Top 5 best and most scenic views of Niagara Falls (plus a bonus or two)

The simple fact is if you want to see Niagara Falls – the Horseshoe Falls in Ontario, as well the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls in New York – it costs nothing.

Simply find a parking spot downtown Niagara Falls and walk down to Niagara Parkway, the road that runs alongside of the falls near Queen Victoria Park.

Hundred of thousands line that street every year to catch a glimpse of the falls in all its majesty. So, there you go. See the natural wonder, it cost you nothing, win-win.

However, if you’re looking for a better view than standing with the public on the sideline, there’s some available but unfortunately, they’re not free. That said, the best seats in the theatre or at the concert always cost more.

So here we go – the Top 5 Best and Most Scenic Views of Niagara Falls. (Plus a couple of bonus ones.)

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NUMBER ONE: A NIAGARA HELICOPTER RIDE OVER!

Let start with both the highest and the priciest view of the falls. For $160/adult and $99/child, see the falls from a ride on Niagara Helicopters (3731 Victoria Ave). As we said, not cheap and the helicopter tour of lasts about 15 minutes. However, that being said, being thousands of feet in the air, you’ll never get better pictures, as well as views not just of the falls, but also the Sir Adam Beck Generating plant, the Botanical Gardens, the Niagara River from the Whirlpool area, the Rainbow Bridge and more.

Their well-maintained fleet of seven passenger Airbus H130 helicopters operate every day, weather permitting, from 9 am until sunset year-round. Reservations are not required as they are a walk-in attraction.

NUMBER TWO: HORNBLOWER CITY CRUISES

Get set to get wet!!! When you’re thousands of feet in the air, you’ll stay dry but on Hornblower’s Niagara City Cruises (Main Ticket Plaza, 5920 Niagara Pkwy), you’ll get as close to the falls as you can by water and yeah, you’re going to get wet. That’s why they give everyone those protective recyclable mist poncho to wear.

The 20-minute Voyage to the Falls boat tour gives riders stunning views of the Niagara Gorge, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and feel the thunderous roar, awesome power and amazing mist of the Horseshoe Falls. Prices are $32.75/adults $22.75 child (3-12) with infants free.

NUMBER THREE: THE TABLE ROCK WELCOME CENTRE

Technically, the Table Rock Welcome Centre (6650 Niagara Parkway) is free to all. That said, parking there will cost about $25. The Welcome Centre is something of an enclosed plaza with a souvenir shop, fast food kiosks, a coffee shop and two levels of shopping. However, a single step outside and you’re standing at the crest of Niagara Falls. It’s basically as close as you can get.

The Table Rock House Restaurant often makes those “Top-10 Places To Eat In Niagara Falls” lists and the entrance to the “Journey Behind The Falls” attraction is in the building.

NUMBER FOUR: WILDPLAY NIAGARA FALLS ZIPLINE TO THE FALLS

You have to be a little more adventurous for this one but the WildPlay Zipline to the Falls (5920 Niagara Pkwy) takes you on a breathtaking and heart-pounding ride into the gorge at the base of Horseshoe Falls. The zipline glides down 670 metres (2,200 feet), soaring past the American Falls and landing atop the falls observation deck at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.

This is a year-round attraction and during the winter months, you’ll see the stunning beauty of the snow and ice encasing Niagara Falls. The set rate for the zipline is $49.99 but it can “zip” up to $59.99 during peak season.

NUMBER FIVE: THE NIAGARA SKYWHEEL

At 175-feet (53 meters) in height, the Niagara SkyWheel (4960 Clifton Hill) will give you not only a view of Niagara Falls but also the entire downtown of the city, including entertainment mecca, Clifton Hill. Built at a cost of $10 million, it opened on June 17, 2006 and remains one of the city’s premiere attractions.

The ferris wheel, which takes just under 15 minutes for a full revolution, has 42 passenger cars that can hold nine people each and those cars are heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer. The cost is pretty reasonable at $15 for adults and $7 for kids. It’s open year-round from 9 am to 1 am.

BONUS VIEW: THE SKYLON TOWER

Possibly the most famous Niagara Falls restaurant in Canada, The Skylon Tower (5200 Robinson St) normally offers two great levels of fine dining – both 775 feet above the falls. At the moment, however, only their Revolving Dining Room Restaurant is open. The family-affordable Summit Suite Buffet dining room, shut down since the pandemic started, isn’t slated to reopen until 2023.

The Revolving Dining room restaurant silently rotates 360 degrees every hour, giving diners a constantly changing vantage point. It is estimated that more than 125 kilometres are viewable from the dining room. Many consider it “the most breathtaking view in all of Niagara Falls.” The Indoor/Outdoor Observation Decks are available to all diners and the exterior glass-enclosed “Yellow Bug Elevators” rise to the Skylon in just 52 seconds.

BONUS VIEW: THE TUNNEL AT THE NIAGARA PARKS POWER STATION

Here’s the newest way for a great view of Niagara Falls – The Tunnel at the Niagara Parks Power Station (7005 Niagara Pkwy). The station itself opened in July 2021 but this tunnel feature is just a couple of months old. A glassed elevator takes you down 180 feet beneath power station, leading to a 2,200-foot-long walk through the tunnel.

At the end of the tunnel is a breathtaking panoramic view of the falls from the viewing platform at the edge of the Niagara River. Experience the Tunnel with regular admission to the Niagara Parks Power Station. Adults are $28, children are $18.25, kids under five get in free.