Welcome… or welcome back, to the ToNiagara Blog! In case you are dropping in here for the first time – ToNiagara, is a Niagara Falls Tour agency, operating out of Toronto.

“ What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? “ That is the question in focus for today!

Our research tells us, that there are 3 most popular ways of touring the Falls. Taking your car everywhere, hoping on the public transit (trains/buses) or booking a tour.

Of course, there are going to be some advantages and disadvantages to each of them, no matter which you choose…

So we guess the right answer to ” What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? “, depends on what you are looking to prioritize on your tour.

For you, is it about cutting costs and being conscious of your spending? Or would you want flexibility and freedom to arrive, tour and leave Niagara Falls as you please? Maybe, those typical ‘tourist-y’ activities bore you.. and want to blaze a path of your own?

We certainly do not think that there can be a ‘one-size-fits-all‘ answer for the question of ” What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? ” And therefore, a little bit more discussion on each of the aforementioned most popular ways, is warranted.

The World Famous beauty of Niagara Falls! — The breath-catching beauty of Niagara Falls must be seen at least once!!

So, what is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? Let’s discover together!

But.. how would you even begin to effectively analyze this and arrive at your own answer for ” What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? ” What factors should you consider when choosing the right mode of touring the Falls!? Is one of the options, a superior choice compared to the other/s?

We recommend asking yourself the right questions, first…

In this blog:

We discuss the 3 most popular ways of touring Niagara Falls
We look at the advantages and disadvantages of each
Is booking a tour with ToNiagara a superior tour option, and how?
A few links to some of the tours we offer!

What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls?

There are several questions that you should be asking yourself, before arriving at the right answer for you. If you were to ask us ” What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? ” we would probably first ask you the following questions- before we recommended something for you.

Will it be better for you drive up there? Hop on a train on a bus? Book a tour with a Niagara Falls Tour agency like us? Perhaps you would prefer a completely off-the-beaten-path kinda option? Like hitching a ride and then touring Niagara Falls on a bike ?

It will depend– on your answers to the following questions…

Where are your travelling from, to Niagara Falls?
How many days do you have in hand to tour Niagara Falls?
Are you on a budget and how much do you want to spend on this trip?
Who are you planning to go along on this trip?
What is your number one priority on this trip? Leisure, covering attractions etc.

Where are you travelling from?

Here’s a look at the distance from 4 major Canadian cities to Niagara Falls:

TORONTO	130 Kms
OTTAWA	577 Kms
MONTREAL	668 Kms

What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? Will it by car for you?

Travel cost, will very obviously depend on where you are starting your journey to Niagara Falls.

As you can see, if you are starting from Toronto, you have the least amount of kilometers to cover, and the least amount of drive time, compared to the other two starting points. From T-dot to the Falls it would take approximately 2 hours, 12 mins.

And needless to say, the more distance and longer the drive- the more the gas expense.

Road trip can be fun way to travel — Road Trips can be so much fun, if planned right!

This also brings up the question of budgeting for your vacation costs! For those that are choosing to tour Niagara Falls in a car (their own or rentals!) , the gas expense is going to naturally inflate the overall cost of your tour.

As mentioned before, every way of touring Niagara Falls will have certain advantages.

Let’s start by looking into some of the advantages to having your own conveyance, at Niagara Falls:

Freedom and flexibility throughout your trip! Perhaps we are stating the obvious here but you will have a lot of control designing your tour of the Falls if you chose to cruise in a car! Want to take a detour to some other place? Want to make a longer pitstop? Or maybe multiple ones? Everything is possible, when you are literally at the driver’s seat!
Road trips can be so much fun with the right people for company, the right on-the-go snacks and don’t forget the music! Roll down the windows, crack open the snacks and drinks & pump up the stereo! And is anyone else a fan of car games as much as we are!!? If you travel during the right season (between May to September) – you can perhaps stop at the farms enroute and shop! And if you are going with group and splitting gas and other costs- this can actually be affordable!
Fully customize your trip! You decide where you stay and what you do- depending on your interests!

