Toronto to Niagara Falls Day Trip

Pictures and videos simply don't do justice to the awesome sense of power and grandeur one experiences by being there. When visiting Niagara Falls we also recommend going up to the Skylon Tower Observation Deck which will provide you with a spectacular overview of the falls and the surrounding areas. On a clear day you can make out the Toronto Skyline far across Lake Ontario. We also recommend a ride on the Hornblower catamaran (formerly Maid of the Mist) which will take you on a breathtaking (and wet) ride to the base Horseshoe Falls.

Numerous tour operators offer package tours from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls and many include the Hornblower Voyage To The Falls cruise in their price. While these tours are great, they are more restrictive time-wise and cost considerably more than using public transport. The Go Train/Bus and local bus service, by far the cheapest way to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto.

Getting from Union Station to Niagara Falls on public transit

Throughout the year you can travel from Union Station in Downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls via the Go Train to Burlington Station, transferring to a Go Bus that will be waiting at the station to take you on to Niagara Falls. This trip takes about 2½ hours with several departure times available daily. Use the Go Trip Planner to get exact times and fares for your trip.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the peak visitor season, Go Trains run both directions between Toronto and Niagara Falls multiple times each day with no need to transfer to the Go Bus in Burlington. These seasonal trains take about 2 hours each way.

Go Trains and Buses terminate at the Via Rail Station in Niagara Falls. From there you can walk along River Road to the falls in about 40 minutes or take a Niagara Falls WEGO bus which provides transporatation to the park and other popular attractions in the area. For more information about Niagara Falls see the Official Website: Niagara Falls Tourism.

Cost Comparisons of a Toronto to Niagara Falls Day Trip using Public Transportation versus Private Tours

Weekday Fares from Toronto to Niagara Falls

The round trip cost per adult from Union Station in Downtown Toronto is $42.30* for GO Transit plus $10.00 for a day pass on the Niagara Falls Shuttle, a total of $51.30. If you add $32.75 to include the Hornblower Cruise the total per adult is about $85. This compares favourably to the starting rate of about $118 plus tax for a private Tour Bus | Hornblower Voyage To The Falls tour. If you are travelling with children under 12 savings will be much higher - GO Transit is Free / Falls Shuttle - $7.00 (Free if under 6) / Hornblower Voyage To The Falls $22.75, a total of $30 compared to an average of about $96 including tax for a similar package tour. A family of 2 Adults and 2 Children can save over $200 compared to a similar tour bus package.

Besides the considerable savings over private tours, you'll enjoy more departure and return times, providing up to 9 hours to explore Niagara Falls on Weekdays and up to nearly 12 hours on weekends. Most package tours only give you 2-3 hours of free time at the Falls. Niagara Falls Weekend Go Trains are scheduled so you can also enjoy a late afternoon departure, spend the evening at the Falls and still get a train back to Toronto.

You can download a copy of the Train and Bus Schedule from the link below.

Toronto to Niagara Falls Weekend Go Train Schedule

View or download the 2022 Niagara Falls/Toronto GO Train and Bus Sechedule.

Weekend Hotel Deals in Niagara Falls. Prices are for a 2 Night Stay.

Package Tours to Niagara Falls: Added Value

If you would prefer an all-in-one package tour, the three tours below provide added value and convenience at a very reasonable price.

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Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No, Niagara falls is a public park, however, there are admission fees for some of the area attractions.

Hours: 24/7

Address: Niagara Falls, ON

Phone: 905-356-6061

Official Website: Niagara Falls

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