The Best Place to View Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is made up of three separate falls that straddle the border of USA and Canada. The Horseshoe Falls sit on the Canadian side and the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls call USA home. These falls cumulatively see 3,160 tons of water cascade over their escarpments every second and plummet into the swirling depths below. It is a sight to behold and one that sits on a bucket list for many people. This begs the question – where is the best place to view Niagara Falls?

The Canadian Side

From the Canadian side of Niagara Falls you’ll be treated to panoramic views of all three falls. To get up close and personal you can descend through the bedrock tunnels by elevator to a platform where you can see Horseshoe Falls from below, or you can take a boat trip atop the churning waters.

To take in this phenomenon from another angle you can ascend Skylon Tower to enjoy incredible 360 vistas from the Observation Deck or dine at one of the restaurants, including a revolving restaurant so you don’t have to miss any of the scenery! You can also ride the Niagara Falls Skywheel in an enclosed gondola to enjoy the spectacle from over 50 meters above the horizon or consider a helicopter ride for a bird’s eye view.

If you choose a tour of Canada’s East Coast that stays near the falls overnight, you can enjoy all colours of the rainbow as the Illumination of the Falls comes to life after dark. On almost all APT tours of Eastern Canada you’ll even get an exclusive visit to Illumination Tower to create your own light display and watch it dance over the falls.

The American Side

From the American side of Niagara Falls you’ll still get impressive views but will have difficulty seeing Horseshoe Falls in its entirety. There are however plenty of walkways which journey deep into the gorge to give you the opportunity to get closer to the falls than most of the platforms on the Canadian side. The Hurricane Deck is just 6 meters from the deluge of Bridal Veil Falls and you’ll get a true appreciation for its force as it throws mist and a thunderous rumble into the air.

While you can usually get closer to the falls on the American side, the Canadian side is more popular. This is probably because of the sweeping views and because the larger of the falls (in breadth and capacity) sit on this side. Most guided tours take you to the Canadian side, even USA East Coast tours tend to cross the border to enjoy the views or take a boat trip see Horseshoe Falls up close.

Niagara Falls is an unforgettable experience from Canada or the USA. With so many itineraries to choose from that will take you there, it might be time to tick this one off your bucket list!