16 Epic Things To Do in Niagara Falls
Epic Activities in Niagara Falls!
Niagara Falls is pretty epic itself! There are so many amazing, interesting, and fun things to do there!
Here is my list of the most epic activities to do in Niagara Falls, Canada.
As there are so many amazing things to do in Niagara Falls, this is part 1 of this series of epic things to do in Niagara Falls.
Good to Know First!
Click the links to check them out!
Book your Tours
Don't miss out on that great experience because it's sold out! Book in advance and know you will have this experience!
eSim Card
Stay in contact, get directions, & check out the best local places with your phone minus the expensive international charges!
Rent your Car
Get your rental car booked in advance so you can adventure around your destination.
Luggage Storage
Arrived early or staying later? Store your luggage safely so that you can enjoy freely!
Book your hotel
Get the location, class & style of hotel that you want! Book in advance & have peace of mind!
Rent Bikes etc.
Rent your motorcycle, scooter, quads,& bicycles here in advance so you can travel freely!
EPIC Activities in Niagara Falls
1. Go see the Falls!
This is an absolute must, and the number 1 reason that people come to Niagara Falls!
There is a long walkway where you can see the Falls.
Did you know that there are 3 waterfalls?
Yep! There is the American Falls, the Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Bridal Veil Falls is on the American side and right beside the American Falls.
The largest out of the 3 is the Horseshoe Falls, and in my opinion the most spectacular! The Horseshoe Falls is also known as the Canadian Falls because it’s on the Canadian side.
You can walk the long sidewalk to have a great view of all of the waterfalls.
You can also see people ziplining along the river as you walk.
Once you get closer to the horseshoe falls there is a lot of mist, so if this is something that might bother you or mess up your hair, then I recommend a hat or something to cover your head.
After your daytime visit to see the Falls, go back at night!
There is a illumination of the Falls every day at dusk!
Sometimes there are random colors, other times there are significant colours to represent special days too!
2. Boat Ride to the Falls
Niagara City Cruises is the newer name, before the company with the Canadian boat rides to the falls was called The Maid of the Mist.
Now the Maid of the Mist is only on the American side. The boat that cruises on the Canada side is now called the Hornblower.
Now if you want to take a boat to the falls from the Canadian you have to go with Niagara City Cruises.
Would you believe that since 1848 they have been using boats for sightseeing at Niagara Falls between the American and Canadian side.
When you go on the Niagara City Cruises you will be given a rain poncho; this is because you will get very wet from the mist and spray from the falls.
Make sure you are wearing clothing and shoes that you are okay with getting wet. Also, make sure your shoes are not very slippery when wet.
The boat leaves every 15 minutes and is always full for each trip! Each tour is around 20 minutes long.
You can walk down a ramp or take an elevator to get to and from the boat.
The entrance is close to the Ziplining station.
You can board the boat at 5920 Niagara Parkway, which is closer to the view of the American Falls, but on the Canadian side.
They also offer a night time fireworks cruise that is 40 minutes long.
You can learn more, including the closing hours that depend upon the weather and daylight hours at: Niagara City Cruises.
3. The Tunnel at the Power Station
The tunnel is actually at a power station that is over 100 years old!
If you go through the tunnel, you will be 180 feet below the main floor!
You take an elevator to go down to that level.
Next, you follow a path that takes you to a viewing area, where you have an amazing view of the falls!
This path was actually the route that the water went through to empty into the river, now it is for you to have an amazing view!
Your views include the Niagara River and both falls from the viewing platform!
You also get to explore the power plant. There is an option of guided tours too.
If you plan on going on this tour, I recommend bringing a proper rain jacket for 2 reasons.
1 you will get wet from the mist, and 2 it can feel cold when you are that low in the power station.
If you choose the poncho, you may want to bring a sweater or something to keep you warm.
Be prepared to walk, although there is an elevator to go down, you still have to walk to the lookout point. So, I recommend comfortable flat walking shoes.
There are some benches if someone wants a break from walking.
Lastly, there are no restrooms in the lower levels, so make sure you are all good before you go down the elevator.
The hours change depending upon the season and daylight hours, so I would recommend checking on the site first at: Power Station.
Also, check the weather, if the weather is unsafe, they may close the viewing platform.
You will find the Power Station at 7005 Niagara Parkway.
As this is not right at the falls, you can drive there if you like and there is parking, but you have to pay.
4. Journey Behind the Falls
The Journey Behind the Falls is epic!
I really enjoyed this experience!
You go 125 feet deep in an elevator!
You will end up at an observation deck where you can feel the power of the horseshoe falls!
Once again, I recommend a rain jacket or poncho as you will get quite wet while you’re on the observation deck. You will be given a rain poncho when you enter. If you return the rain poncho, they will recycle it for you.
You are welcomed to keep the poncho then, you can use it while you walk around the falls.
You also get to walk through tunnels that are more than 100 years old!
Make sure you use all of your senses here!
