Niagara Falls impresses anyone who sees it. The water flow over the Falls (combined) is nearly 740,000 US gallons (2,800,000 litres) per second. This massive volume of water is what makes Niagara Falls a spectacular sight.
Millions of tourists from all over the world visit Niagara Falls every year.
Toronto Pearson International Airport and Hamilton International Airport in Canada and Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport in USA are the closest airports to Niagara Falls.
If you are travelling from within the USA, flying into Buffalo is cheaper and it is also closer to Niagara Falls than the Hamilton or Toronto International Airports.
Buffalo is just a 30-minute drive (approximately 20 miles) from Niagara Falls, New York. Visitors arriving in Buffalo can stay here, and opt to take a day tour of Niagara Falls NY. By staying in Buffalo, you can see the sights around Buffalo too.
You could go on a day or evening tour of Niagara Falls, New York, or you could take a tour of the Canadian side.
There are many Niagara Falls tours that offer pickups from hotels/residences in Buffalo. These bus tours take you to all the important sights in Niagara Falls, USA. Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, etc. are all covered by tours.
You can tour Niagara Falls on your own too. Visitors can take a bus from Buffalo to Niagara Falls. The Discover Niagara Shuttle is a hop-on/hop-off shuttle that travels between Old Fort Niagara and Niagara Falls USA Visitor Center. The shuttle stops at 17 destinations along this route. You can take the shuttle to visit different attractions in Niagara Falls USA.
Tour of Niagara Falls USA from Buffalo NY (Daytime Tour)
There are many tour operators offering a US side tour of Niagara Falls with pickup from hotels in Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York. These tours usually last approximately four hours and take you to all the main attractions in Niagara Falls, USA.
The Niagara Falls USA Tour takes you to Whirlpool State Park for a view of the famous Niagara Whirlpool. You will also be taken to view the whitewater rapids at Devil’s Hole.
The tour bus then takes you to Niagara Falls State Park – Niagara Falls is located in this state park and is really the collective name for three waterfalls on the Niagara River – American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls (both in USA) and Horseshoe Falls (in Canada). Prospect Point in the park offers great views of the American and Bridal Veil Falls. You can stand at the edge of the Niagara Gorge and view the Niagara River drop over the cliff.
Attractions in the park that your tour guide will take you to are:
- Maid of the Mist
- Cave of the Winds
- Crow’s Nest
- Terrapin Point on Goat Island
- Luna Island
- Views from Prospect Point
- Views from Prospect Point Observation Tower
- Aquarium of Niagara
Enjoy unobstructed views of all the three Falls from Prospect Point Observation Tower. The Tower also provides access to the base of the Niagara Gorge from where the Maid of the Mist Boat Ride starts.
Board the Maid of the Mist boat for a thrilling ride into the mist of the Niagara Falls. You will get a true sense of the power of the Niagara Falls with this boat ride that takes you close to all the three waterfalls – American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls.
After the boat ride, take the path from the base of the Prospect Point Tower to the stairway that leads to Crow’s Nest, an observation deck at the edge of American Falls.
Other sights included in the tour are the Niagara Whirlpool and whitewater rapids, Adam Beck Power Plant and Niagara Glen. You will also be visiting the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Floral Clock on Niagara Parkway is another stop.
There will also be stops for snacks and souvenir shopping.
Check out ToNiagara’s US side tour of Niagara Falls here. This tour is seasonal and available only May-October.
Remember to dress comfortably and wear good walking shoes.
The tour ends with drop-off back at your hotel in Buffalo.
Evening Tour of Niagara Falls, NY from Buffalo
Visitors interested in viewing the illuminated Falls from the US side can book an evening tour of Niagara Falls, NY.
The evening tour bus picks you up from your hotel in Buffalo, NY. The tour starts in the late afternoon.
