17 Incredible Things to Do in Niagara-On-The-Lake

Looking for things to do in Niagara On The Lake Canada?

Niagara on the Lake is one of my favourite places in Ontario. I live about two hours from Niagara on the Lake, and I try to visit at least once a year.

It’s an especially great place for a romantic weekend or a girl’s getaway (that’s usually why I head down there.) But it’s also suitable for anyone from young families to seniors.

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, you’ll see:

• Horse-drawn carriages
• Victorian buildings
• Great food
• Lots of wineries, which are close enough to bike to from town

It’s unlike any other place in Ontario and is by far one of our cutest small towns.

I’m going to dive into all the things there are to do in Niagara on the Lake so that you can plan an amazing day or weekend there.

Best Things to Do in Niagara-On-The-Lake

1. Walk along the Main street

Niagara on the Lake is full of quaint streets, with cute houses. The main strip of Niagara on the Lake is Queen street.

A trip to Niagara on the Lake isn’t complete without walking down Queen street, window-shopping, trying some sweet treats and getting views of the gorgeous Prince of Wales hotel, and the red Clock building.

Whenever I visit Niagara on the Lake, I usually devote at least an hour or two to just taking a walk down that main street.

Here are a few things to look out for on Queen street:

• The Memorial Clock Tower, pictured above – built for residents killed in WW1 – (Niagara is the only town in Canada with a war memorial on the main street)
• A lavender store, which sells products made from lavender grown on the local lavender farm
• A year-round Christmas store (pictured below)
• Lots of food options; ice cream, cafes, and eateries. Some are on the main street, and some are just off the main strip

2. Walk or bike along the lake

Last time I visited Niagara on the Lake, my friend suggested that we bike around town. I’d never done that before, and I’m so glad she suggested it.

Niagara River Recreation Trail is the path you should take to get views of the lake. It takes you through wooded land, past the old fort George, and then along the lake. We stopped many times to get views.

You could walk or bike as little of it as you want. (We saw people doing both.)

We were actually using the Niagara River Trail to bike to a winery – Two Sisters. So, you could bike the whole thing if you want to, or use it to bring you to one of the wineries. See a map and details of the trail here.

If you’re staying at a bed and breakfast off the main street, you can easily bike around town. It’s very biker-friendly, and people expect to see bikers in the warmer months.

We brought our bikes with us, because we only live a couple hours away. If you’re not bringing a bike, there are some places in town to rent one

3. Visit wineries

One of the biggest draws that keeps people coming back to Niagara-on-the-Lake is the wineries.

At the wineries, you can do a wine-tasting, grab lunch, or get a tour of the winery.

There are many people having lunch, and walking along the edge of the vineyards, getting photos of the grapes.

• Peller Estates -Large built-up winery with a restaurant and tasting room on site.
• Two Sisters- My personal favourite winery. Has an upscale feel (I’ve seen a few weddings there.) Its gorgeous inside and out where the vineyards are.
• Jackson Triggs – Had a great lunch here – if you want to sit down with a nice view of the vineyards, I’d recommend this place. Delicious charcuterie boards.

Pro Tip: Wine tours need to be booked in advance. Tastings can be done via walk-in, but you may have to wait 15-20 minutes depending on how busy they are. We waited 15 minutes on a Saturday afternoon

4. Do a walking tour

I wasn’t aware of this before, but the town offers free historic walking tours.

If you haven’t been to Niagara on the Lake before, it’s a good way to make sure you don’t miss anything and learn some interesting facts about the town’s history.

The walking tours are 1.5 hours long, run at 10am and 3pm. Although they’re “free,” tips are suggested ($15 per person) as the tour guide only relies on tips.

You can book your walking tour online here.

5. Visit a lavender farm (summer only)

Just outside town, there’s a lavender farm. You can pick your own bouquet, or shop the products they make with their lavender.

If the lavender farm isn’t open during your visit (they’re only open from July 1st until it gets too cold) then you can also visit their store in town, which sells their products year-round.

6. Do a ghost tour

Ghost tours have become popular throughout lots of Ontarian cities, but Niagara on the Lake is said to be Canada’s most haunted town.

There’s a ghost tour agency right on the main street (Queen street) where you can book tours – or you can sign up on the Niagara Ghost Tour website.

On the tour, you visit the Prince of Wales hotel, the gazebo and the Old Angel Inn (pictured above) and hear the story that’s attached to them.

The ghost tours often sell out, so book in advance on the ghost tour website.

7. Head to the Gazebo for amazing views of the lake

The famous gazebo in Niagara on the Lake is located in Queen’s Royal Park, and looks onto Lake Ontario.

From Queen street, it would only take about 10 minutes to walk here.

I was very lucky to stay in a bed and breakfast right behind Queens park last timed I visited, and I saw many people heading there to relax and enjoy views of the waterfront.

