Niagara Falls 2-Day Tour with Hotel and Outlet Shopping from New York

Niagara Falls: three waterfalls on the US-Canada border

Niagara Falls is the name for three waterfalls on the Niagara River, which carries the water of Lake Erie north into Lake Ontario. The Horseshoe Falls, almost entirely in Canada, curves for about 670 metres and drops some 57 metres; the American Falls and the narrow Bridal Veil Falls sit on the New York side, their foot piled with fallen rock. In summer daylight around 2,800 cubic metres of water pour over every second, while part of the river is diverted to power stations at night and in winter.

Is Niagara Falls worth visiting on a trip to New York? For most travellers the answer is yes, and staying overnight is the relaxed way to do it, because the drive is long and the falls look completely different at night, when coloured lights play on the water. The best time to visit Niagara Falls is May to October for the boats and green parks; winter brings ice formations and far fewer visitors.

Goat Island and the Three Sisters Islands (American side)

The American side is part of Niagara Falls State Park, created in 1885 and the oldest state park in the United States. Its heart is Goat Island, which splits the river between the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. Paths lead to Terrapin Point, at the edge of the Horseshoe, and to tiny Luna Island, which stands between the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls so close that you feel the ground tremble.

From the south shore of Goat Island small footbridges cross to the Three Sisters Islands, where the upper rapids rush past only a few steps away. This is one of the calmest corners of the park and a favourite with photographers. With your guide you walk these viewpoints at an easy pace, and you have free time to look around before the group moves on.

Queen Victoria Park and the Canadian side

Across the Rainbow Bridge, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls in Ontario faces the falls head-on, which is why many people call it the better view. Queen Victoria Park, opened in 1888, runs along the river with flower beds, lawns and a promenade looking straight at the American Falls and into the curve of the Horseshoe. At Table Rock you stand almost at the brink, watching the green water turn white as it drops.

A Niagara Falls Canadian side tour means crossing an international border, so every traveller needs a valid passport and, where required, a visa or electronic travel authorisation for Canada. Border checks usually take a short time but can be slower at busy weekends. After dark the falls are lit in changing colours, a sight that is especially beautiful from the Canadian promenade.

Boat ride to the foot of the falls (May to October)

From May to October, the highlight of day two is a Niagara Falls boat ride from the American side. You collect a rain poncho, board at the Observation Tower near Prospect Point and sail past the rocky foot of the American Falls into the basin of the Horseshoe Falls, where the roar is deafening and the spray soaks everything. The trip on the water lasts about 20 minutes, with time before and after for the tower views.

The exact season depends on ice on the river, so the first sailings in spring and the last in autumn can shift by a few days. Expect to get wet even with the poncho: keep phones in a waterproof pouch and wear shoes that can handle puddles. Many travellers say this short ride is the moment that makes the whole trip from New York worth it.

Cave of the Winds and the Power Vista (November to April)

When the boats are not running, the programme switches to two winter visits. The Cave of the Winds on Goat Island takes you down by lift about 53 metres into the Niagara Gorge, beside the Bridal Veil Falls. In summer wooden decks lead into the spray; they are taken down every autumn because of ice, so the winter visit is a gorge-level view of the falls and the frozen rocks around them.

The Power Vista is the visitor centre of the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, a few kilometres downstream. Free-to-explore exhibits explain how the river produces hydroelectricity for much of New York State, and the overlook gives a long view down the deep Niagara Gorge. It is warm, interesting for children and a good complement to the falls on a cold day.

Outlet mall stop and the drive across New York State

Niagara Falls lies roughly 650 kilometres (about 400 miles) from Manhattan, a drive of around seven to eight hours each way with rest and meal stops. The road crosses the rolling farmland and forests of upstate New York, which are at their most colourful from late September to mid-October. Your guide shares stories about the falls and the region along the way, and the vehicle has comfortable reclining seats.

On the return, the group stops at a large outlet mall where well-known American fashion, shoe and sports labels sell at reduced prices. You have time to shop, stretch your legs and eat before the last stretch to New York City. Leave space in your bag, as many travellers end up buying more than they planned.