Toronto to Niagara Falls Day Trip by Go Train | Cheapest Way to Visit the Falls
Use Go Transit to visit Niagara Falls from Toronto - A family of 4 can save $240 over a similar tour bus package.
Niagara falls, one of the world's top ten tourist attractions, is closely associated with Toronto by virtue of its proximity. If you have never seen Niagara Falls in person and you are vacationing in Toronto, we would highly recommend a Niagara falls day trip to experience this natural wonder.
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 Niagara City Cruises catamaran (the operator formerly known as Hornblower, and before that Maid of the Mist on the Canadian side) 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 Niagara City Cruises 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
The Niagara GO Train now runs year-round, offering direct service from Union Station in Downtown Toronto straight to the Niagara Falls GO Station, with no need to transfer at Burlington. The trip takes about 2 hours, with several departure times available daily (weekday service currently offers around 3 direct departures, with more trips on weekends). When a direct train isn't running, GO still gets you there via the Lakeshore West train to Burlington GO Station with a transfer onto Go Bus Route 12. Use the Go Trip Planner to get exact times and fares for your trip - when searching, set the toggle to "No Transfers" to see only the direct Niagara trains.
Go Trains and Buses terminate at the Niagara Falls GO Station. From there you can walk 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
Special GO+WEGO Weekend Deal
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, GO Transit's Niagara GO+WEGO Combo Ticket drops to just $22 for an adult - covering your round trip train fare from Union Station plus a full day of unlimited rides on the WEGO bus. Kids 12 and under ride the GO Train free, with WEGO bus access added for as little as $9. It's an incredible bargain for a weekend getaway.
Weekday Fares from Toronto to Niagara Falls
The round trip cost per adult from Union Station in Downtown Toronto is $34.00 for the GO+WEGO Combo Ticket, which bundles your GO Train fare with a full day of unlimited WEGO bus rides. If you add about $54* to include the Niagara City Cruises Voyage to the Falls boat tour the total per adult is about $88. This compares very favourably to a typical rate of $150 for a private Bus + Falls Boat Tour package during peak season.
If you are travelling with children ages3-12 savings will be much higher - GO+WEGO Combo Ticket from $9.00 / Niagara City Cruises about $37* (children 2 and under free on both), a total of about $46 compared to a similar package tour, which most tour operators price in the $110 - $120 range. A family of 2 Adults and 2 Children can save up to $240 compared to a similar tour bus package.
*Niagara City Cruises prices shown include 13% HST.
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 Go Train Schedule
View or download the current Niagara Falls/Toronto GO Train and Bus Schedule (Route 12).
Hotel Deals in Niagara Falls
Visit Booking.com to see some the great hotel deals in Niagara Falls.
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.
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
Directions
| GO Transit Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yonge-University-Spadina | Union Station | 40 Minutes (0 Minutes with Falls Shuttle) |
How to get to Niagara Falls by GO Transit
From Union Station take the direct Niagara GO Train, which now runs year-round straight through to the Niagara Falls GO Station (you can also board at Exhibition, Port Credit, Oakville or Burlington). If a direct Niagara train isn't running at your preferred time, take the Lakeshore West Go Train to Burlington GO Station and transfer onto GO Bus Route 12, which continues on to Niagara Falls. Either way, the best value is the GO+WEGO Combo Ticket, a single package that bundles your round trip GO Train fare with unlimited rides on the WEGO bus, which has a stop right in front of the GO station and will take you right to the falls.
| GO+WEGO Combo Ticket - Weekday Packages (round trip GO Train + WEGO bus) | |
|---|---|
| Adult, 1-Day Package | $34.00 |
| Adult, 2-Day Package (adds 2-day Falls Incline Railway) | $40.00 |
| Children 3-12 | From $9.00 |
| Children 2 and Under | Free |
| GO+WEGO Combo Ticket - Weekend Packages (round trip GO Train + WEGO bus) | |
|---|---|
| Adult, 1-Day Package | $22.00 |
| Adult, 2-Day Package (adds 2-day Falls Incline Railway) | $35.00 |
| Children 12 and Under | Ride GO free; WEGO access from $9.00 |
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Niagara Falls:
Photo Gallery
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Close up of the Niagara Horseshoe Falls -
Canadian Horseshoe Falls at Night viewed from Skylon Tower cc licensed photo by Mariomaster1589 -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: ANNE LOTTE - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: diocrio - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Christian Collins - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr
