Day Trips to Niagara Falls from Toronto

Toronto is famous for its skyscrapers and wide green spaces, but also for its proximity to Niagara Falls, the largest waterfall in North America and Ontario's main tourist attraction. This natural wonder is about 130 km away and marks one of the border limits between Canada and the United States. To get to this destination from the capital of the province there are several alternatives.

Among the best things to do in Toronto is, without a doubt, to visit Niagara Falls and you can get there by car, bus, train, combining several means of transport or even in organized tours, which will allow you to relax and enjoy not only the popular waterfalls but also the surrounding landscape. Here are the best alternatives for your visit.

If you are planning to visit Toronto and you want to visit Niagara Falls at your leisure and without taking care of anything, the best option is to choose an organized tour. These full-day experiences usually include round-trip transportation from the capital of Ontario to the Falls National Park and also a visit to the famous Skylon Tower, from where you can get one of the best views of the falls.

From Toronto you can reach the falls by private shuttle bus and, once there, you will have free time to tour the falls on your own or to opt for other alternatives, such as taking a cruise tour or even a helicopter tour. During these excursions you will be able to walk leisurely along the scenic trails and feel the powerful energy of the waterfall with the comfort of having everything organized from start to finish.

Please note that also, sometimes, some tour service providers offer to combine organized tours to Niagara Falls with other local experiences. This way, in addition to seeing the falls, you can get discounts on helicopter flights over the city or rides on the best cruises in Toronto.

These full-day tours from Toronto, which include round-trip transportation, last approximately 9 to 10 hours, but will be ideal if you want to delegate the organization of the tour or if you plan to visit the city with children, a circumstance in which public transportation options can be tiring and inconvenient.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 68 euros per person.
• Travel time: between 9 and 10 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will not have to worry about the organization, since the tour includes round-trip transfers with hotel pick-up.
• Disadvantages of this option: entrance fees to the Skylon Tower and meals are extra.

Exploring Niagara Falls from Toronto is not only an adventure in itself, but also an opportunity to discover the surrounding natural beauty and learn about the region's wine culture. Opting for a drive will give you the freedom to customize your itinerary and will prove to be a perfect alternative to combine a tour of the falls with a visit to the area' s famous vineyards and wineries.

Along the convenient Queen Elizabeth Way from Toronto to the Falls you can enjoy panoramic views, and near the Falls, in the Niagara region, you can take a detour to the vineyards, exploring the local Wine Trail, which winds through fields of grapes.

Some wineries even offer tastings that will give you a taste of the richness of the wine region, especially if you plan to visit Toronto in October, which is grape harvest time. In addition, at the wineries you will be able to taste wines that are not usually included in tours of the Distillery District or in restaurants in Ontario's capital city.

The drive, therefore, will not only add flexibility to your itinerary, but will also give you a taste of the wine side of southern Canada. This option by car will also be interesting if you plan to travel in a group or with a lot of luggage, which is often the case in Toronto during the winter, when you must necessarily carry warm clothes.

Interesting details

• Price: renting a mid-size car in Toronto starts at 47 euros per day, to which you will have to add the highway tolls and fuel costs.
• Duration of the trip: the trip between Toronto and Niagara Falls has an estimated duration of approximately 1 hour and a half.
• Advantages of this option: You will have the freedom to choose the itinerary and schedule of your tours and you will be able to combine attractions easily.
• Disadvantages of this option: it can be a tiring option at the end of the day, when you have to return to Toronto, although the highway does not impose major complexities.

If you are looking for an experience that has an excellent cost-benefit ratio, then a bus trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls can offer you an economical and convenient option. Not only does this method of transportation allow you to relax as you make your way to one of Canada's most iconic destinations, but it also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the scenery without worrying about driving or parking.

Buses on this route often offer additional amenities such as Wi-Fi and comfortable seating, ensuring that your trip is as enjoyable as it is affordable. Megabus is one of the companies offering this service, with daily routes starting at 6:00 a.m. in Toronto and including the last bus back at 11:00 p.m. from Niagara Falls.

The bus ticket price is notably lower compared to other transportation options, making it the ideal choice for those who wish to explore the Falls without compromising their budget. In addition, the convenience of being transported directly from Toronto to Niagara Falls allows you to save time and energy to devote to admiring this natural wonder that distinguishes the Canadian South.

