Niagara Falls
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Niagara Falls

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Straddling the border between Canada and the United States, Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular natural destinations in the world. On the Ontario side, the city offers the most impressive view of the famous falls, in particular the celebrated Horseshoe Falls, which stretch more than 670 metres and pour millions of litres of water per second into a deafening roar and a permanent cloud of mist.

Journey Behind the Falls gives access to tunnels cut into the rock, offering a singular perspective behind the curtain of water. For thrill seekers, the Skylon Tower and the SkyWheel offer breathtaking panoramas, particularly magical in the evening when the falls light up in a thousand colours.

Beyond the natural spectacle, the city appeals through its festive atmosphere and its slightly kitschy side. Clifton Hill, nicknamed "the street of fun," is packed with offbeat museums, rides, themed restaurants and casinos that at moments recall the buzz of a miniature Las Vegas. Wine lovers will also appreciate how close the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region is, a charming historic village known for its vineyards, its icewines and its Shaw Festival theatre.

Only a few hours' drive from Toronto or Montreal, Niagara Falls remains a four-season destination: romantic in summer, enchanting in winter when the falls dress themselves in ice, and always grand, no matter the time of year.

Practical information

Duration
Trois jours
Season
Mai 2025
Getting around
Tesla avec conduite automatique
Accommodation
Camping en Tesla

Itinerary

Chargement de la carte…
1
Québec
2
Ottawa
3
Toronto
4
Niagara Falls

Travelling by Tesla

This first long trip in the Tesla let us test charging and long drives above all. Over the whole trip, we never once had to wait for a spot to free up at a supercharger (well, all right, one time we waited 5 minutes!). The charging stops were always optimized by the onboard software, so they were never a nuisance.
What is more, the 1,000 km home were done in a single day, and there again, using FSD (Full Self Drive) made the drive very pleasant and very undemanding (a single driver, straight through apart from charging stops).

Accommodation

We stayed at Campark Resorts in Niagara. The advantage of this campground is that it has quick access to the various tourist sites, with a city bus whose terminus is right next to the campground!
That let us leave the Tesla on site (our setup) charging during the day.
Clean campground, decent space, affordable.
https://campark.com/

Ottawa

Tulip Festival

Welcome spring at the largest tulip festival in the world! This popular annual event features grand tulip beds, family activities and much more besides.  More than a million tulips in brilliant colours bloom each spring in the capital, particularly around Dow's Lake and Commissioners Park. The festival honours the annual gift from the Netherlands in thanks for sheltering the Dutch royal family during the Second World War. An explosion of colour, a springtime scent and a festive atmosphere. Access to the site and to certain programs is free!

Visiting Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill is one of Canada's most emblematic sites and an essential attraction when visiting the capital of Canada. Atop a hill, the historic neo-Gothic Parliament buildings overlook the majestic Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa. And although the buildings are the seat of the country's federal government (the Prime Minister of Canada works there), visitors are welcome on site for free tours and activities all year long. Whether you come to Parliament Hill to take a selfie, to join a tour or to take part in one of the many free events, there is no shortage of things to discover!

The seat of our democracy in a historic setting, absolutely incredible, worth seeing... Even though it was under renovation when we came through, so it was impossible to visit. Canadians, you absolutely must see it! And for everyone else, a must!

Toronto

The CN Tower

A true icon of Canada's largest city, the CN Tower rises 553 metres in the heart of downtown Toronto. For more than 30 years it held the title of tallest free-standing structure in the world. From its observation deck, the panoramic view over the city, Lake Ontario and even Niagara Falls in clear weather is simply breathtaking. The boldest can try the glass floor or the famous EdgeWalk, which lets you walk outside the tower at 356 metres up. Thrills guaranteed! Far taller than the Eiffel Tower (553 metres against 321), the CN Tower is the city's emblematic figure. Today, the CN Tower is Toronto's telecommunications hub and serves more than 17 Canadian television and FM broadcast stations.

