🏆 What to Do · Niagara Falls, NY & ON
Things to Do in Niagara Falls
55 real, currently-operating attractions — boat tours into the mist, observation towers, the Clifton Hill entertainment strip, and Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country.
🏖️ Both Sides of the Border
✅ Verified Open
Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no additional cost to you. Our rankings are based on independent traffic data, market share, and editorial testing — never commission rates.
🗼 Observation Towers & Views
🎡 Clifton Hill Entertainment — Canada
🌳 Niagara Parks Attractions — Canada
🎰 Casinos
🏛️ Museums & Family Attractions
🏞️ Outdoor & Nature
🏘️ Niagara-on-the-Lake Day Trip
🍷 Niagara Wine Country — ON & NY
Niagara Falls attractions span both sides of the border — iconic boat tours that sail directly into the mist basin, observation towers offering the classic postcard view, the Clifton Hill entertainment strip on the Canadian side, and quiet nature trails along the gorge. A short drive brings you to Niagara-on-the-Lake, home to Ontario’s wine country and the Shaw Festival theatre. We checked each attraction directly against its own official site and confirmed a significant closure — and a rebrand — along the way that many stale guides still get wrong.
7 Places
Maid of the Mist
Iconic boat tour departing from Niagara Falls State Park that sails directly into the mist basin at the foot of the falls.
Niagara City Cruises
Formerly Hornblower Niagara Cruises, this catamaran sails past the American and Bridal Veil Falls into the base of Horseshoe Falls.
Journey Behind the Falls
Descend through 130-year-old bedrock tunnels to viewing portals located directly behind the sheet of Horseshoe Falls.
Cave of the Winds
Walkways and the Hurricane Deck bring visitors within feet of Bridal Veil Falls for a soaking, close-range experience.
Niagara Takes Flight
A flying-theatre attraction that simulates soaring along the Niagara River corridor and over the falls, at the brink of Horseshoe Falls.
Niagara Parks Power Station + The Tunnel
A restored 1905 hydroelectric station with a walkable tunnel offering panoramic views from 180 feet below ground.
Nightly Illumination of the Falls
Year-round nightly lighting of the falls in color, produced by the Niagara Falls Illumination Board.
4 Places
Skylon Tower
Landmark tower with an outdoor observation deck, revolving dining room, and indoor viewing deck offering the highest vantage point over the falls.
Prospect Point Observation Tower
Cantilevered tower at Niagara Falls State Park with elevator access to close-up views of the American and Horseshoe Falls.
Niagara SkyWheel
Climate-controlled gondola wheel on Clifton Hill offering panoramic views of the falls, gorge, and city skyline.
Whirlpool Aero Car
Antique 1916 cable car that glides 3,600 feet across the Niagara Whirlpool, suspended high above the gorge.
8 Places
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls
Museum of bizarre artifacts and oddities located in the heart of Clifton Hill.
Movieland Wax Museum of the Stars
Long-running wax museum featuring lifelike figures of movie stars and pop-culture icons on Clifton Hill.
Great Canadian Midway
Massive indoor entertainment complex with arcade games, laser tag, mini bowling, and midway-style rides.
Dinosaur Adventure Golf
Two 18-hole mini-golf courses set among life-size animatronic dinosaurs and a rumbling volcano.
Wizards’ Golf
Indoor black-light mini-golf course themed around wizards and fantasy creatures.
Niagara Speedway
Outdoor go-kart track on Clifton Hill with multi-level racing circuits.
Bird Kingdom
Indoor tropical rainforest aviary housing hundreds of free-flying exotic birds near Clifton Hill.
Greg Frewin Theatre
Live magic and illusion show venue in Niagara Falls, Ontario, featuring headline magician Greg Frewin.
8 Places
White Water Walk
Riverside boardwalk and elevator descent offering close views of the roaring Niagara Gorge whitewater rapids.
Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory
Glass-domed rainforest conservatory home to thousands of tropical butterflies from around the world.
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
Sprawling public gardens and horticultural school grounds along the Niagara Parkway near the Whirlpool.
Niagara Glen Nature Centre
Nature reserve with rugged trails descending into the ancient Niagara Gorge, rich in geology and wildlife.
Dufferin Islands Nature Area
Small cluster of walking-trail islands and ponds offering a quieter nature escape near the falls.
WildPlay Zipline to the Falls
A 670-metre zipline sending riders at up to 70 km/h toward the brink of the falls.
WildPlay Whirlpool Adventure Course
High-adrenaline treetop ropes and zipline course overlooking the Niagara Whirlpool and gorge.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
Jet-boat rides through the Niagara River’s Class 5 whitewater rapids and whirlpool.
3 Places
Fallsview Casino Resort
Ontario’s largest casino resort, perched on the hill above the falls with gaming, a theatre, and hotel towers.
