Planning a Trip to Niagara Falls Without A Tour

I wanted my first trip to Niagara Falls to be perfect. It took me a long time to decide how I wanted to visit this wonder of nature. I debated if I should let someone else plan everything for me, or if I should go on my own. I analysed for days all the tour options available out there and read hundreds of reviews. In the end, I decided on planning a trip to Niagara Falls without a tour, mostly because what I wanted to see and do there didn’t match with any of the offers out there.

Niagara Park is like a large fun park, with a lot of tourist attractions, restaurants and entertainment. One day in Niagara Falls is not enough to see and experience all the landmarks and points of interest. This is why it is very important to decide what you want to see and plan your day in Niagara Falls ahead.

Sure, a tour will pick you up at your hotel in Toronto, rush you around three to four sites, and then drop you off back to Toronto. I did not want my experience to be like that, so I researched, and planned, and now I’m writing about everything I managed to do on my own, in Niagara Falls. I will give you all the details, timings, ticket prices, and information you need to plan a trip to Niagara Falls without a tour as well.

How to Get to Niagara Falls

There are two ways to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto: by train and by bus. I chose the bus because it was cheaper and more convenient. I wanted to arrive at the falls before the groups of tourists, which wouldn’t have been possible if I had taken the train. Also, not all trains are direct – the first one leaves Toronto at 9:10 in the morning, arriving at Niagara Falls at 11:26. That’s most of the morning lost. The train station is quite far from Niagara Falls.

I booked the Megabus from the central bus station in Toronto (across the street from Union Station) to Niagara Falls, three weeks before my trip, and paid 14,99$ each way. To my surprise, even if on the ticket the last station was the bus and train station in Niagara Falls, the bus took us all the way to the Falls itself. The driver told us that all buses pick up from there as well, and to make sure that we are there at least 15 minutes before the departure time on our tickets. This saved a lot of time and gave me one more opportunity to see Niagara Falls, before departing. And I am so grateful for it, as that’s when a full rainbow formed, starting on the American side and ending on the Canadian side. It was magical!

The bus was on time both ways and very comfortable, with reclining seats and air conditioning. I recommend booking tickets ahead of time, as speaking to other passengers, I found out that booking last minute comes at a much higher cost. I left Toronto at 7:30 in the morning and returned with the 6:45 bus in the evening.  

How to Travel Around the Niagara Falls Park 

Niagara Park is huge. When I booked my day trip to Niagara Falls I had no idea that it takes over two hours to walk from one end to the other of the park, if not even more. There are three buses that connect different points around the park. As a day tripper, you will only be using the Green Line, which runs every 15 minutes or so.

The ticket for the WEGO bus costs 12 dollars and it is valid for 24 hours. I bought my pass from the Table Rock Visitor Centre, where the bus from Toronto dropped me off. I knew I was going to Niagara on the Lake as well, which is not included in the WEGO daily pass, so I bought a separate return ticket for the Orange Line, for 16 dollars. The Yellow Line starts at the Butterfly Conservatory and goes to Niagara on the Lake, every hour. For the up-to-date schedule click here. The buses run more often during the summer peak season. I visited just after, at the beginning of September, and they were already on the off-peak schedule. The last bus was at 5, from Niagara on the Lake back to the Butterfly Conservatory.  

I highly recommend buying the tickets for the Orange Line from the Table Rock Visitor Centre. On my return from Niagara on the Lake there were quite a few people who were almost left behind because the ticket office there was already closed, and the drivers don’t sell tickets. The driver was nice and let them on, after promising they would buy the ticket after the bus arrived at the final destination.

One Day In Niagara Falls Itinerary 

One of the reasons why I planned a trip to Niagara Falls on my own was that none of the tours I’ve seen included everything I wanted to see and do here. Also, the reviews weren’t that great, with many tourists complaining of the short time spent at each attraction. I knew I wanted to see the falls, do the boat trip, see Niagara on the Lake and go for a vineyard visit and wine tasting.

I realised that the only advantage of taking a tour is the transport and the hotel pick-up. In my opinion, there were much more disadvantages so I decided to go on my own. In this one day in Niagara Falls itinerary I will tell you exactly what I did and how I divided my time so that I don’t rush and get a full experience of the activities I wanted to do.

If there is one thing that I would have liked to add to this itinerary but I did not have the time for it, that would be a helicopter tour. For what it offers, I found it quite affordable. But, I have booked flights back to Toronto for next April, so I will do it then. LE: I’ve done it, and you can read my experience of the helicopter ride by clicking here.

There are a lot of things that you can do in and around Niagara Park. I don’t recommend trying to do more than four in one day, as it will feel very rushed and might even ruin the experience. I am very happy with my choices and I wouldn’t change a thing if I’d visit again for the first time.