Family enjoying road trips! — The right weather and the right people’s company – can make for an awesome road trip!

No set arrival or departure times! For those of you that love impromptu trip plans, or maybe have to keep up with an unusual schedule- car trips are the best!

To be honest with you, car trips have been my absolute favourite and I have been on many with my own family! But when it comes to our topic today- ” What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? “, I know that they are simply not for everyone!…

Here is an honest look at some of the downsides to touring The Falls by car:

Having to navigate your way- especially if you are an international tourist AND you have never been to Niagara Falls area before! Even at the Niagara Falls city, you might have to rely on a map .. or more realistically a GPS, these days! While this is not necessarily a HUGE hassle, it can certainly take away from all ‘sight-seeing’ that happens while being enroute!
A higher expense on gas, as already discussed earlier. Will be especially high for the solo-traveller, with no one to split expenses with!
In addition to the cost of gas, make sure that you budget for Parking costs as well! Here’s a link – for your own research on the topic- LINK! Niagara Falls has a lot parking options but unfortunately, all the good/convenient ones require you to pay for parking. Figuring out where you will be parking, and for how long and touring while keeping an eye on that, can be time consuming. Apart from additions to the overall cost!

Parking meter on street — Paid parking costs need to minded for your overall tour budget

Driver fatigue! When it comes to driving around Niagara Falls or covering the must-see Cliffton Hill attractions, the streets can get pretty dang crowded! More so during the peak tourist season at the end of May to end of August each year. We simply cannot ignore how tiring/stressful driving on overcrowded and relatively narrow streets can be!
Dealing with all the possible nasty driving conditions! This may include (but is not limited to) relentless traffic/road accidents/road closures/detours … etc! This is one factor, that is totally out of your control! And sometimes, even the best laid plans, can all be thrown off-course, with any of these unforeseen circumstances popping up!

Frustrated man stuck in traffic jam — Getting caught in unexpected driving conditions can cause delays and frustration!

So.. What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? We hope that considering the aforementioned pros and cons of touring by car, you can either choose or eliminate it as an option for yourself!

What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? Is it going to be a Tour By Train+ Bus for you?

A girl walks beside a train on a terminal — A train ride, has its own inherent charm!

What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? Perhaps for you its going to a combination of Train and Bus! Especially a combination of GO Transit trains and WEGO! Or maybe on ViaRail!

Let’s look at some of advantage of choosing a Train and Bus combo, for your Niagara Falls tour:

You don’t have to drive…! Yes, seriously! This might be a big advantage for a few out there, who do not like to drive! (yes, we exist!)
If you are not driving, then you obviously don’t have to worry about traffic conditions, navigation and the rest of challenges of the road! If you are on a train, you might even get a scenic route to the Falls, depending on where you are coming from. But if not that, you can lose yourself in a glossy magazine or a fabulous book!
Especially, when it comes to trains, we know for sure that they are considered quite fascinating by some! Maybe it’s the romantic aspect and the historical significance of trains…? Maybe its the engineering? But we know that trains are quite often considered to be cool, by many! For the train enthusiast in you, your tour to Niagara Falls might be the perfect opportunity to indulge!
Reliable and dependable schedules! It’s not like delays and changes and cancellations never happen… but it’s usually trains and buses tend to very reliable all year round!

