Three waterfalls — the Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil falls — pour over the Niagara Escarpment on the border between New York State and Ontario. The American side has the oldest state park in the country and gets you closest to the water; the Canadian side has the panorama. With a passport, do both in a day.
Things to do in Niagara
Maid of the Mist
The boats have sailed into the basin of the Horseshoe Falls since 1846. You get a poncho and you get soaked. From the Observation Tower in Niagara Falls State Park.
See tours and tickets partner link2Cave of the Winds
An elevator takes you down to wooden decks at the foot of Bridal Veil Falls; the Hurricane Deck is a few feet from the torrent. Sandals and poncho provided.
See tours and tickets partner linkNiagara Falls State Park
The oldest state park in the US (1885), designed by Frederick Law Olmsted: Prospect Point, Terrapin Point on Goat Island, and the Three Sisters Islands in the rapids.
The Canadian side
Walk across the Rainbow Bridge to Ontario for the front-on view of the Horseshoe Falls along the Niagara Parkway, Journey Behind the Falls, and the falls illuminated every night.
5Niagara-on-the-Lake
In Canada, 30 minutes north: a 19th-century town surrounded by vineyards known for ice wine.
American or Canadian side?
| US side (New York) | Canadian side (Ontario) | |
|---|---|---|
| View | Close-up, from above and beside the falls | The full panorama of all three falls |
| Feel | Park, nature, quieter | Neon, casinos, towers, busier |
| Boat | Maid of the Mist | Niagara City Cruises |
| Entry | No border | Passport; foreign visitors may need an eTA or visa for Canada and to re-enter the US |
Where to stay in Niagara
Stay on the Canadian side for the views from your window, on the US side for calm, or in Buffalo for value.
Our 2 hotel picks in Niagara
Photos, facilities and tips →
Boutique$$$$Red Coach Inn
Niagara Falls, NY, facing the Upper Rapids, 500 yards from the brink of the falls
A 1923 Tudor inn facing the Upper Rapids, 500 yards from the brink of the falls, with breakfast cooked to order.
Boutique$$$$The Giacomo
Downtown Niagara Falls, NY, a walk from the state park
A 54-room art deco tower from 1929, with a 19th-floor view room and the falls a walk away.
Niagara Falls, NY
$$$$Best for: the state park
Hotels steps from the park and the Rainbow Bridge.
Hotels in Niagara Falls, NY partner linkNiagara Falls, Ontario
$$$$Best for: falls-view rooms
Tower hotels with rooms overlooking the falls (passport needed).
Hotels in Niagara Falls, Ontario partner linkBuffalo
$$$$Best for: value, food
Thirty minutes away: architecture, the waterfront and the birthplace of chicken wings.
Hotels in Buffalo partner linkWeather in Niagara by month
Compare every destination month by month in the when-to-go explorer.
Niagara: your questions
Is Niagara Falls better from the US or Canada?
The Canadian side has the best panoramic view; the US side gets you closer to the water. Do both if you have a passport.
Can you see Niagara Falls in a day trip from New York City?
Not comfortably by car (7 hours each way). Fly to Buffalo in the morning and back at night, or stay overnight.
When does the Maid of the Mist run?
Usually from April to early November, depending on the ice.
Do I need a passport to walk to Canada at Niagara Falls?
Yes. Everyone crossing the Rainbow Bridge goes through border control, and foreigners need the right documents to re-enter the US.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Prices are in US dollars, before sales tax.