Niagara Falls, Canada is the perfect weekend getaway destination for families, couples, and urban explorers alike. Feel the roar of millions of litres of water at Journey Behind the Falls. Dive into the region’s industrial heritage at the Niagara Power Station, and take in 360-degree views from the famous Niagara SkyWheel.
Our fun-filled 2-day itinerary maps out how to experience all of the city’s bucket-list sites seamlessly.
Table of Contents
2-Day Niagara Falls Itinerary
- Day 1
- See the natural wonder of Horseshoe Falls.
- Get even closer on a Journey Behind the Falls.
- Visit the beautiful Butterfly Conservatory.
- Check out the mesmerizing Night Show “Currents” at the Power Station.
- Day 2
- Get soaked on the Hornblower Cruise right up to the Falls OR ride high (and dry) along the ZipLine.
- Learn about the power of water at the Niagara Falls Power Station.
- Visit Clifton Hill’s attractions and ride the SkyWheel.
- In the evening, try your luck at Niagara casinos.
- Extra Day (Day 3)
- Take a White Water Walk along the Niagara River OR soar high over the river aboard the Whirlpool Aero Car.
- Learn more about Niagara’s history by visiting the local Museum and battlefield.
We recommend purchasing a Niagara Falls Pass. This handy pass covers several of the tourist sites that are administered by Niagara Parks and includes parking and transportation on WEGO. (Parking and transportation can be around $50 per day.)
Map of Niagara Falls Attractions
Niagara Falls Attraction Guide
Below is a complete guide to each of the major stops featured in our itinerary. Click any attraction to jump straight to our specific tips, historical facts, and what you need to know before you visit.
- Horseshoe Falls
- Journey Behind the Falls
- Niagara Butterfly Conservatory
- Hornblower Cruise to the Falls
- ZipLine to the Falls
- Niagara Parks Power Station
- Clifton Hill District
- Niagara SkyWheel
- Casinos at Niagara Falls
- White Water Walk
- Whirlpool Aero Car
- Niagara Falls History
Horseshoe Falls
The best place to view Niagara Falls is just outside of the Table Rock Welcome Centre.
From this viewpoint, peer right over the edge of these impressive falls. At Horseshoe Falls, the water of the Niagara River drops 55 metres over the edge of the resistant dolostone bedrock. The force of the water has dug a 30-metre-deep plunge pool at the base of the falls. Gradually, the power of the water is breaking away these soft lower rocks and moving the falls southward as much as 1 metre a year. This rate has slowed to centimetres a year since large amounts of water are diverted for hydroelectric power generation.
To admire both Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls, located across the river gorge, walk north from the Welcome Centre on the sidewalk beside the Niagara Parkway.
The 12-kilometre-long Niagara Gorge traces the path of the falls over the last 12,000 years from Queenston to its current spot. The rocks of the sides of the gorge are 400 million years old.
Journey Behind the Falls
For an up-close view of Niagara Falls, take the ‘Journey Behind the Falls’ located at the Welcome Centre.
An elevator descends 38 metres to tunnels drilled into the bedrock. Exit the elevator at the Lower Observation Deck, right beside the roaring falls. Get a little wet, but it’s a lot of fun. (They supply rain ponchos too!)
A network of tunnels, carved over 100 years ago, leads to two portals. The Cataract Portal and the Great Falls Portal are located directly behind the falls. Feel the power of the falls up close.
Niagara Butterfly Conservatory
The large, glass-walled conservatory is home to over 2000 vibrantly-coloured butterflies.
It is an incredible sight as over 45 different species flutter all around you in this amazing, warm, tropical environment.
There are over 180 metres of meandering pathways along water features and beds of tropical vegetation. Feeding tray stations are throughout the building, allowing an up-close look at the butterflies.
Through an observation window, see the “nursery” where the young butterflies hang in their pupae stage, just before they hatch and take off for their first-ever flights.