Let’s break the possible disadvantages to getting on a train or bus or a combination of both, in the context of this being a Niagara Falls touring option:

Unfortunately, depending on your starting point, you might or might not have a direct train or a bus to Niagara Falls. So for you, it might turn out to a be multi-leg journey! Which can be mentally and physically taxing!
If you are an international tourist, planning your Niagara Falls tour solely relying on trains and buses- it can get significantly challenging at many levels! Just make sure you do your research well and familiarize yourself with standard Canadian operating practices for trains and buses!
With trains and buses, another common issue we have noticed- is that sometimes doing timely transfers is a little challenging! Especially, if you are planning to be at Niagara Falls for a few days, and have luggage to drag along!
Even when you arrive at Niagara Falls, you will have to figure out how to get to your accommodation or other places you intend to visit! Neither the train nor the bus will actually take you to your destination’s door! This might mean that you might need to take a cab or walk from the train or bus station. Don’t forget to add those “costs” when deciding on ” What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? “
For travels on the bus- ask yourself if you have motion sickness! Typically for a journey that takes over an hour, a ride on the bus might aggravate your motion sickness! In that case, maybe a train or even a car- might be a better option for you (?)
The bus coaches and maybe even the train seats …are generally speaking, not built for total comfort (just comfortable enough to sit!). Stretching your legs, walking around, changing your physical positions during the journey, might not even be an option!

So, what is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? With this discussion on advantages vs disadvantages with train/bus travel, we hope you got more clarity!

With two of the popular options already discussed, we hope you feel a few steps closer to arriving at the right answer for you!

Is booking a tour the right way to go for you?

Let’s look at the advantages first … and then disadvantages of booking a Niagara Falls Tour, through an agency like ourselves!

people getting on a bus — People line-up to hop on a tour bus and go!

A typical Niagara Falls tour agency would offer tour options via buses! We offer some Private as well as Luxury Tour options too, where the mode of transport will be a lot different. But yes, in most cases, you will be required to get on a bus!

We KNOW what you are thinking… isn’t hopping on a tour bus the same as hopping on any bus to go to Niagara Falls… ? We think not!

That with both the aforementioned options- you need to get on a bus- is one similar/overlapping fact. However, we believe that the similarities end there. And there are very many significant differences that might leave you in favour of one, over the other.

For example, in both touring Niagara Falls via public transit and getting on a tour bus- you might not get a chance to stop whenever you want or a chance to stretch your legs. But with public transport, you will not get the convenient pick ups and drop offs!

So you see… there are some distinct advantages to booking a tour:

If you choose to book your tour through a company with some experience in the industry- then you also get access to their expertise! You are essentially putting yourselves in the hands of experts, and their primary job is to create a satisfying Niagara Falls experience for you! A lot of things will be taken care of and touring Niagara Falls will be absolutely hassle free!
Think about the ways that the ‘convenience factor‘ will be added to your experience! From the moment of the pick up to the drop off- and everything in between; there will be professionals present! Making sure your time and resources are well spent! That everything is well orchestrated and organized! You will get the most out of a well organized trip under a touring agency’s guidance no doubt- which can significantly impact your experience at the Falls!
It is definitely a smart money decision; especially if you are looking to save on your vacation costs! More often than not- the overall prices of tours are ALL inclusive! And because the tour company themselves get a lot of concessions from Niagara Falls- they are able to offer you more... for less!
Their is a ton of reliable and expert advice right from the planning stage of the tour and beyond! This is especially important for customized experiences and building your own tour itinerary! You will most likely also get a tour guide on the tour with you! And a good one, will certainly enhance your tour experience!

A tour guide leads a group — A good tour guide can really elevate your entire Niagara Falls experience!

As mentioned before, on a tour bus, you will get the convenience of pick ups and drop offs! You are not just stuck here with one option. Some tour agency (LIKE OURS!), might give you the option to schedule a pick up spot that is super close to you! Within Niagara Falls too, going from one destination to the other, the drops are usually door-to-door! And you can avoid the hassle of walking from here to there, looking into a map- and just focus on the fun part!
Booking a tour through a tour agency is a smart choice especially if you are an international tourist! We get a lot international clientele, from the European countries and they tell us that they that chose us, for a seamless and effortless Niagara Falls tour experience! If you reading this from anywhere from outside Canada, we hope that we have convinced you that your answer to ” What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? ” should be booking through a tour agency LIKE US!

