Exciting Things to Do in Niagara Falls in Winter

Niagara Falls is an exciting destination any time of year, but there are so many fun things to do in Niagara Falls in winter. Grab your winter coat and snow boots and get ready to explore one of the most famous sites in the world all year long!

As one of the wonders of the world, no trip to Ontario or Western New York is complete without visiting the famous Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls is an amazing destination to visit. It’s a fun place to go for couples, and it isn’t far from some beautiful luxury properties and weekend escapes in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

So many people envision a visit to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls happening in the warmer months of the year. The spray from the falls cools you down perfectly on a humid summer day. Flowers blossom in the Botanical Gardens in spring, and the turquoise blue of the Niagara River stands out beautifully next to the oranges, yellows and reds of the leaves in autumn.

But what if I told you that visiting Niagara Falls in the winter is the secret that is often forgotten when planning a trip to this awe-inspiring place in the world? The winter is an excellent time of year to visit Niagara Falls. Keep reading to understand why.

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Why You Should Take a Niagara Falls Winter Getaway

I honestly wasn’t prepared for what winter in Niagara Falls would feel like, since this was my first experience visiting at this time of year. As someone who was born and raised in Ontario, I’ve been to Niagara Falls many times in the spring and summer months. It is no secret that it can get overcrowded and challenging to navigate during the warmer months, especially if you are driving and trying to find parking anywhere near the falls.

In winter, Niagara Falls is so much more quiet and peaceful, and yet so many attractions are still operating year-round. There’s no crowding to get a photo with the falls during the winter, and you can really take a moment to appreciate the calming sound of the falls and the Niagara River, instead of competing for space and quiet with thousands of other visitors.

On top of being less crowded, visiting Niagara Parks and the falls in Canada during the winter is a truly beautiful experience. Seeing the falls and the river with a light dusting of snow on the ground around it is a sight to behold. Plus the mist that comes off the falls ends up covering the ground at all times, adding a little extra sparkle its the surroundings.

Chris and I learned the Norwegian adage, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing” when he lived in Norway years ago, and for spending time in Niagara Falls during the winter that couldn’t be more true. While there are plenty of ways to get outside and appreciate the region during the colder months, Niagara is also full of amazing attractions to enjoy the region from the warmth of indoors, too.

Visiting Niagara Falls in Winter: Where to Stay

No matter what time of year, finding a hotel room with views of Niagara Falls is important, but in the winter it’s extra special to see a view of the falls from the warmth of your hotel room.

There are two hotels that I’d recommend for the best opportunities to book a room with a view of the falls. They’re both within walking distance to most of the activities in this post, and they’re close enough to the falls that you’ll have a stunning view if you book a falls view room.

Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel & Spa: This hotel is arguably one of the most famous in Niagara Falls Canada, with comfortable rooms, many of which have a view of the falls. It’s also known for having an excellent spa and wellness amenities on site. If you’re interested in booking a stay here, you can click on this link.
Sheraton Fallsview Hotel this hotel is set a little further back from the falls, and is closer to the action on Clifton Hill. It has many amenities that make a stay here very worth it. Along with having rooms with stunning views, it also has a rooftop pool and sun lounging area for the warmer months, along with a wonderful spa. To book your own stay at the Sheraton Fallsview, click here.

Your Complete Guide to A Winter Niagara Falls Getaway

Whether you’re planning a trip to Niagara Falls for couples, or bringing the whole family with you on a getaway to Niagara Falls, there is something for everyone to enjoy on a trip here in the winter.

Get Yourself a Wonder Pass

The Wonder Pass is a new initiative by Niagara Parks, offering pass holders access to all of Niagara Parks’ year-round attractions, which happen to be the best attractions to visit on a winter trip to Niagara Falls.

When you purchase the pass, you' have access to: Journey Behind The Falls, Niagara Parks Power Station and “The Tunnel”, the Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara's Fury, and the Floral Showhouse.

