Flying From New York To Niagara
The closest city to Niagara Falls is Buffalo, NY and is located 23 miles away. The flight takes under an hour, but including check-in and boarding, it should take 3-4 hours each way. Buffalo Airport Shuttle provides a private transfer service for just over $20 per person . You can also arrange taxis from the airport, which can cost as little as $10 per head if you are traveling in a large group.It still remains the fastest way to get to Niagara Falls from New York City.
Enjoy A Cruise On The Maid Of The Mist
Another way to experience the falls is from their base, and the best way to do so is by taking a cruise on the Maid of the Mist. A craft by that name has been exposing visitors to the spray from the falls since the 1840s. Now in its fifth version, the tour remains as wet as ever. Thankfully, waterproof overalls are provided free of charge.
Plan A Trip To Niagara Falls
Trippy has a ton of information that can help you plan your trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario. Start by reading the Trippy page on where to stay in Niagara Falls. Trippy members can suggest things to do in Niagara Falls like Niagara Falls. Check out some of the questions people have asked about Niagara Falls like best place . Click the button below to explore Niagara Falls in detail.
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Things To Do In Niagara
I can only really talk about my experience and as everything was closed there wasnt really much to do! We even struggled to eat in the evening as everything was closed. I was pretty surprised at how commercialized it was around there. It looked like a mini Las Vegas! I can imagine during the main season its pretty lively.
Get up early and see the sunrise. The best place to catch the sunrise is from the first bridge as you head over to the islands.
Take a walk around the parks viewing platforms in the early morning after the sunrise.
Head back towards the falls and take a walk down the river by the old train track. Its a pretty easy walk and the path is very clear. There are some pretty stunning views and good places to take a photograph.
Take a walk across Rainbow Bridge. Sadly we werent about to do this as two of our party didnt have their passports! You are entering a different country so you do need to have your passport.
When Is The Best Time To Travel To Niagara Falls
Each season in Niagara Falls has its own advantages, depending on what you’re looking for. Summer is, understandably, the peak season for tourists when prices for hotels and boat tours are at their highest. However, the warm and sunny weather more than makes up for the cost difference, and the spray of the falls even feels refreshing in the summer heat.
Winter, on the other hand, is freezing, oftentimes literally. Niagara Falls is frigidly cold in the winter, and many of the most popular attractions shut down for the season . However, hotel rates are at their cheapest and there is an undeniable charm of snowfall in Niagara.
Spring and fall are considered the shoulder season, when temperatures are still chilly but the summer crowds have yet to arrive. In spring, the local flowers are all in bloom while in autumn, the nearby wineries are celebrating the seasonal harvest.
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How To Get From New York City To Niagara Falls
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If you are thinking of taking a day trip from New York City to Niagara Falls this post contains everything you need to know!
On my last trip to New York, I decided that I needed to get out of the city more. When looking at day trips I decided on Niagara Falls. Its a bit far for a day trip from New York to Niagara Falls and back but you can do it as an overnight trip.
Do You Want To Contrast Your Visit To The City With A Natural Site
If you are one of those travelers who like to enjoy the outdoors on your vacation, discovering unique natural places that are not built or designed by the hand of man, this is a great way to give your trip to New York the perfect counterpoint. After a few days strolling through the traffic, lights and noise of the city, spending a day in nature will be the perfect break in your vacation.
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Picking A Souvenir At Niagara
There are 4 gift/souvenir shops within Niagara Falls State Park that sell officially licensed park souvenirs and merchandise. You can grab a full-line of quality souvenirs, including apparel, glassware, gifts and books, umbrellas and more.
Hot tip: The One Niagara Center outside Prospect Point has cheaper souvenirs than the ones inside the park.
From New York City To Niagara Falls By Plane
Visitors can also take a planned one-day tour by air, which includes round-trip airfare between NYC airports and Buffalo, a half-day guided tour of the attraction from both sides, a boat cruise, and a buffet lunch at the Top of the Falls restaurant. The Maid of the Mist cruise operates only during the warmer months when visiting during winter, participants are taken to the Journey Behind the Falls observation decks and portals located behind the falls. The entire tour takes approximately 14 hours and hotel transfers to and from the airport are available from properties located between 23rd and 74th streets.
