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Niagara Falls (Ontario)

Niagara Falls, Ontario, is the self-proclaimed "Honeymoon Capital of the World". For over a century the grandeur of the waterfalls of the Niagara River have attracted tourists to this destination.

Understand
Niagara Falls was incorporated on June 12, 1903. Its population was 94,000 in 2021.

Mainly a tourist destination, the main attraction has always been Niagara Falls, which brings hundreds of thousands of tourists to the city. Tourism plays a major part in the economy of the region. Increasingly, visitors seeking more natural settings are finding the Niagara River to a great place to hike and visit downstream from the Falls where the majority of visitors go.

Visitor information
Welcome Centres open daily at 9AM, June through August. They offer advice and maps of the area, and sell WEGO day passes and the Adventure Pass. They are located at:

Also available:
 * Niagara Falls Tourism website
 * Niagara Falls Tourism website

Niagara Parks operates parks along the Canadian side of the Niagara River from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake, and promotes attractions on its parkland. It also jointly operates the WEGO Visitor Transportation System (a hop-on/hop-off bus service) in Niagara Falls. Niagara Parks offers visitors the following package deals:
 * The Adventure Pass is available approximately for May to October, and comes in two versions: Classic ($67) and Plus ($90). The Plus pass has all the features of the Classic plus more attractions and transit options. Both passes include Journey Behind the Falls, a Hornblower Niagara Cruise, White Water Walk and a two-day WEGO pass, among other benefits.
 * The Wonder Pass, available approximately for November to April, offers Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara's Fury, Butterfly Conservatory, Floral Showhouse, a two-day pass for WEGO and Falls Incline Railway plus other benefits. The pass could cost as little $25.

Niagara Parks and GO Transit jointly offer a year-round, weekend train travel deal including GO train fare on a weekend between Toronto and Niagara Falls plus a two-day WEGO pass. This offers a small discount over purchasing GO and WEGO tickets separately.

Climate
Spring: Temperatures range from 5° to 19°C (41°-66°F). Nightly temperatures range from -3° to 8° C (26° to 46°F). As temperature changes are sudden outdoor camping before mid-May is not advisable.

Summer: In June, July & August the weather is generally bright and sunny with sporadic rainfall. Storms are caused by Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and are seldom severe.

Fall: In the fall, it is unlikely to snow prior to the end of October. First killing frost and/or snowfall be expected by late October or early November. Mixed weather patterns prevail. Rain and cloudy skies are common.

Winter: The days are generally cold and clear. Snow is moderate. Snow storms are infrequent. Lake effect snowfalls are mainly localized to areas near Buffalo and southward. Lake Erie, during extended cold weather will freeze over completely. Some of the activities associated with the falls (e.g. Maid of the Mist and Marineland) do not run during winter due to the frozen conditions, but most attractions now remain open year-round, dealing with mist-related ice near Niagara Falls.

By plane
The closest airports to the Falls are across the border in the U.S. Buffalo-Niagara International Airport just outside of Buffalo, New York is about a 20-30 minute drive from the Falls and is served by most major American carriers. Niagara Falls International Airport is the closest airport to the Falls, but only a few scheduled flights serve it.

On the Canadian side, Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton is about 70 km (43 mi) from Niagara Falls, and is served by WestJet. Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from the Falls and is served by most major domestic and international carriers. There is also St. Catharines/Niagara District Airport in Niagara-on-the-Lake for general aviation.

Buffalo Airport Shuttle, +1 716 685-2550, offers service from the Buffalo-Niagara airport to the Canadian side of the Falls. A family of 4 can expect to pay less than $25 per person and the drivers often have great tips on where to go and what to avoid.

By car
Niagara Falls is about 2 hours from Toronto (assuming ideal traffic conditions), and 30 minutes from Buffalo.

 * From New York, Boston, and the East Coast: Take I-90 west towards Buffalo to the 290 west.  Exit onto the 190 north towards Grand Island and Niagara Falls.  Follow the highway through Grand Island, then take the exit immediately after the North Grand Island Bridge (as you're leaving the island) for the Niagara Scenic Parkway. Continue until in downtown Niagara Falls, New York.  Proceed on Rainbow Boulevard, to the Rainbow Bridge, across to Niagara Falls, Ontario.
 * From Chicago and the Midwest: Cross the international border at Detroit/Windsor, then take Ontario Highway 401 east to the 403 east. Divert around Hamilton via Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway and Red Hill Valley Parkway, which will lead you to the Niagara-bound QEW. Continue to Highway 420 (signs for The Falls and Niagara Falls, USA), which becomes Roberts Street. Stay straight to go onto Falls Avenue.

 * If you're coming from points east of Detroit, you can instead take I-90 east through Ohio and Pennsylvania, then at Buffalo exit at I-190 north. Pass through Grand Island, then take the exit immediately after the North Grand Island Bridge (as you're leaving the island) for the Niagara Scenic Parkway. Follow the signs for the Rainbow Bridge; downtown Niagara Falls, Ontario is at the far end of the bridge.

 * From Buffalo-Niagara International Airport: Take NY 33 west from the airport, the first exit off of which is I-90 eastbound (signs for Niagara Falls and Albany). Exit onto I-90, then get off at Exit 50 (I-290 west), which you'll follow to the end of the highway. From there, take I-190 north (over both Grand Island Bridges, $1 toll) to the Niagara Scenic Parkway. Follow the signs for the Rainbow Bridge; downtown Niagara Falls, Ontario is at the far end of the bridge.
 * From Toronto Pearson International Airport: Take Highway 427 south to the QEW towards Hamilton. Drive for about 100 km (62 mi) and then keep left to take Highway 420 east, which becomes Roberts Street. Stay straight to go onto Falls Avenue.

By bus

 * GO Transit, +1 416-869-3200, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area's regional/commuter rail and bus system operates commuter/regional bus service to/from the Burlington train station, connecting with commuter/regional trains to/from Toronto. Most buses make stops en route in Stoney Creek, as well in Grimsby and St. Catharines. The bus ride to/from Burlington station is between 80-90 minutes. The train ride from there to downtown Toronto is another 60 minutes. However, during the summer, on Fridays (or Thursday if Friday is a holiday) evenings and weekends/holidays there are express bus services that run directly to/from Burlington station. These buses take around 65 minutes to reach Niagara Falls from Burlington. A one-way standard ticket is $21.15 to/from Toronto (as of 2019). The buses have coach style seating but seating is not reserved and there are no washrooms, wi-fi services, or any on-board amenities. Buses run every 60 minutes on weekends/holidays and 60-90 minutes on weekdays.
 * GO Transit, +1 416-869-3200, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area's regional/commuter rail and bus system operates commuter/regional bus service to/from the Burlington train station, connecting with commuter/regional trains to/from Toronto. Most buses make stops en route in Stoney Creek, as well in Grimsby and St. Catharines. The bus ride to/from Burlington station is between 80-90 minutes. The train ride from there to downtown Toronto is another 60 minutes. However, during the summer, on Fridays (or Thursday if Friday is a holiday) evenings and weekends/holidays there are express bus services that run directly to/from Burlington station. These buses take around 65 minutes to reach Niagara Falls from Burlington. A one-way standard ticket is $21.15 to/from Toronto (as of 2019). The buses have coach style seating but seating is not reserved and there are no washrooms, wi-fi services, or any on-board amenities. Buses run every 60 minutes on weekends/holidays and 60-90 minutes on weekdays.
 * GO Transit, +1 416-869-3200, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area's regional/commuter rail and bus system operates commuter/regional bus service to/from the Burlington train station, connecting with commuter/regional trains to/from Toronto. Most buses make stops en route in Stoney Creek, as well in Grimsby and St. Catharines. The bus ride to/from Burlington station is between 80-90 minutes. The train ride from there to downtown Toronto is another 60 minutes. However, during the summer, on Fridays (or Thursday if Friday is a holiday) evenings and weekends/holidays there are express bus services that run directly to/from Burlington station. These buses take around 65 minutes to reach Niagara Falls from Burlington. A one-way standard ticket is $21.15 to/from Toronto (as of 2019). The buses have coach style seating but seating is not reserved and there are no washrooms, wi-fi services, or any on-board amenities. Buses run every 60 minutes on weekends/holidays and 60-90 minutes on weekdays.

