Niagara Falls Day Trips from New York

Located on the border between the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls is made up of three stunning waterfalls that will make your visit an unforgettable trip. Seeing this stunning natural wonder at least once in a lifetime is totally worth it and is definitely one of the must-do New York plans, especially if it only requires a day or two of your time.

Here are the best tours to visit Niagara Falls from New York:

Obviously, this is a very personal question, but I will try to answer as honestly as I can, giving you the tips, pros and cons that I think are important for you to make the decision on whether to book your Niagara Falls tour and to choose the one that best suits your travel style.

Depending on the length of your trip

If you're in New York for 5 days or more, you have plenty of time to consider taking one of the best tours from New York. Spending the day out of the chaos and lights of Manhattan and into a very unique natural setting will have you returning to New York with more energy to continue enjoying the city.

On the other hand, if you are short on time during your trip and, for example, you will be in New York for 3 days or less, subtracting a day from your trip might leave you without seeing or enjoying some of the must-see neighbourhoods or attractions. In that case it would not be worth visiting the Falls.

First time in New York?

If it's your first time in New York and you want to get the most out of the city, you'll probably want to stay in the Big Apple for as long as possible, as there's so much to discover. In that case, it might not be worth leaving New York to embark on a full-day trip, especially if, as I mentioned above, you don't have much time in the city.

Will it be too much of a hassle to make the round trip to the Falls in one day?

One of the big questions facing all of us who have been to New York and have considered the option of how to get to Niagara Falls from New York is this: Is it worth the long drive to see the Falls in one day? The answer here for me is clear: yes.

The scenery you will see at Niagara Falls is spectacular (in fact, I had already been to Iguazu Falls and I found the Niagara trip equally spectacular). The road doesn't get tiring, because you'll be seeing a lot of scenery along the way. Besides, in my case, jet lag worked its magic and I slept almost all the way back, so I can say that I almost didn't even notice it! In any case, you can leave first thing in the morning and take in the scenery along the way.

Fancy contrasting your visit to the city with a natural landscape?

If you're a traveller who likes to enjoy the great outdoors on your holiday, discovering unique natural sites that aren't man-made or man-designed is a great way to give your trip to New York the perfect counterpoint. After a few days wandering through the traffic, lights and noise of the city, spending a day in nature (and what a nature!) will be the perfect break from your holiday.

Is it worth going if I'm going with children?

If you doubt that the little ones might like the excursion, I'll answer the question straight away: they 'll be amazed. The scenery, the sound of the water, the waterfalls, the boat trip... If we adults are impressed, visiting Niagara Falls with children can literally be the adventure of a lifetime. However, bear in mind that the bus ride is not a short one, so the decision will depend more on whether they tend to fall asleep on the way, get road sickness, etc.

If you're booking a Niagara Falls tour, be sure to include the highlights of Niagara Falls on your tour route to make the most of this natural wonderland and to make sure you don't miss out on any of the things to see in Niagara Falls:

• Niagara Falls State Park: this is a perfect location overlooking the three falls. From the overlook, you can see the waterfall on the Canadian side from afar while walking very close to the Bridal Veil waterfall.
• Maid of the Mist: on this iconic Niagara Falls boat tour you will enjoy the three falls from up close, and it is an experience that you should definitely experience as it is the main attraction of Niagara Falls.
• Niagara Gorge Trail: Along the Niagara Gorge there are a number of paths and trails along which you can take a stroll to enjoy the breathtaking views. There are trails of varying lengths, and in terms of time, we recommend the Great Gorge Railway Trail, which is 1.8km (one way) and an easy walk.
• Goat Island: This island in the middle of the Niagara River is home to the famous Terrapin Point lookout point and a statue dedicated to inventor Nikola Tesla, in a setting of natural beauty. Here you will find Cave of the Winds, a popular attraction in Niagara Falls.
• Cave of the Winds: after a lift ride down, you can practically step inside the waterfall. This access to the lower part of the river is one of the points that offers the best views of the waterfall and also one of the points from which you will get the wettest.
• Luna Island: the second of Niagara Falls' small islands is located between the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls, and walking along its edge you'll be just a few metres from the falls. The origin of its name is sure to give you an idea to try on your visit: it is said that on full moon nights, it is possible to see rainbows in the falls with the reflection of the moonlight.
• Last but not least: don't miss the breathtaking views of the Horseshoe Falls from the Table Rock Welcome Center.

When booking your Niagara Falls tour, there are a few things to consider when planning your trip:

• Photography: Visiting Niagara Falls is almost a must if you're a nature lover, as in addition to the breathtaking spectacle of the waterfalls, you'll find the perfect natural setting for a hike. And if photography is your thing, I assure you that in few places will you have the opportunity to capture water in motion as you do here. You'll make for some stunning photos for your Instagram.
• Niagara Falls with kids: The little ones will have a great time. The area is perfect to visit as a family and has plenty of attractions and places for them. For their sleeping and eating schedules, keep in mind that, to get to Niagara Falls, you'll be catching an early morning bus and it will take around 10 hours to get there from New York, counting all the stops along the way.
• Groups: Groups on organised tours to Niagara Falls are usually around 50 people, and include admission to the one experience you'll want to experience - the Maid of the Mist.
• Meals: Meals are not included in these tours, so you will have some free time to explore at your leisure. Here is a post where you can read some tips on where to eat in Niagara Falls.

As with many other tourist attractions, you'll find it less crowded if you visit the Falls on a weekday. That said, I recommend that you book your Niagara Falls tour to coincide with a fireworks display.

The typical temperature around Niagara Falls changes greatly throughout the year. While you can freeze if you visit Niagara Falls in the winter, in the summer the weather is usually quite nice, with sunny and warm days. If you visit Niagara Falls in the spring, you're likely to get rain, and in the autumn you can expect very pleasant weather, as long as you go before November.

If you can, I recommend booking your Niagara Falls tour in mid to late May and between September and October. This is certainly the best time to go to Niagara Falls, you'll have better weather and you'll also avoid most of the tourists, who come in the summer.

If the weather doesn't help or doesn't suit you, we recommend the Washington tour from New York or the Philadelphia tour from New York, where the weather will be less of an issue for your enjoyment of the tours.

If you are going to eat in Niagara Falls, you should know that in the surrounding area, you will find typical American food, but also Canadian food with a strong French influence.

There are barbecue bars and restaurants for all tastes, where you can try the typical dishes: poutine (fried potatoes with cheese and gravy, a meat sauce) and Canadian bacon (pork steaks marinated in maple syrup sauce).

Although to be honest, you are not going to find spectacular food in the park. One of my tips for visiting Niagara Falls, and this applies to every tour you go on that doesn't include food, is to pack some food in your backpack (and a good bottle of water to refill!).

Recommended restaurants

The best advice I can give you if you book a trip to Niagara Falls is to wear the most comfortable clothes you have. You will find that most people visiting the Falls do the same. If you're visiting in winter, it's best to wear several layers to adapt to the changing weather.

In terms of footwear, I highly recommend that you wear trainers or waterproof footwear, as you're bound to get wet at the Maid of the Mist. For the same reason, a rain jacket and a GoPro-type camera are good additions to your backpack (although a poncho and flip-flops are provided).

Once you've booked your Niagara Falls tour, keep the following tips in mind:

The Niagara Falls tour is an experience of a lifetime - you'll remember it for the rest of your life!