Wondering how to spend an idyllic day in Niagara Falls? You’ve come to the right place. This one day in Niagara Falls itinerary details the perfect way to experience one of the world’s most scenic waterfalls, nearby attractions, and hidden gems on both the Canadian and US sides.
Our first trip to the Niagara Falls was in 2010, and we returned a few times later to explore more. It is a Canadian bucket list item, so we had to travel there with friends and family to show them around! We have compiled all of our trip experiences and more in this Niagara Falls travel guide.
So buckle up and get ready for an exhilarating day brimming with adventure, exploration, and moments that will leave you breathless—and probably wet!
Perfect One Day in Niagara Falls Itinerary
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Arriving in Niagara Falls
Two of the most common ways to get to Niagara Falls are via a flight or driving. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) in New York, located about a 30-minute drive away, is the closest airport you’ll find on the US side.
On the Canadian side, you’ll land at the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), which is about an hour and 30-minute drive.
From these airports, you can reach the falls by using a taxi, bus, shuttle service, or private transfer. Keep in mind that going to Niagara Falls is one of the best road trips from Toronto, so you can even join a guided tour of the falls.
Once you’ve arrived in Niagara Falls, we recommend you check into your accommodation before doing anything else. We suggest you book a room in one of the hotels with the best views of Niagara Falls; that way, you can see the scenic cascades while planning your day.
Getting around Niagara Falls
Getting around Niagara Falls is fairly straightforward, thanks to the town’s small size and its well-developed public transportation system. Here are some popular ways to get around:
- Walking: Niagara Falls is very walkable, as many of the key attractions are within walking distance from each other. This allows you to enjoy the scenic beauty of the falls and nearby landmarks at a leisurely pace.
- Bus: Niagara Falls Transit operates bus services throughout the city, making it easy to travel between major attractions and neighborhoods. The WEGO bus is a hop-on hop-off service connecting all Niagara Parks attractions to hotels and tourist areas.
- Taxi and Ridesharing: If you prefer a private mode of transportation, you can’t go wrong with hailing a taxi or using a ridesharing service like Lyft or Uber.
- Car Rentals: Flexible and convenient. Renting a car is excellent if you’re looking to explore areas and attractions outside the immediate vicinity of Niagara Falls.
- Biking: Niagara Falls offers bike-friendly routes and trails for those who wish to explore the area on two wheels. The most popular biking route is the 35-mile Niagara River Recreational Trail. Bike rentals are available at various locations around town.
The perfect Niagara Falls one-day itinerary
Now that we’ve gotten the nitty-gritty of arriving and getting around Niagara Falls out of the way, it’s time for the fun to begin. Here’s a great one-day itinerary to explore this picturesque area.
Start your day with coffee and a light breakfast in Niagara Falls
Begin your day with a fresh brew made with ethically sourced arabica beans at Tim Hortons, located at 4950 Clifton Hill. This lovely café offers Canada’s favorite coffee and a cozy vibe, as well as freshly baked pastries such as donuts, Timbits, muffins, cookies, and bagels.
Tim Hortons also has a wide range of cold and hot drinks, from iced coffee, lemonade, and slushies to specialty beverages like lattes, hot chocolates, and cappuccinos. The café also offers light meals like breakfast wraps and chicken noodle soup for those chilly mornings.
Go on the first Niagara Falls boat tour
Take the Voyage to the Falls Cruise for an unforgettable experience cruising within a whisker of the mighty Horseshoe Falls. This guided boat tour, offered by Niagara City Cruises, gives you first-to-board access to stunning views of both the Canadian and American Falls.
The tour also includes special access to the first elevator of the day, taking you 19 stories down into the base of the gorge for a thrilling Journey Behind the Falls. Afterward, you’ll enjoy an informative and scenic walking tour along the boardwalk, led by an expert guide.
Keep in mind that not all Niagara Falls boat tours include access to the elevator, so you may have to buy a separate Journey Behind the Falls entry ticket.
Note: If you’re on the American side, the Maid of the Mist boat tour will be your best bet, as it offers a similar adventure. This tour starts and ends on the United States side of the falls.
