Niagara Falls FAQ: Visiting Niagara Falls

The best time to visit Niagara Falls is from late spring to early fall (May to September) when the weather is warm, the attractions are fully open, and the falls lit by sunny weather.

Here’s a quick breakdown by season:

• Spring (April–June): Fewer crowds, blooming gardens, and rising water flow. Pack a jacket—it can still be chilly near the falls.
• Summer (July–August): Peak season with warm weather, fireworks, light shows, and every tour and boat ride running. Expect bigger crowds and higher prices. If you visit around this time, be an early bird to avoid crowds and long lines.
• Fall (September–October): Stunning fall foliage, smaller crowds, and cooler weather. Great for photos and a more relaxed visit, but with attractions still open and events still happening. 
• Winter (November–March): Quiet and magical, especially when the falls partially freeze and the surroundings are coated in ice. A lot of attractions close, but the many shops and eateries are still open and welcoming. The views are fantastic and you need to visit in winter at least once.

Pro Tip: Weekdays and early mornings are the best for avoiding crowds, no matter the season.

Photographing the Falls during peak tourist days? Get up and make it there for sunrise. There will be virtually no people and fantastic lighting.

The Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF) is approximately 30 mi/48 km from the park and is easily accessible from the New York State Thruway (I-90).

Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) is much closer, only 9 mi/14 km from the falls, but is much smaller and flights are limited to just a few connecting airports (mostly in Florida).

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYC) is 78 mi/125 km from the Rainbow Bridge. (1 hour & 11 minutes). Traffic congestion on the Q.E.W. (Queen Elizabeth Way) can double the time it takes to arrive. Realistically it usually takes 90 minutes or more.

To see everything in Niagara Falls on the New York side, plan to stay for at least a day. There are easily enough attractions in the immediate area on this side of the border to fill a few days, but admittedly, the place tends to die down at night. For trips longer than a day, we highly recommend expanding the radius of your journey and checking out Fort Niagara, the Buffalo Area, and the Finger Lakes. There are hundreds more waterfalls spread across New York State to see.

On the Canadian side, all the side attractions, parks, museums and more can easily add up to a number of days, with 3 days being ample to see all of the major attractions, sideshows, and do some shopping. Plan for an additional day to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake. And if you have the time, travel to Hamilton for a day to see Dundurn Castle, the botanical gardens, and the art gallery there.

While parking near the Falls is going to be limited, there’s no shortage of parking and deals if you are willing to walk or get there very early. 

If you have booked a hotel, likely they have parking options with the hotel. In fact, most hotels offer paid parking for non-guests, although prices can be from $20-45/day.

In New York, you can park at the Niagara Reservation State Park near the Rainbow Bridge or on Goat Island. This is as close as you can get on the US side of the border and will only cost you $10/day. But space is limited and it fills up very quickly, so getting there in the early morning is critical. The State Park has 4 lots: 333 Prospect Street; 15 Goat Island Loop Road; 50 Goat Island Road; and 540 Discovery Way.

Outside of the park, the next best spot is at One Niagara Welcome Center on Prospect Street, right across from the park. It’s close by and they have decent rates. Avoid parking at the Rainbow Blvd Garage. Their rates are criminally high and they overcharge you when you leave.

In Ontario, there are parking lots near the Table Rock House adjacent to the Canadian Falls, known as Parking Lot A. The rate is CAD $36 for a full day and it will fill up quickly, but it is very close to the action. Another lot is just down the road at the Floral Showhouse (Parking Lot B) and is only CAD $20/day. Tucked behind Clifton Hill’s attractions, off of Clifton Pl is a massive lot that is only $15/day.

Check the black parking icons on the map below for our recommended spots.

It is estimated that roughly 13 million people visit Niagara Falls each year. Peak season is June through August.

On the New York side, yes, pets are allowed in the park, as long as they are on a 6-foot leash. Pets are not permitted in any buildings or attractions unless they are service animals. 

On the Ontario side, pets are allowed in outdoor spaces given that they are on a leash, but prohibited inside attractions and buildings.

Pets may be uncomfortable or risk injury during peak summer weekends when there are huge crowds, so it’s best to leave them home or in the hotel. 

On the New York side, there are no hotels with views of the falls.