Taxi service to the Falls and main tourist area from the bus depot will run $10-15, If you fancy a walk the route is simple and easy, although nearly 5 km (3 mi), and has the advantage of seeing the Falls come slowly into view.

By train

 * Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States. The trains can accommodate bicycles. Trains depart Toronto at 08:20AM every day and arrive at Niagara Falls, ON at 10:20AM. From New York City, the train departs daily at 07:15AM, crossing the border and reaching Niagara Falls, ON at 4:46PM. For trains headed to New York City, this is the final stop before passengers reach border control for entry into the United States.
 * GO Transit, the regional rail and bus service in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area offers two train services between Toronto and Niagara Falls. The most useful service for visitors is the Niagara Weekend GO Train Service which runs year-round on weekends and most statutory holidays, more often in summer, less so during off season. Less useful for visitors is the GO Transit workday commuter service running one train to Toronto in the early morning, returning in the evening to Niagara Falls. Schedules change frequently, so it is important to check. As of January 2023, on weekends a train departs Toronto for Niagara at 10:07AM and 5:07PM and returns at 1:10PM and 8:10PM. The fares, as of January 2023, are $21.15 cash, about half the price of the Maple Leaf. GO Transit also operates bus service, as detailed above. Seats on the train are not reserved and more of the public transit variety. GO weekday train is the only option that provides service to Hamilton. Maple Leaf, GO weekend Niagara Train, and GO Bus services bypass the city. The train can accommodate bicycles.
 * GO Transit, the regional rail and bus service in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area offers two train services between Toronto and Niagara Falls. The most useful service for visitors is the Niagara Weekend GO Train Service which runs year-round on weekends and most statutory holidays, more often in summer, less so during off season. Less useful for visitors is the GO Transit workday commuter service running one train to Toronto in the early morning, returning in the evening to Niagara Falls. Schedules change frequently, so it is important to check. As of January 2023, on weekends a train departs Toronto for Niagara at 10:07AM and 5:07PM and returns at 1:10PM and 8:10PM. The fares, as of January 2023, are $21.15 cash, about half the price of the Maple Leaf. GO Transit also operates bus service, as detailed above. Seats on the train are not reserved and more of the public transit variety. GO weekday train is the only option that provides service to Hamilton. Maple Leaf, GO weekend Niagara Train, and GO Bus services bypass the city. The train can accommodate bicycles.

On foot
Many of the main attractions are within walking distance depending on where you walk from, and the rest are easily accessible by transit. Some roads are steep so it may be preferable to drop elderly family members off near the Falls before parking.

During the busiest tourist season (May - October), the Niagara Parkway and Queen Victoria Park along the Canadian side of the Falls, can become very crowded and finding a "picture perfect" view of the Falls is difficult. Walking to the attractions can be slow during peak tourist season with thousands of people bustling by.

If you want to park your car and walk around the city, consider parking at the Niagara Casino (near the Hilton Hotel). It is a flat $5 every time you leave the garage; there is no limit on how long you can leave your car inside the garage.

By public transit
The estimated arrival times for all WEGO, Niagara Falls Transit and Niagara Region Transit buses are available in graphic or text format.

See

 * Most visitors' first view of the Falls, from the Canadian side of the river, is at along the Niagara Falls Parkway. This grand, royal garden provides the perfect vantage point for experiencing the nightly illumination of the Falls and the summer fireworks displays. The Falls are illuminated every evening until approximately midnight (see website for exact times) and there are Falls Fireworks shows every night in the summer months (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only in the late spring and early fall).

Amusement and entertainment
Niagara Falls is awesome! The list is never ending: world class casinos, rides, wax museums, haunted houses, a huge midway with more skeeball and games than you can shake a stick at, restaurants, clubs, bars, and so on. Go to Niagara Falls, get a hotel near the falls and then walk down towards Clifton Hill. The air is buzzing and there are people from all over the world there.

Miscellaneous

 * Get married: A wide selection of destination wedding venues (ranging from free-standing chapels to parkland to facilities within individual hotels) awaits on both sides of the Falls upon advance reservation. You'll need an officiant and two witnesses; a marriage licence must be obtained in advance from any city or town clerk's office in the province.
 * Niagara Parks has information about weddings, receptions, and wedding photography near the Falls.
 * Niagara Falls Tourism also has a wedding information page. The page describes how eligible couples can obtain a free Niagara Falls Honeymoon Certificate or Niagara Falls Anniversary Certificate.
 * Niagara Falls Tourism also has a wedding information page. The page describes how eligible couples can obtain a free Niagara Falls Honeymoon Certificate or Niagara Falls Anniversary Certificate.

Buy
Individual merchants will usually accept US dollars at a (lower) posted rate than you'd get at a bank.

There are a great many souvenir shops in Niagara Falls, especially in the Clifton Hill area. The biggest might be the Grand View Marketplace at the foot of Clifton Hill just above the Hornblower Cruises docks. You'll find everything from the usual t-shirts and calendars to vials of Niagara Falls water.

There may be additional surcharges on hotels and other attractions.

Eat
As a major tourist destination, many restaurant chains are represented in Niagara Falls. In particular, there's a Hard Rock Cafe between Casino Niagara and the Sheraton on the Falls.

Note: Restaurants may add a tourism-related fee to the bill but such fees should be clearly indicated on the menu when you order. Some restaurants will list these fees in the taxes section of the bill, despite the fact that they are not taxes.

Drink
The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19.

Winery tours
Niagara Peninsula is Ontario's best-known wine producing region. Its famous ice wines are processed in freezing temperatures in very early morning hours and only with "approved" grapes, producing a thick and sweet wine much like the muscats and ports, but without the afterbite.

Sleep
Prices posted are for high season (May–October).

Numerous hotels offer a room with a view of the Falls; check with the hotel when booking and specify that you want a full fallsview room when you book, or you may be given a room with only a partial view. If getting the 'perfect' room is important to you, book through the hotel directly as opposed to on-line or via their world-wide reservations number.

In addition to sales tax, a $2 per night Municipal Accommodation Tax is included to the hotel bill. Operators may also levy a "Mandatory Charge" or "Resort Fee" which varies from property to property (and can be disputed) but should be clearly disclosed when you book.

