Solo Travel to Niagara Falls, Canada – Is One Day Enough?
Is Niagara Falls, Ontario a Good Location for Solo Travel?
Is Niagara Falls, Ontario, a good destination for solo travel? Can I see all of Niagara Falls in one day? Those were the two questions I asked myself before I set off on my solo trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario. I wanted to visit Niagara Falls to recreate a family trip from my childhood.
In my opinion, Niagara Falls is a perfectly acceptable destination for solo travel, and the entire Canadian side can be seen in one marathon day. Just know that much of the town of Niagara Falls, Ontario, is set up for families, and solo travelers will navigate a sea of carnival rides, minigolf, and fun houses.
Although the before-mentioned places may cause a slight frustration for Niagara Falls solo travelers, the American and Horseshoe Falls can be enjoyed by anyone of any age, whether they are solo or with their families.
Solo Travel to Niagara Falls, Canada - Is One Day Enough? - Table of Contents
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Best Activities for a Solo Visit to Niagara Falls, Ontario
In the sections below, I will highlight the places that I visited during my solo visit to Niagara Falls, Ontario. During my full day at the Falls, I wanted to spend my time at the attractions that focused on the falls, and stay away from the tourist traps that can be found in any family tourism destination.
Here are the places that I visited during my solo visit to Niagara Falls, Ontario.
1) The American Falls
2) The Horseshoe Falls
3) The Journey Behind the Falls
4) The Skylon Tower
5) A Cruise to Niagara Falls
6) The Niagara Falls Light Show and Fireworks
7) The Whirlpool Aerocar
Walking from the American Falls to the Horseshoe Falls
I have visited lots of waterfalls, including Iguazu Falls, the various Icelandic Waterfalls, and Plitvice Lakes. One of the issues with visiting those waterfalls is that you have to take a hike to be able to get a good view. Niagara Falls is different. To view Niagara Falls, visitors can park their car, cross the street, and view the falls.
There is a pathway that goes from the Rainbow International Bridge to the Amerian Falls and then to the Horseshoe Falls. For anyone making a solo visit to Niagara Falls, I highly recommend this walking path as their first stop.
Along the path, there are various locations to view the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. I believe that the best views of both waterfalls are from the Canadian side and that visitors can experience Niagara Falls without crossing into the United States.
The Niagara Falls walking path is fairly flat and can be enjoyed by solo travelers of all ages. For visitors who have a physical disability, the path is wheelchair friendly.
My favorite part of the Niagara Falls walking path is the section that allows visitors to get right up next to the Horseshoe Falls. This location really shows the extreme power of the water.
At the end of the path, I decided to visit my next location, the Journey Behind the Falls.
Visiting the Journey Behind the Falls
The next stop on my solo tour of Niagara Falls, Ontario, was the Journey Behind the Falls. This amazing tour allows visitors to view the Horseshoe Falls from behind the curtain of water. There is also an observation platform at the base of the curtain where tourists can get extremely close to the falls.
The Journey Behind the Falls costs C$23.50 for adults. When you purchase your ticket, the agent will try to sell you a package. As a solo traveler, I recommend declining the package as many of the items included are designed for families with small children.
When visiting the Journey Behind the Falls, you will get wet. It is a good idea to keep all non-waterproof electronics in a dry bag. I also highly recommend wearing the plastic rain poncho that is provided.
During my visit to the Journey Behind the Falls, I only took photos using my GoPro Hero 9, which is waterproof.
The first stop is at a platform at the base of the Horseshoe Falls. It was extremely difficult to get a good photo as the viewing area constantly gets sprayed by water from the falls.
Following the viewing platform, visitors wind through underground tunnels to two viewing areas behind Niagara Falls.
Below is a video showing the two viewpoints.
Taking in the View from the Skylon Tower
The Skylon Tower provides the best views of Niagara Falls as it has the highest observation deck in the area. Once again, when purchasing a ticket, the salespeople will try to upsell a package that includes things that are designed for families. As a solo visitor to Niagara Falls, decline the addons and simply pay the C$19 to go to the top.
Once at the top, visitors will have a 360-degree view of the area. I brought my zoom lens and was able to take some spectacular photos of both the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls.
I spent about 20-minutes at the top of the Skylon Tower, which was surprisingly not crowded. Had there been a larger crowd, I likely would have needed more time to take all of my photographs.
Taking a Cruise to the Falls
One of the best ways to experience Niagara Falls is to take a sightseeing cruise. From the Canadian side, the company Niagara Falls City Cruises by Horn Blower offers a chance to get soaked by both the American and Horseshoe Falls.
As always, there will be multiple attempts to convince visitors to purchase add-ons. Once again, decline all of these and only pay C$32.75 for the boat ticket.
The boat dock is fairly easy to find. From the walking path near the American Falls viewing location, follow the signs to the ticket kiosk. After purchasing your ticket, take the elevators down to the boarding area. During peak time, the cruises leave every 30-minutes.
Buzz’s Tip: During the summer, Niagara Falls City Cruises by Horn Blower is open until 8:00 PM. Take a later cruise to avoid the crowds.
During this cruise, you will get soaked. Make sure you wear the rain poncho provided, even though it won’t entirely keep you dry. After my cruise, I returned to my hotel to change into dry clothes and shoes.
