls is that there really isn’t that much to do. Unless you’re going to the casinos and wax museums and other non-outdoor activities, there’s no need to actually spend a day in Niagara Falls. It can be easily seen in an hour as a stop on a longer road trip.
The Canadian side is essentially just a long walkway along the river that provides beautiful views of the falls. Once you’ve walked the path and gazed at the falls, that’s it. There’s nothing else to do unless you want to take the boat ride into the mist of the falls, which many people do.
On the American side there is a lot more walking to do, as explained in the section about Niagara Falls State Park in New York. But these walks won’t necessarily give you any amazing views. You can get a good sense of the park in less than an hour. So even if you were to visit both sides of the falls, you’re talking a couple hours max, so long as you don’t get pulled into all the tacky indoor attractions we previously discussed.
Coupled with the lack of quality restaurants, there aren’t a whole lot of reasons to spend an entire day and overnight in Niagara Falls. Most people do, of course. I have on three separate occasions. Hotels in the area are used to one-night bookings.
Some people stay multiple days, however, which begs the question “what are they doing all this time?” It’s doubtful they’re sipping ice wine in the Niagara Wine Region just a few towns over (at least based on the folks we talked to). Probably checking out the casinos I would guess!
#5) It’s just too … touristy
In the end, Niagara Falls is just a bit too much for people. The crowds, the terrible restaurants, and the tacky attractions just blend together to create such an overly-touristic experience that for many people can be a huge turnoff.
There is no charm to Niagara Falls. No culture. It’s just if you took all the worst things about America and surrounded a beautiful giant waterfall with them. In fact, that’s exactly what it is.
If you want charm you’ll have to head 30 minutes north to Niagara-on-the-lake, an adorable little village on Lake Ontario. If you want culture, you’ll need to head to the ethnic neighborhoods of Toronto.
If you’ve traveled a lot, the overly touristy Niagara Falls might disappoint you. Just try to ignore that and focus on the amazing waterfall instead!
Niagara Falls – FAQs
What is Niagara Falls famous for?
Niagara Falls is known for having the fastest flow rate of any waterfall in the world. Water from the Niagara River simply gushes over the cliff. It’s truly amazing how fast the water flows.
How many days do you need in Niagara Falls?
One day. In fact, a half day would be better. There is really not a whole lot to do at Niagara Falls unless you’re into things like haunted houses and wax museums. Seeing the falls just takes a few minutes. If you’re traveling with children it might be worth staying an entire day so they can partake in some of those activities though.
What months to avoid Niagara Falls?
The weather is the main deterrent, as a visit to Niagara from November to March can be bitterly cold and snowy. If you can avoid peak summer too, you might find it more enjoyable with less other people. May and September are ideal times to visit Niagara Falls.
Which side of Niagara Falls is better?
The Canadian side has a much better view of the falls. The US side, however, has a much nicer park and is better protected from development with more green area. The US is less tacky with better restaurants, but is also quite run down once you get away from the main hotel zone. Overall, both sides are pretty equal.
Is Niagara Falls better at night or day?
This totally depends on you. At night the falls are lit up in Canadian and American colors. There are also fireworks every night at 10:00 PM during the summer. Crowds gather to watch the fireworks and see the falls lit up. It’s a nice display, though for many people nothing beats the sun shining directly on the falls.
Final Word
Niagara Falls is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North America. The waterfall itself is stunning and impressive, boasting the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world.
But with popularity comes oppressive crowds and tacky attractions. The cities on either side of the falls are beat up and overrun with tacky gimmicks like wax museums and awful restaurants like IHOP.
Niagara Falls is not for everyone, so hopefully this post has helped you determine if it is for you!
3 comments
Great article and pretty accurate assessment of the pros and cons! My mom is from this area and i visited all the time as a kid, the falls are breathtaking and very worth the trip. If youre coming in from the US side would definitely suggest seeing the falls from Goat Island as you can park easily and walk around the scenic and natural area without as much crowding, and then you can walk around to the Canadian side later if you want (there’s a fun photo op spot where you can ‘straddle’ the US/Canada border on the bridge). The Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist boat are definitely very worth the experience to see the falls up close and feel its sheer power. The tourist trap city area is cringe but definitely very avoidable, although funny to walk around for a laugh at night as it transforms into mini vegas and i did go to a very scary haunted house there once. As a kid I loved the ferris wheel view, it’s great at night with the lights. If you happen to be driving by in winter, the falls is breathtakingly beautiful with frozen mist on all the trees (best seen in passing though as the cold air is not tolerable for long). For food my mom suggests trying nearby Anchor Grill, which claims to have invented Buffalo wings, or try ‘beef on weck,’ a local specialty sandwich.
Thanks for the feedback! I’ve been to the original Anchor Bar in Buffalo and I didn’t like the wings! I was pretty disappointed. That was years ago and I’d be willing to try them again though.
I read this Article After coming back from all tours las vegas. I will enjoy a trip of Canada and enjoy the Niagara Falls views.