Niagara Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the USA and Canada and attracts millions of visitors annually. The USA and Canadian border in this area is actually marked by falls on the Niagara River; American Falls in New York (USA) and Canadian/Horseshoe Falls on the Ontario (Canadian) side. On the right side of American Falls is a natural force-created smaller waterfall called Bridal Veil Falls. We have had the opportunity to visit both sides of the falls multiple times over the past decade and they are spectacular anytime you see them.

While the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is considered by many (including us) to be more attractive, the ideal is seeing both sides as each has its pros and cons, and seeing the falls from both sides offers a more complete, comprehensive viewing experience.

The Canadian side of Niagara Falls

There is no question that the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is more developed, vibrant, and bustling than the American side. There is a mini Las Vegas casino element to this side of the falls that also attracts more visitors. What makes the Canadian side of the falls more attractive to visit than the USA side is the fact that you can get breathtaking, panoramic views of both the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls and can also get right up to the edge of the Horseshoe Falls to get an unreal, top-down view of those falls.

All the development around the falls gives visitors more options for things to see and do on the Canadian side, however, the drawback to all the development is that the Canadian side definitely has a commercial feel and loses some of the natural setting elements around the falls. With heavy foot traffic and high demand for products and services, the Canadian side is also notably more costly than the American side.

Another distinct advantage of the Canadian side is that some of the hotels offer rooms with dazzling views of the falls that make it feel like you are looking at a live postcard from your hotel room window. We stayed at the Marriott on our last trip and the views we had from our room were spectacular. We also got to enjoy great views of the Niagara Falls Light Show (only properly visible from the Canadian side) from our hotel room. Overall, while the Canadian side is more costly for lodging, food, etc. it does offer better views of the falls without having to do excursions. We do recommend doing the Maid of the Mist Boat Ride because it offers an incredible experience to view and “feel” the falls from the river level.

Since this article and our blog are from the perspective of traveling with kids and family, there are definitely more family/kid-centric activity options on the Canadian side with Hershey’s Chocolate World, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, and Clifton Hills, which has fun rides and a Ferris wheel that provides some lovely views of the falls as well.

We often use guided tours when visiting destinations where we are short on time or if English is not widely spoken. This tour (hyperlink) is a great option to see the falls on the Canadian side from different viewpoints. Canadian Niagara Falls Tour.

United States side of Niagara Falls

We have already mentioned some of the advantages that the Canadian side has over the USA side and also noted some of the pros for the USA side. What the USA side does not offer is the ability to get panoramic views from the top of all three of the falls. In order to actually see the American Falls, you have to pay to enter the Cave of the Winds walkways but even then, you get a view from the bottom up and not the top down. One advantage the USA side does have from the top is that you can get very close to the American Falls and “feel” the force of the water pouring down. There are also several viewing points at the rim around the walking path next to the falls where you get a similar feel.

As noted earlier, the Canadian side draws bigger crowds and is considerably more commercialized. If you prefer less crowded areas, lower cost, and relative to the Canadian side, a less commercial and more natural feel around the falls, the USA side is the better option. However, aside from the falls, there is not a whole lot in terms of activities on the USA side. There is an aquarium, a casino, and a wax museum as options for other activities but not much else.

For a hassle-free guided tour that includes a hotel pick of the USA side, we recommend this tour: Niagara Falls USA

Conclusion

For a laid-back, more casual weekend trip, we think the USA side is a good option. However, coming from a distance with family to see the falls, we recommend seeing both to get a comprehensive experience but if you only have time for one side then the Canadian side would be the one we recommend because of the panoramic views and more activities available for family and kids.

For a hassle-free, comprehensive tour of Niagara Falls from both sides(the USA and Canada), we highly recommend this tour: USA & Canadian Niagara Falls Tour.