The 7 Best Things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake
There’s more to Niagara than the Falls: The 7 Best Things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
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Niagara Falls is just over an hour from Toronto so makes for a great day trip. If you don’t hire a car we’d recommend booking on a tour as the public transport option is quite complicated and drops you a fair walk from the Falls. Tours also include a lot of other bits in the surrounding area and provide really informative commentary. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small town on the shores of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the Niagara River. It’s known for multiple wineries, as well as the 19th-century Fort George, which was built by the British to defend against American attacks. While the Shaw Festival sees tourists attend a series of theatre productions in the summer months. The streets of the 19th-century old town are lined with flowers and trees that are particularly picturesque in Autumn and Spring.
Niagara-on-the-Lake at a glance
The best things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Here are the best things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
1. Explore the town
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town that sits on the shores of Lake Ontario and is the gateway to the Niagara River. The Historic Old Town features 19th-century buildings, tree-lined streets, a theatre, museums, restaurants, shops and a small park. The area is known for its wineries and the Shaw Festival, a not-for-profit theatre festival held in summer. Near the river sits the 19th-century Fort George, which was built by the British to defend against American attacks.
2. See Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. A boundary lies in the middle of the lake, separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The lake is safe to swim in and has even been successfully crossed by 65 people. At the foot of King Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake sits a granite stone marker listing the names of the people who have successfully completed a solo swim across Lake Ontario.
3. Shop at Walker’s Country Market
Walker’s Country Market was established in Niagara-on-the-Lake in the 1930s and is still family-owned and operated today. They offer a range of farm-grown fruit and vegetables, as well as a large selection of jams, jellies, preserves, baked goods, sandwiches and sweet and savoury treats.
4. Sit in the Living Water Wayside Chapel
Smallest Church in Canada, and claimed by some as the Smallest Church in the World. Built in 1964 by the Christian Reformed Church, The Living Water Wayside Chapel has four short pews, two Bibles, and a guest book inside and can only fit up to 6 people.
5. Try Ice Wine
Ice wine is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been picked after the first frost of the season. It tastes very sweet and tends to be medium to full-bodied with a pronounced fruity taste. There are lots of vineyards in the Niagara region but we’d recommend taking a Half-Day Winery Tour with Tastings. This highly-rated guided tour explores Ontario’s wine country, stopping for tastings at the Pillitteri Estates, Inniskillin, and Konzelmann Estates. Those with a sense of adventure should consider a Vine and Dine Bicycle Wine Tour with Lunch, which offers in-store tasting experiences as well a15-milee 25-kilometre) guided cycle. While
Did you know: it takes 4000 grapes to produce one 375ml bottle of ice wine?
6. Visit Niagara Falls
There’s more to Niagara Falls than the 3 famous waterfalls. The Canadian side spans a large, built-up area and features:
- A floral clock
- The hydroelectric power plant
- Panoramic views of American Falls and Horseshoe Falls
- City of Niagara Cruises boat trip
- Journey Behind the Falls, where you can explore the tunnels behind the Falls and stand at the foot of the Falls
- Skylon Tower, which you can ascend for a bird’s eye view
There are also restaurants, shops, casinos, games centres and other attractions in the area, as well as illumination displays and frequent fireworks displays.
7. Visit Toronto
Niagara Falls is just over an hour’s drive from Toronto, one of Canada’s most vibrant cities. Take a walking tour, see ice hockey or baseball, visit the theatre or take a boat trip for skyline views, there’s so much to do in this bustling city. You can read more in our Toronto Travel Guide here.
Special Mentions:
Try a Butter Tart from Niagara Home Bakery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. These sweet tarts consist of a filling of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, baked in a pastry shell until the filling is semi-solid with a crunchy top. They’re delicious.
Spot Black Squirrels! These cute little animals can be found all over Canada. There were a lot in Niagara-on-the-Lake, especially in Simcoe Park.
The Best Niagara Day Tours
There are so many different ways and combinations you can visit Niagara Falls and the surrounding area. We’ve listed the best day tours below:
How to get to Niagara from Toronto
Niagara Falls is easily accessible from Toronto. There are 4 main options to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto, the first of which is to hire a car from Toronto Airport or Downtown. This gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and allows you to spend longer at Niagara Falls.
Niagara is accessible by public transport but it’s not the easiest route.
The GO Train and ViaRail Train go from the upper-level tracks of Union Station but run on a seasonal schedule. From the Niagara Falls train station, it’s over 2 miles (3.5km) to the falls – a 45-minute walk.
Buses also run the route, but the bus stops are located outside the main Niagara Falls area. The easiest way to get to Niagara Falls by bus is to take the Megabus. This is a fast and cheap option, however the bus stop is outside the train station, so you’ll have the same long walk to do.
If you don’t hire a car, we’d recommend booking onto a day tour. There are plenty of tour companies offering day trips to Niagara Falls from Toronto with a range of tours so you can choose the one that best fits your interests and budget. Tours can also include other stops in the surrounding area, like Niagara-on-the-Lake and local wineries, and provide really informative commentary too.
Alternatively, you could book a Toronto Airport Private Transfer from Niagara Falls. This is a great option for those who are transiting through Toronto or tourists on a tight schedule.
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