Go next

 * Niagara-on-the-Lake is a pretty, historic town located about 20 minutes north of Niagara Falls. Each summer it hosts the Shaw Festival, featuring the works of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. There are also a number of wineries in the area that you can visit. WEGO Transit runs a shuttle service to Niagara-on-the-Lake from the Floral Clock seasonally (approximately May to October). Worth a day trip, if only for the stroll and quaint shops.
 * A short trip over the Niagara River via the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls, New York is a more low-key affair. The centrepiece of the American side is Niagara Falls State Park, a quiet patch of well-manicured greenery where you'll find the Cave of the Winds, which takes you behind the falls down a series of wooden staircases. There are also hiking trails and an observation deck.
 * Hamilton (Ontario)
 * Toronto
 * Waterloo Region

title: Niagara Falls (Ontario)


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Niagara Frontier

The Niagara Frontier region of New York State consists of 5 counties near the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario, just across the Niagara River from the Canadian province of Ontario and its Niagara Peninsula region. Buffalo, the state's second-largest city, and Niagara Falls, the "honeymoon capital of the world", are the major destinations in the Niagara Frontier, but the eastern areas of the region also offer educational and recreational attractions, focusing on history, agriculture, industry, and the local waterways.

Cities

 * – The Niagara Frontier's population center with stunning historical architecture.
 * – home to North America's most famous waterfall.
 * – The Gaslight Village
 * – home to North America's most famous waterfall.
 * – The Gaslight Village
 * – home to North America's most famous waterfall.
 * – The Gaslight Village
 * – home to North America's most famous waterfall.
 * – The Gaslight Village

Other destinations

 * — the roller coaster capital of New York also boasts a campground, hotel, and performing arts center.
 * — the Grand Canyon of the east, with three beautiful waterfalls.

Talk
English is widely spoken. Spanish is spoken by many on Buffalo's West Side along with Bengali, Karen, Arabic, Somali, and others.

Get in
Buffalo Airport Shuttle offers service from the  to anywhere in Western New York and Southern Ontario.

Get around
The most populated areas are served by a number of highways, including Interstate 90, coming in from directly east of Buffalo, running along the eastern edge of the city, and turning southwest towards Erie, Pennsylvania, and Cleveland, as well as its related loops: 190 from Buffalo to the edge of Lake Ontario, 290 through the northern suburbs, 990 through Amherst. The 33 runs from downtown Buffalo and connects to the 90, and continues past the airport before reverting to a regular two-lane road. The 400 provides access from the 90 to the southern suburbs, such as West Seneca, Elma, and East Aurora. The 219 goes directly south from the 90 to Springville, where it becomes a regular road as well.

The area is connected to Canada by way of three crossing points. The Peace Bridge runs between Buffalo and Fort Erie, Ontario. 20 miles (32 km) north along the river (and just beyond the Falls) is the Rainbow Bridge, providing access between Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario. Another five miles to the north is the Queenston-Lewiston bridge. After the Queenston-Lewiston bridge, there are no more crossing points along the last 8 miles of the river.

See
Niagara Falls. Though less than half the height of Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls), and just under half as wide as Iguazú, Niagara is the world's largest waterfall by average annual flow rate. The Falls can be viewed from the top, at Goat Island (parking fee about $10), or from the bottom on the Maid of the Mist boat ride (late May-early Nov, adult $19, child $12 as og 2019). Goat Island offers a 1.5-mile (2.75-km) stroll along the edge of the island, including a pedestrian bridge to the Three Sisters Islands, right in the middle of the Niagara River, just 2000 feet (600 m) from the Falls.

Whirpool State Park and Devil's Hole State Park. 2 miles north of the Falls are two connected parks downriver. The rapids are still very intense at this point in the river, and the whirlpools make the river flow backwards in some areas. For a better vantage, take one of the two stone stairways to descend some 250 feet (75 m) into the gorge. The 400-step climb back out can be quite tiring. Free.

Buy
Sales tax in Erie County is 8.75%; in all other Niagara Frontier counties, it's 8%.

Eat
For a detailed rundown of regional cuisine, see Buffalo.

Local chains
Locations of most national chain restaurants can be found in Western New York. But since you're here, you should take the opportunity to try one of the local chains that have won the loyalty of Western New Yorkers and become staples of their cuisine.

Pizza
There are two distinct local styles of pizza. The vast majority of pizzerias in the area serve Buffalo-style pizza, which features a crust that's a good deal more substantial than New York thin-crust but not nearly as much so as Chicago deep-dish — appropriately enough given its location near the midpoint between those two cities — with a slightly nutty flavor and an airy sponginess that struggles to support the heaping mass of toppings that generally get piled on. Cheese comes in a thick, gooey layer that spreads out almost to the edge of the crust, the sauce has a noticeably sweet tinge, and pepperoni is invariably of the "cup and char" variety: smaller and more thickly sliced than elsewhere, they curl up into a bowl shape as they cook, blackened on the edges and with a pool of hot grease in the middle.

Meanwhile, the much more obscure Niagara Falls-style pizza sports a crust that's thin like New York pizza but with the same pillowy consistency and nutty flavor of the Buffalo style, with a sauce that's subtly seasoned with oregano and with only the faintest tinge of sweetness. The cheese is thin and sparse — generally there's just enough to fully cover the crust — with pepperoni baked underneath and any other toppings (generally there are none) on top. Niagara Falls pizza is cooked in a square pan and always sliced into squares.

Below are listed some of the more well-known local pizza chains:

Drink
New York State has a rather late last call. Bars are allowed to stay open as late as 4AM, though in practice most close earlier (1 or 2AM are more typical), especially on slow nights.

Buffalo and the surrounding areas have no shortage of drinking establishments, and you should be able to find multiple watering holes within staggering distance in any moderately-populated area in the region. A 2005 survey by Scarborough Research found that 50 percent of legal-aged Buffalo residents have consumed a beer in the past month, ranking the city at 4th in the United States by that measure (Milwaukee being the top consumer, at 54 percent). Buffalo also has the interesting distinction of being the only major U.S. market in which an imported beer is the most widely consumed (Labatt Blue, which has its U.S. headquarters in the city).

Go next
See the nearby Finger Lakes Region.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Niagara Frontier


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Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town of 19,000 people (2021) in the Niagara Region of Ontario. It sits on the shore of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River. It is a frequent destination for daytrippers from Niagara Falls, and a destination in its own right. It is in the middle of a thriving grape- and fruit-growing area featuring many wineries. There are also several craft breweries. The town name is often abbreviated NOTL.

Understand
Niagara-on-the-Lake is important in the history of Canada: it served as the first capital of the Province of Upper Canada, the predecessor of Ontario, called Newark from 1792 to 1797. During the War of 1812, the town, the two former villages of St. David's and Queenston, and Fort George were the site of numerous battles following the American invasion of Upper Canada and the town was razed. Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to the oldest Anglican and Catholic churches in Ontario, and the oldest surviving golf course in North America.

Today, Niagara-on-the-Lake draws tourists with its quaint colonial-style buildings, the Shaw Festival, Fort George, wineries, an outlet mall on the highway, and its proximity to Niagara Falls. The Niagara Region has the second-highest percentage of seniors in Ontario.

