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Niagara falls from NYC: 1 Day Trip vs 2 Days Trip

If you are in New York and you want to visit Niagara Falls, you may have doubts about how you can make the most of your time. Here are some useful tips

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

8 min read

Niagara falls from NYC: 1 Day Trip vs 2 Days Trip

Niagara Falls and Parador Resort | ©Eddie Bugajewski

Visiting Niagara Falls is a safe bet. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. There is a reason why they say it is one of the wonders of the world. So, if you want to see live many of the scenes you've seen in the movies, take the opportunity!

If you've already decided to go, the next step is whether you want to book a Niagara Falls day trip or choose a two-day Niagara Falls tour. Is one day enough to see enough? How long will it take me to see it all? Is it worth spending two days there? Read on and I'll help you decide!

How much time do I need to see the Falls?

Parador and Falls| ©Aditya Chinchure
Parador and Falls| ©Aditya Chinchure

On your trip to Niagara Falls keep in mind that you will need at least one day to see all the must-see sights and preferably two days to explore this wonderful place in peace and quiet.

  • If you have the time and opportunity, book the Niagara Falls two-day tour and make your experience unforgettable.
  • If your trip is short, book the one-day Niagara Falls tour and make the most of it. It may be a bit rushed but you'll get to see the highlights and you won't come back from your vacation without saying you didn't visit the Falls.

Once you have chosen the time of your excursion, depending on the time you have you can choose some attractions or others. I assure you that there are many things to see and enjoy, read on!

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Enjoy Niagara Falls at night

Niagara Falls at Night| ©Ahmed Raza Khan
Niagara Falls at Night| ©Ahmed Raza Khan

In case you doubted it... the falls don't go out! That means they are in constant motion and flow 24 hours a day. An incredible spectacle that you can enjoy if you decide to book your Niagara Falls tour and spend the night there. Every night is illuminated so you can see the falls in all their splendor.

Apart from that, think of the feeling of seeing this natural paradise under the moonlight and the stars. Impressive, isn't it? And if that wasn't enough, several nights a week there are fireworks shows. This happens:

  • Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from the second half of May.
  • From mid-June onwards they are seen every night from 10 pm onwards.
  • From the beginning of September to the beginning of October Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for another month.

Book your two-day tour to Niagara Falls

So... is it worth going to Niagara Falls for just one day?

View of the Falls in Canada| ©Bianca Ackermann
View of the Falls in Canada| ©Bianca Ackermann

Of course, booking a Niagara Falls tour is worth it even if it's just one day. Maybe your trip to New York doesn't allow you to enjoy more time than you'd like. And in case you had any doubts, I 100% recommend you to visit this paradise for a full day.

In addition, you can find many activities to do in a single day. Here are some examples adapted to all tastes and needs. Take paper and pen and... take note!

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Best attractions to enjoy if you go only one day

Cave of the winds| ©Kari
Cave of the winds| ©Kari

Here you will find the best activities that you can do on your trip to the famous and impressive Niagara Falls. Of course, you can combine them as you wish to make the most of your time.

Cave of the Winds

A unique experience at the foot of the falls is to book a guided tour of Niagara Falls with tickets to the Cave of the Winds. You will be able to walk at your leisure on these long wooden platforms and admire, and even feel or touch the force of the water.

At this attraction, first, a video will explain the history of this natural museum. When it is over, you will be given a raincoat and sandals and you will be lowered to the platforms so you can reach the viewpoint and be surrounded by the sound and humidity they give off. Visit the Cave of the Winds. It is, without a doubt, a spectacle!

It is a good option, since there is no time limit and you can enjoy the attraction for as long as you want.

Maid of the mist

This is another of the most popular and popular attractions in Niagara Falls. You will enter the most impressive falls from the base to the basin and enjoy the ride like never before.

Best of all, it won't take much time out of your day, as the ride takes about 25 minutes. You can buy tickets for the boat on the day and on the spot up to 15 minutes before the ferry departs. The Maid of the Mist is a must if you decide to take a day trip.

Niagara Falls Scenic Trolley

The fabulous vintage style trolley, which will be in charge of taking you around the falls park. A 5 km tour where you will learn the facts and history of this natural oasis, sounds good, doesn't it?

Adventure Theater

This is the projection of a movie that lasts about 30 minutes on a big screen. Knowing all the stories of the falls. Every hour there is a projection of the movie

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Extra attractions to enjoy if you go for two days

Fish at the Niagara Aquarium| ©Anthony Sokolik
Fish at the Niagara Aquarium| ©Anthony Sokolik

If you decide to book a two-day trip to Niagara Falls, I think it's a must to visit the Maid of the mist or Cave of the winds.