Casino Niagara
Compact casino in the heart of Clifton Hill offering gaming and entertainment steps from the attractions strip.
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
Seneca Nation-operated casino resort in downtown Niagara Falls, NY, with gaming, a hotel tower, and a concert venue.
7 Places
Aquarium of Niagara
Family-friendly aquarium in downtown Niagara Falls, NY, home to sea lions, sharks, and penguins.
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
Museum honoring Niagara Falls’ role as a major crossing point on the Underground Railroad.
Old Fort Niagara
Restored 18th-century military fort at the mouth of the Niagara River with daily historical reenactments and museum exhibits.
Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
Restored 1915 carousel-factory building in North Tonawanda, NY, featuring a working antique carousel visitors can ride.
Niagara Falls History Museum
Ontario-side museum covering the War of 1812 and local heritage, housed in the historic Stamford Township Hall.
Fallsview Indoor Waterpark
Resort-attached indoor waterpark on the Fallsview hill with slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river.
Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls
Family resort with an indoor waterpark, arcade, and themed activities on the Canadian side.
4 Places
Niagara Falls State Park
Established in 1885, this Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park anchors the US side, encompassing Goat Island and the Three Sisters Islands.
Whirlpool State Park
Trail system along the Niagara Gorge rim overlooking the Niagara Whirlpool and Class 6 rapids.
Devil’s Hole State Park
Undeveloped gorge-rim park with steep trails down to the river’s edge and views of the whirlpool rapids.
Artpark (Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park)
Lewiston, NY riverside state park combining nature trails, a beach, and an outdoor amphitheater hosting concerts and theater.
3 Places
Niagara-on-the-Lake Old Town
Postcard-perfect historic town roughly 20 minutes from the falls, lined with boutiques, patios, and Victorian architecture.
Shaw Festival
One of North America’s largest repertory theatre companies, staging plays across multiple historic Niagara-on-the-Lake venues each season.
Fort George National Historic Site
Parks Canada-operated reconstructed British fort from the War of 1812, with costumed interpreters and cannon demonstrations.
11 Places
Peller Estates Winery and Restaurant
Flagship Niagara-on-the-Lake estate winery with tours, tastings, and a AAA Four Diamond restaurant overlooking the vineyards.
Inniskillin
Pioneering Niagara winery credited with helping launch Canada’s Icewine reputation on the world stage.
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery
Major Niagara-on-the-Lake winery known for its amphitheater summer concert series and public tours.
Chateau des Charmes
Family-owned Niagara-on-the-Lake winery built in a French chateau style, growing 100% estate-grown grapes.
Konzelmann Estate Winery
Waterfront Niagara-on-the-Lake winery on Lake Ontario known for Rieslings and Icewine.
Reif Estate Winery
Family-run winery along the Niagara Parkway with tours, tastings, and award-winning Icewines.
Pillitteri Estates Winery
Family-owned Niagara-on-the-Lake winery recognized as the world’s largest Icewine producer.
Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery
Winery and distillery co-founded by hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, combining wine tastings with whisky production.
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
Working farm and vineyard with a scratch-kitchen restaurant, market, and tastings in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The Hare Wine Co.
Contemporary Niagara-on-the-Lake winery on the Niagara Parkway with panoramic river views and modern tasting facilities.
Niagara Wine Trail (NY)
Official self-guided wine trail connecting family-owned wineries across Niagara County, NY, including Niagara Landing, Schulze Vineyards, and Black Willow Winery.
Planning Tips for This Area
- Marineland (Ontario) is closed. It did not open for the 2025 season and remains shuttered — if a guide or map still lists it, that’s outdated information.
- Book Maid of the Mist or Niagara City Cruises in advance during peak summer months — both boat tours can sell out on busy afternoons, and lines build quickly after mid-morning.
- Pair a Niagara-on-the-Lake day trip with a winery reservation. The town is about 20 minutes from the falls and makes an easy half-day or full-day addition to a Niagara Falls trip.
- A passport or enhanced ID is required to cross into Canada if you want to see both the American and Horseshoe Falls views — plan border wait times into your day.
Is Marineland still open?
No — Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario did not open for the 2025 season and remains closed as of this guide’s last check, with its animals being relocated. It doesn’t appear in this guide for that reason.
What happened to Hornblower Niagara Cruises?
It rebranded to Niagara City Cruises, still operated by the same company (City Experiences/Hornblower Group). It’s the same boat tour on the Canadian side — just listed here under its current name.
How does NME choose which attractions to feature?
We verify each attraction directly against its own official site or venue rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we exclude anything we can’t confirm is currently open. Read more on our methodology page.
Know an Attraction We Missed?
If you know a great thing to do in Niagara Falls we’re missing, email us and we’ll take a look.
Heading to Niagara Falls?
See the full trip guide — where to stay and where to eat, organized the same way, by category.
