Can You Go To Canada Side Of Niagara Falls Without A Passport
International visitors cannot go to the Canada side of Niagara Falls without a passport and visa or other relevant travel documents. US citizens visiting Niagara Falls Canada are required to show a passport, passport card or enhanced drivers license at the immigration checkpoint. However, for a minor accompanied by the parent or guardian, a birth certificate is sufficient.
What You Must Know Before Visiting The Niagara Falls
- Your clothes are likely to get wet at the Niagara Falls. Shorts and quick dry trousers are much better than jeans. At the same time, sandals are better than wearing shoes and socks.
- Choose the right time to visit. During the summers, the falls have a heavy flow and the park gets crowded.
- During winters, the falls freeze and present an outworldly site. The crowds are much lesser as well. However, getting drenched in the mist is how you actually visit the Niagara Falls.
- Unless you have your own car, traveling from New York to Niagara by public transport is quite the hassle. The public transport within Niagara is practically non-existent hence getting from one place to the other via local taxis can cost you a lot. We recommended taking an organized tour from New York to Niagara for the optimal experience.
- Outside the Niagara Falls entrance, there is a mall complex with multiple food kiosks and souvenir. You have cuisine options from Indian to Chinese and Arabic.
Where To Eat Drink And Sleep
New York City has any kind of food you can imagine. For Italian food or classic deli fare, Lucciola and Katzs Delicatessen are popular choices. During your stay, you may want to get a drink at a swanky cocktail bar, such as The Dead Rabbit NYC. There are many lodging options to choose from, with the Warwick New York being a comfortable option.
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How Long Does It Take To Drive
If you have a vehicle, the drive takes six and a half hours and passes through all of New Jersey and northern Pennsylvania before re-entering New York State and continuing up to Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls State Park on the U.S. side of the border has four parking lots that are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, which cost $10 to park for the day during the week. However, on weekends and holidays they fill up quickly and cost $15 for the day. If they’re full, there are paid parking lots around downtown Niagara Falls as well as metered street parking, all of which are just a short walk from the waterfall viewing points.
You’ve Sampled Some Of The Best Nightlife In New York City And Now It’s Time To Venture Into The Great Outdoors
On the other side of New York state is something just as breathtaking as the City That Never Sleeps: Niagara Falls, a natural marvel surrounded by history, culture and culinary delights.Located in western New York between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls is about 640 kilometers northwest of New York City. Like New York City, Niagara Falls has cold winters followed by hot summers, but is a popular year-round destination. From New York City, travelers can access Niagara Falls by bus, train and car. Since buses and trains make several stops, renting a car and driving is the most direct way to reach Niagara Falls. It takes about six and a half hours from New York City, with the most direct route cutting through Pennsylvania and into central New York’s Finger Lakes region, a scenic hilly area cut by glaciers centuries ago. Today the region is home to more than 400 wineries.
Get to Know Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls consists of three major waterfalls that straddle the U.S.-Canada border between Ontario, Canada, and New York State. They are Horseshoe Falls , American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls . Every second, 3,160 tons of water flow over Niagara Falls, which produce more than 4 million kilowatts of electricity shared by the United States and Canada.
Niagara Falls in Niagara Falls State Park
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Vi Walking From American Side Of Niagara Falls Crossing Rainbow Bridge
If you are visiting Niagara Falls on the American side, walk across the Rainbow Bridge to reach Canadian side for a much better view of the Falls. Before crossing, make sure that you have all the travel documents to cross the border and get back. See paragraph I Travel Documents. From Canadian side, walk the promenade following the river till Horseshoe Falls enjoying exhilarating scenery of presented by the Falls.
If you are on Canadian side, and want to cross Rainbow Bridge You should have your passport and US visa if you want to cross to the American side. If you are a citizen of Visa Waiver country See I94 W ESTA& Land crossing from Canada.
International Border on Rainbow Bridge
If you only want to walk on the Rainbow bridge to take in the views, you should have you Canadian Travel documents to come back to Canada.
Rainbow Bridge
Do Niagara Falls Freeze
Parts of Niagara Falls freeze in extreme winters, but there is always some water flowing. Formation of ice on the river and giant icicles over the Falls gives the impression that the Falls has frozen, but it does not. In 1848, the Falls stopped flowing for a few hours not due to freezing, but because an ice jam in the Upper Niagara River stopped the flow of water. As recently as January 2018, Niagara Falls was frozen almost entirely.