Also included in your pass is 2-day unlimited access to the Falls Incline Railway, which connects Table Rock and the falls to the Fallsview Tourist Area. Another excellent feature of the pass is it also offers 2-day unlimited access to the WEGO bus system, which connects all Niagara Parks attractions and other tourist areas to your hotel.

The value of this pass during any time of year cannot be overstated, but it’s an especially valuable pass in the winter. If you’d like to buy a Wonder Pass for your next trip to Niagara Falls, click here.

Walk to the end of “The Tunnel”

Visiting the Niagara Parks Power Station is quickly becoming my favourite way to see Niagara Falls. Not only is this historical building such a significant part of the history of hydroelectricity at the falls, but it offers the best view of the falls, in my opinion, especially in winter time.

After visiting the exhibits in the atrium of the Parks Power Station, you’ll be taken down 180 feet through all of the inner workings of this site to the tunnel. The tunnel itself is 2200 feet long, and depending on your mobility takes 10-15 minutes to reach the end. Walking through this historic tunnel feels like you’ve travelled back in time, and at the very end of the tunnel you’ll be greeted with incredible, up-close views of both the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

As someone who has visited Niagara Falls many times in my life, I can confidently say that this is one of the best ways to experience the falls, and you will be just as impressed on your next trip to Niagara Falls. If you’re interested in booking your entry ticket to the Niagara Parks Power Station, along with the tunnel, you can do so here.

Journey Behind the Falls

Journey Behind the Falls is a classic experience to participate in to really appreciate the sheer volume and weight of water that crashes over Niagara Falls on an ongoing basis.

Access to this exciting attraction is through the Table Rock Centre, located a short walk from Niagara Parks Power Station. From the Table Rock Centre, you’ll be taken down several levels to the walkways and tunnels located underneath Niagara Falls.

You have plenty of opportunities to stay dry during this experience while walking through the tunnels under the falls. During the winter months, the famous Lower Observation Deck is closed due to icy conditions. As such, winter rates are reduced, and this is why the combination of going under the falls at Journey Behind the Falls couples very nicely with the view at the end of the Tunnel at Niagara Parks Power Station.

If you’d like to book a separate entry ticket specifically for Journey Behind the Falls through Niagara Parks, you can click here to do so.

Visit the Winter Festival of Lights

The Winter Festival of Lights is something to look forward to every winter in Niagara. It’s a free event put on annually by Niagara Parks, and runs from the end of November to the first week of January each year.

This light show can be enjoyed by car or on foot, and is located primarily in and around the Niagara River Parkway from Clifton Hill, through past Queen Victoria Park and along to the Dufferin Islands Nature Area. The light displays amount to 3 million lights in total, and have all sorts of interactive and photo-worthy exhibits.

Don’t forget to check out the fireworks show that happens at 8pm every Friday and Saturday during the festival over the falls, and then every night during the holiday break until the end of the festival.

Visiting the Winter Festival of Lights is such a fun way to make the most of the long, dark nights of winter. Grab yourself a cup of hot chocolate, and happy adventuring!

Visit the Annual Poinsettia Show

I appreciate flowers, but aside from knowing when I see a beautiful one, I wouldn’t say I know very much about them. I mention this because I wouldn’t consider myself very knowledgeable about flowers, but I still absolutely loved visiting the Poinsettia Show at the Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse.

Whether you are “into” flowers or not, this poinsettia display is quite possibly like none you’ve ever seen, and the sight of hundreds of poinsettias lined up inside of the magical glass atrium at the Floral Showhouse is such a nice way to spend some time during your winter visit to Niagara.

The Poinsettia Show runs from late November to early January every year, and it is truly a magical site to behold. It’s a beautiful place to visit by day, but the site of all the arranged poinsettias at night surrounded by twinkling holiday lights is truly mesmerizing.

Entrance to the Floral Showhouse is included with your purchase of the Wonder Pass, or on their website here.