After the Butterfly Conservatory, enjoy a visit to the surrounding Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
The gardens are 40 hectares of beautiful landscapes. There are several walking trails between the different areas including a tree arboretum, a herb garden, and finally, an amazing rose garden with over 2,400 roses.
The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture is located on the grounds. Students learn about the science of horticulture and contribute to the grounds-keeping of the Botanical Gardens.
Hornblower Cruise to the Falls
This is a must-do, signature attraction.
The 20-minute boat tour travels right up to the natural wonder, Niagara Falls. See both the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls on this unforgettable journey. Be prepared to hear the roar (and get soaked).
The Hornblower Cruise to the Falls is located at the base Clifton Hill.
Note: The original “The Maid of the Mist” tour company only operates from the American side of the border. It does not operate from the Canadian side anymore.
ZipLine to the Falls
This is the attraction for the thrill seekers. Get ready to be strapped in and soar. At the WildPlay ZipLine, ride four parallel ziplines on a 670-metre ride along the Niagara River gorge toward Niagara Falls. Hit speeds of up to 70 km/h before the ride ends at the Falls observation landing platform.
Niagara Parks Power Station
The Niagara Parks Power Station is an impressive museum. This station was in operation for 100 years before being decommissioned in 2006.
Its displays show how electricity was generated using the power of the Niagara River. We were amazed to learn that 50-75% of the Niagara River’s water gets diverted and passes through various hydroelectric plants, before returning to the river downstream.
Most of the original equipment remains in place, including the huge generator units, each with a capacity of 10,000 horsepower.
Ride the glass-panelled elevator down 55 metres and explore The Tunnel. This 670-metre long engineering feat leads out to a spectacular, unique viewing platform at the edge of the river. Imagine the excavation of this tunnel 100+ years ago with possibly unstable dynamite, pickaxes and shovels.
‘Currents’ Night Show
When evening arrives, the Niagara Parks Power Station stages an impressive performance. The station comes alive with an amazing light and sound show. This interactive experience presents an historic story. Travel from the Ice Age all the way through to the present, where the power plant’s machinery comes alive to transform water to power. It’s an exhilarating sensory experience.
Clifton Hill
For more fun things to do, check out the attractions around the Clifton Hill district. The street has the usual touristy stops including wax museums, haunted houses, arcades, candy stores and souvenir shops.
The street has improved a lot from its ‘kitschy’ roots still visible just a few years ago. There are several great restaurant options along both Clifton Hill and Victoria Avenue.
Kids love Dinosaur Adventure Park, a mini-golf course, playing their way through any amazing collection of enormous dinosaurs.
Next door is Niagara Speedway, a stupendous go-cart track. Race up to speeds of 32 km/h. Be ready to slow down on the four-story helical spiral and climb up 40 feet. The course is impressive, covering four acres.
Don’t miss Locomoland, an amazing, miniature, remote-controlled railway system. Watch the trains travelling through different scenes and landscapes.
The easiest way locate Clifton Hill is to look for the big SkyWheel.
Niagara SkyWheel
The Niagara SkyWheel is Canada’s largest observation wheel. During this fun, 8 to 12-minute ride, sit in comfortable gondolas climbing more than 50 metres above Niagara Falls. See both the American and Horseshoe Falls. For a different perspective, ride the wheel at night, and view the Niagara skyline and the flashing lights of Clifton Hill’s attractions below.
Casinos at Niagara Falls
There are two Casinos in Niagara Falls:
- Fallsview Casino Resort
- Casino Niagara
Fallsview Casino is a world-class gaming resort. They boast a gaming action area of approximately three football fields with over 3,000 slot machines and another 130 gaming tables. The resort has several restaurants and a shopping mall. For entertainment, two large theatres (with seating for 5000 and 1500 patrons) host many lives shows during the year.
Overlooking Horseshoe Falls, Fallsview Resort also has a luxury hotel with a fitness centre, spa and convention space.
Casino Niagara was the first casino in Niagara Falls. It has 1,300 slot machines and 40 gaming tables. Although only about half the size of Fallsview, patrons enjoy the many card games, promotions, and its three restaurants.
