Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: What time of the year is
Niagara Falls open ?
A: Niagara Falls is open 24
hours a day 365 days a year.
Q: Are the Falls turned off at
night ?
A: No
Q: What will the weather be
like when I visit Niagara Falls ?
A: See
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History & Almanac
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from our weather link . |
Q: Is there a charge to see
the Falls ?
A: The parks are free and open
to the public 365 days a year. During the busier months of May through
September there is a charge for parking your automobile, r/v etc. There
are also fees for municipally operated "attractions"
ie: cave of the winds, maid of the mist, journey behind the falls.
Q: What is the best time of
the year to visit Niagara Falls ?
A: The best weather occurs
from mid May until mid September. The first two weeks of October is
usually the
best time for viewing our Fall foliage. Due to the "micro climate"
within the Niagara Gorge leaves tend to peak during the
third or fourth week of October. Niagara Falls can be very
spectacular even during the Winter. Nowadays more and more people visit the
Cataract City year round.
Q: Where should I stay during
my visit to Niagara Falls?
A: We recommend you try and
stay as close to the Falls as possible. Parking is limited during peak
season and getting around on foot & using the shuttle service is the
best way to get around and see the sites. We have a list of suggestions
and tips here: Niagara Falls Hotel Tips.
Q: Which
Fallsview hotel has the best view of the Falls?
A: Please
visit our "Fallsview Hotel"
page for more information.
Q: I don't have a
passport or visa to visit Niagara Falls Canada should I still visit
Niagara Falls NY?
A: Even though over 90
percent of the visitors go to Niagara Falls Canada you can still enjoy
yourself on the New York side of the border. There is a saying that in
Canada you can see the Falls but in New York you can feel the Falls,
referring to the "Cave of the Winds". Both sides have their pluses and
minuses. Niagara Falls NY is an aging city with not a lot to do after
the sun goes down. Niagara Falls Canada has a lot more to offer if
staying for a more than a day.
Q: How can I receive
information about Niagara Falls by mail ?
A: We do
not provide any literature by postal mail. You can use this link to
obtain a Niagara
Falls travel guide in the mail.
Q: Are there boat rides
available year round ?
A: Maid of the Mist and the
Whirlpool Jet boat operate from early May until late October.
*during the months of
November-April, Maid of the Mist, Jetboat, Cave of the Winds are closed.
All other attractions and businesses are open year round.
** During the winter months
the NY Observation
tower's elevators are closed but the observation deck is open.**
Q: What is the best way to get
to Niagara Falls ?
A: By air, you have to fly
into either Toronto, Ontario or Buffalo, New York.
Toronto's airport "Pearson
International" is 78 miles (125 kilometers) from the Rainbow Bridge.
Buffalo's Airport
"Buffalo/Niagara International" is 25 miles (41 kilometers) from the
Rainbow Bridge (35 minute drive).
To get to the Falls from the
airport, you can either rent a car, take a shuttle bus, or arrive by
taxi. More information is available from our
"transportation link".
Trailways Bus Service and
Amtrak/VIA train service is available directly to the cities of Niagara Falls.
Hotels do not provide courtesy
shuttles to or from the airports.
Q: How long will it take to
cross the bridge and clear customs?
A: Provided it is not a major
holiday, you can normally get through inspections in less than ten minutes. Expect a
ten to twenty minute wait on Fridays and Saturdays during the late afternoon
and early evening going to Canada. Sunday mornings there are delays
going in to the US and in the evening going back to Canada. Expect
delays of thirty minutes or more on Memorial Day, Canada Day,
Independence Day and Labor Day.
Q: What is the best way to
visit the Falls and see the attractions?
A: The best thing to do is map
out your itinerary before you arrive. To walk from one side of the
Horseshoe Falls to the other via the Rainbow Bridge is 4 km/2.5 miles
(8km/5 miles roundtrip) and that is a long walk! First you need to
figure out how you will get to the general area of the falls itself. If you are staying at a
local hotel find out the proximity to the Falls and plan your activities
from there. A typical tourist will visit the maid of the mist boat ride,
view the Falls from either Queen Victoria Park in Canada or the Niagara
Reservation Park in the USA (or both). In Canada you can easily walk
from Table Rock visit Journey Behind the Falls and then walk to the Maid
of the Mist docks. On the US side you can walk from the visitors center
to Prospect Point and catch the Maid of the Mist and then walk to Goat
Island for the Cave of the Winds, Terrapin Point and the Three Sisters
Island.