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Niagara Falls From New York City Day Trip
HOW TO VISIT NIAGARA FALLS FROM NEW YORK CITY DAY TRIP
If you are holidaying in New York city and are looking for a short one day getaway , then head to the spectacular Niagara Falls. This world famous, natural wonder is a highly recommended tourist spot worth visiting. This blog is about the best way to visit Niagara Falls from New York city in a day.
Niagara Falls are located close to Canada, on the USA-Canada border. Though the distance from New York is close to 400 miles. Thanks to American Airlines, a Niagara Falls from New York day trip is possible comfortably. The flight duration from New York to Niagara falls nearest airport Buffalo is barely 50 minutes, from here it takes about half an hour by taxi to reach the falls . Travelers need to ensure that they book their to and fro tickets in advance to avoid any disappointments.
If waking up at the crack of dawn, in the midst of a vacation, to take a flight , is not what you are comfortable doing it is absolutely fine!! You have the option of catching the late morning 10am flight to be able to reach the falls easily by 11.30 am. Spending 5-6 hours are sufficient for sightseeing and enjoying this natural wonder.
Where Can I Eat Around Niagara Falls
Be it inside the park premises or in the town of Niagara, you have many restaurants to choose from. Here are the top 5 recommended restaurants in Niagara.
Top of the Falls Restaurant
This is the only restaurant that overlooks Niagara Falls and offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Tempt your tastebuds with modern American cuisine and accompany every bite with a spectacular view of the Horseshoe Falls. Distance from the falls : 0 miles
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Is It Worth Going If I Go With Children
If you doubt that the little ones will like the excursion, I’ll solve the question right away: they will be amazed. The scenery, the sound of the water, the waterfalls, the boat ride…. If we adults are impressed, visiting Niagara Falls with children can literally be the adventure of a lifetime.
However, keep in mind that the bus ride is not short, so the decision will depend more on whether they tend to fall asleep during the trip, whether they get overwhelmed or get road sick, etc.
Niagara Falls Day Trips From New York
Visiting the most popular waterfalls on the planet is an ideal plan to disconnect from the lights and chaos of New York. I leave you a list of the best organized tours and tell you if it is worth or not to make this visit.
Alex Grande
13 min read
Located on the border between the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls is made up of three breathtaking waterfalls that will make your visit an unforgettable trip. Seeing this imposing wonder of nature at least once in a lifetime is totally worth it, and it is definitely one of the must-do activities during a trip to New York, even more so if they only require one or two days of your time. Here are the best tours to visit Niagara Falls from New York:
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Road Trip From Nyc To Niagara Falls In 5
Take your time as you make the trip from New York City to Niagara Falls as you embark on this 5 day trip. Explore the lesser known destinations in upstate New York including Albany, Syracuse, and more.
Drive Time from New York City to Niagara Falls: approximately 7.5 hoursDistance from New York City to Niagara Falls:approximately 460 miles
Day 1: If you have a bit of extra time to spend on your road trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, you’ll be able to see even more of what the state has to offer. The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic buildings on the New York skyline. It also offers amazing views of the city with an elevator ride to the top observation deck on the 102nd floor instead of counting floors, you’ll count your rise in altitude.
Day 5: To finish your road trip, you’ll continue on I-90 West for just over two and a half hours and 163 miles to end up in Niagara Falls. Once you view the falls from one of the many observation points in the area, get even closer than you thought possible by heading to Cave of the Winds. This tour takes you 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge, where wooden walkways will take you just 20 feet from the crashing Bridal Veil Falls.
Walkway Over The Hudson
The Walkway Over The Hudson is a classic landmark in the mid-Hudson Valley. The walkway, now a state park, is a former railway bridge that spans from Highland on the west bank of the Hudson River to Poughkeepsie on the east bank of the river. The bridge dates from 1889 but was converted to a pedestrian bridge in 2009. Today, it is one of the top things to do in the Hudson Valley.
There is parking on both sides of the river, and there are interpretive signs along the walkway, giving you information about the bridges history and the local environment. On the Poughkeepsie side, an elevator goes from the walkway down to the banks of the Hudson River.