Visitor Information

 * Niagara-on-the-Lake Tourism
 * Destination Ontario: Niagara-on-the-Lake

From the US
Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Buffalo, New York, is about an hour's drive away — assuming you don't encounter any delays at the international border.
 * Buffalo Airport Shuttle (, toll-free +1-877-750-2550) offers service from the Buffalo-Niagara airport to Niagara-on-the-Lake. A group of up to 4 can expect to pay approximately $95 each way and the drivers often have great tips on where to go and what to avoid.
 * BUF Buffalo Airport Taxi Service Provides service from the Buffalo-Niagara airport to Niagara-on-the-Lake.  A group of up to 6 can expect to pay approximately $80 each way.
 * Elite Buffalo Airport Shuttle & Limo specialize in airport transfer to and from Buffalo International Airport at the most affordable flat rates and hassle-free.

Niagara Falls International Airport is also across the border in Niagara Falls, New York, but less than a 45-minute drive (not counting border delays).

From Canada
Hamilton John C. Munro International Airport in Hamilton is about a 75-minute drive away.

Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga is about a 1½-hour drive away.

You can fly to St. Catharines/Niagara District Airport and drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake in 15 minutes. The airport is mostly generation aviation but it has daily flights Toronto's Billy Bishop (downtown) airport, offered by FlyGTA Airlines.

By car
Niagara-on-the-Lake is approximately 1½ hours from Toronto (depending on traffic) and 45 minutes from Buffalo.

From Toronto Airport: Take the QEW east (QEW Niagara). Once you pass St. Catharines, exit at Niagara Stone Road (Niagara Regional Road 55). Go north for 20 minutes.

From Niagara Falls (Ontario) follow the scenic Niagara Parkway north along the Niagara River.

By bus

 * The Niagara-on-the-Lake Shuttle offers hourly seasonal shuttle bus service between Floral Clock (connection with WEGO buses in Niagara Falls) and Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake). There are intermediate stops at McFarland House, Laura Secord Homestead and Queenston Heights Park. Shuttle tickets are sold at Floral Clock and Fort George, and credit cards are accepted. Purchasing a return ticket allows riders to hop off and on the bus at any stop along the route without paying an extra fare.
 * The Niagara-on-the-Lake Shuttle offers hourly seasonal shuttle bus service between Floral Clock (connection with WEGO buses in Niagara Falls) and Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake). There are intermediate stops at McFarland House, Laura Secord Homestead and Queenston Heights Park. Shuttle tickets are sold at Floral Clock and Fort George, and credit cards are accepted. Purchasing a return ticket allows riders to hop off and on the bus at any stop along the route without paying an extra fare.

 * Bus tour companies such as King Tours, Niagara Tours, Queen Tour Niagara Falls Tours and City Sightseeing Niagara offer excursions to (or including) NOTL from several cities in Ontario.

Queenston
The community of Queenston is located within Niagara-on-the-Lake near its boundary with Niagara Falls. The sites listed below are within 2KM of that boundary with the Floral Clock being approximately on that boundary.

Outdoor activities

 * Bike the scenic bike paths along the Niagara River.
 * Take a horse-drawn carriage ride or sleigh ride through the old town.
 * Bike the scenic bike paths along the Niagara River.
 * Take a horse-drawn carriage ride or sleigh ride through the old town.

Buy
The village of Niagara-on-the-Lake is well known for the little shops along Queen Street. Hats, jams, cheese, fudge and many other items are available in these stores.

Beyond the village
The following are not within walking distance of the village (King and Queen streets):

Wine tours
The Niagara Peninsula is one on the principal Wine Regions of Ontario. The many wine tours of Niagara-on-the-Lake are an excellent way to spend an afternoon. Several companies downtown offer the tours - it's not strictly necessary to book, and you might want to take a look at the offerings. Choose your mode of transportation - by bike, bus or several other ways, and head off to between 3-5 wineries. Each winery offers a brief tutorial on wine-tasting, as well as a sampling of 2 or 3 of their vintages. Since you will be consuming alcohol it is strongly suggested that you consider joining a tour.

Wineries
Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake You don't have to take a tour to visit one or two of the local wineries. As of 2020, there are 37 wineries — 10 more than two years before. Most feature tasting rooms, and have their wines available for purchase.

Craft breweries
Craft beers have become very popular in North America.

Sleep
There are a number of fine hotels, including several within walking distance of the Shaw Festival theatres and the centre of town. The town also has an extensive network of B&Bs, which provide an opportunity to mix with other tourists.

Go next

 * Niagara Falls - for the Falls, of course
 * Toronto - Ontario's multicultural capital
 * Kitchener - hosting the largest Oktoberfest in the world outside of Munich
 * Stratford - picturesque city that hosts the Stratford Shakespeare Festival from April to November
 * New York
 * Buffalo

title: Niagara-on-the-Lake


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Niagara Peninsula

The  Niagara Peninsula is in Ontario's Golden Horseshoe, encompassing most of the city of Hamilton and all of Niagara Region. Niagara Region is a regional municipality (roughly similar to a county) consisting of cities, towns and villages east of Hamilton on the Niagara Peninsula.

Cities

 * — the site of Old Fort Erie, an important War of 1812 site
 * — a starting point for touring the Niagara wine region
 * — the third largest city in Ontario is transitioning from an industrial city to a centre for health sciences with a growing arts and culture sector
 * — a rural town known for its dozens of wineries
 * — there's supposed to be some big waterfall here; it might be worth checking out
 * — popular with visitors drawn by its quaint colonial-style buildings, the Shaw Theatre Festival, Old Fort George, and wineries
 * — great weather, ample beach front, cultural attractions, and historic shopping districts
 * — a good base for exploring the Niagara Peninsula
 * — the historical Welland Canal and the impressive locks bring many tourists here
 * — known for the many murals around town

Except for Hamilton, all the above cities and communities are part of Niagara Region.

Understand
The Niagara Peninsula is formed by the shores of Lake Ontario to north, Lake Erie to the south, and the Niagara River along the United States border to the east.

The defining feature of the peninsula is the Niagara Escarpment, a ridge running through the Great Lakes in Ontario between New York and Wisconsin creating unique landforms and ecosystems, that has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Through Niagara, it runs in an east-west direction, rising about 75 m above the flat bench land along the shore of Lake Ontario. The steeper face of the escarpment is on the north edge, and many of the peninsula's transportation corridors and population centres are on the flat land between escarpment and Lake Ontario. It's nicknamed "The Mountain" in Hamilton, where the escarpment crosses through the middle of the city, creating "upper" and "lower" neighbourhoods.

The best known part of the escarpment is where it meets its namesake, the Niagara River, creating the beautiful Niagara Falls. Elsewhere in the vicinity of the escarpment, there are many natural areas to be explored, many smaller waterfalls to be seen, and many great views to be found. On a clear day, hikers can spot the distant Toronto skyline from across the lake.

Niagara Region is situated on treaty land. This land has a rich history of First Nations such as the Neutral, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

The area had an important in the settler history of North America as well, having been the first area in Southern Ontario to be settled by English-speakers. Many of the towns were settled by British Loyalists fleeing the United States in the lead-up to the War of 1812, where these lands were a main battleground, including the bloodiest battle ever fought on Canadian soil near Niagara Falls. This heritage is especially celebrated in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which has preserved its British-influenced colonial architecture throughout the town. Later, the region was a destination for the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman lived in St. Catharines for several years.

