Niagara Falls FAQ: Visiting Niagara Falls

2023 Schedule – Regular Illumination

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

2023 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.

The 2023 Fireworks series runs every night from May 19 to October 9, 2023 at 10 p.m.

The show lasts about 5 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 9pm 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.

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 west-most observation point on Goat Island (New York). West of the Top of the Falls restaurant.

Rainbow/American Falls

• From the Canadian side, view from directly across the river at the Maid of the Mist/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.