Niagara Falls: Getting there & around

Speedy Seaflight Hydrofoils run services between Toronto and the Queenston dock, from where a complimentary shuttle service to Niagara Falls is available.

The bus station (tel:905 357 2133; 4555 Erie Ave) is away from the falls area in the older part of town, across the street from the train station. Greyhound Canada buses depart frequently for Toronto as well as to Buffalo, New York (one and a half hours). Casino Niagara shuttles passengers by bus from Toronto to Niagara Falls daily. Passengers must be over 19 (ID required). Note you must board a return bus from the casino within 24 hours. Call or check the website for schedules and pick-up information. Advance reservations are recommended. Niagara Airbus is a door-to-door service with frequent connections to and from airports in Toronto and Buffalo, New York.

VIA Rail runs trains from Toronto (2hr). The Niagara Falls train station (tel:888 842 7245; 4267 Bridge St) is opposite the bus station.

Walking is best for getting around the central falls area, where many sights are concentrated. To visit outlying sights along the Niagara Parkway, other transport is needed.

Driving in and around the center is nothing but a costly headache. Follow the signs to one of the several parking districts and stash the car for the day. There is limited metered parking around town, but pay parking lots are plentiful. The huge Rapids View parking lot, which is also the depot for the Niagara Parks People Mover (see below), is a little over 3km (1.7mi) south of the falls off River Rd.

Operated by the Niagara Parks Commission, the Niagara Parks People Mover is an economical and efficient bus system. The depot is in the huge Rapids View parking lot. Day passes can be purchased at most stops. Shuttles follow a 15km (9mi) path from the Rapids View parking lot north past the Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow and Whirlpool Bridges, Whirlpool Aero Car and, during peak season, to Queenston village. Niagara Transit provides a shuttle bus service around town. One route, the Red Line, goes around Clifton Hill and other Falls attractions, then up Lundy's Lane to the motels and back.

The Blue Line runs from the downtown bus and train stations to the falls area attractions, by the Table Rock Information Center and down the Niagara Parkway to the Rapids View parking lot, then loops back around up Portage Rd and Stanley Ave. The Green Line goes from Rainbow Bridge north to Whirlpool Aero Car, then back down River Rd past the B&Bs to Clifton Hill. Out of season, Niagara Transit's regular city buses must be used.