Both the Niagara Falls U.S.A
and Niagara Falls Canada Parks departments offer a transit system which
stops at the major attractions in their respective countries. The
Niagara Falls Canada "people mover" transits along the Niagara River
from Table Rock to Queenston Heights Park with thirteen different stops.
To preview it's route visit this link:
www.niagaraparks.com. In the US the Parks Trolley system runs a
three mile circular route and has six stops. For rates and info visit
this link:
www.niagarafallsstatepark.com.
Tour companies are abound in
Niagara Falls. Be sure to compare what is included with the tour
including admissions to the attractions you will visit. While tours tend
to be more expensive, they can take a lot of hassle out of walking
everywhere and at the end of the day you are still left with plenty of
energy for the evening.
Q: How far is the train
station from the Falls itself ?
A: In Niagara Falls Ontario,
the Via Rail station (4223 Bridge Street, tel:1-800-361-1235) is 1.6 miles
(2.5 km) from the Rainbow Bridge. In Niagara Falls NY the Amtrak train
station (27th Street & Lockport Road tel: 716-285-4224) is 2.8 miles (4.5
km) from the Rainbow Bridge. ($10.00 cab fare)
Q: How far is the Bus terminal
from the Falls.
A: In Niagara Falls NY, the
Trailways®
bus terminal (303
Rainbow Blvd. tel: 800-776-7548) is .6 miles (1 km) from
the Rainbow Bridge. In Niagara Falls Ontario the terminal (4555 Erie St.
tel: 905-357-2133) is 1.6 miles (2.5 km) from the Rainbow
bridge.
Q: Where can I obtain driving
directions and a map of Niagara Falls ?
A: Visit our
maps & info page.
Q: Where can I park my
car when visiting Niagara Falls ?
A: If you are visiting
just for the day there are municipally operated parking lots which
charge a fee. In Niagara Falls New York you can park at the Niagara
Reservation State Park near the Rainbow Bridge or on Goat Island. In
Niagara Falls Canada there are parking lots near the "Table Rock House"
adjacent to the Horseshoe Falls. When the lots fill up there is a
shuttle service to satellite parking. If you are spending the night all
hotels offer parking and there is almost always a fee. You can get
discounted parking at the Fallsview Casino if you obtain a
"frequent player card" which involves filling out a form to receive
newsletters and other promotional information.
Q: Is my US drivers
license valid in Canada and vice versa?
A: Yes.
Q: Is my automobile
insurance valid while in Canada?
A: In most cases yes
including car rentals. You may want to verify this with your insurance
company.
Q: Will my US cell phone
work in Niagara Falls Canada and vice versa?
A: Most major carriers
(Verizon, AT&T, Rogers) service will work within about a mile of the
international border. If you need to place your phone in roam mode
additional charges are incurred. Usually $1.00 per minute.
Q: Do you arrange tours of the
Falls?
A: You can reserve a tour by
checking our "tours" page.
Q: Where can I exchange my
currency ?
A: There are quite a few
currency exchange locations in the area and always at both sides of the
Rainbow Bridge. The best way to pay for your visit is to place
everything on credit cards, you'll get the best exchange rate from your
bank.
Q: I'll be in New York City and would like to visit Niagara Falls. What are my options ?
By car: It's a 6.5 hour drive. The quickest route from NY City is to take interstate 80 west to 81 north to 90 west then 190 north to the Robert Moses Parkway.
By plane: It is a 45 minute flight. From airport to airport it will usually take three to four hours including driving time to the falls. You can arrange for Buffalo Airport pickups and tours at niagaramajestic or taxi service through Buffalo Airport Taxi. It's a 30 minute drive from the Buffalo airport to the Falls.
By Train: The train ride is great, much of the route follows the New York State Barge Canal and Hudson River. The trip takes nine hours and costs $78.00 each way. Usually four departures daily starting at 7:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Amtrak offers service from Penn Station in Manhattan. Visit Amtrak's website for more details.
Greyhound offers bus service to Niagara Falls. This route takes 9-11 hours and the fare is roughly $55.00 one way or $105.00 round trip. Many departure times are available but the ride is exceptionally long.
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