Car hire Niagara Falls, ON

Introduction

The Canadian city of Niagara Falls (there's also a town of the same name on the other side of the border in the United States) likes to call itself the 'Capital of Honeymoons'. It remains to be seen if the city really receives that many newlyweds, but there's no denying that the waterfalls in the Niagara River are spectacular.

Population

The city has almost 85,000 inhabitants.

Location

Niagara Falls is located in the southeast of Canada, on the Niagara River which flows north from Lake Erie and discharges into Lake Ontario. On the other side of the lake lies Toronto. The Niagara River forms the border between Canada and the United States.

Economy

In the first half of the twentieth century the town attracted a lot of industry. The presence of cheap hydroelectric power was particularly attractive to factories wasting electricity. Most of the industry disappeared again during the economic crisis in the seventies and eighties. Nowadays tourism forms the main source of income. The Canadian city of Niagara Falls attracts more visitors than the city of the same name on the American side, as you have a better view of the waterfalls here.

Airports

The nearest airport is situated on American soil in the state of New York: Buffalo Niagara International Airport. It lies over 40 kilometers southeast of the city and is reachable by rental car via the Queen Elizabeth Way which turns into the Kensington Expressway on the other side of the border. The smaller airport near Niagara Falls only maintains connections with Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, and some destinations in Florida.

Public Transport

The People Mover, a bus that stops at the main viewing points, runs along the Niagara Parkway. Another bus, by the name of Falls Shuttle, runs along Lundy's Lane and River Road. There are also several coaches. When you buy a 'hop-on hop-off pass', you can get on or off at any stop.

Traffic and Parking

Especially during summer months it gets very busy around the Niagara Falls and on the Niagara Parkway which runs along the river, from Niagara-on-the-Lake in the north until Fort Erie in the south. It is, however, a very scenic route to take by rental car. Usually there are sufficient parking facilities at the main viewing points. Niagara Falls has good connections with the freeways in both Canada and the United States. The Queen Elizabeth Way runs west of the city. Highway 420 runs from the Rainbow Bridge to that freeway.

Hotels

High season for the Niagara waterfalls runs from May to October. There are many hotels nearby, but prices are high, especially for rooms with a view of the waterfalls. If you do want a room with a view, it's better to book your room directly with the hotel, instead of booking through a general website for hotel reservations. Niagara Falls not only has expensive hotels though; there are also cheaper options like the Hostel Niagara and the A-1 Motel.

External Sources

For more information about Niagara Falls, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Niagara Falls
• Official website Niagara Falls
• Tourist Information Niagara Falls