White Water Walk
On the White Water Walk, get up close to the roaring, whitewater rapids of the Niagara River.
The elevator descends 70 metres to the shore of the Niagara River. From the exit tunnel, walk the 400-metre boardwalk along the river’s edge.
With several viewing platforms, there are great views, and photo opportunities, of the 400-million-year-old Niagara Gorge and the rushing river. The waters of these dangerous Class 6 rapids flow by at an impressive speed of 48 km/h.
Whirlpool Aero Car
Another great way to see the Niagara River is from above, on the Whirlpool Aero Car.
This Aero Car is an historic tourist attraction, in operation since 1916. For the last 100 years, the Aero Car has carried visitors across the gorge with the swirling Niagara Whirlpool below. The area around the whirlpool has been a tourist attraction for a long time. In the late 1800s, this was the site of an inclined railway which took tourists from the top of the gorge to the rapids below.
The suspended Aero Car crosses the gorge between Thompson Point and Sinclair Point, 70 metres above the rapids. The whirlpool is formed, as the rushing waters from the rapids make a sharp turn at the gorge wall, causing the rapids to turn in a counterclockwise direction.
Due to the nature of the winding river, the cable car actually crosses the Canada-USA border a total of four times. Luckily no one needs to show a passport.
One more interesting fact? It is believed that Niagara Falls was at this spot about 4,000 years ago.
Niagara Falls History
Visit the Niagara Falls History Museum. Learn about the area’s history, playing a significant role during the War of 1812. At the museum, there are several displays describing the war. Try on a replica soldier’s uniform and hold a heavy musket.
The museum has historical photos of Niagara Falls’ development into today’s tourist destination.
For a walking tour of the area, pick up a Walking Tour brochure on exiting the museum (or use the online Lundy’s Lane Walking Tour pdf).
This 1.7-kilometre walking tour covers several sites including the nearby Drummond Hill Cemetery. The cemetery is the location the “Battle of Lundy’s Lane”. Historians consider it one of the bloodiest battles of the War of 1812. The brochure and nearby plaques provide further details about the battle.
Is there anything to do at Niagara Falls in the Winter?
Yes. The Falls themselves are beautiful in the winter. All of the indoor attractions remain open year-round. Plus, with fewer crowds, it is much more enjoyable.
For outdoor activities, the Winter Festival of Lights turns Niagara Falls into a winter wonderland. During the holiday season, see beautiful illuminated displays all along the Niagara Parkway.
Additionally, the Winter Festival of Lights Fireworks is Canada’s longest fireworks series.
Niagara Falls Accommodations
Looking for a hotel in Niagara Falls?
Stay right close to the falls as you explore the city surrounding area. Here are some great options:
- Embassy Suites – We stayed here and got a great view of the Falls.
- Vittoria Hotel & Suites – Highly rated hotel on Clifton Hill
Explore even more great hotels in Niagara Falls.
Explore All of our Ontario Travel Guides
Discover our complete series of detailed Ontario guides to help you plan your perfect road trip from Niagara to Lake Superior.
Main Article: Ontario Destinations
Part 1: Niagara Falls – Horseshoe Falls and Niagara River cruises (You’re reading this guide now!)
Part 2: Niagara-on-the-Lake – Wine country, Shaw Festival, and tree-lined streets
Part 3: Prince Edward County – Sandbanks dunes, wineries, and farm-to-table food
Part 4: Rideau Canal Towns – Historic locks, heritage canal, and small Ontario towns
Part 5: Ottawa – Parliament Hill, national museums, and Byward Market
Part 6: Algonquin Park – Ontario hiking paradise
Part 7: Grey County Waterfalls – Cascades along the Niagara Escarpment and Bruce Trail
Part 8: Killbear Provincial Park – Hiking, canoeing and cliff jumping
Part 9: Manitoulin Island – Freshwater island, steep cliffs, waterfalls, and Indigenous heritage
Part 10: Northern Ontario Road Trips – Three road trip routes through Canadian shield
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