Niagara Falls

The falls

A grand natural spectacle if ever there was one, Niagara Falls left us speechless. The roar of the water, the mist rising without pause and the power of the Horseshoe Falls create an unforgettable sensory experience. Whether by day, when rainbows form in the mist, or by evening, when the falls light up in a thousand colours, the magic works every time. 


The old power station and its tunnel

Opened in 1905, this historic hydroelectric station supplied the region with electricity for a long time before being restored and opened to the public. The visit plunges us into the fascinating backstage of early-20th-century engineering, with its gigantic turbines, its impressive vaults and its remarkable industrial architecture. The underground tunnel, 670 metres long, leads to a platform at the foot of the falls — a fresh and spectacular perspective on the raging waters.

The Whirlpool Aero Car

Suspended more than 60 metres above the Niagara River, this period cable car designed in 1916 crosses the Whirlpool Basin, an impressive natural whirlpool formed by the river. The round trip offers an unobstructed view of the churning rapids and the steep cliffs. A historic and picturesque attraction, perfect for anyone who loves striking landscapes. This antique cable car hangs from six sturdy cables and offers spectacular vantage points over the Niagara Whirlpool as well as over the Niagara River's class VI whitewater rapids.Although the Whirlpool Aero Car links two points on the Canadian shore, passengers on this historic cable car in fact cross the Canada–United States border four times during each trip, because of the river's bends.

The White Water Walk

This built walkway let us follow the Niagara River's famous class VI rapids up close, among the most powerful in the world. After a 70-metre elevator ride down into the gorge, a wooden boardwalk roughly 300 metres long winds along the water's edge. The deafening rumble of the white water and the raw force of the river remind us just how powerful nature is. The whirlpool is thought to have formed about 4,200 years ago through the upstream erosion of the Niagara Escarpment by the Niagara River. Trillions of gallons of water pass through the narrow gorge, creating a fury of fierce swirling class 6 rapids. The water running through these rapids reaches a speed of 48 km/h! 

Highlights

  • •
    La tour du CN à Toronto
  • •
    Les chutes de Niagara
  • •
    L'ancienne centrale éléctrique et son tunnel
  • •
    Le whirlpool aero car
  • •
    Le white water walk
  • •
    Festival des tulipes d'Ottawa

Tips

  • 💡
    Essayez de venir visiter le festival des tulipes un jour sans pluie ! Mais il ne faut pas qu'elle vous arrête, si vous n'avez pas d'autres options. Prenez le temps de vous balader dans le jardin des tulipes. Pour la colline, n'essayez pas de vous stationner trop proche, la balade pour y aller vaut aussi la peine!
  • 💡
    Pensez à réserver votre visite de la tour du CN à l'avance, sinon prévoyez de 1 à plusieurs heures d'attente sur place !
  • 💡
    L'ancienne centrale et son tunnel sont plus impressionnants que "behind the fall".
  • 💡
    Pour le whirlpool aero car, il faut prévoir une attente assez importante, et plus on tarde d'y aller dans la journée, plus l'attente risque de s'allonger.
  • 💡
    Portez attention à la rive américaine complètement vierge de la main de l'homme !
  • 💡
    Regardez du côté du Niagara Falls Pass avant d'acheter vos billets un par un. Il regroupe le Journey Behind the Falls, la centrale et son tunnel, le White Water Walk et le Whirlpool Aero Car, en plus de l'accès au bus WEGO et au Falls Incline Railway. Il devient rentable dès trois attractions, et il est valide du 20 avril au 1er novembre.
  • 💡
    Le stationnement au bord des chutes coûte cher. L'astuce : se garer au stationnement Rapidsview (lot C), à quelques minutes de là, et prendre le WEGO qui y fait un arrêt. Le Park and Ride est inclus dans les passes.
  • 💡
    Les feux d'artifice sont gratuits et ont lieu tous les soirs à 22 h, du 15 mai au 12 octobre. Le meilleur point de vue est le parc Queen Victoria. Et l'illumination des chutes, elle, se fait tous les soirs de l'année à la tombée du jour.
  • 💡
    Certaines attractions fonctionnent avec une entrée à heure fixe. Passez tôt à un centre d'accueil pour vous faire attribuer vos plages horaires, ça évite bien des allers-retours.
  • 💡
    Si vous voulez traverser côté américain par le Rainbow Bridge, apportez vos passeports. Sinon, sachez que toutes les attractions incluses dans les passes sont du côté canadien seulement.
  • 💡
    En Tesla ou en électrique : laissez la voiture charger au camping pendant que vous passez la journée en ville. Le terminus du bus municipal est juste à côté du Campark, on n'a pas eu besoin de l'auto de la journée.