Niagara Falls Viewpoints 

The first encounter with Niagara Falls was right as I stepped out of the bus. Even if I couldn’t yet see it, the mist got my hair wet instantly. I recommend walking from the Table Rock Visitor Centre to the City Cruises terminal because there are several viewpoints from which you can see different angles of Niagara Falls.

Also, don’t miss the top of the Falls, to see how fast the water is rushing towards the falls.

Journey Behind the Falls  

If you are visiting Niagara Falls during the winter season, the Maid of the Mist/City Cruises boat won’t be running. The alternative to feel the power of Niagara Falls is Journey Behind the Falls. Whilst I haven’t personally visited it (but I will when I go back in April), I’ve seen where it is from one of the viewpoints of Niagara Falls. And it did look pretty impressive. People wearing blue ponchos seemed like ants in front of the Horseshoe Falls. In front of them, the water was crashing down at a speed of 65 kilometres per hour, moving 2,800 cubic metres of water per second over the brink of the falls.

If you take a bus half an hour earlier from Toronto, or if you skip the Whirlpool, you will have time to do both the Maid of the Mist and the Journey Behind the Falls. Booking the ticket ahead of time is essential if you want to get it at the desired time. Click here to book. Depending on what attractions you want to visit, you can also buy a package, which includes the WEGO bus as well. Click here to see the packages.

Maid of the Mist Boat Tour  

The Niagara Falls boat was one of the most thrilling experiences of my day. Technically, on the Canadian side of the falls, the boats are run by City Cruises and are called Voyage to the Falls. Main of the Mist is the same boat, running from the American side. City Cruises has red ponchos, whilst Main of the Mist has blue ones.

I booked my ticket for the boat tour online, and I was given a time slot option. I went for the 10 to 10:30 slot, knowing that the tours would not be there yet at that time. And I was right. By booking the ticket online I was able to skip the line, which was quite long, even if I visited outside of the peak season. I highly recommend booking ahead of time, by clicking here. I downloaded the ticket on my phone so it was easy to scan. The price of the ticket is $32,75 + tax.

The boats run every 15 minutes and the entire experience lasts for around 20 minutes. Included with the ticket is a poncho, which is pretty useless, as I still got drenched. But it didn’t matter as it was such a fun experience. For a full shower, I highly recommend standing on the left-hand side of the boat.

First, the boat sailed to the American Niagara Falls, which is much smaller and very modest compared with its Canadian sister. Then, the fun began. As the boat approached Niagara Falls, everyone’s covers were lifted by the current generated by the water. Looking up, I could only see a giant block of water flowing with so much power that it looked still. As we approached just a little bit more, it felt hard to keep my head up. Waves over waves of mist droplets touched my skin, soaking my hair and trainers. I was trying to hold the poncho as tight as possible to my body, in a strange self-embrace, with a large smile on my face – a smile that didn’t go away until I left the boat. All I could hear were the roars of Niagara, covering any other sounds people around me were making. A little bit more into the mist, and then the boat turned around, allowing the rush of the water to lead it out of the danger zone, away from the sheer force of the falls.  

The water was so heavy that the touch of my phone was impossible to control. Which is good, as I got to experience the power of the water rather than struggle to take photos. It was such a unique experience and I had so much fun on the top deck. It’s definitely an adrenaline-filled affair.

A few notes: 

• Wear waterproof shoes. My shoes didn’t dry completely until I got back to Toronto
• I suffer from motion sickness, especially on boats, but was completely fine on this trip. Despite the getting very wet experience, the sailing is very smooth.  
• If you are wondering if the experience is worth it…. Yes, yes, yes! It is!

See the Rainbow Bridge 

The Rainbow Bridge connects Canada to the United States. You can walk on it, for a fee of 1 dollar, payable on the Canadian side. If you have a visa, you can cross it and visit the smaller Niagara Falls on the American side.

You can see the bridge from the City Cruises boat, as it passes almost underneath it on the return journey from the falls, but you will need to allocate extra time for it.

The bridge was named after the many rainbows that form in the mist of Niagara Falls. The bridge itself has the shape of a rainbow, with one large arch. It was built to replace the fallen Honeymoon bridge which collapsed in 1938 due to ice on the river.

Stop At the Whirlpool Aero Car  

I read about the Whirlpool Aero Car in a blog post a couple of years before deciding to travel to Canada. I found it fascinating because it is so old and it still runs. Whilst I didn’t dare to go on a ride on it, I did make a stop here to see it. On this do-it-yourself Niagara Falls itinerary you have time to go on the Whirlpool Aero Car if you wish. I am terrified of heights, so I decided to just watch rather than go onboard.

I arrived at the Aero Car around 1 pm, and only a few people were queuing. If you travel in summer, however, make sure to book your ticket in advance, as I can imagine it is quite popular. The price of a ticket is $17,50 + tax.