Enjoy a Delicious Meal with a View of the Falls

The Table Rock Centre is your one-stop-shop for all things Niagara Falls. But on top of being the home of famous attractions like Journey Behind the Falls and beautiful views of Niagara Falls Canada, Table Rock Restaurant is a must visit restaurant when it comes to dining in Niagara.

Table Rock Restaurant is perched beautifully on top of Niagara Falls. It’s a lovely place to go for a nice lunch or dinner, with 180 degree views of the falls from the restaurant. A winter lunch is such a nice way to enjoy this restaurant, since it’s the perfect way to warm up with picturesque winter views of the falls by day. But of course night is lovely too, with the falls lit up with various colours throughout the night.

Their menu offers something for everyone, and is locally sourced and seasonally rotates with offerings from the Niagara Region. In the winter months, you can count on cozy, delectable dishes like roasted duck, fried dumplings, and root vegetable-forward sides and salads.

Don’t forget to finish off your dinner with one of their delectable desserts. They’re best paired with one of their local Niagara icewines. Niagara icewines are arguably the second-most-famous part of a visit to Niagara Falls, as the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario is the world’s largest producer of icewines.

If you happen to be driving to Niagara Falls, then make sure you consider this tip during your visit: If you are planning on spending a few hours visiting the falls and the attractions around it (many of the ones mentioned on this list), then there is a parking lot with an entrance behind the Niagara Parks Power Station. If you have a meal at Table Rock Restaurant, your parking for the day will be validated. So if you’re already considering visiting this beautiful restaurant, then this is an extra incentive to do so!

Visit the Butterfly Conservatory

The Butterfly Conservatory is such a nice place to visit no matter the time of year, but on top of being a magical place to witness all of the butterflies flitting about, it’s a lovely, warm atrium to step into and warm up at after spending so much time outside at the falls during your visit.

The Niagara Butterfly Conservatory is one of the largest glass butterfly conservatories in North America. There are over 2000 butterflies that live here, and a visit to see them feeding, flying freely and interacting with you feels like something out of Alice in Wonderland. Many of the butterflies are so comfortable with visitors that they may very well hop on your shoulder or head for a quick ride during your visit.

It’s important to note that the Butterfly Conservatory is located further along the Niagara River, and is approximately a 20 minute drive from the falls at the Table Rock Centre.

If you’d like to book an entry ticket to the Butterfly Conservatory through Niagara Parks, you can book your ticket here.

Head up To the Skylon Tower Observation Deck

Another great way to see the falls is from up above. If you’re in the mood for a birds-eye view of the falls and if the weather happens to be particularly unpleasant, then seeing them from the Skylon Tower Observation Desk is a great alternative.

The elevator ride with views of the falls is arguably as exciting as the observation deck itself. It was built in 1965, and has a similar quality and vintage to the glass “Wonkavators” from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Once you arrive upstairs, you have the option of either visiting the observatory with your purchase of an observation deck ticket, or heading to one of the two restaurants at the top of the Skylon Tower. They have a Revolving Restaurant and the Summit Suite Buffet.

But of course the best part of the Skylon Tower is the views of Niagara Falls. This view in the winter is stunning, since you can see the dusting of snow covering the area surrounding the American and Canadian falls.

It’s important to note that the Skylon Tower Observation Deck is the only attraction on this list that is not part of the Niagara Parks Wonder Pass. If you’d like to directly purchase a ticket to go up the Skylon Tower, you can click here to buy your ticket.

And That’s a Wrap on Niagara Falls in the Winter

This list of activities of things to do in Niagara Falls will definitely fill up a great weekend escape or a few days in the area. If you’re looking for more exciting things to do in and around Niagara Falls, then definitely check out the beautiful nearby region of Niagara-on-the-Lake before heading to Toronto.

There is certainly no shortage of things to do on a trip to Niagara Falls in the winter time. You’ll be so glad you decided to travel here during the off-season when you visit!

This article was written in partnership with Niagara Parks tourism. All opinions expressed are completely my own.