Planning A Trip To Niagara Falls? This Is The Complete Niagara Falls Itinerary
Summer is the perfect time to plan an epic trip to Niagara Falls with friends. With its awe-inspiring natural beauty and an array of fun-filled activities, Niagara Falls promises to be the perfect getaway. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a mix of both, this Niagara Falls itinerary will help you plan a complete vacation.
The majestic waterfalls of Niagara Falls provide a stunning backdrop for hikes, boat tours, and yes, those iconic rainbow photos. The area offers adventures for every travel style, whether you prefer sipping wine or heart-pounding boat rides. As a bonus, the lively towns on both sides of the border have fantastic restaurants, breweries, casinos, and nightlife.
This Niagara Falls itinerary includes two days of ideas for both the Canadian and U.S. sides, which is the perfect amount of time. Combine these ideas with a trip to Toronto and you have a fun-filled summer vacation.
He Works So I Travel content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For full details, please read my full affiliate disclosure here.
How do you get to Niagara Falls?
The best airport to fly to is Buffalo Niagara International in Buffalo, New York. It is effortless to rent a car and drive in this area. You must pay for parking in many places, so consider those costs when planning.
The drive from the airport takes a little over thirty minutes to the Canadian border, where you cross into Ontario.
If you are visiting from the United States, you will need a valid U.S. Passport to cross the border.
TRIP TIP: After COVID-19, restrictions change and update. Check the current restrictions for international travel before your trip.
Where to Stay in Niagara Falls
Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview
The Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel on the Canadian side is the tallest hotel near the falls. This is an excellent hotel choice because the rooms have a lovely view.
The rooms range from basic hotel rooms to gorgeous suites directly overlooking Niagara Falls.
Since it was a last-minute trip, I used Hotwire to book the hotel for a fraction of the retail price.
Our stay was enjoyable; however, recent reviews on TripAdvisor suggest this hotel is having some issues with staffing, so make sure to do your research before choosing a place to stay.
What to Do in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Itinerary – Day One (Canada side)
On day one of your Niagara Falls itinerary, explore Niagara Falls Canada, and the surrounding area.
Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls, Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls on the U.S. side. They are the second largest falls in the world and are a popular tourist site attracting over eight million tourists annually.
In addition to seeing these natural wonders, there are many attractions in the area.
Niagara Falls Incline Railway
- Location: 7001 Portage Rd.
- Hours: Open year round; Sun. – Fri. 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturdays 9:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Cost: $2.66 (CAD) one-way; $5.31 (CAD) roundtrip
Begin your day at the Fallsview Tourist area, where most hotels are located.
Then, take The Niagara Falls Incline Railway up to the Welcome Centre.
The hills in this area are no joke, so having the enclosed car take you up to the top of the hill is appreciated.
At the top, the pedestrian crossing takes you to the Table Rock Welcome Center.
Table Rock Welcome Centre
The Table Rock Welcome Center is where you can get up close and walk directly to the Falls’ edge. The noise is unbelievably loud. You will be mesmerized by watching the amount of water and the force with which it falls.
Can you believe someone has fallen down the falls and lived?
The first person to survive this fall was a teacher back in 1901 who went over in a barrel.
Over 5,000 people have tried this, but only sixteen have lived.
It’s actually illegal to try, and you will be fined $25,000 if you attempt it. So, just DON’T!
The Welcome Center by Horseshoe Falls is a beautiful building with information, souvenirs, a restaurant, and the Journey Behind the Falls entrance.
Journey Behind the Falls
- Location: 6650 Niagara Parkway
- Hours: Sun. – Fri. 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Cost: Adult $23.50 CAD; Child $15.50 CAD
Journey Behind the Falls is an adventure that takes you up close and personal to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. When you arrive, you receive a yellow poncho. Trust me; you will need it.
Standing on the Lower Observation deck, you feel the intensity of the falls. The mist feels like a light shower. The roaring sound of the falls is intense, and you truly understand how powerful the water is.
After the observation deck, follow the paths and tunnels behind the falls. Read the plaques along the way to learn so many interesting facts.
Along the tunnels, small cave-like paths lead to the water. Blocked so you can’t fall, you can journey close to the edge of Horseshoe Falls.
It is a fantastic experience, but honestly, it can feel a little claustrophobic. I would do it again, though.
Whirlpool Aero Car
- Location: 3850 Niagara Scenic Parkway
- Hours: Aero Car ride is open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Cost: Aero Car ride – Adult $17; Child – $11.25
Hop onto a historic Whirlpool Aero Car for a different water view.