Photo gallery

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need to visit Niagara Falls?
Two full days are enough to get around the main Niagara Parks attractions without rushing: the falls, the power station and its tunnel, the White Water Walk and the Whirlpool Aero Car. A third day lets you add Niagara-on-the-Lake and its vineyards, or simply take your time. We did three days including Ottawa and Toronto on the way, but that is a brisk pace.
Which side of the falls is better, the Canadian or the American?
The Canadian side, without hesitation. That is where you see the Horseshoe Falls head on, in their full width, whereas from the American side you look at them in profile. It is also on the Ontario side that most of the attractions are found. As a bonus, the American shore has stayed practically free of construction, which makes a very fine contrast when you look at it from Canada.
Do you need a passport to visit Niagara Falls?
Not if you stay on the Canadian side: Quebecers need nothing in particular. A passport only becomes necessary if you cross the Rainbow Bridge into New York State. Note that the attractions included in the Niagara Parks passes are all on the Canadian side.
Is the Niagara Falls Pass worth it?
Yes, as soon as you plan on three attractions or more. The pass bundles Journey Behind the Falls, the power station and its tunnel, the White Water Walk, the Whirlpool Aero Car and other sites, on top of access to the WEGO bus, the Falls Incline Railway and Park and Ride parking. It comes in several formats and is valid from April 20 to November 1.
Where can you park without paying a fortune?
The lots right by the falls are the priciest. The economical solution is the Rapidsview parking lot (lot C), a few minutes away and served by the WEGO bus. Park and Ride is in fact included in the Niagara Parks passes. Another option: stay somewhere served by the WEGO and leave the car on site all day.
Can you see fireworks, and when?
Yes, and they are free. The fireworks take place every evening at 10 p.m., from May 15 to October 12, with extended versions on July 1 and July 4. They are set off at the bottom of the gorge, between the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls, and the best vantage point is Queen Victoria Park. They depend on the weather, of course.
Are the falls lit up all year round?
Yes. The illumination happens every evening of the year, from nightfall, thanks to LED projectors installed on the Canadian side. The starting time varies with the season. In winter, the Winter Festival of Lights adds millions of lights and installations throughout the tourist district, from mid-November to early January — and that is free as well.
What is the best time of year to go?
Summer offers the maximum number of open attractions and fireworks every evening, but it is also the busiest period. Spring and fall are a good compromise: fewer people, attractions still open, and the colours as a bonus in the fall. Winter has its charm with the frosted falls and the Festival of Lights, but several outdoor attractions are closed then.
Between Journey Behind the Falls and the power station with its tunnel, which should you choose?
If you have to pick one, we recommend the power station and its tunnel. The old 1905 station, with its giant turbines and its industrial architecture, is frankly impressive, and the 670-metre tunnel opens onto a platform at the foot of the falls that offers a genuinely fresh perspective. That said, both are included in the passes, so the ideal is still to do both.
Can you make this trip in an electric car?
No trouble at all. We did the whole drive from Quebec City in a Tesla, including the 1,000 km home in a single day, without ever waiting for a supercharger — except for five minutes, once. The charging stops were planned automatically by the onboard software. On site, the ideal is to charge at your accommodation during the day and get around by WEGO or public transit.

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