Ultimate Niagara Region road trip for couples

1: Niagara Falls

Famous for its spectacular set of waterfalls—the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and the American and Bridal Veil Falls on the U.S. side—Niagara Falls has also developed a reputation as the honeymoon capital of North America following the “bridal tour” of a US Vice President’s daughter in 1801.

There are seemingly endless things to do, see and savour year-round, including marvelling at the magnificent Falls from several vantage points and perspectives. Get the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass for discounted admission to select attractions,  heritage sites, restaurants and gift shops.

Attractions and events

View the Horseshoe Falls

Formed during the Ice Age, Niagara Falls has the highest waterfall flow rate in the world with approximately 28 million litres (3,000 tons) of water plunging over its edge every second. Horseshoe Falls is 52 metres high (170 feet). Stand at the brink of the Falls at Table Rock, take a Journey Behind the Falls to explore tunnels behind the thundering curtain of water and follow the White Water Walk, a boardwalk that runs along the very edge of one of the world’s wildest stretches of raging river rapids.

Niagara City Cruises

See the cascading water from below and sail into the mist on Canada’s only falls boat tour experience.

Location: 5920 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour

Dial up the adrenaline on an intense ride up the Niagara River through Class V rapids. You and don a poncho but prepare to get soaked anyway.

Location: 55 River Frontage Road, Queenston, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara Helicopters

Take flight for a bird’s-eye view of the Falls, the Niagara River, whirlpool rapids and the Rainbow Bridge from above on an unforgettable helicopter ride.

Location: 3731 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls

Niagara Parks Power Station

This decommissioned power station has undergone an extraordinary transformation to become an immersive and interactive landmark attraction with a 670-metre path leading to an outdoor viewing platform towards the Niagara River and the Falls.

Location: 7005 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls

Legends on the Niagara Battlefield Golf Course

Challenge yourself on a championship golf course designed to honour the natural landscape and the area’s historical significance.

Location: 9172 Willoughby Drive, Niagara Falls

Winter Festival of Lights

This enchanting winter event features spectacular light displays along the Niagara Parkway and fireworks over the falls during the holiday season.

In addition, the Falls are illuminated nightly throughout the year.

Wineries, breweries and restaurants

Ravine Vineyard Estates Winery

Stop by a welcoming generational family farm, winery and bistro restaurant for exceptional farm-to-table dining.

Location: 1366 York Road, St. Davids

Château des Charmes

An elegant family-owned estate in St. David’s Bench, a sub-appellation on the outskirts of Niagara Falls, offering a variety of tours and tastings.

Location: 1025 York Road, St. Davids

Counterpart Brewing

It’s not just wine lovers who are in for a treat. Although relatively new, Counterpart is a popular spot for the great beer, food and atmosphere.

Location: 3659 Stanley Avenue, Niagara Falls

Billy Bones BBQ at Niagara Distillery

Bring your appetite for award-winning low and slow-cooked barbecue ribs paired with a cocktail.

Location: 4915- B Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls

Prime Steakhouse Niagara Falls

Located in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, treat yourselves to premium steaks and seafood with stunning views of the falls.

Location: 5685 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls

Carpaccio Restaurant

Authentic Italian cuisine, great service and a warm, inviting atmosphere make this a very popular spot in Niagara Falls.

Location: 6840 Lundy's Lane, Niagara Falls

Places to stay

Sheraton Fallsview Hotel

Recently renovated, enjoy stunning views and modern amenities, including spa services at Christienne Fallsview Spa and celebrity chef-inspired cuisine at Massimo Italian Fallsview Restaurant.

Location: 5875 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls

Fallsview Casino Resort

Overlooking the Horseshoe Falls, Fallsview Casino Resort is the largest and most elegant gaming and entertainment resort facility in Canada.

Location: 6380 Fallsview Boulevard, Niagara Falls

2: Niagara-on-the-Lake

Distance and drive time from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake: 25 kilometres, 30 minutes

On the shores of Lake Ontario and the Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake is renowned for its 19th-century architecture, Loyalist history, quaint downtown shops, galleries and restaurants and the celebrated Shaw Festival, a premier theatre festival dedicated to George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries.

It also lies in the heart of Ontario’s wine country surrounded by some of the nation’s most distinguished wineries.

Attractions and events

Fort George National Historic Site

Tour a former War of 1812 military post and witness live fife, drum and musket demonstrations.

Location: 51 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Shaw Festival Theatre

A popular summer theatre festival featuring works by George Bernard Shaw and more world-class plays on three different stages.

Location: 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Botanical Gardens

Follow trails through traditional manicured rose and herb gardens to wildflower landscaping at this floral oasis. Next door, a butterfly conservatory features over 2,000 tropical butterflies floating in lush greenery. 

Location: 2565 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara Icewine Festival

Each year kicks off with the dazzling Icewine celebration, which takes place over a series of weekends in January and features special events, local cuisine and Icewine tastings in historic Old Town.

Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara winery tours

Customize a guided or self-guided tour to local wineries. Travel by bus, bicycle or even e-bike.

Wineries and restaurants

Wayne Gretzky Estates

Enjoy tours, tastings and seasonal activities like ice skating in winter and patio lounging in summer in a sleek, contemporary setting that celebrates the storied career of a Canadian sports legend with fine wines and whisky.

Location: 1219 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Trius Winery

Visit Canada’s largest underground sparkling cellar, book an Instagram-worthy winery tour and dine at the MICHELIN Guide-recommended restaurant.

Location: 1249 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Peller Estates Winery and Restaurant

A pioneer in Icewine production, sample this “liquid gold” in an igloo-like tasting room on the unique 10 Below Icewine tour and enjoy an elegant farm-to-table dining experience.