You don’t need to go just to see the gazebo – its a nice, large, well-shaded green space on the lake front. I would head here just to relax, or for a nice walk.

8. See live theatre

Niagara on the Lake hosts the Shaw Festival every year, which consists of several plays running every year.

The Shaw festival is quite long-running, usually starting in spring and running until Christmas.

Last time I visited Niagara on the Lake, I saw My Fair Lady, and it was such a great performance. One of the best plays I’ve seen (and I’ve seen lots of plays; often in Stratford known for its Shakespearean plays or Broadway-style in Toronto.)

When we saw My Fair Lady, the theatre was completely full – so I definitely check what’s playing and book in advance!

9. Visit the local chocolate factory

There’s a chocolate experience just a short drive out of town, called the CFX Chocolate Experience.

You can book a tour of the chocolate factory to see how they make the chocolate and taste some sweet treats. But you can also simply drop in and buy some chocolate that they make on site.

10. Eat some great food

Another thing I always look forward to in Niagara on the Lake is the food. There’s lots of great restaurants and of many different varieties

Here are some of the restaurants I’ve eaten at and recommend:

• Masaki Sushi, for Japanese
• For bar food, Olde Angel Inn (patio pictured above)
• The Olde Winery Restaurant – one of my favourites, came here on a date night with my husband after we got engaged. Good gourmet option.
• Niagara’s Finest Thai for Thai food
• Fourno’s for Greek. Located right on Queen street, and has good patios, and a nice interior too.

11. Take part in the Ice Wine Festival

If you’re in Niagara Falls area in winter, you should consider trying to be there for the Ice Wine Festival.

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of ice wine – it’s very sweet, and is slightly thicker than regular wine. It reminds me of a thin syrup of some sort. So, I recommend giving it a try before buying a whole bottle.

However, ice wine is very unique as Canada is one of the few countries where its made. So, its worth trying. The festival makes it one of the best Ontario winter destinations.

And hey, I’ll take any excuse to visit Niagara on the Lake!

The 2025 Niagara on the Lake Wine Festival will be held from January 10th – 26th, 2025.

12. Relax in Picton park

Just off of Queen street close to the Prince of Wales Hotel, there’s Picton Park – a beautiful, spacious park with lots of picnic tables, plenty of shade, and public washrooms.

There’s a kid’s play structure, a fountain (not running last time I was there), and even some old monuments.

I had never seen so many people enjoying a park. There were people of all ages, simply sitting outside, enjoying the beautiful weather.

This would be a good place to take a break and relax, and get some shade.

Pro Tip: If you want to see an even more spectacular park, head to Queenston Heights Park, which is closer to Niagara Falls. Great thing to do if you’re in the area with kids.

13. Get a photo in front of the Prince of Wales hotel

The Prince of Wales Hotel is one of the most beautiful buildings in town. It’s a popular place to stay, and runs around $1,000 Canadian per night.

Built in 1864, it also has some history behind it – which is why its one of the stops on the Niagara ghost tour.

Whether you stay at the Prince of Wales or not, you’ll want to get some photos of the building. I saw many people getting their photo taken right in front of it.

14. Visit the homestead of Laura Secord

Laura Secord was a Canadian who did a 32 km (23 mile) hike, to warn Canadians about an American attack in 1813.

As a kid, I associated Laura Secord’s name with ice cream, because there is an ice cream chain named after her where each cone comes with a chocolate of a picture of her.

I had no idea she was from the Niagara area, and was excited to find this out.

Her homestead is a museum where you can learn about her history, and they sell the famous Laura Secord chocolates and some other unique souvenirs.

You can book your visit through the Niagara Parks website here.

15. Explore the Fort George National Historic Site

If you’re interested in the war of 1812 or history in general, then the place to visit is Fort George, right outside town.

It was damaged during the war, but has been refurbished to teach about the historical significance.

You can learn from guides who are dressed in period clothing, see artifacts and rooms that are a replica of the time.

It’s also right on the lake, so there are a lot of scenic views from the site as well. It’s also so close to town that you can walk or bike right by it.

Since the site is government-owned, you can book your visit here on the Parks of Canada website.

16. Take advantage of good shopping

Niagara on the Lake is actually a prime shopping destination. You can find:

• local handicrafts
• good deals on big brands
• Unique Canadian souvenirs and gifts
• Imported goods from other countries – Scotland, Ireland, and more

Some people drive here from hours away (in Ontario) to visit the outlet collection nearby – not to mention, there are a lot of boutique shops in town.

The outlet collection is about a 20-minute drive from downtown Niagara on the Lake. It has brand names that you can get good deals on.

It’s basically an open-air strip mall, that you could spend hours walking around. They have a food court too. I’ve been Christmas-shopping there a couple times; you can check their store directory on their website – there are stores like Lindt, Aerie, Acerombie & Fitch, etc.