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What Is The Cheapest Way To Get From New York City To Niagara Falls
Whether you go by bus, train, or plane, there isn’t a huge difference in prices. However, the bus tends to be slightly cheaper than the other two. The company OurBus offers daily journeys that start at $45 for a one-way trip. The bus route is direct but takes nearly eight hours, so be prepared to spend an entire day of your vacation in transit.
Buses leave New York City from the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal, located in Washington Heights at the northern tip of Manhattan. The station in Niagara Falls is right in the heart of the town next to the Niagara Falls Visitor Center, so you’ll be able to step off of the bus and immediately see the falls.
Niagara Falls State Park
To see the waterfalls from solid ground, youll want to head to Niagara Falls State Park. Theres no admission although youll have to pay $10 for parking . My favorite lot is P2, which puts you on Goat Island close to viewpoints for the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. You can easily walk from here to Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist, as well.
Goat Island itself sits in the Niagara River, separating Bridal Veil from Horseshoe Falls. There are paved paths taking you to several observation points on the rim of the falls, views of the river rapids above the falls, and places to spread out with a picnic. Keep an eye out for black squirrels . For more views of the rapids, cross over to Three Sisters Islands.
Most people will want to spend an hour or two walking to all the viewpoints, snapping a hundred photos, and taking in the scenery. Its worth going twice, once in the daylight and once after dark to see the falls lit up. Theres also a self-guided walking tour that you can access from a free app for trivia and stories.
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How Much Does It Cost To Go Over The Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge over the Niagara River connects the cities of Niagara Falls, Canada and Niagara Falls, USA. The toll for crossing Rainbow Bridge is different for different types of vehicles. Pedestrian toll is $1.00 and is collected by an automatic turnstile when leaving Canada. For cars, the toll is $3.75 USD or $4.75 CAD and is collected when leaving the United States. For more details, click here .
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There are now five different guided day trips by bus that you can choose from. What they include, what you can expect and which of the day trips I can personally recommend, I tell you here.
Ill show you even more wonderful destinations around the Big Apple in my post on the best day trips from New York and on the best all-season road trips in New York.
| Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance | Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance | Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance | Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance | Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance |
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How Many Tourists Visit Niagara Falls Each Day
Approximately 12 million visitors visit the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, each year. Though Niagara Falls welcomes visitors year round, May to September is peak season. The weather is pleasant during this time and all the attractions are open. The number of visitors is highest during summer and holiday weekends. At the busiest time, there could be around 50,000 visitors to Niagara Falls on a single day.
What To Know About The Route
This New York to Niagara Falls road trip spans about 460 miles, which is around 7.5 hours of driving time in total. Driving along this route will give you the opportunity to visit one of the most vibrant cities in the world while also exploring the beautiful scenery of New York state. You will start in New York City, then take I-87 North to New Paltz. From here, you will get back on I-87 to head to Albany. Your next stop will be Syracuse, which can be reached by taking I-90 W. After Syracuse, you will go to Buffalo by continuing to drive along I-90 W. In Buffalo, you will get on I-190 N to travel to your final destination of Niagara Falls. Renting an SUV for your journey can be a convenient choice, as it will give you plenty of room to store any recreational equipment and can provide stability if you happen to be driving in rain or snow.
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Where Can I Get The Best Photo
To be honest, every photo op and angle is spectacular in its own right. The only consideration is from what height and distance you want your picture taken. There are all sorts of free vantage points on both sides and many attractions provide a vantage point you may have never imagined. One of our favorite photo spots is the Hurricane Deck of Cave of the Winds, though its best to have someone standing outside of the torrential downpour taking your picture or your phone will be ruined.
The Most Comfortable Option To Discover The Stunning Falls In One Day With All Inclusive
Perfect if you are looking for the fastest, most comfortable and complete option to live the full experience of visiting the Falls at the most affordable price. Includes the Maid of the Mist cruise.
Duration:
This is the fastest way to visit Niagara Falls, as the tour takes you to and from downtown New York in one day. The ride to Niagara Falls from New York is by bus, so it will be a busy day but totally worth it.
During the day you will visit Niagara Falls State Park, whose entrance fee is included in the price. In addition, you can take a boat ride over Niagara Falls on the legendary Maid of the Mist, which will be the highlight of the day. In addition, you will have enough time to discover the Niagara Gorge Trail, a route full of leafy trails that is well worth the walk and you will also pass by Goat Island and Luna Island, two small islands located in the middle of the Falls that will allow you to have breathtaking views.