The peninsula was well-suited for advances in technology towards the dawn of the 20th century. Governments supported engineering efforts to harness rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, and the region soon had access to cheap and reliable high-voltage electricity for manufacturing. Hamilton became an important Great Lakes harbour for shipping, and the first railway chartered in Ontario connected Niagara to Windsor, Toronto and beyond.

The legacy of this period is still evident. The Queen Elizabeth Way was the first intercity highway in North America (beating the Pennsylvania Turnpike by one year), and it's two skyways take travellers overtop the Hamilton Harbour and the Welland Canal. Around Niagara Falls, a few of the earliest power plants still stand as some of the most prominent old structures in the city.

Today, the peninsula is home to some of the best farmland in Canada. The climate makes grape-growing possible, and there are over 60 wineries in the area, most of which are in the towns of Lincoln and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The region is also important for several other Ontario crops, such as peaches, pears, plums, and cherries. Roadside stands and bustling country markets with a variety of fresh produce are common and worth a detour off the highway during the harvest season.

Tourism is also a large part of the economy, and the peninsula attracts over 12 million visitors per year from all over the world.

By plane
The closest major airport to Niagara Region is actually in the United States. Buffalo-Niagara International Airport is just outside of Buffalo, New York and about 20-30 min drive from the Falls. It is served by most major American carriers. Niagara Falls International Airport is the closest airport to the Falls but has only a few scheduled commercial flights, given over mainly to chartered and private planes. Hamilton has a major airport which is closer than Toronto Pearson International Airport  in Mississauga.

By bus
Megabus (Coach Canada) and GO Transit offer regular bus service to Hamilton and the cities and towns in Niagara Region including Niagara Falls. Flixbus (previously Greyhound) connects Toronto to New York, with stops in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines.

By train
VIA Rail and Amtrak partner to run a daily train from New York City to Toronto making stops in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, and Grimsby. The travel experience is more comfortable than travelling by bus, but the journey is generally not faster. Note that VIA Rail cannot book a trip that originates in the United States except as part of a return ticket, and that trips entirely within Canada can only be booked through VIA Rail.

GO Transit runs trains from Toronto that stop in Hamilton and St. Catharines. Weekday trains cater to commuters travelling from Niagara Falls early in the morning and returning in the evening. Additional trips are scheduled on weekends and some holidays, and in the summer these trains provide space on board for several dozen bicycles. The fares are the same for GO trains and buses, but combination tickets are also offered online for family-sized groups that include the WEGO buses in Niagara Falls.

By bicycle
A journey on bike from Toronto to Hamilton is approximately 75 km downtown-to-downtown, which can feel like a daunting distance for casual cyclists, but the route follows the shoreline of Lake Ontario, making the ride scenic, quite flat and refreshingly cool on the hot summer days. The route is generally parallel to the historic road connection between Toronto and Hamilton, Highway 2 (now Lakeshore Road), so you'll find many suburban parks, beaches, and main street spots to rest or stop for a meal. A network of trails and country roads can take you from Hamilton along the escarpment through Grimsby and Vineland and onward to Niagara Falls.

From Fort Erie and Buffalo, the Niagara River Recreation Trail follows the river from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The winding ride from the bridge in Fort Erie to Niagara Falls is about 32 km.

By foot
The Bruce Trail is a walking and hiking path that follows the Niagara Escarpment. It's about 900 km long, with another 400 km of side trails. Many outdoor enthusiasts in this part of Ontario add an end-to-end walk of the trail to their bucket list - a feat which could easily take your entire summer and a lot of careful packing. Instead, most people who attempt the journey break the adventure into segments they complete one day at a time, over the course of years or even decades. The many towns along the escarpment on the peninsula can break the trail into several manageable segments. Arriving from the north, you'll pass through Burlington on the way to trail sections in Hamilton.

Get around
It's possible to see the city of Niagara Falls without a car, as the transit system is well-developed and most of the attractions are close together.

To explore the surrounding area, including Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wineries, a car is recommended. Biking is also popular.

See
The Niagara Falls, for which the peninsula is named, is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world and is definitely a must for visitors - as is the Hornblower Niagara Cruises boat trip to the foot of the Falls. In addition to the Falls themselves, the city offers a number of other attractions including the lively and carnival-like Clifton Hills entertainment area, the Butterfly Conservatory, and Marineland. There are also two casinos in Niagara Falls.

There are several historical sites from the War of 1812 scattered around Niagara Region, since the region borders the United States and much of the fighting took place here. They include Fort George, Fort Erie, Laura Secord's house, and Queenston Heights.

At Queenston Heights, there is a tea room and a humongous monument to General Brock who died gloriously in the Battle of Queenston Heights during the War of 1812. It has great views over the river and is worth the climb, when open. There is a small plaque for General Sheaffe, who actually won the battle. And a statue for General Brock's horse. Make sure to keep an eye out for a grassroots monument to the otherwise unrecognized Indigenous warriors who also defended the territory from the United States that has been found at the base of Brock's monument at times.

The popular Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake features the plays of Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. It runs from April to October and attracts over 250,000 visitors each year. Dundurn Castle is a neoclassical mansion in Hamilton that is a museum illustrating daily life from the 1850s.

Do
There are many wineries that host tours and tastings located around Niagara-on-the-Lake, Beamsville, and Vineland (see Wine Regions of Ontario). The Niagara Wine Festival takes place in September. The main festivities and parade take place in St. Catharines, and the area's wineries host their own special events.

In addition to Niagara Falls, the area has other much smaller but still pretty waterfalls, including Ball's Falls and Rockaway Falls near Vineland, Decew Falls on the outskirts of St. Catharines, and Louth Falls near Jordan. The best time to visit is spring and early summer, when water levels are at their highest.

There are many possibilities for hiking and biking in the area. The 845-km-long Bruce Trail has its southern terminus point in Queenston, Niagara Falls and winds its way north along the Niagara Escarpment to Tobermory. The Niagara River Recreation Trail is a 56-km paved trail running along the Niagara River from Fort Erie in the south to Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake in the north. Niagara Glenn has 4 km of trails - enter the gorge at Totem Pole Park and follow the U-turn of Niagara so you will be close to where you started when you get out, i.e. a short walk to your car.

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority manages over 30 conservation areas, each with a unique setting and offering different activities, including picnicking, strolling or hiking, birdwatching, and boating. Beamer Memorial Conservation Area near Grimsby is known as a place to watch the annual hawk migration, Binbrook for windsurfing, Ball's Falls for its waterfalls and historic buildings, including a grist mill. Some conservation areas allow fishing and hunting (licence required).

Aside from the Shaw Festival, Niagara has had a small but low-key very active creative arts and music scene, including festivals like In The Soil, Rodman Hall, and a new arts and culture house in the Performing Arts Centre.

Eat
Niagara has the typical restaurants one would expect for southern Ontario but also owing to it having the best farmland has excellent local produce, particularly soft fruits. Consider a visit to one of the many local farm-to-table restaurants or even stop in at a farm that offers pick-your-own. These are good options if you're looking to get off what might be an otherwise very-well beaten path and see some of the countryside.

