Niagara Falls
One of the world's most famous waterfalls - a thundering curtain of water plunging over the Horseshoe Falls, best seen from the Canadian side, with boat trips into the spray.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Niagara Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world, where the Niagara River plunges over a great precipice on the border between Canada and the United States. It is the sheer volume and power that awe, above all the broad, curving Horseshoe Falls, best seen from the Canadian side, where boat trips carry visitors into the thundering spray at the foot of the cascade.
What you actually see
- The Horseshoe Falls - the broad, curving main cascade.
- The boat trip - the voyage into the spray at the foot of the falls.
- The illumination - the falls floodlit in colour after dark.
- The viewpoints - the promenade and towers on the Canadian side.
When to go
Late spring to early autumn for the warmest weather and the boat trips, which run in the warm season; the falls are dramatic year-round and freeze spectacularly in deep winter. Evenings bring the colourful illumination.
Honest expectations
The falls themselves are magnificent, but the town around them, with its casinos, wax museums and tacky attractions, is garishly commercial, which jars for many. The Canadian side has the best views. The boat trip is a highlight but you will get soaked. It is very busy in summer.
Nearby
The pretty town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wine country are close; Toronto is 90 minutes away.
What to pack for Niagara Falls
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