Why I like this option: in just one day you will visit the must-see spots of the park, leaving nothing pending on the list of things to see and do in Niagara Falls. The Maid of the Mist cruise will take your breath away, but the views you’ll get from other points in the park are key. The expert guide will make sure you don’t miss a thing and the price is very reasonable for all that is included.
Recommended if… you don’t want to miss this unique natural site in the world without having to spend days in New York.
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What You Can Expect
Get up-close looks at Niagara Falls and check out nearby museums on this 2-day trip from New York City. With convenient transportation by rail, plenty of leisure time to explore, and a special boat trip on the iconic Maid of the Mist, uncover the beauty and fun of this unique border town and spectacular natural wonder.
Day 1:Head to the train station in New York to catch your morning train to Niagara Falls. Enjoy the scenic ride as you wind through upstate New York and hop off when you arrive to meet up with your guide and drive to your hotel. Get tips on when to check out the evening’s laser light show, displayed in the falls’ immense, misty cloud and then head out to explore the on your own.
Day 2:In the morning, get picked up by your driver and head to the water, where you can climb aboard the decks of the Maid of the Mist, a sturdy vessel that takes visitors right next to Niagara Falls’ thundering cascades. Enjoy the views from the cozy interior or head outside to immerse yourself in the mist.
Back on land, head to the top of the falls, where you can take in lofty views from the Niagara Falls Observation Tower. Or, make your way into town to visit any number of intriguing museums, including the Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum, Wax Museum, or Science Museum, which offers incredible exhibits perfect for kids.
How Long Is The Train Ride
The train may be one of the most relaxing ways to reach Niagara Falls from New York City, but it’s also the slowest and generally the most expensive. It’s a nearly nine-hour journey, so you’ll use up an entire day just sitting on the train, and with tickets starting at $68, you’ll likely spend more than taking the bus or even a plane. However, if you want to visit other Upstate New York destinations, such as Albany, Rochester, the Hudson River Wine Valley, or the Finger Lakes, the train passes through all of them en route to Niagara Falls.
Amtrak trains depart from the Moynihan Train Hall, the expansion to Penn Station that opened in January of 2021. The Niagara Falls Station is located two miles from downtown and the viewpoints to see the falls, and it’s easiest to use a cab or ride-sharing service to get there.
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Ii Driving To Niagara Falls Canada
From Toronto, ON
It takes approximately 1.5 hours to reach Niagara Falls from Toronto area. Highway QEW is the main route that connects the two cities. Plan your trip here.
From Buffalo, NY
An approximate 30 minute drive from Buffalo will get you to the majestic Horseshoe falls. Rainbow Bridge connects Niagara State Park and Niagara Falls. See Border crossing wait times here.
From other parts of US depending on where you are coming from, you can choose from one of the three bridges to cross Niagara River to Canada. Approximate Fees: $3.75 US $4.75 CAD
Also, note that Canada follows metric system and speed limits are in kilometers.
Rainbow Bridge Seen from Table Rock Welcome Centre
What Is Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is the collective name of three sets of waterfalls, namely Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls & American Falls. Cities in the Canadian province of Ontario and American state of New York, where the falls are located also share the name Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls was formed due to the melting of the glaciers at the end of the last ice age. When the glaciers melted, the Lake Erie emptied into Lake Ontario through Niagara River causing the gigantic water falls. Goat Island situated upstream in the Niagara River splits the river causing the separation of falls into two Horseshoe Falls and American + Bridal Veil Falls.
Further downstream, Luna Island splits the Niagara River into American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.
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How Much Does It Cost To See The Falls
If youre on the U.S. side, Niagara Falls State Park is free to enter and gaze upon the falls, but some attractions within the park are ticketed and require an admission fee, like the Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds. The Niagara Falls USA Discovery Pass is a discount pass that includes admission to Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, the Aquarium of Niagara, and one day of trolley rides within Niagara Falls State Park, but it does not allow you to skip lines.
The Canadian side has free views too, but there are parking costs, as well as fees to sites like Journey Behind the Falls, the Hornblower boat tour, and the Zipline to the Falls. The Wonder Pass is the Canadian discount pass, but it doesnt allow you to skip lines and it doesnt include the Hornblower or the Zipline.
INSIDER TIPChildren under 6 are free at most attractions on both sides of the Falls.