It’s an enclosed cable car that travels 3,500 feet over the falls and connects the U.S. and Canadian sides. You cross the international border four times due to the water path.
This ride does not require a passport.
Read more about Whirlpool State Park on day two of the Niagara Falls itinerary below.
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Conservatory
- Location: 2565 Niagara Parkway
- Hours: Botanical Gardens – Mon. – Sun. 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Butterfly Conservatory – Mon. – Fri. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sat. & Sun. 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Cost: Botanical Gardens – FREE; Butterfly Conservatory – Adult $17 Child $11.25
The botanical gardens are free to visit and offer visitors over 99 acres of beautiful plants, herbs, and flowers to enjoy throughout the visit. There are over 2,400 types of roses in the gardens.
That’s a lot of flowers! Sensing a need for horticulturists, the Niagara Parks opened a horticultural school here that is highly competitive and trains the best horticulturists in the country.
These students take an active role in caring for the Botanical Gardens. I can only wish I had a green thumb.
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens is also where you will find the butterfly conservatory.
It is one of the largest glass-enclosed conservatories in North America.
With the self-guided tour, start with a short video presentation. Venture in to walk among over 2,000 colorful butterflies. It is quite amazing!
Floral Clock
The floral clock is located near the Botanical Gardens.
It is a giant 40-foot wide outdoors floral decorated clock whose design changes twice yearly. Maintained by the Niagara Parks horticultural students, the clock is filled with over 16,000 plants.
The Westminster Chimes at the back of the floral clock chime every quarter-hour.
Visitors can walk in to see how the clock mechanisms work. You can also view past clock designs through pictures displayed in this exhibit.
For something fun and unique, we took photos of the clock design on display during our kids’ birth years.
Maple Leaf Place Souvenir City
When you are out and about, stop at Maple Leaf Place Souvenir City at 4199 River Road.
This roadside stop has over 15,000 square feet of fun, including a food court, a selfie center with backdrops like the one below, everything maple, and many souvenirs.
Plus, it’s on the way to your next stop, Niagara on the Lake. We are such dorks!
Niagara on the Lake
When planning a trip to Niagara Falls, plan to spend your afternoon exploring Niagara on the Lake, a charming heritage town just north of Niagara Falls along Niagara Parkway.
This amazing tree-lined town is on Lake Ontario with shops, restaurants, and wineries. In fact, there are over 60 wineries within minutes of Niagara on the Lake.
A small group guided wine tour through the Niagara region of wineries is a popular way to explore the many wineries and breweries in the area.
The prices are reasonable for such a unique experience in a beautiful area.
The many inns and beds and breakfasts located in Niagara on the Lake make the perfect retreat for a girl’s getaway. If you have more time in Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake is definitely a great way to spend a day.
Niagara Falls Itinerary – Day Two (U.S. side)
On day two of your Niagara Falls itinerary, explore the United States side of Niagara Falls, including a boat ride up to the falls. Start your day at the Niagara Falls USA Visitors Center in Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in America.
Did you know it was designed by the same person who designed Central Park in New York?
Just a short walk away is the first stop of the day.
Maid of the Mist Boat Tour
- Location: 1 Prospect St, Niagara Falls, NY
- Hours: Boats operate end of April to the beginning of November; Hours vary depending on the day. For a complete list of days and times, visit Maid of the Mist online.
Be prepared to get wet on the Maid of the Mist boat tour.
Over 600,000 gallons of water fall per second, making the mist super powerful. Brace yourself for an experience that will leave you utterly mesmerized and drenched in the raw power of nature.
The deafening roar of the cascading waters as the boat navigates the swirling current is something you should experience firsthand.
So don your blue poncho, hold on tight, and prepare for an adventure!
Discover Niagara Shuttle
When you leave the Maid of the Mist, walk back to the visitor’s center. Look for the Discover Niagara Shuttle, a FREE hop-on, hop-off shuttle that connects visitors to over twenty tourist attractions.
You will hop on the “Falls to the Fort” route.
Goat Island State Park
Make your first stop at the Goat Island Pedestrian Bridge. The island gets its name from a herd of goats once kept there. Unfortunately, you won’t find goats there anymore.
Here, you can get up close to American Falls. You can also access Three Sisters Islands, Terrapin Point, or Luna Island.
If you want a nice walk, walk the island’s perimeter for a little over a mile.