Admittedly, there can be some potential disadvantages:

Much lesser flexibility! If you chose to tour Niagara Falls in a vehicle you will be driving… you get to control everything! With a group tour, you will have to be conscious of following a pre-determined timetable. Which is completely fine if you sign up on a tour that already interests you! And there are custom tour options… but still, there are some restrictions.
Some tour agencies might not have a customer-friendly cancellation policy. Some might even require you to pay a certain amount to reserve your spot on the tour. And this could potentially cause you to lose money, if an emergency happens and you have to cancel or even re-schedule!
Same goes for hidden charges! Who doesn’t hate receiving a bigger payable bill than what was originally expected!!? Make sure you do your research and get clarity on this before booking your tour! We don’t want you to suffer the cruel surprise of an unforeseen bill- throwing you off your budget!

Angry customer frustrated — Surprise surcharges, hidden fees and taxes- can really be a mood-killer!

A tour agency might not offer the type or a particular type of activity or destination that you are planning to cover! Which is quite unlikely, but I guess its possible! In that case, you are better off finding a different option!

What does ToNiagara offer… which might make it the RIGHT choice for you?

Now that we have looked at the advantages and disadvantages of each of the most popular ways of touring Niagara Falls, we would like to mainly focus the next section on what ToNiagara offers. We want to highlight few of relevant aspects, and make a solid case of us, as a Niagara Falls tour agency!

Here are some of the key points about ToNiagara:

Experience and Expertise: We have been a Niagara Falls tour agency and into this business for about 8 years now. When we say you can trust us to deliver the best experience, we mean it! Don’t take our word for it! Check out the reviews for one of our bestselling and popular Niagara Falls Private Tour!
Convenience and Comfort: No matter where you are, chances are we have multiple pick up locations around you! While on a tour, you will be taken straight to/a very few steps away, from the entry points at various attractions! So that you, can just focus on the good part!!
Niagara Falls PLUS: Looking to book a tour that will take you to other attractions near Niagara Falls? We have you covered! Check out the Niagara on the Lake Private Winery Tour! Or perhaps you want to head to Kingston, Ontario- on our Blue Mountain Tour and cover Wasaga Beach, yet another popular tourist spot! We got many fabulous options beyond just Niagara Falls!
Custom tours: In our opinion, if you have the ability to customize your Niagara Falls tour experience- that is a massive plus! What is the best way to tour Niagara Falls? We say, its a tour that you create! Check out THIS custom tour option- CLICK CLICK!
Excellent Customer Service: From the minute you choose to Contact Us to when you are on the tour, and right till the drop off goodbye at the end; we are devoted to taking excellent care of you! At ToNiagara, we understand the importance of customer service and we know what huge difference it can make! We never stop taking our commitment to customer service, seriously.
Transparency / No hidden charges ever: As we have mentioned earlier, we recognize that finding an unexpected charge – no matter what it is labelled as- can leave a bad taste in your mouth! With ToNiagara, you will NEVER have to worry about that. We will tell you ALL you need to know about charges that you will see- BEFORE you book with us!
Expert Drivers/Tour Guides: Is it even necessary to re-iterate the importance of having well-trained drivers and tour guides? We think not! Go to the reviews of any of our tours. For example this Ultra Luxury Tour and give the reviews a read. We feel a lot of pride, in the fact that we ALWAYS place you in good hands!

Customers giving a positive feedback — We value our customer’s feedback and their care is our No.1 priority!

In Conclusion:

We are not saying we are the best Niagara Falls Tour Agency… we are boldly saying that we are better than the best out there!

While there are several different options for you to choose from, and we understand that booking a tour might not be right for you… we hope that you will at least consider us!

Get in touch with us for a free consultation and tell us what you would like to experience at Niagara Falls! Hopefully, together, we will be able to come up with a tour that is JUST RIGHT for you!

Looking forward, to serve!