Day Trips to Niagara Falls from Toronto

Toronto is famous for its skyscrapers and wide open 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 between Canada and the United States. There are several ways to get to this destination from the provincial capital.

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

If you are planning to visit Toronto and you want to see Niagara Falls at your leisure and without taking care of anything, the best option is to choose an organised tour. These full-day experiences usually include transport to and from Ontario's capital city to the Falls National Park and 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'll have free time to tour the falls on your own or opt for other alternatives, such as taking a cruise tour or even a helicopter tour. During these tours you can take a leisurely stroll along the scenic trails and feel the powerful energy of the waterfall with the convenience of having everything organised from start to finish.

Please note that some tour providers also occasionally offer to combine organised 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 on rides on Toronto's best cruises.

These full-day tours from Toronto, which include round-trip transportation, last approximately 9-10 hours, but are ideal if you want to delegate the organisation of the tour or if you plan to visit the city with children, when public transport 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 don't have to worry about organisation, as the tour includes return transfers with hotel pick-up and drop-off.
• 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 natural beauty of the surrounding area and learn about the region's wine culture. Opting for a drive will give you the freedom to customise your itinerary and is a perfect way 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, wineries offer wine tastings 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 an insight into the winemaking 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 have to carry warm clothes.

Interesting details

• Price: A mid-size car rental in Toronto starts at 47 euros per day, plus highway tolls and fuel costs.
• Journeytime: The estimated journey time between Toronto and Niagara Falls is approximately 1.5 hours.
• Advantages of this option: You will be free to choose your own itinerary and timetable and you can easily combine attractions.
• Disadvantages of this option: It can be a tiring option at the end of the day when you return to Toronto, although the highway is not too difficult.

If you're looking for an experience that is cost-effective, then a bus trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls can offer you an economical and convenient option. This method of transport not only allows you to relax as you make your way to one of Canada's most iconic destinations, but 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 journey is as enjoyable as it is affordable. Megabus is one of the companies offering this service, with daily routes starting at 6am in Toronto and including the last bus back at 11pm from Niagara Falls.

The price of the bus ticket is significantly lower compared to other transportation options, making it an 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 stops at a residential area 3 kilometres from the viewpoints and hotel zone. This route can be covered by local public transport or taxi.

Interesting details

• Price: the bus ticket has an initial cost of approximately 14 euros per person.
• Journeytime: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: excellent value for money.
• Disadvantages of this option: the bus stops are located about 3 kilometres from the viewpoint area, so you will have to combine the journey with local public transport.

It's not the cheapest or fastest option, but you can also travel from Toronto to Niagara Falls by train. You can consider this alternative 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 popular alternative for train travel from Toronto to the Falls is VIA Rail, which offers a daily morning outbound service and an afternoon return service. Booking in advance online can also help you get better fares and secure your location on your chosen date.

Note that like the bus terminal, the train terminal is located away from the hotel area and viewpoints, so once you arrive in the Niagara area, you'll need to combine your journey with local public transport or a taxi. You'll need to do the same on the way back, if you choose the same mode of transport, to get to the train station.

Also remember that if you plan to visit Toronto during Christmas or on public holidays, train services may be subject to change. 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.
• Journeytime: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: You will get to see an alternative route, which goes through Ontario's natural circuit and does not go along the Queen Elizabeth Way.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not offer any benefits over the other options in terms of price and journey time.

There are many direct options to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls, so it doesn't make much sense to combine several modes of transport, but if you want or need to, you can opt for Go Transit's combined service. This alternative offers a train journey from Union Station to Burlington Station, where you transfer and continue to the Falls by bus.

The total journey time, including transfers, is approximately 3 hours, although it may be a good option if you plan to visit Toronto in the 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 amount of time.

In any case, this Go Transit option is only useful for special situations or when alternative transport is not possible, but it is always good to consider.

Finally, although it is not very common, you can use different means of transport on the outward and return journeys. This may help you to take advantage of the best train and bus times and put together an itinerary that suits you, although you should be aware that buying single tickets for a single leg is often more expensive than buying both legs.

Useful details

• Price: the combined train and bus ticket has an initial cost of approximately 15 euros per person.
• Journeytime: approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of this option: 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 uncompetitive 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'll get to see one of the best sides of Niagara Falls, as you'll be able to see a thick stream of water and enjoy the great weather. However, summer is also part of the peak season in Ontario, so you'll have to be patient with the large number of tourists you'll encounter during the tour.

Be aware that the sheer number of visitors will not only slow down your experience, but 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 off-season, although you should be aware that you will get wet at the falls and the cold temperatures could become a problem.

One of the best times of year to avoid the crowds and also the cold weather is autumn, which in Canada is not only magical for the colours, but also because during the dry days it offers clear skies and balmy temperatures. This is, then, one of the most popular choices for travellers, who can also find better prices.

If you plan to travel during the spring months, you should be aware that the weather in Ontario tends to be quite cold unless you visit Toronto in April when the temperature starts to move towards summer, which will substantially improve your Niagara Falls experience.

If you're planning to visit Niagara Falls from Toronto, you'll need to bear in mind that the distance is approximately 130 kilometres, so the mode of transport you choose will largely determine how long your visit will take. Generally, tours of the falls are full day tours, which should be taken into account if you plan to visit Toronto for 3 days or even less.

In conclusion, you should consider your travel objectives, length of stay and also your budget before choosing the best transport option to visit Niagara Falls from Toronto.

The best of each of the alternatives