Location: 290 John Street East, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Treadwell Cuisine

One of the earliest proponents of farm-to-table cuisine, emphasizing the bounty of the Niagara growing region.

Location: 114 Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Places to stay

Riverbend Inn and Vineyard

Riverbend is an elegant Georgian-style county inn and restaurant surrounded by vineyards and gardens.

Location: 16104 Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Vintage Hotels

Combine quaint small-town charm with luxurious, modern amenities, spa services and upscale dining at one of these historic inns.

Locations:

• Prince of Wales, 6 Picton Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Queen’s Landing, 155 Byron Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Pillar and Post, 48 John Street West, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara’s Finest Hotels

Choose from three deluxe boutique properties in Niagara-on-the-Lake’s romantic Old Town.

Locations:

• The Charles Hotel, 209 Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Harbour House Hotel, 85 Melville Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
• The Shaw Club Hotel, 92 Picton Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake

3: Niagara Benchlands

Distance and drive time from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Benchlands: 45 kilometres, 40 minutes

Detour to the Niagara Benchlands, a sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula just west of Niagara-on-the-Lake. This area is growing in popularity for its boutique wineries, quaint towns and villages, including Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan and burgeoning culinary scene.

Wineries and restaurants

13th Street Winery

Celebrate wine, art and food, including noteworthy butter tarts, at this picturesque winery, recently named the top winery in Ontario by the National Wine Awards of Canada.

Location: 1776 Fourth Avenue, St. Catharines

Pearl Morissette

Pearl Morissette is a premier foodie destination with a winery, bakehouse and MICHELIN-starred restaurant.

Location: 3953 Jordan Road, Jordan Station

Cave Spring Vineyards

Take in the views of vineyards backed by limestone cliffs along the Niagara Escarpment and taste premium Rieslings and Chardonnay.

Location: 4043 Cave Spring Road, Beamsville

Things to do

Balls Falls Conservation Area

Part of the Bruce Trail, one of the oldest and longest continuous trails in Canada, this well-marked, one-mile hiking trail follows a creek to a series of cascades and waterfalls. 

Location: 3292 Sixth Avenue, Lincoln

Places to stay

Inn on the Twenty

A romantic country inn featuring a restaurant serving regional cuisine, a spa and suites with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs.

Location: 3845 Main Street, Jordan

Jordan House Tavern & Lodging

Enjoy comfortable accommodations next door to a casual pub serving up comfort food, cold beer along with live music.

Location: 3751 Main Street, Jordan Station

4: Niagara’s South Coast

Distance and drive time from Niagara Benchlands to Niagara’s South Coast: 65 kilometres, 45 minutes

Extend your trip and explore further south along the Niagara Peninsula to the historic border town of Fort Erie overlooking the Niagara River and the sun soaked shores of Lake Erie at Crystal Beach.

Places to stay

Hotel Philco

Boutique contactless hotel in a historic building featuring unique suites designed to different themes, including nautical, retro, glam and golf.

Location: 3930 Erie Road, Crystal Beach

Attractions

Old Fort Erie

This historic fort played a significant role during the War of 1812. Learn about military history through well-preserved structures, engaging exhibits and re-enactments.

Location: 350 Lakeshore Road, Fort Erie

Crystal Beach

The sandy shores and clean waters along Lake Erie are complemented with a charming waterfront community at Crystal Beach, also known as Bay Beach.

Location: Fort Erie

Restaurants and breweries

Rizzo’s House of Parm

Owned by celebrity chef and actor Matty Matheson, enjoy homemade family-style Italian cuisine.

Location: 2 Ridgeway Road, Ridgeway

Beach House Restaurant and Patio

Relax on the patio and enjoy a meal just steps from the main entrance for Bay Beach in Crystal Beach.

Location: 4130 Erie Road, Crystal Beach

Brimstone Brewing Co.

Combine a traditional style small-batch ale or lager with a dish from the smokehouse menu and enjoy live music.

Location: 209 Ridge Road North, Ridgeway

Getting here and around

By air

Most international flights to Ontario land at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), approximately 30 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of the city centre. International travellers to Canada must present a valid passport or NEXUS card.

Several major car rental companies operate at Terminal 1.

By land

The Niagara Region is in Southern Ontario along the Canada–United States border, approximately 120 kilometres south of Toronto via Queen Elizabeth Way Highway.

For travellers coming from the U.S., the closest border crossing locations are:

• Lewiston-Queenston Bridge from Lewiston, New York to Queenston, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
• Rainbow International Bridge from Niagara Falls, New York to Niagara Falls, Ontario
• Peace Bridge from Buffalo, New York to Fort Erie, Ontario

Check border wait times in advance. Find out what else you’ll need to know to cross the border into Canada.

Know before you go

Weather

Ontario is a four-season destination, and temperatures and weather change dramatically throughout the year. Learn more about weather in Ontario and get suggestions on what to pack and how to prepare for your road trip to the Niagara Region.

 Helpful tips

If you’re travelling from another country, helpful things to know about Ontario include Canadian currency, measurements and public holidays acknowledged in the province.

Ontario Tourism Information Centre

Visit the Ontario Tourism Information Centre to speak with a local travel counsellor for trip information, brochures and for time and money-saving attraction tickets.

Location: 5355 Stanley Avenue, Niagara Falls

Safety information

Emergencies aren’t always the first thing we consider when planning a vacation, but knowing who to contact in an emergency is important.

Land acknowledgement

Niagara Falls and the Niagara region are situated on the traditional lands of First Nations Peoples, including the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabe and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.