Booking choice: The Canadian side tour with the Maid of the Mist, from $165 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Niagara Falls straddles an international border, and the two most famous experiences sit on opposite sides of it: the Horseshoe Falls views in Canada and the Maid of the Mist in the US. Tours that combine them cross the border twice.
This guide is general information, not legal advice: entry rules depend on your nationality, so check the official US and Canadian government sites before you travel.
The quick answer
Tours that include the Maid of the Mist from Canada, and both-sides tours, cross into the US and back, so you need a passport (or another accepted document) and, if you are a Visa Waiver traveler, an approved ESTA for the land border. Canada-only tours with Niagara City Cruises need no border crossing at all.
Which Niagara Falls tours cross the border?
Any Canadian side tour that includes the Maid of the Mist, and every both-sides tour.
| Tour | Crosses the border? | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian side + Maid of the Mist | Yes, twice | Passport, ESTA if Visa Waiver |
| Both sides in one day | Yes, twice | Passport, ESTA if Visa Waiver |
| Canada only half day | No (if picked up in Canada) | None for the tour |
| Walking tour with boat | No | None for the tour |
| American side tour | No (if picked up in the US) | None for the tour |
Passport ready? The Canadian side tour handles the bridge, the tolls and the tickets.
Check dates for the Canadian side tour with the Maid of the MistWhat documents do you need to cross?
A passport works for everyone. US and Canadian citizens can also use a passport card, a NEXUS card or an enhanced driver's licence at land borders.
Bring the same document back into Canada that you used to leave it. If you are a permanent resident of the US or Canada, carry your residence card with your passport. Children need their own documents too.
Do you need an ESTA to cross at Niagara Falls?
Yes, if you travel under the US Visa Waiver Program: since October 2022 Visa Waiver visitors need an approved ESTA at land borders as well as airports.
Apply on the official ESTA website well before the trip, not at the bridge. Canadian citizens do not need an ESTA. If you need a US visa, you need it for the Maid of the Mist tour too.
Do you need anything extra to get back into Canada?
You need documents valid for entering Canada; if your nationality needs a Canadian visa, it must allow you to re-enter.
Canada's eTA applies to air travel, so it is not needed to drive back over the bridge. Check that a single-entry Canadian visa will not be used up by the day trip.
How long does the border crossing take?
It varies with the day: the tour bus joins the Rainbow Bridge queue in both directions, and reviews mention waits at customs.
That is the main reason a six-hour tour can run longer. One guest this season reports a guide skipping the bridge to avoid traffic and taking the Canadian boat instead. Build in buffer time.
Can you walk across the Rainbow Bridge?
Yes. There is a pedestrian walkway with a small toll, and the same documents rules apply on foot.
Many independent visitors stay in Ontario and walk over for the Maid of the Mist. Allow time for the customs hall in both directions.
What if someone in your group cannot cross?
Book a Canada-only tour: the Niagara City Cruises boat goes into the same Horseshoe basin.
The half day with Journey Behind the Falls and the Skylon Tower covers the Canadian side's highlights without a single checkpoint.
No border, no ESTA: the boat, Journey Behind the Falls and the Skylon Tower in half a day.
Explore the Canada-only half dayFrequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to see Niagara Falls from Canada?
Not to stay in Canada if you are already there. You need one to cross to the US side, for example for the Maid of the Mist.
Do children need a passport for the Maid of the Mist tour?
They need their own accepted travel document to cross the border. Check the rules for your nationality.
Is the bridge toll included in the tour?
Yes, the Over the Falls tours include road and bridge tolls.
Can I use an ESTA I already have?
Yes, if it is still valid and approved, it covers a land entry too.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Canadian Side Tour & Maid of the Mist
- Maid of the Mist boat ride (late April to early November, weather permitting)
- Journey Behind the Falls instead when the boat is not running
- Skylon Tower observation deck, with a return pass
Canada Only: Behind the Falls, Skylon & Boat
- Niagara City Cruises boat (May to December); a virtual flight ride replaces it in winter
- Journey Behind the Falls, skip the ticket line
- Skylon Tower, skip the ticket line
Walking Tour: Behind the Falls & Boat Cruise
Both Canadian icons on foot, with skip-the-line tickets