Listen to the roar of the water, feel the mist on your face, and take in the beautiful views!
The hours change as the daylight hours change, so I would recommend checking their site for their hours when you go. You can see their daily schedules at: Journey Behind The Falls.
You can get to this awesome experience at 6650 Niagara Parkway.
5. Ride the SkyWheel
The SkyWheel is a must when you’re in Niagara Falls!
It’s all about the view! It doesn’t matter whether it’s day or night, both are awesome!
You will be 175 feet high in the air, so you can see the Falls, Clifton Hill, the Skylon tower, and so much more!
What’s great about this ride is that it’s opened year round.
I bet you’re thinking that they would be cold… but all of the gondolas are closed with glass.
Inside each of the 42 gondolas, they are able to heat or air condition them, so you will be comfortable, no matter what time of year it is.
The gondolas are roomy too, you can fit up to 8 people inside of 1 gondola!
The SkyWheel only goes 1.5 R.P.M. so, it’s not a very fast ride, which is good! You have time for all of those great photos and views!
Although you can’t miss it, the SkyWheel is located at 4960 Clifton Hill.
6. Mingle on Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill is another absolute must!
It’s actually called ‘the Street of Fun’!
I recommend going during the day, then again at night!
There is so much to see and do! So many great photo ops.
Some of the epic activities that you can do on or beside Clifton Hill are:
- Get scared in a haunted house
- Walk on a ceiling in an upside down house
- Play lazer tag, arcade games and more!
- Eat in a simulated rainforest
- Ride a roller coaster
- See unbelievable things in Ripley’s Believe it or not
- Ride a ferris wheel
- See wax replicas of celebrities
- eat amazing desserts
- watch fresh fudge & chocolate being made
- Play mini-putt surrounded by dinosaurs
- SO MUCH MORE!
If you would like to know more about some of the awesome shops, activities and attractions on Clifton Hill, check out
7. Try a BeaverTail
You can get BeaverTails at different tourist places in Canada, including Niagara Falls.
They are a fried bread with toppings.
You can choose sweet or salty toppings.
Some of your options are:
- hazelnut spread and icing sugar
- cinnamon and sugar
- apple pie filling and caramel
- vanilla icing, oreo cookies and chocolate sauce
- maple spread with maple sugar
- strawberry cheesecake
They all come on hot freshly made pastry!
So delicious!!!
They also sell little bites with many different flavours, poutine, fries and a hotdog wrapped in the fried dough.
Be sure to get extra napkins as they can get messy!
8. Dine
There are some really unique and delicious restaurants in Niagara Falls.
I will only mention a few here.
The Rainforest Cafe is on Clifton Hill near the bottom.
They have a gift shop, photo opps and a rainforest ‘show’ while you eat!
You can expect to see monkeys swinging, hear animals, a thunder storm, aquariums, all in a jungle scene! Sit at the mushroom bar or walk around and look at all the hidden animals! (All fake of course).
Antica Pizzeria and Restorante is another place known for their amazing wood-oven pizzas and Italian food.
I recommend going early as they can get quite busy. They have great pizzas and pastas there!
Margaritaville Niagara Falls will sweep you away to a tropical place, I love to come here when it’s winter time and order a tropical drink! This is actually Jimmy Buffet’s restaurant.
There are also a number of places on Clifton Hill to get sweets like ice cream, donuts, pasteries, sno cones, pretzels, cotton candy and fudge.
There are truly so many great options in Niagara Falls.
9. Ride the Whirlpool Aero car!
The Whirlpool Aero Car is like a big gondola or cable car that goes over the Niagara River.
You will be hanging 3500 feet over top of the rapids of the Niagara River!
As you go from 1 side of the river to the other, you will actually cross into the United States, but end up still in Canada when you reach the other end!
Nope, you don’t need to bring your passport either!
You will travel for over 500 meters as you cross the river for under $20 Canadian dollars.
Be sure to look down as you get a bird’s eye view of the rapids as they churn throughout the river.
Would you believe that people have been taking aero cars across this river since the lat 1800s!!
You can get on the Aero Car at Whirlpool Aero Car, 3850 Niagara River Pkwy.
Check our their website for their hours. It depends on the season and weather.
10. Play some Games
It really is called the street of fun for a reason!
The amount of games and activities is unreal!
There are games for both children and adults on Clifton Hill.
- arcade games
- lazer tag
- fun maze
- lazer maze
- mini putt
- movies
- cannon blaster
- and more!
There is even a Fun House!
11. Catch a movie
They have a few movie theatres in Niagara Falls that show 3D, 4D and/or 5D movies.
So if you go to these movies, you will sit in a special seat.
Your seat rotates, vibrates and moves.
At some of the movies they have 5D which means that you may feel wind or water spraying lightly on you too!
You can go the Skylon Tower 4D movie “Legends of Niagara Falls”.
Also you can see a 3D or 4D movie at Iwerks located at 5875 Falls Avenue.
