Niagara Falls Activities, US and Canadian Sides
The easiest way to plan Niagara Falls is to start with what costs nothing and then add paid attractions. The falls straddle the US and Canadian border, and the two sides do not share tickets, currency or buses. New York quotes US dollars. Ontario quotes Canadian dollars, usually before 13 percent HST.
Free things to do
- Walk Niagara Falls State Park in New York, which never closes.
- Stroll the Queen Victoria Park promenade in Ontario, with its straight-on view of both falls.
- Stand at Terrapin Point on Goat Island or Table Rock Centre in Canada, both within a few steps of the Horseshoe Falls brink.
- Watch the nightly colour lights on the falls after dusk.
- In summer, catch the free 10:00 pm fireworks, which ran from May 15 to October 12 in 2026.
Paid attractions at a glance
| Attraction | Side | Adult price | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maid of the Mist boat | US | $30.25 USD | April 24 to November 8, 2026 |
| Cave of the Winds | US | $23 USD summer, $14 USD winter | Open all year |
| Journey Behind the Falls | Canada | $33 CAD | Open all year |
| Power Station and Tunnel | Canada | $33 CAD | Open all year |
| Whirlpool Aero Car | Canada | $25 CAD | April to November |
| Niagara City Cruises | Canada | about $47.95 CAD | From May 1, 2026 |
Children usually pay less. Maid of the Mist charges $19.75 for ages 6 to 12 and lets under-sixes ride free. Journey Behind the Falls and the Power Station charge $21.50 CAD for ages 3 to 12.
How each one feels
- Maid of the Mist is a ride in an electric catamaran into the mist below Horseshoe Falls, with a blue poncho and the Prospect Point elevator included.
- Cave of the Winds is a soaking on wooden stairs and decks beside Bridal Veil Falls. You buy tickets in person on Goat Island or at the Welcome Center, never online.
- Journey Behind the Falls is a 125 foot elevator descent to tunnels and portals behind the water.
- Power Station and Tunnel pairs a restored 1905 generating hall with a 2,200 foot tunnel to a platform beside the falls. A light show called Currents runs there in the evening.
- Whirlpool Aero Car is an antique cable car from 1916 that crosses the whirlpool and the border four times with no passport needed.
Jet boats
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours departs from Lewiston, New York, and is the only boat service on the lower gorge. Choose the open Wet Jet or the enclosed Freedom Jet. It runs from about late April to mid October at roughly $75 to $88 USD for adults.
Keep away from the water
Both the river above the falls and the gorge below can kill. Never go into the water to swim, wade, kayak, paddleboard or raft.
Tips
- Wear a waterproof layer on every boat, deck and tunnel.
- Carry a passport whenever you plan to switch sides.
- In winter, boats stop and Cave of the Winds uses its cheaper rate.
Read more: Attraction tours in Niagara Falls goes deeper on each ticket.
Where to buy
Official prices are on Maid of the Mist and Niagara Parks . Packages can be compared on Viator .