The Best Things To Do In Niagara Falls Besides Seeing The Waterfalls, According To Visitors

Niagara Falls may not feature the tallest or broadest waterfall in the world, but its trio of cascades are among the most famous on the planet. Only about 12,000 years old, they rest along the border between the United States and Canada. While everyone has their favorite, the Horseshoe Falls (on the Canadian side) is the largest and undeniably the most dramatic. On the U.S. side, the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls sit within the Niagara Falls State Park. The oldest state park in the country, it received more than 9 million visitors in 2023. The comparable number of visitors to the Canadian side is about 12 million.

While the roaring falls are very much the marquee attraction, they aren't the sole stars of the area. Niagara Falls, which refers to the cascades and cities on both sides of the border, has plenty to offer visitors. You can base yourself in either New York State or Ontario and explore the surrounding areas. We've compiled a wide selection of attractions by consulting online forums, travel blogs, and tourism collateral. That way, your trip to Niagara Falls won't lack things to do beyond taking in the whooshing, watery wonders.

While this experience may seem like just a novel way to see Niagara Falls, the focal point is not the roaring cascades. Extreme as it might sound, a zipline over the river flies past the American Falls, down into the gorge, and then lands at the observation area for the Canadian Falls. It's a wild ride, not just because the thundering falls and river are so close by but also because it's more than 2,000 feet long. Kids as young as seven can join in the fun. Wait times can reach up to two hours, but it's an adventure for the memory bank. And it gets consistently good reviews on Tripadvisor.

The Whirlpool Aero Car, which passes above a swirling whirlpool section of the Niagara River, provides visitors with another opportunity to soar through the air. First opened in 1916, a Spanish engineer designed the contraption, and it looks like a giant red basket hanging in the sky. The whirlpool sits downstream from the falls, created by a combination of a narrowing of the river gorge and a turn in the flow of the water. It's certainly a powerful, churning spectacle. Peering down from the aerial car, which operates from April to November, visitors will get a sense of the immense torrents beneath them.

While you can see the falls from the Skylon Tower, the experience is more than just the view. This tower has a shape that recalls the CN Tower in Toronto or Seattle's Space Needle. It has a long, slender torso topped by a bulbous disc of a head, the nerve center of the operation. Visitors will find an observation deck for viewing the falls and restaurants with equally stunning vistas on that circular layer. For some, it might even be a top-10 dining experience.

Skylon Tower has two dining floors more than 700 feet above the bottom of the gorge. If that weren't impressive enough, one revolves. It takes one hour for a full rotation, and views extend for about 80 miles on a clear day. One Tripadvisor commenter suggested an early evening dinner reservation for the best sights. The trip up to the top is exciting, too; it takes less than a minute to reach the summit. The elevator has glass panels that let passengers feel like they are flying through the air.

A couple of bridges close to the falls allow travelers to shuttle between Canada and the United States. The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, some distance north of the cascades, is an impressive span, and though you can't see the falls from it, it's a popular route for border crossings. In fact, it is one of the busiest crossings between the two countries anywhere along the border, with long wait times de rigueur. Sadly, it can't be experienced on foot, which would be fun, mainly for its novelty. Wouldn't it be cool to say, "Hey, I walked to another country"? 

The Rainbow Bridge, which allows pedestrians (cyclists and cars) to cross, is much closer to the falls. The views from this span are superb, taking in the two main cascades and the river below. The bridge was built in the early 1940s, taking about 18 months to complete, and sits approximately 200 feet above the river. It's a quick walk across, less than 10 minutes without stopping. A reviewer on Tripadvisor called the excursion something that "everyone should experience." Just be sure to bring your passport.

This part of the country might have a long history of tourism, but it's also steeped in passages of conflict. The War of 1812 was a bitter battle between American forces and the British, and its memory endures in places like the Niagara Falls History Museum. Visitors can relive moments from the past, like handling a musket from that era or even putting on a replica soldier's uniform. Many pieces, mementos, and items from the war offer a fascinating window into the event. The museum looks at other facets of life in the region, including exhibits on the area's geology and stories of people who tried to walk across the falls on a tightrope.

Nearby, in Buffalo, the Buffalo History Museum examines tales of the people who make up the community. It's a well-stocked institution with over 25,000 books and 200,000 photographs. Visitors will get a feel for the city's evolution by looking through old business documents and faded photos from decades past. They can also learn how immigration and industrialization created the Buffalo of today.

For anyone who has spent much time at a casino, their mantra might be, "You win some, you lose a lot more." But you don't have to gamble to go to the casinos at Niagara. Despite the bright, noisy lure of the machines and tables, there is something else more appealing to do. That would be the shows each night at the two main casinos in the area: Fallsview Casino Resort and Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, one on either side of the border.

The entertainment showcases various genres, from musical theater and live music to stand-up comedy, with globally renowned acts often found on the bill. In 2024, scheduled performers included the talented ventriloquist Terry Fator, country star Billy Ray Cyrus, musical icon Diana Ross, rock legend Styx, and celebrated comedian Jay Pharoah. Travelers can also book a room at either resort or check out their spas for a relaxing treatment.

Craft breweries have sprung up on both sides of the border, and visitors who want to sample a small-batch brew are in luck. You can visit the breweries independently or join a tour, with excursions during the day or evening. Based on the Canadian side, Niagara Craft Brewery Tours weaves in other beverages alongside its standard trips. Visitors can join a tour of a winery, a stop at a brewery where lunch is also served, and a distillery that produces gin and whiskey. There is even a chance to taste cider produced by college students. 

Another option combines a hike through the forests of the Niagara Escarpment, where maples and oaks provide shade. The guide's commentary details how the geology and climate create a perfect growing environment for hops, barley, and more. After the hike, participants can recharge with tipples at a brewery. Trips start with a pick-up at your accommodation and drop-off at the end.

Golfers rejoice because the one thing you'll have when you visit Niagara Falls is choice. Hyde Park Golf Course, on the U.S. side, has two courses. The 18-hole course is for those who like to work on their long game, with a tricky layout and sections that require planning. The 9-hole White course is a more forgiving option. The club also features a practice green, an area where golfers can work on their short game. Fees start at $22 for the 18-hole course.

On the Canadian side, Thundering Waters Golf Club has a course designed by legend John Daly that will sate players of all levels. Fees begin at Canadian $55 (or about USD 40). Whirlpool Golf Course, also in Canada, is a public course that opened in 1951. It's a gorgeous piece of real estate, with views of the gorge and river and the hiking network of Niagara Glen close by. All of these courses are seasonal, but Links Golf & Tap is where to go for players who want to swing year-round. Part bar hangout with food and part golfing nirvana, it features beer, a small menu with pizzas and cocktails, and four golfing simulators that don't require clear skies to be playable.