As with the Journey Behind the Falls, I did not bring my camera on the cruise. Instead, I used my waterproof GoPro.
The Niagara Falls cruise takes visitors near the American Falls before going under the misty spray of the Horseshoe Falls.
In my opinion, a Niagara Falls cruise is one of the “must-see” attractions for any traveler of any age.
Watching the Niagara Falls Light Show and Fireworks
During the 2022 tourism season, Niagara Falls will have nightly fireworks from May 20th until October 10th. The fireworks show begins at 10 pm. In addition to the fireworks, both the American and Horseshoe falls will be illuminated from 9 pm until 2 am. As the summer winds down, the light show begins earlier and earlier. For more information, visitors can view the light show schedule by clicking HERE.
In my opinion, the best place to watch the fireworks is just past the Niagara Falls City Cruises’ dock. The fireworks are launched from the Canadian side between the American and Horseshoe falls. The show only lasts about 10 minutes but is an impressive fireworks display.
During my solo visit to Niagara Falls, I spent about two hours walking the Niagara Falls, viewing path, and photographing the falls at night. To get good photos, you will need a sturdy tripod.
The settings I used to photograph Niagara Falls at night were ISO 1600, f/16, and a shutter speed of anywhere from 3 to 30 seconds. I preferred to use a higher aperture setting to get the water to look like a curtain. I did change the settings quite a few times, but those were my baseline settings.
During my visit, the falls were illuminated in purple for the first 15 minutes of every hour to celebrate World Indigenous Peoples Day. Then, the falls were multiple colors, including red, blue, and yellow, to show support for Ukraine and rainbow.
Visiting the Whirlpool Aero Car
The Whirlpool Aero Car is located about a mile upstream from the Rainbow International Bridge. I tried to visit the aero car as I was leaving Niagara Falls, but the line was between a one and two-hour wait.
I did take some photographs of the aero car as well as the whirlpool area below it. For solo travelers visiting Niagara Falls, I would suggest visiting the Whirlpool Aero Car, as it seemed like it would provide a unique view of the river and whirlpool area.
Admission for adults is C$17, and tickets can be purchased at the departure station. The Whirlpool Aero Car has a large parking lot which is free. I know that I read that many people park in the lot and then walk the mile to the falls.
Niagara Falls in 60 Seconds Video
In the spring of 2022, I started a series on my YouTube channel called “In 60 Seconds.” Below are one-minute video highlights of my trip to Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls Tours and Packages
Niagara Falls is a place that is easy to enjoy without taking a tour or hiring an expert. There are signs all around that explain the attractions, and everything is within walking distance of most hotels. Still, I know some people prefer to take a tour, especially when solo traveling.
Below are some tours that caught my eye. Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you purchase a tour or package using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of April 2023.
 Best of Niagara Falls Tour from Niagara Falls, Ontario - $146.47 Your first stop is Skylon Tower, you’ll head up 520 ft. in a glass elevator to the observation deck where you will be treated to an incredible, birds-eye view of all three Niagara Falls (Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls), as well as the Niagara River & surrounding area. |
 Niagara Falls CANADA Domed Jet-Boat Ride - $67.06 All the thrills of a jet boat ride without getting wet! The Niagara Gorge Domed Jet Boat Ride speeds down the Niagara River and past 18 miles (29 km) of exhilarating scenery to the churning white waters of the famous Niagara Whirlpool. The covered boat keeps you dry as waves crash and splash around the domed jet boat! |
 Niagara Falls Scavenger Hunt: Hunt Along Niagara Falls - $12.44 Let’s Roam is the #1 app-led scavenger hunt company. Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges. Work with your team or compete against them, as you learn new facts and create memorable experiences. Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunts are great as an everyday activity, or for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, corporate team building events and more! Each player chooses an interactive role, with challenges varying by person. |
 Zipline To The Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada - $63.12 This iconic attraction promises thrilling one-of-a-kind panoramic views as riders soar on 4 parallel Ziplines 67 meters high above the Niagara River Gorge and glide 670 meters past the American Falls to the Falls Landing and Observation Deck at the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Hold onto your heart and keep your eyes wide open because you're in for the ride of your lifetime. You'll feel the breathtaking force of nature as you soar towards the awesome power, thundering roar and amazing mist of the mighty Canadian Horseshoe Falls. You'll experience Niagara's favorite and most thrilling Falls experience and with unrivaled Falls viewing and photo opportunities. |
 Niagara Falls Canadian Adventure Tour - $162.09 You may have seen the Falls before but you've never seen them quite like this. Our best value tour offers approx 5-6 hours of tour of all major attractions in the Canadian side of Niagara Falls with pickups from your Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. Our legendary Niagara Falls boat tour takes you as close as possible to the thundering roar, awesome power, and amazing mist of the Mighty Falls. Admission to Journey Behind the Falls is a year-round attraction that offers an unique view of the Falls from below and behind. Explore the Niagara's scenic escarpment, power plants, rapids and vast whirlpool before returning to your Hotel. |
 One hour Aerial Tour of Toronto and Niagara Falls with iflyTOTO - $210.71 The only tour of its kind where you experience two major attractions in one exhilarating flight. You experience the magnificence of the CN tower in Toronto with its landscape and the breathtaking views of Niagara Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world while you enjoy a glass of champagne. |
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