On the Ontario side, there are several hotels that offer gorgeous views of the falls, but public opinion has Embassy Suites Fallsview at the top. It’s the tallest and best positioned. Get on the highest floor you can.

2025 Schedule – Regular Illumination

Regular illumination is then the falls cycle through various solid colors.

2025 Schedule – Special Illumination/Events

About Niagara Falls Illumination

Prior to 2016 the illumination display took 21 xenon lights rated at 4,000 watts each. 11 of those are directed towards the Horseshoe Falls, 9 on the American Falls and one centered on the Bridal Veil Falls. The bulbs last about 4 months and cost $1100 each to replace, not to mention the cost to power them. In 2016 the LEDs replaced the old setup, offering more consistent lighting, better color range, and power efficiency. Today, the lighting is far more consistent with a wider range of colors than ever before.

Illumination can be seen from either side, with the best spot to see it being from the Canadian side near the Ramblers Rest Pavilion or Grand View Observation Deck.

Yes, some organizations can.

The Niagara Falls Illumination Board (NFIB) will take requests to customize the lighting in honor of charities and special causes. This includes non-denominational, non-political registered or nonprofit charities. The request must be significant to the cause and recognized bi-nationally or internationally.

Requests are not considered for the following:

• Commercial requests (e.g. product launches)
• Personal occasions (e.g. birthdays, marriage proposals)
• Religious or political events or observations
• Institutions or professions (e.g. hospitals, schools)

Those that qualify can submit a request using an online form.

The 2025 Fireworks series runs every night from May 19 to October 9, 2025 at 10 p.m.

The show lasts about 5-10 minutes. All dates and times subject to change and dependent upon weather and wind conditions.

Best places to see them

Queen Victoria Park in Canada, one of the best places to view the falls. The walkway along the gorge will close preceding the show. Reserve a spot on the other side of the Niagara River Parkway as early as 9 pm to get a decent view. The closer to Canadian Falls, the better. The Skylon Tower and the Niagara Skywheel are two amazing experiences during the show, but they tend to jack up prices around this time.

On the US side, Goat Island and the Observation Tower offer the best views.

No matter what spot you choose, getting the best view relies on getting to a spot at least an hour before showtime.

The fireworks launch from the Canadian side, in a spot in the gorge between the American and Canadian Falls, but are clearly visible from both sides of the border.

On the New York side, the observation tower offers distant but panoramic views. The area by American Falls on the side by the Observation Tower is also well positioned for excellent views. Terrapin Point is also a great spot to catch them from.

On the Ontario side, the area by the Zipline and River City Cruise ticket booth is popular. Another good spot is from the area around the Table Rock building.

For a unique perspective, try the Skylon Tower observation deck, the Niagara Skywheel or any of the resorts’ fallsview dining rooms, although watch for inflated pricing during this time.

On the New York side, Niagara Falls State Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. However, park attractions are seasonal and have their own schedules. Attractions typically close before sundown.

On the Ontario side, the parks along the Canadian side offer views of the falls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as well. Attractions each have their own hours, with most closing at sundown. Businesses tend to remain open later on this side of the border with some spots on Clifton Hill and Victory Ave remaining open late well into the evening.

We get this question a lot. The waterfalls are not turned off at night. They are a part of a natural river and it flows constantly. Water flow may decrease slightly at night as more water is diverted to power generation when tourists aren’t watching. 

The lights that illuminate the falls are usually turned off at 1 or 2 am depending on the illumination schedule.

You must be 19 years of age or older to drink alcoholic beverages or visit a casino in Ontario.

You must be 21 to drink alcohol or visit a casino in New York. No, you cannot purchase alcohol in Canada and bring it into New York if you are under 21.

Government issued ID is required as proof of age on both sides of the border. A US passport or state driver’s license is accepted in Ontario and a passport or Ontario Driver’s license is accepted in New York.

There are currently three casinos in the Niagara Falls vicinity: one on the US side and two in Canada.