Explore the Table Rock Welcome Center
Perched along the Niagara River, the Table Rock Welcome Center offers a prime vantage point of the tumbling Horseshoe Falls. In addition to the panoramic views, the center also offers great attractions like Niagara’s Fury—a 4D film experience detailing the falls’ history.
This is also where you’ll find the access point to the Journey Behind the Falls. But that’s not all. The center also houses loads of amenities, like a culinary market offering a range of tasty delights and a gift shop for you to buy locally branded items and other Canadian souvenirs.
Stroll through the Niagara Parks Power Station
If you’re looking for an exciting indoor activity, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Niagara Parks Power Station. Furnished with gigantic turbines, artifacts, and interactive exhibits, the station offers fascinating storytelling and an immersive experience of the old power plant.
You’ll enjoy descending the 180-foot glass elevator and exploring a 2,200-foot-long tunnel, leading you to an observation deck with great views of the falls at the river’s edge.
Get 360-degree views of the Niagara Falls at Skylon Tower
Niagara Falls is stunning from different angles, but none is as majestic as the bird’s eye view by heading up the Skylon Tower for sweeping vistas of Niagara Falls. The tower features two restaurants, both sitting 775 feet above the falls, and an observation deck.
To get to the summit, you’ll ride on Skylon Tower’s Yellow Bug Elevators. The thrilling ride takes less than a minute—only 52 seconds, to be exact. You’ll get great views of the falls from the indoor/outdoor observation deck. On a clear day, you can see up to 80 miles away.
The Revolving Dining Room serves lunch and dinner, with sprawling views of the area. Expect this restaurant to rotate a full 360 degrees in one hour, showing you Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls, the Niagara cityscape, and as far as the Toronto skyline on a clear day.
If you’re looking for something more family-friendly and affordable, reserve a table at the seasonally open Summit Suite Buffet. This 200-seater restaurant offers you an array of delicacies, including meats, fresh seafood, salads, and freshly baked goods.
Immerse yourself in Clifton Hill
Dotted with plenty of entertainment options, from eccentric restaurants to quirky arcades, Clifton Hill is the ultimate fun hub of Niagara Falls. This lively promenade beams with bright colors, while its wacky buildings and the Niagara SkyWheel make for the perfect backdrop.
Enjoy go-karting at the Niagara Speedway, go miniature golfing on the Dinosaur Adventure course, or have fun laser-shooting ghosts while riding through a haunted house. Chances are, whatever movie fantasy you have can easily come true at Clifton Hill.
Before heading to your next destination, make sure to pop into the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum to see an assortment of mind-boggling, strange, and astonishing artifacts.
Tip: Clifton Hill has lots of eateries, like Wendy’s, Kelseys, and Boston Pizza, so you may want to have lunch here if you decide not to eat at Skylon Tower.
Optional — Go on the Niagara Falls Zipline
If you can squeeze in an extra activity, then consider zip lining over the Niagara Gorge.
The Niagara Falls Zipline takes you on an adrenaline-pumping ride, gliding over 2,200 feet past the American Falls and landing at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.
Cross the Rainbow International Bridge to the US side
Get your documents ready because it’s time to cross an international border. That’s right, you’re about to explore the American side of Niagara Falls. You’re welcome to cross the Rainbow International Bridge on foot, by bicycle, or via car every day of the year. They are open 24 hours!
Crossing the border costs $5 (CA$6.75), collected when leaving the US, and for pedestrians, it’ll cost $1 (CA$1.35), collected when departing Canada. Expect to spend about 30 minutes at the border, dealing with customs and security checks.
Explore Niagara Falls State Park in the United States
Start your trip to the US side at the One Niagara Welcome Center. You’ll find plenty of amenities there, including shops, restaurants, and a wide range of attractions and tours.
Niagara Falls is the oldest state park in the US, offering loads of fun activities. Here are a few not-to-miss highlights for an unforgettable trip:
- Niagara Scenic Trolley – Perfect if you don’t have enough time, this 3-mile scenic trolley stops at several park locations, allowing you to get on or off as you wish.
