NIAGARA FALLS VISITORS GUIDE

• Weather
• Currency & Measurements
• Retail Sales Taxes
• Travel by Car
• Travel by Train
• Travel by Air

NIAGARA FALLS WEATHER

• Spring: April and May - Cool and Mild, great time to visit and enjoy outdoor activities.
• Summer: June, July and August - Hot and Muggy or Cool and Muggy (High Season). Most tourists visit during the Summer Season (May 24th through Labour Day)
• Autumn: September, October and the first few weeks in November - Cool and Mild, great time to visit and enjoy outdoor activities.
• Winter: November, December, January, February and March - Cool and Wet or Cold and Wet or Really Cold and Icey.

Weather-wise, the best seasons to visit Niagara are Spring and Autumn. Because of the proximity to Lake Erie and Lake Ontario the summers here can get very humid and the winters can be grey and wet. If you need more accurate weather information, visit Environment Canada, The Weather Network or The U.S. National Weather Service.

CURRENCY & MEASUREMENTS

In Canada, the currency is Canadian Dollars, distance is measured in Meters and Kilometers, the temperature is in Celsius, liquid volume is measured in Liters and weight is measured in Kilograms.

• $1 Canadian = $? U.S. (it fluctuates, click here for todays exchange rate)
• 1 meter = 3.28 feet
• 100 kilometers = 62 miles
• 20 degrees celsius = 68 degrees fahrenheit
• 1 liter = .264 U.S. gallons (liquid)
• 1 kilogram = 2.205 pounds

Most Canadian hotels, restaurants and vendors will accept U.S. dollars for purchases but the conversion rate won't even come close to the official exchange rate. Your best bet is to either use your credit/debit card to make purchases or convert your U.S. dollars to Canadian before you go shopping!

For currencies other than U.S.$, your best bet is to convert before you get here! "Click here" for exchange rates.

Visit Online Conversions and Bank of Canada Currency Converter for more information.

RETAIL SALES TAXES

In Ontario, Canada there is a Provincial Retail Sales Tax (RST) of 8% and/or a Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 6% on almost every product and service. I mean everthing! Haircuts, chocolate bars, shoes, hotel rooms, restaurant meals, attraction passes, rental cars ... and so on. So no matter what the sticker price says, it's going to cost 14% more. The "sin" taxes are even higher on Alcohol and Tobacco.

The good news is. If your visiting from outside Canada you can get a rebate on the GST by filling out a form that you get at most of the Duty Free shops along the border and at the airports.

My advice for visitors. Bring your own Bourbon and Smokes and save your receipts for everything you buy here.

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING BY CAR:

• The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada is located on the west side of the Niagara River approximately half-way between Lake Ontario to the north and Lake Erie to the south.
• If you are arriving from the U.S., you will probably be crossing into Canada at one of three U.S./Canada borders along the Niagara River i.e. Buffalo/Fort Erie Peace Bridge, Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge or Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. The border crossing wait times can be as little as 10 minutes to as long as 3 hours or more. Be prepared! (see border wait times)
• U.S. Citizens and foreign nationals must produce proper I.D. at the borders before crossing. (Canada Border Services Agency)
• Mapquest or Google Maps: Online Road Maps and Travel Directions

Traveling by road? Distance from ...

U.S. Cities

• Chicago - 532 miles, 8.5 hours
• Detroit - 246 miles, 4 hours
• Cleveland - 215 miles, 3.5 hours
• Pittsburgh - 241 miles, 4 hours
• Buffalo - 23 miles, .5 hours
• Rochester (NY) - 88 miles, 1.5 hours
• Syracuse - 164 miles, 3 hours
• Albany - 300 miles, 5 hours
• Boston - 470 miles, 7.5 hours
• New York City - 410 miles, 7 hours
• Philadelphia - 417 miles, 7 hours
• Washington (DC) - 482 miles, 8 hours
• Baltimore - 390 miles, 7 hours
  

Canadian Cities

• Sarnia - 307km, 3 hours
• Windsor - 387km, 4 hours
• London - 210km, 2.5 hours
• Kitchener/Waterloo - 141km, 2 hours
• Toronto - 127km, 1.5 hours
• Hamilton - 84km, 1 hour
• Kingston - 388km, 4 hours
• Ottawa/Hull - 576km, 6 hours
• Montreal - 668km, 7 hours
• Quebec City - 922km, 9.5 hours

Online Road Maps and Travel Directions

• Mapquest
• Google Maps

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING BY TRAIN, there are two railways serving this area:

• VIA Rail. The Canadian Passenger Rail Service (Please visit their website for schedules)
• Amtrak. The U.S. Passenger Rail Service (Please visit their website for schedules)
• If you are arriving from outside of Canada please make sure you have the required I.D., Passport and Citizenship documents to enter Canada.  (Canada Border Services Agency)
• The Niagara Falls Train Station is located in the north-end of the city at 4267 Bridge Street.  It's about 4km (2.5 miles) from "the falls".

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING BY AIR, there are three airports serving this area:

Buffalo Niagara International Airport: (BUF)

• Located in Buffalo, NY.
• Travel time (and distance) by car from the airport to Niagara Falls is about 1 hour (30 miles).
• To get here from the airport you will be crossing one of three U.S./Canada Borders at either the Peace Bridge in Buffalo NY, the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls NY or the Queenston-Leweiston Bridge in Lewiston NY. Make sure you have the required I.D. and Citizenship documents to cross the border.  (Canada Border Services Agency)
• For Airport Bus/Limo Service contact Niagara Air Bus.

(John C. Munro) Hamilton International Airport: (HIA)

• Located in Hamilton, ON.
• Travel time (and distance) by car from the airport to Niagara Falls is about 1 hour (85km).
• If you are arriving from outside of Canada please make sure you have the required I.D., Passport and Citizenship documents to enter Canada.  (Canada Border Services Agency)
• For Airport Bus/Limo Service contact Niagara Air Bus.

Toronto Pearson International Airport: (YYZ)

• Located in Toronto (GTA), ON.
• Travel time (and distance) by car from the airport to Niagara Falls is about 1.5 hour (100km).
• If you are arriving from outside of Canada please make sure you have the required I.D., Passport and Citizenship documents to enter Canada.  (Canada Border Services Agency)
• For Airport Bus/Limo Service contact Niagara Air Bus.