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How to Spend a Perfect Day Trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario

How to Spend a Perfect Day Trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario

Last weekend, Adam and I enjoyed our first “trip” together: a little day trip to Niagara Falls.

Originally we planned on staying in Niagara Falls overnight, but we decided to just do a day trip instead.

Though we didn’t get to do a full weekend getaway, it was still fun spending the day out at Niagara Falls!

And if you would prefer to do a weekend getaway instead, I’ve got a post all about how to spend a weekend in Niagara Falls.

Here’s my little one day itinerary on how to spend the perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, including what to do and where to go!

Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Hotels at Niagara Falls, Ontario
My room at the cozy Country Inn & Suites by Radisson.
Hotels in Niagara Falls

If you do decide you want to stay overnight, book a stay at one of the best hotels in Niagara Falls:

  • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson: a cozy 3-star hotel located around the corner from Clifton Hill, perfect for families and couples, with free breakfast, an indoor pool, and a gym.
  • Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview: a modern 3-star hotel located right by the Falls, with some rooms facing the Falls, as well as an indoor pool and fitness centre.
  • Four Points by Sheraton Niagara Falls Fallsview: a contemporary 4-star hotel located right by the Falls, with some rooms facing the Falls. Also connected to a shopping centre, multiple restaurants, and an indoor pool.
Plan your Niagara Falls trip

If you’re planning a trip to the Niagara Region, you might enjoy these posts as well:

If you’re coming from Toronto, you might want to check out this Toronto to Niagara Falls day tour by bus – it includes wine tasting, scenic photo stops, and free time to explore on your own!

If you’ll already be in Niagara Falls, this fun half-day wine tasting tour by bus takes you to 2 to 4 Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries, depending on the option you choose.

Though it is a little pricy, it is totally worth doing a scenic helicopter tour over Niagara Falls, especially if you’re looking to treat someone.

If you prefer something more adventurous, ziplining over the Niagara River Gorge is pretty epic!


Getting to and around Niagara Falls


We thought it’d be a fun idea to take GO Transit there, and boy, was it an adventure.

It’s about an hour and a half drive by car to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto, so the 2 hour train commute there wasn’t too bad.

The 3 hour commute back to Toronto wasn’t very fun though – it was in total about a 5 hour commute!

Anyway, if you’re a fellow Torontonian without a vehicle, GO Transit is likely your only way to get to Niagara Falls.

How to get to Niagara Falls via GO Transit

From Union Station, take the Lakeshore West train and get off at Burlington Station.

Take a short walk to the bus terminal and take the 12 bus to Niagara Falls.

Be sure to take the express bus – it’ll save you so much time.

The commute costs about $16-18 per person one-way, which isn’t too bad.

How to get around Niagara Falls without a car

There’s a bus system in Niagara Falls that takes you to all the main tourist attractions called the WEGO, and it only costs $7.50 for a 24-hour pass and $12 for a 48-hour pass.

Since we didn’t go anywhere outside of the main Falls area and we were able to walk everywhere, we didn’t end up getting the bus pass.

Originally we’d planned on staying the weekend, and I’d definitely recommend the bus pass if you don’t have a car and plan on staying overnight!

The bus stops at a bunch of popular hotels as well.


Day trip to Niagara Falls: one day itinerary


See the Horseshoe Falls

Our first stop during our day trip to Niagara Falls was the actual Horseshoe Falls.

I highly recommend going early in the morning if you want to get good photos, or you’ll be fighting with tourists to snap a nice shot.

It wasn’t too bad around 10 AM, but a bit after that was when all the tour buses started arriving and tourists began to pour in for their own selfies.

The closer you get to the falls, the wetter you get, so be careful with any electronics!

Also be sure to wear sunglasses if you’re wearing any eye makeup, or wear waterproof makeup.

LOCATION: Niagara Falls, ON

Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario
How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog

Lunch at Queen Victoria Place Restaurant

We then had lunch at Queen Victoria Place Restaurant by the Falls.

The food isn’t that great for the price point – it’s really just worth going for the patio view (be sure to ask for it).

The service was really nice though!

If you’re looking for even more food options, I’ve got a post all about the best restaurants in Niagara Falls.

How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog

Experience the Falls through Hornblower Niagara Cruises

Our next stop was to the Hornblower Niagara Cruises, where we could actually get up close and personal to the Falls.

It was my first time doing the cruise, and it was a fun way to experience the Falls!

Another warning: be sure to wear waterproof mascara if you decide to go… Even the poncho and a pair of sunglasses will not save you.

LOCATION: 5920 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON

How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog

I got these waterproof phone pouches on Amazon specifically for the cruise and for our upcoming trip to Iceland.

It comes in a pack of two and they come with lanyards (as you can see on my neck).

The following shots were taken while using the pouch – you can’t even tell there’s plastic covering the camera!

I would highly recommend ordering your own waterproof phone pouches – they’re super useful for any water activities, whether you’re on a boat or stand-up paddle boarding!

How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
Hornblower Niagara Cruises in Niagara Falls, Ontario

Wander down Clifton Hill

The last stop of our day trip to Niagara Falls was exploring the marvellous Clifton Hill Street.

Originally we planned on checking out the Whirlpool Aero Car to get a view of the falls from a cablecar, but it was a bit farther out, and we were walking, so we decided not to.

Instead, we explored the Hershey and Coca Cola stores, walked through the Mystic Maze of Mirrors (actually a lot of fun), and took a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel.

We briefly went into the arcade and found 100 unclaimed tickets from one of those jackpot games, but we ended up giving them to a father and daughter.

There’s a haunted house (I forget the name) I went to with a friend a couple of years ago, where you walk in the dark and employees pose as monsters and try to scare you.