A tip: there is no shade on the walkway, so it is best to do this in the cooler months or on a cloudy day and summer, as otherwise, it can get very, very hot.
A great way to visit Walkway Over The Hudson is to park your car at Highland, walk over to the Poughkeepsie side, take the elevator down to the river, walk along the river to one of the nearby waterside restaurants, have lunch, and then head back to your car by doing the whole thing in reverse. This is a lovely way to spend a summer day.
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Coney Island Boardwalk Brooklyn
The Coney Island boardwalk is one of the most famous and well-known promenades globally. Getting there is easy you can hop on a 1-hour long subway ride from Manhattan or take a 25-minute drive from NYC to the coast. Located in South Brooklyn, Coney Island is a neighborhood that hosts two amusement parks, a public beachfront , a long boardwalk, and plenty of beachside attractions.
In an effort to reclaim the beach and beautify the area, construction of the Coney Island Boardwalk began in 1921, making this historic New York landmark just over 100 years old! It has undergone numerous additions, phases, and construction periods to keep up with the ever-changing times. Formally called the Riegelmann Boardwalk , this walkway now stretches more than 2.7 miles across and uses 1.3 million individual boards.
This is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Come for some classic vacation experiences with fair food, twinkling lights, and colorful backdrops to find those perfect . If you plan to visit Coney Island Boardwalk, check the event calendar before your visit. Public events like Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest, The Coney Island Mermaid Parade, and other fun events are happening all year long!
Umpteen Other Experiences Beyond The Falls
If you’re interested in history, a visit to the Old Fort Niagara with its underground gunpowder rooms, army barracks, and ancient cannons will have you spend hours here in rapt attention. If you’re looking to get up close to the might falls, you can choose from an array of experiences – the Cave of the Winds, the Maid of the Mist, the Whirlpool Jet Boat, the Hydro Power Plant Ruins and many more. Adventure lovers will also enjoy hiking around the Niagara State Park on it many marked trails.
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Getting Around Niagara Falls
Niagara Scenic Trolley
Enjoy the ease and convenience of this hop-on/hop-off trolley that will take you to 15 exclusive sites along the 14-mile route from the “Falls to the Fort.” Stops include Niagara USA Visitor Center, Aquarium of Niagara, Niagara View Points, Castellani Art Museum and the Old Niagara Fort among others. Ticket prices are as follows:
- Adult: $3
- Child : Free
Local bus
Niagara Falls Transit runs a local bus network specifically for tourists, though the center of town is small enough to be covered by foot. Regular fares are quite expensive at $2.75, but day passes for $7 can be economical if you’re looking to move about.
Taxis
Taxis in Niagara Falls start at a base fare of $2.75 and charge an additional $3 for every subsequent mile.
Best Time Of The Year To Tour Niagara Falls From New York City
The typical temperature around Niagara Falls changes greatly throughout the year. While if you go to Niagara Falls in the winter you may freeze, in the summer it is usually quite nice, with sunny and warm days. If you visit the Falls in the spring, it will most likely rain, and in the fall you can find very pleasant weather, as long as you go before November.
If you can, my recommendation is to visit in mid to late May and between September and October. It is certainly the best time to go to Niagara Falls, you will have better weather and you will also avoid most of the tourists, who come in summer.
If the weather doesn’t help or doesn’t suit you, we recommend you to do the Washington tour from New York or the Philadelphia tour from New York, where the weather will be less important to enjoy the tours.
- Winter
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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.
About The Niagara Falls Tour
There are a few different tours you can take. Being a budget traveler I chose the cheapest option and then roped my mum and her partner in to make it even cheaper! The normal cost is $135 if there are four of you and you all share a room its $300! So its worked out really cheap. But all it included is getting there and back and the hotel. Once you get on the bus they will try and sell you all of the extras including the jet boats and evening entertainment.
Now, if you asked my mum how she liked this particular tour she would tell you she hated every moment of it and would NEVER go on another. I, on the other hand, thought it was brilliant! So here is a rundown of the tour from both viewpoints.
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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.