- Niagara Falls Observation Tower – Marvel at extraordinary views of the American and Horseshoe Falls as well as the Niagara Gorge from this tower’s extended deck.
- Prospect Point Observation Point – For a closer look at the gushing American Falls, head over to Prospect Point for a front-row seat.
- Cave of the Winds tour – You can get an even closer look at Bridal Veil Falls by taking a wet and wild Cave of the Winds tour. You’ll love feeling the mist on your skin as you descend into the 30-foot gorge.
- Niagara Falls State Park hiking trails – For a more leisurely experience of the park, explore its popular hiking trails, like the Goat Island and Niagara Gorge Trails.
Optional — Visit the Aquarium of Niagara
If you have some free time, don’t head back to Canada before visiting the Aquarium of Niagara. Home to a diverse range of marine life, including sea lions, penguins, and sharks, the Aquarium of Niagara provides educational and interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages.
Make avian friends at the Bird Kingdom
If sea critters aren’t your favorite animals, then perhaps the masters of the sky will be. Step into the Bird Kingdom—the world’s largest indoor free-flying aviary to interact with a variety of exotic bird species in a lush tropical setting.
You’ll find plenty of fun and interactive things to do in Bird Kingdom, from encounters to feedings. The place also features a multi-level rainforest with lots of pathways to trek through, giving you a feeling of exploring the Amazon.
Tip: Bird Kingdom also has a gift store where you can shop for souvenirs.
Stroll along the White Water Walk
Get ready for an incredible stroll along the White Water Walk. And be prepared because this is not your average river walk—you’ll trek along a sturdy boardwalk right at the edge of some of the wildest whitewater rapids you’ve ever seen.
But before marveling at Niagara River’s deep and narrow Great Gorge, you’ll have to ride a 230-foot elevator down and then walk through a 240-foot tunnel. The White Water Walk is wheelchair accessible, except for two small viewing areas, which are only reachable by stairs.
Along the way, you’ll find information boards sharing fascinating stories about the geology of the Niagara Gorge.
Note: The White Water Walk is a seasonal attraction, only open between April and mid-November. This is also highly dependent on the Niagara weather.
Ride in the Whirlpool Aero Car
Embark on an exhilarating journey across the Niagara River with the Whirlpool Aero Car. This thrilling experience sees you soaring high above the teal-colored waters as you marvel at panoramic gorge vistas that will leave you breathless.
The Whirlpool Aero Car takes you from one point to another on Canadian soil, but you will cross an international border four times due to the way the river bends. And don’t worry, no passports will be needed.
Note: The Whirlpool Aero Car takes about a 10-minute roundtrip, it carries 35 standing passengers, and it’s only seasonally open from April to November.
Stop by the Floral Clock to take some snaps
Featuring intricate floral arrangements that adorn a large clock face, the Floral Clock is one of the most photographed attractions in Niagara Falls. Providing a picturesque backdrop for memorable snaps, don’t miss out on taking some pics in front of this iconic landmark.
Explore the Butterfly Conservatory at the Botanical Gardens
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Butterfly Conservatory, where you can wander among thousands of colorful butterflies amidst lush tropical foliage.
As one of the largest enclosed butterfly conservatories in North America, the park proudly houses over 2,000 butterflies.
You can enjoy a self-guided tour through the glass-enclosed conservatory, starting with a short and informative video presentation. Afterward, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to identify various butterflies fluttering about freely along the verdant pathways.
Go wine tasting in or around Niagara-on-the-Lake
Here’s an interesting fact about Ontario: it is home to over 160 wineries!
So, coming to this province without visiting at least one of them is a no-no. Luckily for you, finding a charming winery in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake is easy.
The Niagara region boasts about 38 wineries serving an assortment of blends paired with cheeses and scenic views.
The Peller Estates Winery features an array of tours and experiences, from wine tastings to sip and paints; this Niagara-on-the-Lake winery has something for everyone. Peller Estates also has a gift shop where you can buy signature wines or private reserves to bring home.
