1 Day Trip to Niagara Falls – The best tour from New York!

Experiencing the Niagara Falls within a day

A visit to Niagara Falls might be the best day excursion from New York City. These giant waterfalls are wonders of nature in the truest sense of the word. The view of the falls is magical, and it only gets better at night when everything becomes illuminated with colorful lights. A day trip to Niagara Falls thus is an absolute must-do when in New York! 

Niagara Falls Day Trip from NYC Info

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Included:

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (Midtown hotels)
  • Airfare to Niagara Falls from NYC and back
  • Airport transfer to the Niagara Falls State Park
  • WiFi and a charging unit on the bus
  • Guided tour
  • Buffet lunch
  • Cruise (May-Oct) or Journey Behind the Falls (Nov-Apr)

Not included:

  • Gratuity
  • Additional food and drink

Our 1-day trip to Niagara Falls

We had to try this tour as seeing the iconic Niagara Falls had long been our dream. At 6:00 am, the luxurious minivan left the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan (Times Square) and headed toward Long Island. The hour-long drive passed quickly, there hardly is any traffic this early. Our luxurious mode of travel continued as the minivan took us directly onto the tarmac where a plane waited for us (yup!).

 

Actually, Niagara Falls have their own airport: Niagara Falls International Airport. So this is where we were headed. The flight was super enjoyable, and we loved the included breakfast on board. Because, if you’re like me, touching any food really early in the morning (like I said, we got picked up by the limo at 6…) just isn’t going to happen. The flight to the Niagara Falls airport took roughly 1.5 hours.

10 am: Arrival at Niagara Falls

Once we got off the plane, a minibus took us to the Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest State Park in the US (opened in 1885!).

During the booking process ahead of your trip, you are given a choice of either visiting the (US) American side or the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If you pick the Canada option, your trip across the border will roughly take about an additional 30 minutes. Upon leaving the bus we picked up our wristbands for the trolley (a small open-deck bus) that takes you from one attraction to the next within the park. Our friendly bus driver informed us that we would have until 4:00 p.m. to explore the expansive park.

Niagara Falls State Park Attractions

We had booked tickets for the US-side of the park, where we went to all the available attractions. All of them were included in the ticket price. We particularly liked the Maid of the Mist boat tour and the Cave of the Winds. You will have plenty of time to experience everything, so there is no need to rush things. You’ll have plenty of time for each attraction and to enjoy the views of the falls, the surrounding nature and the wild Niagara River. One thing which we were  amazed by in particular was the sheer size of everything. I mean, we had an idea of how huge the waterfalls must be – but actually seeing them up close is a whole different story. It just needs to be experienced.

day trip to nigara falls

  • “Maid of the Mist” boat tour:
    The sightseeing boat “Maid of the Mist” allows you to enjoy a misty 30-minute boat tour that will take you to the base of the American Falls as well as the turbulent waters of Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. This historic boat tour has been operating since the middle of the 19th century and is among the most popular attractions in North America.
  • “Cave of the Winds” Tour:
    Geared-up in a rain poncho and specially designed sandals, you can follow wooden walkways along Niagara River to the Hurricane Deck which is just a few breathtaking feet from the torrents of Niagara Falls. One thing is for sure, you’re going to get wet! But that is just part of what makes this epxerience so special.
  • “Niagara Adventure Theater”:
    At the Niagara Falls State Park Visitor Center, you can watch a 40-minute educational video to learn more about the history of the falls. You can also request a headset. The following languages are available: French, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, and German. This is a great way to start your tour.
  • “Aquarium of Niagara”:
    This attraction in the park is great for kids. In a relatively small space, the aquarium offers displays of various sea inhabitants. You can see penguins, seahorses and sea lions as well as 1,500 other types of sea life, ranging from the ecosystems of the Great Lakes to the coral reefs.

Highlights on the Canadian Side

Several of the people in our group visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The only real difference to our experience was that they didn’t have as much time as we had. Because they arrived later and had to leave earlier, they had about 2 hours less time than us to visit everything. Though the Canadian side is somewhat more scenic than the US side, especially since the Horseshoe Falls are one of the most iconic images of the park. But you will get to see them during your boat tour nonetheless, even if you start the journey on the US-side.

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boat tour at niagara falls

  • “Hornblower Niagara Cruise”:
    Get on board this modern tour boat and enjoy a 30-minute boat tour through Niagara Great Gorge. Keep your camera handy to take close-ups of the roaring American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the famous Horseshoe Falls.
  • “Journey Behind the Falls”
    This was one of our favorite attractions! Go to the Table Rock Welcome Center near Horseshoe Falls and take the elevator 46 meters down to the observation platform behind the roaring falls. Once you have walked through the tunnel, and the Cataract and Great Falls Portal, you will get to the upper and lower observation decks. You will understand why this was our favorite part when you see the incredible volumes of the waterfall into the deep right in front of you.
  • “Niagara’s Fury”:
    For this attraction, you stand on a moving platform in a 4D cinema and see the forces of nature at work at Niagara Falls. You also get a load of information about this natural phenomenon. While you are listening to the falls’ history, you will feel the temperature drop and water and snow will be sprayed in the surrounding air – a unique and cool experience!
  • “White Water Walk”:
    Take the elevator to the base of Niagara Gorge and walk the boardwalk along the mighty rapids of the Niagara River.

Enjoy the expansiveness of nature and the magic of the waterfalls

After we visited all the attractions (which didn’t take long at all as there were barely any lines), we took a walk in Niagara Falls State Park. The park offers several opportunities to relax on a bench or grassy spot, to soak in the nature, and to see the falls up close from different angles.

What we didn’t know was that the falls are actually used for power generation locally. This means that the city of Niagara can regulate the falls with more or less the touch of a button to alter the amount of power produced. This was really impressive and a great new tidbit of information that blew our minds. A nice spot for a break was Luna Island. In proximity, you will also find the restaurant Top of the Falls where you can grab a bite to eat. Unless you have your heart set on hot dogs and fries, the restaurant offers healthier options than the snack booths in the park.

4 pm: Getting ready to leave Niagara Falls

At 4:00 pm we meet up with our bus driver who takes us back to Niagara Falls International Airport. After boarding the plane we immediately took off. There was no waiting involved like at a regular airport – in fact, they were waiting for us. I could get used to this… There was one more highlight in store for us: the pilot took a detour over Niagara Falls. The perfect ending to an exciting day. We arrived in Long Island around 6:30 p.m. We encountered a bit more traffic in the evening than we did early in the morning, Yet we made it to the Marriott at Times Square by 8:15 pm.


Our Review: Efficient, but not exactly cheap

Our thoughts: The day-trip to Niagara Falls is for travelers who want to use their time effectively and have a flexible travel budget. The relatively short travel time to get there – six hours to see the sights – and a short return trip, allow you to make the most of the day. Of course, that convenience has a price. If this trip is too expensive, another option is a 2-day bus tour, or driving there yourself in a rental car.

Entry to the park is free and tickets to all attractions can be purchased individually. Personally, I would book the tour again. All travel arrangements were handled professionally and the trip went smoothly. Hence, we can definitely recommend this trip!

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About the author
Tino

After coming here for the first time 13 years ago, I still see it as my dream city. Ever since I’ve been exploring this amazing city for Loving New York I’ve grown to love it even more. I love hooking all of you up with the inside scoop, top attractions, events and everything in between. I'm your go-to person for the hidden gems, best restaurants and the absolute best things to do in the city that never sleeps.

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