There are 5D movies at Niagara’s Fury that is located at 6650 Niagara Pkwy.
12. Winter Festival Of Lights
Even if it’s winter, there is still a lot to do at Niagara Falls!
It’s incredible when part of the Niagara Falls ice over! Lots of tourists come to see that!
Also, all year around there is an illumination of the Falls every day at dusk.
So it becomes part of the yearly winter festival!
Check out the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls here!
13. Zipline
I personally think that this is one of the most epic activities!
Picture it, first your at the top of the platform, I mean what a view!
Then you get to zipline, how exhilarating!
Not only, are you ziplining beside the water, you are ziplining toward the Horseshoe Falls and beside the American Falls!
You can wave at all of the tourists along the walkway that are watching you zipline through the air!
You end up at a platform that is beside the Niagara River!
In total the process takes about 25 minutes to get to your turn and get set up for ziplining.
The actual zip line ride lasts about a minute and a half.
As you zipline you will travel 220 feet!
If you’re worried about how fast you will go as it is a downward zipline, you can put your arms and legs out to help slow yourself down a bit.
To zipline, there is weight limit of 275 pounds, which includes yourself and your bag or items that you have with you in total.
Anyone who is over 7 years of age is welcomed to zipline. You must sign a wavier and complete the process
Remember to take off your hat and empty your pockets before you get hooked up in the harness.
If you would like more info about Zipline Niagara check out Zipline.
14. Race around Clifton Hill
Niagara Speedway is a lot of fun!
You get to race around a 2000 feet long track!
While you race around, you go up 4 floors high as you swirl around the ramp! Make sure to check out the view while you’re up there!
The karts can go up to 32 kilometers per hour!
Niagara Speedway is actually the first elevated go kart track in Canada!
The track is wide; there is room for 1 karts to comfortably drive beside each other if someone was passing another person.
There are 36 karts available at a time.
Everyone who is in the karts must wear a seat belt and a helmet.
The driver must be 18 years old to drive the go karts. Kids can go on this track, but they must be with their parent, or another adult.
The height limits for the go karts are between 4’10” to 6’5″ for the drivers.
There are separate rules for the passengers of the karts. The passenger’s height must be between 3’4″ to 5′.
Find this blog helpful, fill out this form to get more + the free guide!
15. Skylon Tower
The Skylon Tower is a whopping 520 feet tall!
As you enter the bottom of the Skylon Tower you get your ticket then go in a glass-walled elevator to the top. Get your camera ready for the amazing views!
You can go to the observation deck where you can walk around and get a 360 degrees view!
When the sky is clearer your view can be up to 125 kilometers away!
You can also dine at the top of the Skylon Tower too!
There is a dining room that slowly revolves in a circle. I recommend staying in the dining room for at least an hour because it takes 1 hour for it fully revolve in a circle.
This dining room is called the Revolving Dining Room Restaurant. How appropriate! 😉
I recommend reserving your table in advance, especially if you want a window table. This is a more fancy restaurant that is perfect for a romantic night out or to celebrate that special occasion!
There are actually 2 options for dining at the Skylon Tower!
The 2nd restaurant is called the Summit Suite Buffet Dining Room.
This restaurant is more casual than the other one. It’s 775 feet above the ground. This restaurant is a buffet that boasts about being family-friendly. It is also more budget-friendly than the other restaurant.
When you dine at either of the restaurants you get the elevator ride free, including going to the observation deck for free!
If you would like more info check out Skylon Tower.
16. Mini-Putt with Dinosaurs!
Just off to the side of Clifton Hill, you can play 18- hole mini putt among giant dinosaurs and beside the SkyWheel!
There are actually 2 different golf courses at Dinosaur Adventure Golf.
You could also choose to do all 36 holes as well, that’s called the ‘T-Rex’!
You will hear jungle sounds playing as you swing your club next to 30-foot tall dinosaurs and mammoths!
You can even golf around a large erupting volcano that shoots flames towards the sky!
This volcano trumps the dinosaurs by being 50 feet tall!
You can play late night mini-putt, depending upon the time of year it may be opened as late as 2:00am!
You can play amongst the dinosaurs at 4952 Clifton Hill, which is right beside the SkyWheel.
You can check the hours here.
Tours in & around Niagara Falls
So, now that you have learned about these 16 Epic things to do in Niagara Falls, check out some of these tours in Niagara Falls.
You can check out your options, and even book, right here!
Where to Stay
Looking for a place to stay in Niagara Falls?
There are so many hotels and motels there.
Maybe you want a view of the falls or the town, or a place further away from the hustle and bustle.
There are so many romantic and honeymoon suites, as well as simple or family hotel rooms.
Whatever you are looking for in Niagara Falls you can find it with this booking.com widget.
Which activities do you choose?
So, which activities in Niagara Falls are the most epic for you?
Share yours in the comments below! Who is the most daring??!
If you would like to get these and other helpful tips to your inbox, you can subscribe to the travel blog here!
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