While inside, my friend said my name out loud and the employees all started whispering Jessica eerily… I ran out crying.

Adam and I walked by the house, and we didn’t hesitate to not go inside. *shudders*

LOCATION: Niagara Falls, ON

How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
They give you plastic gloves in the Mystic Maze of Mirrors so you don’t leave your fingerprints on the mirrors.
How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
A pretty garden we stumbled across in Niagara Falls!
Flowers in Niagara Falls, Ontario
How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
Inside the Niagara SkyWheel.

We were pretty tired from walking around all day, so we ended up leaving Niagara Falls around 4 PM.

Since the walk to the GO Station was only half an hour, we decided to do that instead of taking an Uber… Not our finest idea, but we lived.

The overall commute home (including wait times) took about 3 hours.

If you’re taking GO Transit, be sure to look at train/bus times ahead of time, or you’ll end up traveling way longer than you need to!


Day trip to Niagara Falls:

  • See the Horseshoe Falls
  • Lunch at Queen Victoria Place Restaurant
  • Experience the Falls through Hornblower Niagara Cruises
  • Wander down Clifton Hill

Hopefully you found some inspiration for your day trip to Niagara Falls!

What are some of the best things to do in Niagara Falls? How would you spend a day trip to Niagara Falls? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!

If you’re planning a trip to the Niagara Region, you might enjoy these posts as well:

Jessica Lam | Toronto lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and travel blogger | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog

How to spend a perfect day trip in Niagara Falls, Ontario | guide to spending a day at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side | summer road trip ideas near Toronto | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog
  1. Miriam Valdes-Carletti says:

    Great post ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m actually from Niagara Falls so I’m always intrigued when people go and see what they do. I worked at the Skylon Tower for 4 years and the view from the top is pretty great! If you’re ever in the mood for a hike and seeing the rapids up close, I’d highly recommend going to the gorge! (the technical name is Niagara Glen) That’s where us locals go instead of the tourist area ๐Ÿ™‚ The WEGO actually goes there too which is convenient!

  2. Diana Dors-Haisman says:

    Great post, i love the Falls i have to go a pay a visit at least once each trip or it doesn’t feel like a proper trip to Canada for me. I haven’t done the Maid in the mist boat ride yet and really want to, we usually just take a walk around the main drag and end in one of the Casino’s. Niagara-on-the-Lake is beautiful i’ve been there once in the winter time so far, i bet it’s even better in the summer/fall. ๐Ÿ™‚ x

    Diana | Travel & Lifestyle Blog | http://www.aretrobombshellsloves.blogspot.co.uk

  3. Jessica Lam says:

    I went to the Skylon Tower restaurant a few years ago and it was really nice!! I’ll definitely check out the Niagara Glen next time โ€“ I just looked it up on Insta and I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it before, it’s gorgeous! Thanks Miriam! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Jessica Lam says:

    Thanks Diana! The Maid of the Mist is so much fun โ€“ I’ve been to Niagara Falls many times and this was my first time doing it. I’d love to check out Niagara-on-the-Lake in the summertime as well, perhaps next year! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Chloe says:

    This was such a fun post to read! The photos are SO GORGEOUS! I’ve never been to Niagara Falls before and have been wanting to go for a loooong time! I am definitely going to need to plan a trip out for next Summer! ๐Ÿ™‚

    xo, Chloe // http://funinthecloset.com/skylar-body-natural-perfume/

  6. Jessica Lam says:

    Thanks so much Chloe, glad you enjoyed! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. God, I haven’t been to Niagara Falls, ON since I was a kid. Meanwhile, I swear my brother is there with his girlfriend every single week. They always go on the SkyWheel and through that maze of mirrors. So fun! Maybe I should just third wheel them sometime….lmao. Love this post! It’s always fun to see my hometown from the other side.

  8. Yolanda @ Inspire & Wander says:

    I went there last fall. It was gorgeous! We actually did the same hornblower cruise. Good captures with that waterproof bag, I need to get one of those.

  9. Kimberly Hsieh says:

    You two are so adorable! I love that you had a schedule in your phone! So detail oriented ๐Ÿ™‚ Looks like so much fun!! It’s definitely way prettier from the Canadian side haha

  10. Jessica Lam says:

    Hahaha you should do it! The SkyWheel is so much fun ๐Ÿ˜€

  11. Jessica Lam says:

    I’ve only ever been to the falls during the summer, but I can imagine how beautiful it’d be in the fall!

  12. Jessica Lam says:

    Haha thanks Kim!! I heard there’s more things to do on the Canadian side because it’s so touristy ๐Ÿ˜›

  13. Teresa Desouza says:

    Omg I love your detailed planning! Every time I try to plan out my days on vacation, nothing ever goes according to plan haha

  14. Jessica Lam says:

    Hahaha thanks girl! I planned my Hamilton trip back in June but my friend isn’t much of a hiker so we didn’t really end up doing anything lol. I have a whole google sheet for Iceland so hopefully everything goes according to plan, I’ve spent dozens of hours on it ๐Ÿ˜‚

  15. Deborah says:

    Ahh – I’ve said this before, I’ve never been to the Canadian side of Niagara falls. I’d really love to though! The last time I went, it was with my family and we took the family SUV haha!

  16. Cynthia Y. says:

    I didn’t know you can travel there by GO transit (but I guess it’s not that far anyways)! This changes things for me haha

  17. Jessica Lam says:

    Haha hopefully you get to see it sometime โ€“ apparently it’s better than the American side!

  18. Jessica Lam says:

    Haha I found out about it through all the signs at Union! It’s only during the summer that they go to Niagara Falls, but it’s a much more relaxing way to visit esp if you don’t have a car!

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