But what is the Whirlpool Aero Car and why is it such an adrenaline-inducing experience? The Whirlpool Aero Car is a very old cable car that takes you over 1000 meters above the class 6 rapids created by the large amount of water of the river crashing into the very narrow Niagara Gorge, turning clockwise. It’s pretty fascinating to watch!

The aero car goes from one side to the other of the gorge, crossing the American border four times over 500 meters. However, it does return to the Canadian side.  

Visit Niagara on the Lake 

Another reason why I chose to see Niagara Falls without a tour was Niagara on the Lake. Most tours spend a maximum of one hour here, and, with the walk from the bus stop to the town centre, you are left with only about 40 minutes of exploration.

Niagara on the Lake is a charming town, worth more than 40 minutes. It has a very well-preserved 19th-century architecture, with streets lined with trees, pretty boutique shops, lovely terraces and a public lakefront with a small beach. Niagara on the Lake is also home to Fort George, the defence structure meant to protect the Canadian side of the Niagara River. Across the river, I could see the American counterpart, Old Fort Niagara.

Niagara on the Lake is surrounded by vineyards, with over 28 nearby estates around the town. It is also home to the oldest surviving golf course in North America, the oldest Catholic church in Ontario, and the second-oldest Anglican church in the county.

I didn’t have enough time for a sit-down meal as most of the cafes and restaurants were packed and I needed to get to the vineyard by 3. I opted for chicken gyros accompanied by freshly made tzatziki at the small Gyros on the Lake takeaway. The portion was quite large and it was plenty to keep me full until I returned to Toronto, in the evening.

There are a few other sights to explore around Niagara on the Lake, such as McFarland House or the Laura Secord Homestead, but you won’t have time to do them all in one day. Also, during the low season, they may be closed. When I visited, during the first week of the low season, they were closed.

Wine Tasting in Niagara on the Lake 

One of the main reasons why I chose to go to Niagara Falls without a tour was that I really wanted to include a wine tasting at a vineyard in Niagara on the Lake. Most of the tours I came across did not offer this. The ones that did were offering only a quick, basic tasting, without any additional information or a vineyard visit. Some would only stop at a wine shop, where you were encouraged to buy wine rather than learn about the process of making it. So I decided to do my own.

There is a very simple reason why I chose to go for a vineyard tour and tasting at Jackson Triggs Estate: it was the closest to Niagara on the Lake and I could walk to it. The vineyard is a pleasant 30-minute walk away from the centre of the town, and it is one of the most recognised vineyards in Niagara. Besides ice wine, they also produce sparkling, red and white wines.

I booked the visit online and paid once I arrived. The vineyard visit + the tasting was $35 + tax and it lasted for one hour. It included four different wines, but I had a fifth. As the ice wine was not included due to the warm season, I asked if I could still taste it and they said yes. In the summer season, they are replacing the ice wine with a rather delightful, unique, sparkling merlot. But, if you ask, they will include an extra glass of ice wine.

I was so impressed by the quality of the wines and their flavour profile, which was so different from what I was used to. The wine that surprised me most was the Pinot Noir, which was extremely bold, full-bodied, with dark cherry notes with a spiced finish. That is not how your usual Pinot Noir tastes like. The reasons why this wine tastes so different are the soil, the wind and the temperature of the Niagara region.

All wines that we tasted were from the Grand Reserve collection of the vineyard, which can only be bought directly from them, either in the shop or online. The wines included in the tasting were: Sparkling Grand Reserve finished with Ice Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Sparkling Merlot.

The visit included a walk through the vineyard, the production area, as well as the cellars, where the vine is ageing in either French or American oak barrels.

One Last View of Niagara Falls 

At the end of the day, I returned to the Table Rock Visitor Centre for one more view of Niagara Falls. I took the 5 pm bus from Niagara on the Lake and then changed at the Botanical Garden to the green line. It took almost an hour to reach the visitor centre, giving me half an hour until the bus back to Toronto arrived. This is when Niagara Falls put on a show, and I like to imagine that it was for me: an incredible rainbow starting on the American Niagara and ending in the middle of the Canadian Horseshoe. Simply magical!

Compared to the morning, the shores of Niagara Falls were now overcrowded with people. So much that it was hard to get close to the barrier, to actually see the water. I was very happy that I chose to arrive early in the morning, before the tour buses. This way I could enjoy Niagara without the crowds.

Conclusion

I hope that after reading about my experience, you are now confident in planning a trip to Niagara Falls without a tour. It’s a great idea because you can customise your itinerary, include the attractions you want to see, and don’t feel rushed visiting them. I would love to read your experiences as well, in the comment section below. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask or send me an email through my contact page.  

For more related articles, check my recommendations below:

• The cheapest way to get from Toronto Pearson Airport to Downtown
• Is the Niagara Falls Helicopter Ride Worth It?
• My perfect 3 Day Niagara Falls itinerary

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