12 Tourist Traps To Avoid In Niagara Falls

The likes of Wendy's, McDonald's, and Denny's are popular because they provide filling meals at a relatively low cost compared to independent restaurants. Sadly, that is not the case at Niagara Falls. Visitors have long complained about the inflated costs of chain restaurants in the area. Thanks to the premium that comes with running a business in Niagara Falls, some have even noted that their meals on both sides of the Falls are twice as expensive as they would be back home.

One Tripadvisor reviewer noted that their favorite Outback Steakhouse special set them back $55 instead of the $17 they usually pay. Meanwhile, there have been reports of $38 entrees at IHOPs offering views of the Falls and Burger Kings charging triple their usual prices. This is a result of add-on fees that restaurants often quietly introduce under the guise of improving guest experiences, with one Niagara Falls IHOP server telling CBC that they were trained to explain to curious diners that it's "mandatory" and goes towards "maintenance and fireworks."

Tempting though it is to dip into a fast food spot for a quick, comforting snack, you'll feel slightly less duped if you pay a premium at a restaurant you can't enjoy back home. Tough though they are to find, there are also plenty of spots for cheap eats in the area, such as Flying Saucer Drive-In, Chip 'N Charlies, and Pho Xyclo.

Located near the American Falls and the Rainbow Bridge connecting the U.S. with Canada, One Niagara Welcome Center describes itself as a "tourism and sightseeing haven." It's packed with gift shops and an "International Food Court" offering Mexican, Indian, Chinese, and other global cuisines, but unsurprisingly, this food doesn't come cheap. Tourists stopping off for a bite to eat have complained about the high prices (and low quality) of the food.

Souvenirs and snacks sold at One Niagara Welcome Center are also pricey purchases, with stores allegedly adding hidden charges at checkout. "It feels dirty and the souvenirs are poor quality but very expensive," one visitor wrote on Tripadvisor. Another cautioned tourists new to the area to avoid being lured in by the Center marketing itself as a must-visit.

While One Niagara Welcome Center does sell tickets to legitimate sightseeing tours of the Falls, the same tours can be booked for a cheaper price at the Official Visitor Center, just a five-minute walk away. There is one positive to stopping off at the Center: at $25 for two hours, it offers cheaper parking than other lots nearer the Falls. However, considering the prices you pay once inside, this perk isn't enough to redeem the Center of tourist trap status.

This tourist trap isn't limited to Niagara Falls. While you'd never consider paying $15 for a plastic magnet back home, that's a bonafide bargain at some well-known travel destinations that take advantage of the knowledge that tourists can only buy a t-shirt emblazoned with "I've been to Niagara Falls" on this one trip and will often throw caution to the wind to do so.

Niagara Falls is one of those places, and both sides of the Falls often put the likes of New York City, London, or even Disneyland to shame with their souvenir costs. Most stores in the area (as well as hotels and restaurants) add on an unnecessary tourist tax, usually with a vague nickname such as "destination marketing fee," "tourism fee," "luxury fee," or "Niagara Falls destination fee." An investigation by CBC in February 2023 found that these fees have soared over the past few years, and unlike regular taxes, the money doesn't go to local authorities or the government but to the establishments themselves.

This tax is so rampant that some souvenir stores try to stand out from the crowd by advertising their services as tourism fee-free in the windows, so if you are desperate for that Niagara Falls t-shirt, you may be better off at least looking for one of these establishments. We also recommend People Discount Souvenir, which is a 30-minute walk from Clifton Hill and stocks many of the same souvenirs at lower prices.

Journey Behind the Falls takes tourists up close and personal with Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of the border, the biggest of the three waterfalls in the area. A series of 130-year-old tunnels means you can quite literally look through the back of the Falls, while an outdoor observation point allows you to observe them from below. It's one of multiple sightseeing experiences at Niagara Falls — and one of the most expensive. Before tax, it will cost each adult CA $24.00 (U.S. $17.69), while children between the ages of 3 and 12 must pay CA $16 (U.S. $11.79).

While there's no denying the incredible view, visitors have dubbed Journey Behind the Falls "the greatest tourist trap joke in the history of tourist traps." Some claim that the well-known Maid of the Mist boat tour offers a better view for a slightly higher price. That experience also lasts longer than Journey Behind the Falls. Despite the website advertising it as a 45-minute excursion, this self-guided tour takes just 20 minutes. You'll most likely end up spending more time waiting in line for the elevator to the tunnels than you do in the actual tunnels themselves — and even once you get there, the sight of a wall of water can be underwhelming. The tunnels involved in Journey Behind the Falls are also very narrow and humid, which can really put the "trap" in "tourist trap" if you're claustrophobic.

Niagara's Fury immerses guests in 10,000 epic years of history. This indoor 4D experience on the Canadian side of the Falls covers the creation and preservation of Niagara, spraying guests with water and shaking the floor beneath their feet in the process. While it has the potential to be an exciting experience, visitors remain largely unimpressed by Niagara's Fury's poor effects, expensive tickets, and short duration. "This is a poor 4D experience, it is certainly underwhelming," one Tripadvisor reviewer noted.

If you have the Niagara Wonder Pass or Niagara Traveler Pass, entry to Niagara's Fury is included. Otherwise, it costs CA $17.50 (U.S. $12.90) per adult and CA $11.90 (U.S. $8.77) per child, which is a lot considering visitors report the entire show lasting for roughly 10 minutes despite the 45-minute length advertised on the official Niagara Parks website. It also feels redundant to pay to experience a digital version of the Falls with the real thing being just minutes away. By that logic, you could have stuck on a YouTube video and saved yourself the trek to Ontario. "Do not pay out of pocket for it," warned a visitor in 2019. "You'll be mad at yourself if you do."

Like a lot of places in the area, the main selling point of Skylon Tower is its location. At 775 feet high in the air, visitors can choose from two different dining options: the Revolving Dining Room Restaurant or the Summit Suite Buffet Dining Room. Both offer panoramic views from the Canadian side of the Falls, but the Revolving Dining Room Restaurant tends to be the first choice of many patrons as it has the added novelty of slowly rotating 360 degrees per hour as you eat.

Impressive though the views are, they come with a hefty price tag. Diners have noted that the experience is overpriced, considering the quality of the food. Entrees range from CA $49 (U.S. $36.10) to CA $70 (U.S. $51.58), and each bill is subject to both a 3% "Attractions and Promotions Fee" and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), all of which can quickly add up. There's also a minimum charge of CA $49 (U.S. $36.10) per guest, eliminating the sneaky alternative of sharing a few starters and drinks. The Revolving Dining Room Restaurant has also been accused of being outdated and in desperate need of a refurb in recent years.