Tips on Avoiding Niagara Falls Tourist Traps

Niagara Falls Tourist Traps

The beauty and strength of Niagara Falls makes it one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S. and Canada. However, this also sets the conditions for huge tourist traps, know what to avoid before you get snared.

Viewing Niagara Falls

There are pros and cons to viewing Niagara Falls from both sides of the border. If you stick to the U.S. side, it’s less “touristy”, but the better views are from Canada. However, it can be hard to enjoy the natural beauty of the Falls with flashing lights, traffic, crowds and tourist shops everywhere. If you want less crowds and touristy stuff, stick to the slightly toned-down New York side. If you want the best of both worlds, bring your passport and hop over to see the Falls and just come back. Don’t want to deal with traffic? You can even walk across the Rainbow Bridge between the two countries for free.

Clifton Hill

If you visit Clifton Hill be prepared, it’s expensive. Located a block from Casino Niagara and in close proximity to the Falls, attractions include the Alien Encounter, Guinness World Of Records Museum, Adventure Dome, Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum. The souvenirs here cost more than in other places.

IMAX Theatre

On the Canadian side, there’s an IMAX cinema advertising to experience Niagara Falls “larger than life” on a giant six-story tall screen, despite the fact that the real falls, less than half a mile away, are actually three times higher than this!

Tour Traps

At most local hotels there are booths in the lobby selling tours. These ‘tours’ are expensive and proclaim some 20 or 30 sights you will be seeing. What they really are is an expensive alternative to walking around from place to place. You would be paying maybe for the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds on your own, but everything else would be free.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about tourist traps in Niagara Falls.