Canada

• Fallsview Casino Resort – The single largest provincial investment ever made in the Niagara region and is currently the largest commercial development in Canada. The 2.5 million square foot complex includes more than 3,000 slot machines and 150 gaming tables, a 368-room five-star hotel, fine-dining restaurants, a health spa, shopping mall, a 1,500-seat theatre and more. Distance from the Falls: 2,000 ft.
• Casino Niagara – The first casino constructed near Niagara Falls. Featuring 1,700 slot and video poker machines, 70 tables of gaming excitement, three restaurants, three bars and live music performances. The Market Buffet serves an all-you-can-eat menu inspired by cuisine from around the world. The Sports Section offers multi-sport wagering with plush seating and walls of HD screens. Distance from the Falls: 3,000 ft.

USA

• Seneca Niagara Casino – A massive casino and the only one on the American side, Seneca-Niagara offers plenty of slots and table games as well as shops, restaurants and world-class shows. The resort features unrivaled luxury accommodations and a first-class spa. The casino floor has an area of 112,590 square feet with an impressive 2,000+ slot machines. Distance from the Falls: 3,000 ft.

Various tours are available from numerous businesses on either side of the border.

Golf is big business in the Niagara region. Several public courses are open on either side of the river, with several more in the making. Most courses close to the falls lie on the Canadian side, while in the United States, more courses can be found further south towards Tonawanda and Buffalo. Unfortunately, no course will give you a view of the Falls, but the Whirlpool Golf Club is positioned along the Niagara Gorge just above the Whirlpool Rapids.

Golf courses in the Niagara region have lush rolling hills and plenty of ponds. Most courses provide driving ranges and putting greens for warming up and clubhouses and accommodation packages for extended stays. We highly recommend you call ahead to confirm fees and tee times. We compiled a list of the most popular public courses near Niagara Falls:

On the American side:

On the Canadian side:

The best views of Niagara Falls are subjective. I feel that there are so many places to get a clear view of either falls, that the choices below are simply recommendations for different/must-see spots. Here’s my list of spots that give you wonderful views of all of the falls together:

• Rainbow Bridge (US/Canadian Border)
  • The walkway across the US/Canada border gives you a panoramic view of both falls and the skyline of the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario. It’s the best way to capture it all in one frame. 
• Skylon Tower (Ontario, Canada)
  • The aging tower is still a top attraction. The windowed elevator ride up the exterior is worth the price of admission alone, but once up, you are free to walk around the 360° observation deck for as long as you want. It’s an open deck with a steel chain-link fence protecting visitors. The gaps in the fence easily allow clear photos through. Signage around the deck tells you what landmarks are in any direction. This is the best way to get a bird’s eye view of the falls.
• Niagara City Cruises/Zipline building (Ontario, Canada)
  • The complex that houses the relatively new Zipline Launch as well as the River City Cruises (what they call the Maid of the Mist) has a 4 story tower that offers a clear view of both falls. While the Zipline attraction has taken over the top floor, the one below it was still open to the public as of 2022.

Attractions such as the Journey Behind the Falls (Ontario) and Cave of the Winds (New York) get you closer but not full views of all of the falls.

Horseshoe/Canadian Falls

• Walkway outside of Table Rock on the Canadian side.
  
• The observation platform in the Journey Behind the Falls Attraction (Paid)
• The west-most observation point on Goat Island (New York). West of the Top of the Falls restaurant.

American Falls

• From the Canadian side, view from directly across the river at the Niagara City Cruises Building. Buying a ticket and riding the boat will get you closer.
• The observation area on Luna Island between American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. 
• The Cave of the Winds deck on the New York side (Paid).

For the New York side, mostly. In Niagara Falls Reservation State Park in New York, all of the attractions and most footpaths are fully accessible, suitable for wheelchairs and provide excellent views of Niagara Falls. The surrounding streets, shops, restaurants, and various outside attractions do a wonderful job at ADA compliance, but there’s still work to be done.

On the Ontario side, mostly. The parks and attractions on the Canadian side that are run by Niagara Parks are very accessible, including several that you wouldn’t expect, such as the White Water Walk and Journey Behind the Falls. Some attractions offer support workers (ask at the ticket booth).

Many of the outside attractions are accessible as well, and many hotels offer wheelchair and scooter rentals. Note that some streets on the Canadian side have a steep gradient, such as Clifton Hill and Fallsview Blvd. You should plan to avoid those streets when navigating, or booking a hotel.