Drink
The Niagara Peninsula is one of the three main Wine Regions of Ontario. It competes with British Columbia's Okanagan Valley for being the top producer in Canada. The region is particularly well known for its ice wines, made from grapes picked after they have frozen. Ice wines highlight the grape's sweetness, and few regions in the world can match Niagara's quality.

Niagara Ale Trail Craft beer has become the beer of the moment, and breweries or brewpubs have become popular in many cities.

Sleep

The city of Niagara Falls is well-equipped to handle the huge numbers of visitors it receives, with a large number of hotels, motels, and inns in all price ranges. Nonetheless, during the height of tourist season (in particular weekends in July and August), it can be hard to find rooms in the budget to mid-range categories. During these times it's best to book in advance.

Lodging in downtown Niagara Falls means you'll be close to the attractions and have a wide choice of accommodations and restaurants, however, the area can seem very busy, 'touristy,' and noisy. Staying at a hotel or bed & breakfast in Niagara-on-the-Lake or in the smaller towns of wine country can be a more relaxing experience.

There are a number of campgrounds in Niagara Falls, and at the Ball's Falls, Chippewa Creek and Long Beach Conservation Areas.

Stay safe
The Niagara Peninsula is quite safe.

Provincial guidelines limit tasting more than 4 one-ounce samples at each winery. Be aware of your limits and don't drink and drive.

When hiking, take adequate supplies (water, food, safety equipment), wear sturdy hiking footwear and dress with the weather in mind. For safety, don't hike alone. Most trails are not maintained in the winter months.

Go next
There are several bridges to the United States across the Niagara River. Other options for further travel include:

 * Toronto - Ontario's multicultural capital
 * Waterloo - university town hosting the largest Oktoberfest in the world outside of Munich
 * Stratford - picturesque city that hosts the Stratford Shakespeare Festival from April to November
 * New York
 * Buffalo

title: Niagara Peninsula


text:
Niamey

Niamey, the capital of Niger, is a calm, fairly modern city of around 1.3 million (2020) on the banks of the Niger River surrounded by the Tillaberi region in the far southwest of Niger. It is the administrative, cultural and economic hub and hence generally offers good facilities for travellers, both budget and upmarket. Niamey offers unique open-air markets that are great for people watching; they’re patronized by members of the Tuareg, Sonuri and Fulani tribes, as well as wrestling, some beautiful views of the Niger river and the massive Grand Mosque.

History
The comparably fertile area around Niamey has been inhabited for millennia by tribes like the Gurma, also found in Burkina Faso, but the founders of the village would be the Maouri, who settled on an island called Neni Goungou facing the current Niamey in the late nineteenth century, before coming to settle on the left bank of the river. In 1898, the invading French found the village a suitable location for a military base and in 1905 the city, located in a stable region, became the capital of the Territoire Militaire du Niger (Military Territory of Niger). Niamey was inhabited by about 600 people in 1901 when missionaries arrived in the village and increased to nearly 2,000 after the arrival of the French and its establishment as the national capital. In 1911, the capital was transferred to the newly-stable and more hospitable location at Zinder. However, tensions grew with the British colony of Nigeria (very close to Zinder) and in 1928 the status of capital was transferred back to Niamey. By the time Niger became an independent country in 1960, the city's population had ballooned to 30,000. Niamey's population had risen to 750,000 by 2005, and its status as the most populous city in the country was secure.

Climate
Niamey has a hot and generally dry desert climate with a short rainy season from June to September when there can be severe thunderstorms with occasional flooding. Rains can be unpredictable though and sometimes the rainy season means just a few showers now and then.

As with much of West Africa, poor infrastructure leads to frequent flooding and miserable roads during the wet season, so it is best to avoid travel to Niamey from June–September (especially if travelling to nearby countries which receive even more rain).

Average annual rainfall is around 550mm. The coolest and driest (and arguably best) weather of the year is between December and January with averages of 34/15°C (93/57°F) and no rainfall. In October, November and February the weather is hotter and still dry with 38°C (100°F) in the afternoon and 18-23°C (64-73°F) at night. March to May are the hottest months of the year reach regularly 42°C (108°F) in the afternoon (although 45°C/114°F temps aren't uncommon) and a warm 27°C (80°F) at night; all three months can see just a few showers.

Orientation
The city is divided by the Niger River, which is spanned by the Kennedy Bridge and the Chinese Bridge. The southern side is entirely residential, with the exception of the university by the river (Gamkalle area), and of little interest to tourists. The northern side spreads out in all directions from the bridge. The limits of the "downtown" area seem to be Blv. de l'Indépendence and (further from the river) Blv. Mali Bero. Radiating from the "Place des Martyrs" at the end of the bridge:

 * Going left (northwest, Avenue François Mitterrand), you will head past the Hotel Gaweye and Palais du Congrès towards the areas known as Plateau/Issa Beri/Château 1 (Un) which are where the majority of governmental buildings, embassies (most along Rue des Ambassades), and upscale housing can be found. If you turn right at Place des Nations Unis, head straight through Place de la République, and reach Blv. de l'Indépendance, you will see the stadium to the right (opposite Place des Forces Démocratiques).
 * Going straight (northeast, Rue de Gaweye/Commerce/Kalley), you will head past the Assemblée Nationale (by Place de la Concorde) towards the Grand Marché. If you head around the GM, you will pass through the areas of Abidjan where the Grande Mosquée (at Place de la Grade Prière), Police, & Centre Culturel Oumarou Ganda are located. After Boulevard Mali Bero, you enter the "Dan Gao" area.
 * To the East (follow Rue du 1er Pont, Rue du Grand Hôtel, Ave. de l'Amitié) you will find the Nouveau Marché area, then heading NE along Ave. de L'oua/l'Entente you will pass through Sabon Gari & Poudrière areas (the Wadata handicrafts centre is on Blv. Mali Bero). If you continue straight along Ave. de l'Amitié through the Place de la Bienvenue, you will pass the race course and the road becomes Rue de l'Aéroport and leads past the airport and towards Koure (giraffes, see "Get out").
 * Going right (southeast, Rue de 1er Pont then Corniche Gamkalley), you will pass the Grand Hôtel and enter the Terminus and the Gamkalle Sebangaye areas.

There are few traffic lights. There are numerous roundabouts where traffic from several directions merge; these are known as "Place _____" and are chaotic during rush hour but calm most other times of the day. A few notable roundabouts are: "Place des Martyrs", "Place de la Concorde", "Place de la République", and "Place Mandela".

While most of roads (at least the main ones) have names, locals rarely refer to them by them and you're more likely to get directions by referring to a landmark (e.g., 2nd turn on the left from a junction).

International flights
The five major carriers serving Niamey are Air France (Paris-de Gaulle), Royal Air Maroc (Casablanca), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) and Ethiopian airlines (Addis Ababa) and Air Algerie (Algiers). Several African airlines also serve the city. As of Jan 2023, these include Air Burkina (Ouagadougou); Tunisair (Tunis) Air Algérie (Algiers); ASKY Airlines (Cotonou, Lomé, Ouagadougou); Peace Air (Kano, Abuja); or Air Côte d'Ivoire (Abidjan).

Domestic flights
Niger Airlines operates flights from Zinder (ZDR), Agadez (AJY) and Diffa (DZRF) as of Mar 2020.

