24 Hours in Niagara Falls

Complete 24 Hour Guide to Niagara Falls (Don't Miss This!)

11/4/2022

Niagara Falls was the first stop on our epic 2 month road trip through the Northeast of the United States, and we spent just over 24 hours exploring the area. Honestly, we were completely blown away with how much there was to do in the area, and we highly recommend adding Niagara Falls to your bucket list!

Check out our top 10 tour recommendations in the Niagara Falls area here!

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip.

For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international!

We always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and always use NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi connections.

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

Planning Your Visit & Where to Stay

Getting to Niagara Falls can be a bit of drive, depending where you’re coming from. Since we stopped here on our way to Maine, it was about a 15 hour drive from Minnesota, otherwise many people might be visiting from New York City, which is just under a 7 hour drive. You can also fly to Buffalo, New York, from many airports. If you want to visit the Canadian side, which in our opinion has some of the better views and excursions, then make sure to bring your passport! It's also nice to know that there are actually three sections that make up Niagara Falls : Horseshoe Bend (Canada), Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls (US).

Since we were only visiting the Falls for two nights, we were only able to test out one lodging option - but wow was it epic. We would 1000% recommend looking into a stay with Embassy Suites Falls View. Not only are the two room suites incredibly spacious, but the views of the falls (from your room!) are truly unbeatable. Plus they include a cocktail hour for all guests - with drinks and snacks available! We've listed some other lodging options with below, however it's important to keep in mind that a majority of hotels with Falls views are located on the Canadian side.

Places to Stay on the Canadian Side :

Places to Stay on the US Side :

Where to Eat Near Niagara Falls

This is a tricky section for us to write as we were only in the area for a short period of time. We also didn't like the food we tried anywhere, so we won't be recommending those. However, if you’re looking to save some $$ then it's essential to get off the main strip where even a basic meal at iHop is about $25-$30 Canadian. You'll also have to be aware of which side of the Falls the restaurant is on, as it can be a bit of a hassle to continue crossing the border.

Restaurants on the Canadian Side :

Beaver Tails
Niagara Brewing Company
Massimo's Italian
Turtle Jack's
Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

Restaurants on the US Side :

SPoT Coffee
F Bites
Savor Restaurant

Our Favorite Tours near Niagara Falls :
- Zipline to the Falls
- Maid of the Mist Ticket
- Niagara Falls at Night

Best Ways to Experience Niagara Falls

If you haven't visited Niagara Falls before, then you might not realize just how much there is to do here! From river cruises that get you up close and personal, to zip lines and helicopter tours that give you some insane aerial views, we highly recommend reading over our list of the best tours & experiences at the falls. Just make sure to book in advance, because some of these can sell out in advance! We've also listed some of our favorites below :