You can also see the screening of Legends of adventure, the Adventure Theater movie... plus many other activities. And, above all, with much more calm.

Apart from all this, there are other activities that you can enjoy on your second day at the falls. You might want to take a guided tour or go a little more on your own. Stay tuned!

Niagara Aquarium

An aquarium with more than 120 marine species, animal shows and talks by experts in the field. It has more than 30 exhibits among which I want to highlight the penguins, rays and sharks.

It is incredible because this aquarium emphasizes animal welfare in every way! Make up your mind to visit it, because it has many threatened and endangered species. You can find out much more on the official website of the aquarium.

Hiking trails

In addition to all these attractions, you can take advantage of your second day to walk freely throughout the park, which I assure you, will not disappoint you. There are endless routes through this natural paradise at your leisure and at your own pace - a marvel!

Book your two-day trip to Niagara Falls

The best option if it's your first time in New York

Inside Niagara Falls as part of the tour.| ©Sue Waters
Inside Niagara Falls as part of the tour.| ©Sue Waters

Youmay be traveling with very limited time. And sometimes, it's hard to fit everything we want to do into a few days, but we don't want to leave things out.

If you're traveling to New York, you're sure to want to delve into the city, the hustle and bustle and the action... So, if you're looking to see Niagara Falls and get your mind off it, it's best to ** book a day trip to Niagara Falls** and make the most of it.

In this case, take the opportunity to visit Maid of the mist or Cave of the winds to soak up the best of the falls... and never better!

Book your Niagara Falls Tour

Two-day tour if you're spending a lot of time in New York City

Roads to Niagara Falls| ©Bradley Howard
Roads to Niagara Falls| ©Bradley Howard

Sometimes we can afford to travel a few days longer than expected or you simply know the city, but you have missed some things to see and want to spend some time there. If this is your case, take advantage and book a two-day trip to Niagara Falls and enjoy two magnificent days.

In this case it may be useful to travel by car or bus to enjoy more scenery while leaving New York City to get to this natural paradise.

Book your two day Niagara Falls tour

Opt for the two-day tour if you are traveling with children.

Children at Niagara| ©Illini Gardner
Children at Niagara| ©Illini Gardner

Virtually all activities are suitable for children. From the aquarium, the Adventure Theater, the Park Tram and even the Maid of the Mist boat ride.

They will have a blast as they watch the scenery and feel the humidity and water falling on their bodies. They will have a blast! In this case... I think the best thing for them would be to book a two-day trip to Niagara Falls, so they don't end up exhausted.

I don't know if they will have a better time or you, what I do know is that it will be an incredible experience for the whole family and all this... In the middle of nature! I leave you this article about things to do with kids in Niagara Falls in case you want more information.

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Choose the best option according to your budget

Niagara Falls Tour| ©Tim Gouw
Niagara Falls Tour| ©Tim Gouw

How much is all this going to cost me? Sometimes it is complicated to economize when we travel to another country and, especially when we want to see so many things in New York, let me tell you that visiting Niagara Falls can be a very economical option if you want! In this case and to save as much as possible, the best thing to do is to book a day trip to Niagara Falls. Once there, you can choose from many cheap and free options.

It is true that you will have to invest in transportation, but once there, you will be able to do very low-cost and even free activities. Among the cheapest options, we find the entrance to the theater to see the movie, the observation tower or hiking trails through the park.

If, on the other hand, you have no budget limit my choice is clear: book a helicopter flight to see Niagara Falls from the air.

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Choose the most suitable tour according to the time of year

Winter at Niagara Falls| ©Christian Collins
Winter at Niagara Falls| ©Christian Collins

I have to tell you that you will not be able to enjoy all the activities I have told you about all year round. That's why you will need to consider what time of year is the best time to see the falls to decide whether to book a Niagara Falls day trip or a two day Niagara Falls tour.

  • If you are traveling during the summer season, which usually runs from May through October, I recommend taking the two-day tour, as you will be able to take advantage of more time and visit more attractions that are closed during the winter, such as the Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds.

  • If, on the other hand, you are going to see Niagara Falls in winter, you should be aware that many of the attractions are closed. Especially, the attractions directly related to water contact or the streetcar. In that case, I would do the day trip, where you can walk and hike trails or visit the theater or the aquarium.

I hope that after reading this article, it will be clearer to you which is the best option for you and whether it is more worthwhile for you to take a day trip or a two-day trip to the iconic and mighty Niagara Falls.

Book your tour to Niagara Falls