At the airport

 * Immigration/Customs: Upon arrival, you will disembark the plane, walk across the tarmac and enter the terminal building. If you have a visa, you fill out an entry card and pass through customs (remember to keep your yellow fever vaccine card to hand). If you do not have a visa, you will not get one at the airport. You will be put on the first plane out. If that is the following day, look forward to a night in the police station. Earlier, you could get a visa on arrival for €30 but not any more. After collecting your baggage, you enter the main arrival hall which will be filled with porters (see below) and if you have organized a tour which includes airport transfer you'll see signs for it here. From the arrival hall, simply exit to catch a taxi or bush taxi.
 * Airport porters: Porters in the airport are determined to try to help you carry your bags, even trying to take them from you, so hold on tight and continue to refuse politely if you don't want help. If you do want their help, tip CFA 1,000-2,000 or a couple of euros or US dollars.
 * Currency Exchange: you can change money at the airport but not at a good rate. Because the CFA franc is pegged to the euro, euros will get the best exchange rate. The US dollar and pound sterling (Bank of England banknotes only) can also be readily exchanged, but most other currencies will either get a bad rate or will be refused.
 * Flight confirmation
 * Shopping: A few shops open around the time of each flight, even in the early morning. Mostly food and drink, and a few small souvenirs.
 * Shopping: A few shops open around the time of each flight, even in the early morning. Mostly food and drink, and a few small souvenirs.
 * Shopping: A few shops open around the time of each flight, even in the early morning. Mostly food and drink, and a few small souvenirs.
 * Shopping: A few shops open around the time of each flight, even in the early morning. Mostly food and drink, and a few small souvenirs.

Between the airport and the city

 * Taxi: For a more comfortable welcome to Niger or if your flight comes in the middle of the night (like most Air France flights) you will have to bargain for a taxi into town, for a minimum of CFA 3,000 during the day & CFA 5,000 at night. If you have a night departure, don't forget to pre-arrange a taxi as there are very few on the streets at night. Most hotels can call a taxi for you.
 * Bush Taxi: During the day, simply walk out of the airport to the main road (Route Nationale 1) and flag down a bush taxi (van) heading right. They come by all the time. The price is fixed at CFA 125 per person, and no charge for bags. They will drop you off at the Grand Marché, and from there it is easy to get a white taxi (CFA 200-500/person) to anywhere else in town. To get back to the airport to fly out, go to the Grand Marché – Côté Château. There are two gas stations on the corner. In front of one you will see several bush taxis (vans) lined up facing away from the Grand Marché and towards the airport. Tell them “aéroport.” Again, it costs CFA 125 per person. The van usually fills up and leaves within 5 minutes. Get off in front of the airport and walk in. (If you’re not familiar with where the airport is, tell the man managing the van and he’ll let you know when it’s time for you to get off.) No tips required or expected.

By bus
Buses travel between Niamey and Cotonou in Benin, taking 14 hours for the journey. Crossing is at the Gaya/Malanville border where otherwise you can take a moto and walk across if you don't feel like doing the whole trip in one stage. There are also buses and minibuses to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, taking around 10 hours. Crossing is at Foetchango, west of Niamey. Finally, there is bus service between Niamey and Gao in Mali, taking up to 20 hours.

Buses and bush taxis connect Niamey to other destinations in Niger, including Zinder and Agadez.

There are regular attacks on the buses (and cars) around Burkina and Mali border (resulting in many fatalities), therefore the public transport on these routes should be absolutely avoided.

By boat
While the Niger River runs through the city and there are no impediments to river travel (rapids, waterfalls), there is no regular boat service like there is upstream in Mali. Many pirougue operators will gladly take you along the river for a reasonable price, but you will need to find one heading in your direction. Pirougues operate on erratic schedules, are both much slower and less comfortable than buses.

By car
There are several highways leading to Niamey.

 * To the northwest: A paved routes exists along the north side of the Niger connecting the city with Gao, Mali and which passes through Boubon, Farie, Tillaberi, & Ayorou. A less-travelled route on the south-side of the Niger in the same direction leads through several small towns towards Tera in the Liptano region.
 * To the southwest: A major highway leads to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso passing through the towns of Lamorde, Kobadie, & Torodi.
 * To the south: A highway leads to W National Park, passing through Boyenga & Say.
 * To the southeast: A major highway leads through Koure & Birni N'Gaoure to Dosso, where the major highway to Gaya & Benin heads south and the major highway to the eastern half of the country (Route Nationale 1) heads east.
 * To the northwest: A minor road leads to Route Nationale 1 at Dogondoutchi.
 * To the north: A minor road leads to Anderamboukane, Mali passing through Oullam & Bani Bangou.

By rail
A railway link between Niamey and Cotonou was planned and the construction started in 2015. However, the project quickly got to a halt and the tracks now lay abandoned between Niamey and Dosso. The project has been de facto abandoned due to legal issues. The original plan was to construct a railway loop linking Cotonou - Niamey - Ouagadougou - Abidjan. The railway station exists but is not operational nor accessible, is

Addresses
Street addresses were not devised until the 21st century for most West African cities. Niamey implemented one of the most efficient plans in the region between 2001-2002. The city has been divided into 44 sections (named and based largely on existing neighbourhoods) and each was given a two-letter prefix (for instance, "GM" for "Grande Marché"). Since the vast majority of roads lacked names, numbers were assigned to each road (even if it has a name); streets running roughly parallel to the river were assigned even numbers and cross-streets assigned odd numbers. Over 100,000 street signs were installed to denote these roads at intersections. Addresses were assigned by distance from the river, alternating even-odd on opposite sides of the street. Thus the address 4735, Rue GM 12, Niamey is located in the Grande Marche district on road 12 (which runs parallel to the river).

By taxi
Taxis (small white cars) are plentiful and easy to use. They are almost always shared (1 passenger in the front, 3 in the back) unless you ask specifically to pay more to make it private. There are a handful of places where taxis will queue for passengers (airport, grande marche, etc), but most of the time you just stick out your hand towards the traffic, maybe give a weak wave, and shout for "taxi" or "taximan". The rate for a shared taxi is fixed at CFA 200 per person. Through the open window, tell the driver your destination and if he nods, or stays there, you're good to go. It is better to give a section of the city or a major landmark as the destination than giving an address. If he drives off, he wasn't going near your destination; just hail the next taxi. For longer distances the taxi driver will indicate it is double (CFA 400) by saying quatre cent (French), deux courses (also French) or wah-haku (Djerma) before you get in the car. If in doubt, confirm the price beforehand, especially if you are white and take a taxi near a hotel.

The rate is CFA 800-1,000 if you want the taxi all for yourself. You should pay more only from bus station (CFA 500) and from the airport (CFA 3,000 or higher). Prices double after midnight. Oftentimes, taxis will wait outside hotels looking for passengers, usually they will try to charge more than the official rate or are only looking for single passengers (they won't stop for other passengers and will charge you accordingly)

By car
There is a Hertz car rental agency in Niger that rents Toyota RAV4. It is very expensive.

Talk
See also: French phrasebook and Zarma phrasebook.

French is spoken by most people in Niamey, albeit as a second language and with varying levels of fluency. French is the official language used by the government. In addition, Hausa and Zarma among others are national languages and official government announcements are translated into the national languages. French is spoken by the large French community as well as most other foreigners living in the city. The regional languages are Zarma and Hausa, although the city is home to many of the ethnic groups in Niger.