Buses depart from Union Station, which is located near downtown and the Royal Ontario Museum, and has its final stop in a residential area located 3 kilometers from the viewpoints and the hotel zone. This route can be covered by local public transportation or cab.

Details of interest

• Price: the bus ticket has an initial cost of approximately 14 euros per person.
• Duration of the trip: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: it has an excellent cost-benefit ratio.
• Disadvantages of this option: the bus stop is located about 3 kilometers from the viewpoint area, so you will have to combine the trip with local public transport.

It is not the cheapest or fastest option, but if you wish you can also travel from Toronto to Niagara Falls by train. This alternative can be considered in case some of the bus schedules are sold out or if you just want to see the scenery along the circuit that connects the two points.

The most recognized alternative to travel by train from Toronto to the waterfalls can be found in VIA Rail, which offers a daily service in the morning and a return service in the afternoon. Also, if you book in advance online you can get better fares and secure your location on your chosen date.

Note that like the bus terminal, the train terminal is located far from the hotel zone and the viewpoints, so once you arrive in the Niagara area, you will have to combine your trip with local public transportation or a cab. You will have to do the same on the way back, if you opt for the same means of transportation, to get to the train station.

Also remember that if you plan to visit Toronto during Christmas or holidays, the services of these trains may be modified. In these cases I advise you to check the official website of the service providers to avoid confusion and last minute inconveniences.

Details of interest

• Price: the train ticket has an initial cost of approximately 17 euros per person.
• Journey time: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know an alternative route, which crosses the natural circuit of Ontario and does not run along the Queen Elizabeth Way.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not offer benefits over the other proposals in terms of price and travel time.

There are many direct options to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls, so it does not make too much sense to combine several means of transport, although if you want or need it, you can opt for the combined service of Go Transit. This alternative offers a train ride from Union Station to Burlington Station, where you will transfer and continue to the falls by bus.

The total duration of this trip, including transfers, is approximately 3 hours, although it may be a good option if you plan to visit Toronto in summer, when Go Transit offers direct train services on weekends or if you want to buy a special ticket that includes unlimited travel to Niagara Falls for a certain time.

In any case, this Go Transit option will only be useful for special situations or when alternative transportation is not available, but it is always good to keep in mind.

Finally, although it is not very common, you can use different means of transport on the outward and return journeys. This could help you to take advantage of the best train and bus schedules and put together an itinerary that suits you, although you should keep in mind that buying single tickets for a single leg is usually more expensive than buying both routes.

Details of interest

• Price: the combined train and bus ticket has an initial cost of approximately 15 euros per person.
• Travel time: approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of this option: it will be useful if you need a special ticket with unlimited travel for a certain time or during summer weekends, when the train offers a direct route.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not very competitive considering that there are other direct alternatives that do not require a transfer.

If you plan to visit Toronto in July or during the summer months you will be able to see one of the best sides of Niagara Falls, because you will see it with a thick flow of water and, in addition, you will enjoy the good weather. However, summer is also part of the high season in Ontario, so you will have to be patient with the large number of tourists you will encounter during the tour.

Keep in mind that the number of visitors will not only slow down your experience, but will also affect your photographs and congest transportation and highways. If, on the other hand, you want to avoid the crowds, you can visit the falls in winter, which is the low season, although you should consider that you will get wet at the falls and the low temperatures could become a problem.

One of the best times of the year to avoid the crowds and also the cold weather is autumn, which in Canada is not only magical because of the colors, but also because during the dry days it offers clear skies and a pleasant temperature. This is, then, one of the most chosen alternatives by travelers, who can also find better prices.

If you are planning to travel during the spring months, you should keep in mind that the weather is usually quite cold in Ontario, unless you visit Toronto in April, when the temperature starts to shape up towards summer, which will substantially improve your Niagara Falls experience.

If you plan to visit Niagara Falls from Toronto you should keep in mind that the distance is approximately 130 kilometers, so the means of transportation chosen will determine, to a large extent, the time it will take you to visit. Generally, the waterfalls tours are full day tours, which you should take into account if you plan to visit Toronto for 3 days or even less.

In conclusion, you should take into account the objectives of your trip, the length of your stay and also your budget before choosing the best transportation option to visit Niagara Falls from Toronto.

The best of each of the alternatives