You will be visiting Niagara Falls State Park, home of Niagara Falls. Attractions in the park that your tour guide will take you to are:
- Maid of the Mist
- Cave of the Winds
- Crow’s Nest
- Terrapin Point on Goat Island
- Luna Island
- Views from Prospect Point
- Views from Prospect Point Observation Tower
- Aquarium of Niagara
Maid of the Mist is a boat ride that takes you past all the three waterfalls. Apart from Niagara Falls State Park, the tour also takes you to Whirlpool State Park, which is further downstream from Niagara Falls. You can view the Niagara Whirlpool and the Niagara Gorge from here. Further downstream are the whitewater rapids and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant.
You will be given some time for souvenir shopping.
At dusk, you can view the illuminated Falls from Prospect Point Observation Tower, one of the best vantage points to view the Falls by night.
After the tour comes to an end, you will be dropped back at your hotel in Buffalo or at the Buffalo Airport.
Tour of Niagara Falls, Ontario with pickups from USA (Day Tour)
If you are interested in seeing Niagara Falls from Canada, there are tours available to Niagara Falls, Ontario, with pickups from US side only. Such tours offer pickup from Niagara Falls, NY area and Buffalo, NY hotels and airport.
ToNiagara’s offers a tour of Niagara Falls, Ontario with pickups from US side of Niagara Falls. This 4-hour tour is only available May-October.
The tour starts with pickups from Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York. You will need valid travel documents to enter Canada. The tour bus will make its way to Canada over the Rainbow Bridge. Have your cameras ready as the view from Rainbow Bridge is amazing.
Enjoy the view as the tour bus travels on the scenic Niagara Parkway, which runs parallel to the Niagara River. Your driver/guide will lead the tour group to Table Rock Center where you can stand close to the Horseshoe Falls. The massive volume of water falling into the gorge below looks stunning.
The exciting Horn blower Niagara Boat Cruise takes you on an unforgettable voyage to the Falls. The deafening roar of cascading water and misty conditions near the base of the Horseshoe Falls is the best part of the boat ride.
The tour also includes a visit to the Botanical Gardens and a stop at the famous Floral Clock on Niagara Parkway. Niagara Whirlpool and whitewater rapids in the lower Niagara River, Niagara Glen and the hydroelectric power plant are the other stops on the tour.
The tour ends with drop-off back at your hotel in Buffalo or at Buffalo Airport.
Falls Illumination Evening Tour of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Enjoy the breathtaking view of Niagara Falls at night with the Illumination Tour of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
This half-day tour (4 hours) gives you the opportunity to view Niagara Falls by day and at night. Pickups depend on daylight, but the tour usually starts at 5:00 p.m.
After pickups from Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY, the tour bus will head to Canada. You can view the Niagara Falls as the bus travels along Niagara Parkway. First stop will be Table Rock Centre. It is right next to Horseshoe Falls; the view is astounding and you can the feel the spray from the Falls.
Journey Behind the Falls at Table Rock Centre takes you down into the bedrock behind the Horseshoe Falls by elevator. Descend 130 feet into the earth and then walk through man-made tunnels to emerge near the base of the Horseshoe Falls.
A drive along picturesque Niagara Parkway will take you to view the Niagara Whirlpool and whitewater rapids. The Botanical Gardens and Floral Clock will be the other stops on the tour.
After dark, you will be escorted by your guide to the observation deck atop the 775-foot Skylon Tower for a view of the illuminated Niagara Falls. You can view all the three waterfalls bathed in colored light.
ToNiagara’s Illumination Evening Tour of Niagara Falls, Ontario from Buffalo NY is a seasonal tour (available May-October).
Visitors booking this tour must have valid travel documents to cross into Canada from USA. Pickups commence prior to tour departure time. Pickups from Buffalo may be charged more.
Visiting Niagara Falls from Buffalo
The distance from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, USA, is roughly 25 miles and it takes just about 35-45 minutes to drive to Niagara Falls NY from Buffalo Niagara International Airport. If you are flying from within the US, it is more convenient to fly into Buffalo Airport.
There are no direct overseas flights to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, you will need to fly into a major US airport first and then take a connecting flight to Buffalo.
If you are not planning on an overnight stay in Niagara Falls/Buffalo, you can fly into Buffalo Airport, take a guided tour of Niagara Falls and get dropped off back at the airport to catch a return flight back home.