Explore the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Lined with historic buildings, quaint shops, and picturesque gardens, Niagara-on-the-Lake shows you a glimpse of the town’s rich heritage and culture. This town is a gem, set along the shores of Lake Ontario, that’s famous for its wineries and the summer Shaw Festival.
Wander through the picturesque streets of the old town, which are adorned with colorful flowers and majestic trees. And be transported back in time by the alluring 19th-century buildings, especially those along the bustling Queen Street.
Stop by the Living Water Wayside Chapel, which is the smallest church in Canada.
Don’t miss the chance to explore the historic Fort George—a beacon of the town’s past and its role in defending against American attacks during the 19th century. Niagara-on-the-Lake is truly a special place, filled with history, culture, and plenty of charm.
Dine with Niagara Falls illumination and fireworks views
Before calling it a day, head back down to Niagara Falls for an extraordinary light and fireworks show while indulging in a mouth-watering meal.
There are plenty of eateries that provide an excellent vantage point for seeing the Niagara Falls Illumination and Fireworks.
Skylon Tower is undoubtedly the best place to see the sparks and light display, but other eateries like Margaritaville are also close enough to catch a glimpse of the show.
If you can’t secure a reservation, consider having dinner at one of the hotels with a Niagara Falls view.
Tips for visiting Niagara Falls
Here are a few tips and tricks to help make your visit to Niagara Falls an even more unforgettable trip:
- Plan your visit during the off-peak season (mid-October to early May) to avoid large crowds and long lines at famous attractions.
- Wear appropriate clothing, including waterproof layers and comfortable shoes, as you will get wet from the mist of the falls on boat tours to the falls.
- Utilize public transportation or park-and-ride services to navigate the area efficiently, especially during peak tourist seasons.
- Stay hydrated and pack snacks for energy, as exploring the falls and surrounding areas can be physically demanding.
- Be mindful of safety barriers and follow all posted signs and guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
- Lastly, leave your cell phone and other electronics at your hotel when going on boat tours to the falls unless you can secure them in a ziplock waterproof bag.
One Day in Niagara Falls | FAQs
Still uncertain about how to make the most of your one-day trip to Niagara Falls? Here are a few commonly asked questions from other travelers:
What are the must-see attractions in Niagara Falls for a one-day visit?
The must-see attractions for a one-day visit to Niagara Falls include the Voyage to the Falls Cruise or Maid of the Mist boat ride (depending on which side of the falls you are on). But don’t forget to Journey Behind the Falls and get panoramic views from the Skylon Tower.
Is it possible to visit both the Canadian and US sides of Niagara Falls in one day?
Yes, it’s possible to visit both the Canadian and US sides of Niagara Falls in one day, but it requires efficient planning and prioritizing key attractions. Start your day on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, cross the Rainbow Bridge, and then explore the Niagara Falls State Park.
How can I avoid long lines and crowds at popular attractions like the Voyage to the Falls Cruise or the Skylon Tower?
To avoid long lines and crowds at popular attractions, consider visiting early in the morning or later in the afternoon or evening. But purchasing online tickets well in advance and utilizing the skip-the-line options available will also save you lots of time.
Are there any hidden gems or lesser-known attractions worth exploring in Niagara Falls for a unique experience?
Lesser-known attractions like the White Water Walk, Whirlpool Aero Car, and the Niagara Parks Heritage Trail are often overlooked on most trips to the falls. But these spots offer you unique and memorable experiences away from the large crowds.
Wrapping up the ultimate Niagara Falls day trip
From the thundering roar of the falls to the enchanting beauty of the surrounding landscapes, Niagara Falls will undoubtedly leave a mark on your adventurous heart.
Whether you’re looking to cruise beneath the falls to feel the mist on your face or you’re keen to explore the hidden tunnels and caves, this landmark will leave you awestruck.
Niagara Falls is a truly extraordinary destination, open year round. Don’t believe us? Take a look at these phenomenal Niagara Falls activities in summer and winter for proof.
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