Here are some great stores to find some unique and good quality items right downtown Niagara on the Lake:

• One Earth – sells natural, locally made skincare products. I’ve owned their handcream and face mask, there were both great quality
• An Irish store selling products from Ireland
• neob, a store that sells lavender products (with lavender grown locally)
• The Old Niagara Bookshop
• Cows Ice Cream – great place to get ice cream, but also lots of cute cow-themed souvenirs

17. Visit some nearby towns and waterfalls

Another thing the Niagara Peninsula is known for is waterfalls and lots of nice small towns.

Great places to live, and enjoy incredible scenery and great food.

Here are some other places near Niagara on the Lake worth checking out:

• Queenstown (15 minutes), in the direction of Niagara Falls
• Niagara Falls (25 minutes away)
• Balls Falls Conversation Area (40 minutes away)
• Lincoln, a cute small town (45 minutes)

One one of my visits, my husband and I visited Balls Falls Conservation area. It was fall, and the colours were absolutely gorgeous.

Balls Falls Conservation is an open-air museum with antique buildings, and some placks where you could read about the heritage and backstory. We also did a hike down to the waterfalls.

Best Places to Stay in Niagara On The Lake

Here are the three places I’d recommend staying in town, for each budget level. Most recently, I stayed at my mid-range recommendation – The Old Bank House (pictured below)

• Budget: Villa in the Vines There aren’t a lot of ‘budget’ options in Niagara on the Lake, but whenever I’ve gone, I’ve usually rented a small house, like this one. Perfect for families, or a group of friends travelling together
• Mid-Range: The Old Bank House Beautiful bed and breakfast with great location, just a short walk from Queen street, and facing the lake where the gazebo is. It’s an old building, so it has some character. Great patio. A light but delicious breakfast is served every morning
• Luxury: Prince of Wales Hotel This is by far, the nicest place in town. It’s right downtown, in a Victorian building. Has a pool, restaurant and spa on-site. (It’s not in my budget to stay here yet, but it’s on my bucket list.)

Suggested Itineraries for Niagara On The Lake

Here are some ideas on how to map out your stay, and get to experience the best of what the town has to offer

How to Spend 1 Day in Niagara on the Lake

To be honest, I’ve never come to Niagara on the Lake for only a day -( I think it deserves a little more time.) However, for some people, one day may be enough, especially if you don’t drink wine, or if you’re visiting in the winter when there aren’t as many things to do.

Here’s how I’d structure a day in Niagara-on-the-Lake:

• Morning: walk down the main street. Window shop, and take photos in front of the Clock building and Prince of Wales hotel
• Lunch: Grab lunch somewhere on or near the main strip, or a at a winery.
• Afternoon: Visit a winery. If you don’t like wine, then a nearby lavender farm might be a good alternative
• Late afternoon: Walk or bike down the recreational trail and get views of the lake
• Evening: See a show, or book a ghost tour. Grab dinner at one of the many great restaurants. Head to the gazebo and watch the sun set by the lake

How to Spend a Weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake

• Friday night: Grab dinner
• Saturday: Follow the itinerary above for one day
• Sunday: Visit some of the areas just outside of the region, such as the Laura Secord Homestead, and Ball’s Falls Conservation Area

Niagara On The Lake FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions about planning a trip to Niagara on the Lake that I found on Google – and my answers

What is special about Niagara-on-the-Lake?

Niagara on the Lake has a vintage feel that they are trying to preserve. It has horse-drawn carriages, Victorian style houses, boutique stores and vintage buildings. It’s right “on the lake,” with beautiful views of Lake Ontario, and only 20 minutes from Niagara Falls.

What is the prettiest street in Niagara-on-the-Lake?

The prettiest street in Niagara on the Lake is Queen street, which is lined with boutique stores, blooming flowers in the spring, and you can often see horse drawn carriages. However, there are so many beautiful streets in Niagara on the Lake with gorgeous homes that look like something out of the Victorian era.

How do I spend a day at Niagara-on-the-Lake?

To spend a day in Niagara on the Lake, I recommend walking down the main street in the morning, and grabbing lunch – either in town, or at a nearby winery, as many of them serve food. After the winery, see a show

Is Niagara-on-the-Lake worth it?

Niagara-on-the-Lake is absolutely worth it. It’s a beautiful town, where almost every house, corner and street looks like it’s out of a postcard. It’s a beautiful place for a romantic getaway, and provides so much, regardless of who you come with.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Niagara on The Lake

By now you know of all the wonderful things there are to do in Niagara on the Lake. It’s a wonderful, quaint town, where its almost impossible to not be in a good mood. Whether you’re going with a group of girlfriends, a date, or on your own, I’m sure you’ll leave town feeling rejuvenated.