We stopped here, though, to access Cave of the Winds.
Cave of the Winds
- Location: Located on Goat Island
- Hours: Open almost everyday year round, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; limited in winter
When planning a trip to Niagara Falls, add this tour to Cave of the Winds. This experience takes you in an elevator 175 feet into Niagara Gorge. Adorned in your yellow rain jackets and special shoes, you walk along wooden decks to the “Hurricane Deck.”
You are now just 20 feet away from Bridal Veil Falls. The noise level here is outrageous.
Have you ever stood at the base of an amusement waterpark ride, hoping to be splashed as the ride descended? Imagine that experience times 100!
A viewing deck at Cave of the Winds is handicap accessible and available to adults holding children so everyone can enjoy the attraction.
I found it very interesting that the deck was torn down at the end of the season and rebuilt the next year. I imagine with the force of the water, that is a necessity.
When you have finished, head back to the shuttle, and make your way to the next stop.
Whirlpool State Park
Jump off the free Discover Niagara Shuttle at Whirlpool State Park.
Whirlpool State Park is located on the U.S. side of the falls. When the water falls over Horseshoe Falls, it travels into Niagara Gorge. The force creates level 6 rapids, the most intense of rapid levels.
As the water continues to move, a change of direction in the gorge causes the most amazing giant water whirlpool.
In Whirlpool State Park, visitors walk down around 500 steps to get close to this natural phenomenon.
If you are interested in hiking, Whirlpool State Park is part of the Niagara Gorge Trail, where many hiking trails are available.
Are you daring to get closer to the whirlpool? Take the Lewiston shuttle to the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours. These forty-five-minute trips take visitors on the Niagara River to experience the Level 5 rapids of Devil’s Hole. So that you know, you will get drenched.
The next stop on your Niagara Falls itinerary is Old Fort Niagara
Old Fort Niagara
- Location: Fort Niagara State Park
- Hours: Hours vary based on the month of the year – See the schedule here
Old Fort Niagara has a long history dating back to the 18th century.
France, Great Britain, and the United States occupied the fort.
It was used to control access to the Great Lakes and to train American soldiers in both World Wars. One of the oldest surviving United States flags is displayed here.
Now, visitors can tour buildings, see interactive demonstrations, interact with costumed interpreters, and experience the fort’s living history.
Walk around the fort, visit the impressive French Castle built in the early 1700s, and learn a significant amount of history on your visit. Expect to do a lot of walking.
RELATED POST: If you enjoy visiting Old Fort Niagara, you may also enjoy visiting Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.
When your visit to Old Fort Niagara is complete, hop back onto the shuttle and return to your car. It’s time to head back to the hotel.
Fallsview Casino
Once back at your hotel, freshen up and use the indoor walkway connecting the Hilton to the Fallsview Casino.
There are many restaurants in the area for dinner, including the Table Rock House restaurant at the Welcome Centre, but we chose to eat at the Grand Buffet in the casino.
We had walked enough to account for the extra calories, and it has a nice view of the Falls.
After dinner, finish your fabulous time in Niagara Falls with fun in the casino!
Finish your trip with a bang!
When night falls, end the evening with one last venture outside to see the Falls lit up in bright colors.
If you can hang around until 10 p.m., you’ll be able to see Niagara Falls Fireworks, and your Niagara Falls itinerary will be complete.
Best Full Day Tour of Niagara Falls
To see the best of Niagara Falls without planning, take a full-day guided tour and let someone else handle all the transportation, tickets, and details for one low price. This Niagara Falls in 1 Day Tour lasts 6-7 hours and includes visits to the best attractions in Niagara Falls.
The highly organized tour includes hotel pick-up, a knowledgeable guide, and all entrance fees.
Niagara Falls with Kids
There are so many options to keep you busy when planning a trip to Niagara Falls.
With this two-day Niagara Falls itinerary, I chose to highlight fun things to do for couples in Niagara Falls.
If you are traveling with kids, check out WildPlay Niagara Falls for ziplining and other fun, Clifton Hill Amusement Park, and the Skylon Tower for additional family-friendly choices.
In Conclusion
This Niagara Falls itinerary promises an unforgettable blend of natural wonder and exhilarating adventures.
From the heart-pounding Maid of the Mist boat ride to the mesmerizing views from Skylon Tower, every moment is filled with awe-inspiring experiences.
You’ll undoubtedly be captivated by the sheer beauty and power of this iconic destination.
