7 reasons to choose the Canadian side of Niagara Falls

Robin McKelvie

Robin McKelvie

Some of the tourist wonders of the world can be - whisper it - a little underwhelming. The same cannot be said of Niagara Falls, an epic natural wonder that straddles the border between the USA and Canada*.

But not all Niagara Falls* trips are created equal, with Canada the place for savvy travellers looking to savour the life-affirming experience of visiting the falls. While boat cruises on both sides are similar, there are other reasons to opt for a view from the Canadian side.

Getting to Niagara Falls: find great value holidays to Niagara Falls in Canada with Travelbag*, the expert in mid-to-long-haul escapes.

The view

Mother Nature has done Canada a huge favour: it offers the best views of the trio of waterfalls, full stop. There is the mighty Horseshoe Falls, also known as the 'Canadian Falls', as well as the smaller American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls.

You get to see each of these falls in full, from surging top to frothing bottom, full-frontal across the Niagara Gorge. You can wander along the free viewing galleries and the walkway that lines the gorge to enjoy the million-dollar views for nowt.

Even if you're staying on the US side, it's worth nipping over the Rainbow Bridge just for the Canadian views. You've seen the movies and the postcards, but nothing prepares you for the sheer power and beauty of 168,000 cubic metres of water tumbling down a whopping 50 metres every minute.

Better places to bed down & dine

They've allowed more development on the Canadian side, which has its positives. A huge plus is the range of accommodation at all levels. My favourite hotel is the Hilton Niagara Fallsview Hotel & Suites, a towering oasis that offers a bird's eye view of Niagara Falls. Make sure to get as high a room as possible and also one facing the falls!

Get up early for breakfast to snare a coveted window table at their 33rd-floor Watermark Restaurant. For dining, the US side has Top of the Falls, but the Table Rock Restaurant also has views of the falls right next to them on the Canadian side.

And they offer Ontario pork slow cooked in local cider, alongside a choice of local craft beers; Niagara wines, too, in this seriously underrated wine region.

Table Rock Centre

This is the one-stop Niagara Falls visitor experience. It is packed with places to eat, shop and snare ice cream; there is even a wine bar.

Delve below ground to the horror-movie-evoking dark tunnels that lead out to a brace of peeping holes right in the midst of the Horseshoe Falls. Don't dash back up and miss the lower-level viewing deck, as it's great for snapping photos.

Diversity of experiences

Canada really excels here. We've already delved into some of the experiences on offer. But to that line-up, you can swirl in Zipline to the Falls. Your adrenaline pumps as you race 670 metres past the American Falls to land on an observation deck at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.

Then there is the White Water Walk. Descend to the river and eke along a quarter of a mile boardwalk that brings out the full force of the lifeblood Niagara River, with its unraftable Grade Six rapids.

And we've not even covered the golf courses, the Whirlpool Aero Car (which hovers over 1,000 metres above the Niagara River) and the kid-friendly Butterfly Conservatory.

Many of the sites are covered by the handy WEGO buses that are organised by Niagara Parks year-round. Come in autumn for the legendary fall colours; in winter for snow and ice.

Nocturnal fun at the power station

The Canadian side is not a place to rest on its hard-won laurels and is constantly looking to add more value for visitors. You could already visit the hulking Niagara Parks Power Station by day, but now small groups are allowed down the mine-shaft-style lift into the bowels of this historical timepiece at night.

You'll be greeted by smooth DJ lounge tunes and a multi-coloured lighting display. Huge information boards tell the story of its unlikely construction. The wide, high tunnel snakes around for its dalliance with a new viewing deck right on the water.

It feels like an exclusive rave before it opens up into a viewing gallery with an epic view of the Horseshoe Falls that most people don't even know exists.

Blackpool

Stick with me here, no matter what you think of the English original. Most of the Niagara Falls experiences are daytime so visitors crave things to do at night. Yes, there are casinos and bars, but Canada also excels with a swathe of unpretentious family fun around Clifton Hill with its Blackpool-esque 'Street of Fun'.

Gorge at Boston Pizza before setting the wee ones free in the Great Canadian Midway, with its swathe of arcades and rides. It's cheesy and it's tacky, but it's also an awful lot of fun zipping around on roller-coasters, simulators and old-school fairground delights that transcend cynicism.

Look out too for the Niagara SkyWheel, the largest observation wheel in Canada, which lets you witness Niagara Falls illuminated at night.

Toronto

You could visit the US city of Buffalo if you chose the other side of the falls, but why would you when you can savour Toronto* just a two-hour train ride away?

It makes for a great twin-centre break. Canada's largest city is a skyscraper-kissed wonder alive with sights. Peer over the city and Lake Ontario from the vaulting CN Tower, at 553 metres the tallest land-based freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere.

Dip down for a harbour cruise to get another perspective of Toronto along with the cormorants, indulge in a foodie feast at St Lawrence Market and check out the Royal Ontario Museum, the largest museum in Canada.

Ontario* itself, Canada's most populous province, is a sprawling wonder with loads more to do; check out its main website for more ideas.

Climate in Niagara Falls

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall

The above guide shows the climate in Niagara Falls. Find out more about the weather across the province in our complete guide to the climate in Ontario.

Ready to see Niagara Falls from Canada? See all current offers on holidays from Travelbag.

More about Ontario

Ontario by month

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Robin McKelvie

Robin McKelvie

Robin McKelvie is a Scottish travel writer, author and broadcaster. He has visited over 100 countries and regularly writes about Scotland and the Canary Islands. As well as frequently contributing to Weather2Travel.com, Robin writes for publications including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian, The Times and Wanderlust, and has authored more than 30 guidebooks.

Posted in: City Excursions Nature North America

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