Music performances
The CCFN & CCOG (see above) frequently host concerts and with capacities of a few thousand, they can be quite lively. At the Centre Pour la Formation et Promotion Musicales (CFPM) there is a Rap Zone every Wednesday afternoon at 16:30. Often there are people just jamming underneath the trees. They sell instruments, and they give drum, dance, and guitar lessons. At the restaurant Djoumkoume in Chateau Un there is live music almost every night, starting around 20:00 or 21:00. Sometimes there is a CFA 1,000-2,000 entrance fee. To get there, take a taxi to Pharmacie Chateau Un. Then, instead of turning right to go to Idrissa Nems, turn left and you’ll see it on the left.

Along the river
If you have a friend with a vehicle or can rent one, you have several good options. Go to the Island Campement of Boubon, a half-hour drive up the Tillaberry Road. Cross the river for CFA 50/person and then on the island there’s a pleasant, reasonably-priced bar/restaurant. You can stay overnight in huts for CFA 5000. Another option is the Relais, a hotel campement on the river, open only on weekends. Just down from the Golf Club of Niamey on the Tillaberry road, they offer a reasonably-priced lunch, camel ride and pirogue trip; or just have a coke or beer and watch the river. The third option is Plage La Pillule, 10 km south of Niamey on the road to Say, just past the peage. Take water and lunch and rent out a shady spot in someone’s garden along the river. Canoe rides also available. Walk up the wash 2-3 km to the sand dunes. This “beach” is a favourite of well-off Niamey households.

River trips do not have to be expensive if you do not need to see hippos. Rent out a whole non-motorized canoe for about 1000F an hour on either side of the river. Expect to have to bargain more around the Kennedy bridge and the hotels. To see the hippos, one way to do it is with Les Pirogues de l’Amitié, run by Sani Boureima, 93-80-69-51. From Grand Hotel, walk towards river. Turn into the first side street on the left and then go through the metal gate doors. They speak French, Zarma, and Hausa, and a tiny bit of English. The boat is a motorized, covered pirogue. You will have to bargain really hard. His starting prices are CFA 25,000-30,000 for 2 hours to see the hippos, but some have got it down to 15,000 with bargaining and patience. The boat fits 10-12 people. A day-long trip is CFA 50,000. You can also do a 2-day boat trip for CFA 80,000, and you provide your own meals and camping stuff.

Grande Marché
One of West Africa's best, most diverse and calmest big markets. The market spans a wide spectrum of objects for sale, from retail goods and packaged foods to wholesale boxes of imported goods to hot, fresh meals. Narrow, shaded, aisles in a grid pattern contain a mix of fabric, tailors, household goods, sports apparel, automotive parts, flip-flops, head scarves, baby clothes and any manner of other goods. Goods and foods from around the country are offered for sale, and stalls offering imported items from West Africa and abroad are interspersed throughout.There's also a section devoted to handicrafts and traditional clothes, although other markets are as equally good or better to pick these. It was constructed in 1950 and rebuilt in 1987 after a fire (costing over CFA 5 billion), the Grand Market attracts an estimated 20,000 tourists a year. An electrical fire burnt over 1,500 of the stalls in 2009.

Petite Marché
The main fruit and vegetable market in the center of town, can be unpleasant due to hassle, harassment, pestering, crowds, and severely jacked-up prices for visitors. The "Supermarche Haddad" is set up like a Western supermarket and owned by Lebanese men and contains mostly imported European (which means expensive) packaged foods, meats sliced-to-order, alcohol, and health/beauty products. You can get many of the same fruits, vegetables, and some meats and durable goods from other calmer, more pleasant neighbourhood markets. However, the selection of speciality items and beauty products is good (cereals, cheese, cookies, etc.).

Other good markets
One of the cleanest and newest is the cobblestone-paved Marché Albarka, which is a good place for new visitors for a “market warm-up,” and there’s an air-conditioned SahelCom internet cafe outside (500F per hour, CFA 250 per half-hour). Another great one is Marché Bonkaney as this is friendly with a little bit of everything for sale. The Yantala market is pretty big and has a relaxed atmosphere. Nouveau Marché and Wadata Marché are other options. Wadatta has the added benefit of being next to the Wadata Artisanal Village as an alternative to the Musée as it is free to get in. Of course, at night, try the Marché de Nuit (aka Night Market) in Yantala. To get to each of these, just tell a taxi driver the name of the market.

Fabric-buying
As in other parts of West Africa, Niamey has a good selection of bright colourful pagne fabrics. Each pagne is 2 nm and it is generally sold in 3-pagne sets (in other words, 6 m.) Sometimes they will sell you either 1 pagne or two pagnes, but other times they will only sell in 3-pagne increments. There is a wide selection of pagnes (30 or more shops/stands) just 1/2 block down the street from the Porte Principal of the Grande Marché. 90 percent of them in that section cost CFA 5,000 for 3 pagnes. If you only want one pagne and they are willing to cut, it should cost CFA 2,000 for just the one. If it is ENITEX brand (made in Niger), it is a bit cheaper: 3 pagnes cost only CFA 4,000, or one for CFA 1,500. There are a few brands that are more than CFA 5,000 (CFA 7,000, CFA 12,500 and more) especially from shops within the Grande Marché.

Other stores and markets

 * Wadatta Artisanal Market: For slightly different goods and no entry fee, try this great location for your craft purchases.
 * Katako Marché: An interesting cross between a Super Target, Home Depot, and an industrial complex. Watch your pockets, but wander for cheap food, metal goods, wood, hardwares, magic ingredients (gri-gri), etc. It’s also interesting to watch the aluminium pots being poured.

Eat
Be sure to try all the local specialties rather than only sticking to ex-pat restaurants. Niamey food is incredible, unique and not-to-be-missed. You didn't come all this way to eat the same food you get at home.

Budget

Other food tips
almost across the street from the travel agency SatGuru, but further east.
 * Zenabou’s Dumbou Stand (I): The best street food in Niamey. It’s well worth the trip. Take a taxi to “Sonara Deux”, which is a tall 9-story building covered in tan crosses. If the taximan does not know it, say “Maternité Issaka Gazoby”, which is across the street. Alternately, you can walk from Petite Marché, past Rip-off Row, past La Cloche Restaurant, and keep going; Sonora Deux is the second tall building on your right. Wrap around the building to the front (walking towards the bridge). She has a yellow & red Maggi hangar on the right. Sit down on the wooden benches and when it’s your turn she’ll point to you and ask what you want. Expect around a 15-minute wait to be served as she is quite popular. Get the dumbou with everything. Dumbou is a popular speciality of Niger, consisting of corn couscous, steamed moringa greens, black-eyed peas, a tomato-squash sauce and spices. Women might get it for CFA 150 (waranza in Djerma) and men for CFA 200 (way-tachi in Djerma). Meat is extra but an incredible addition to the dumbou. Try the pounded/pileéd guinea fowl mixed with sesame and hot pepper, for CFA 100 (to say “meat for CFA 100” in Djerma, say “Ham, waranka”.) Careful, the pounded guinea fowl meat contains bones. Open M-F 12:30-16:30 or later. The guy with the cooler next to her has a gingery lemu-hari drink for CFA 50 (small) or CFA 100 (large), PureWater and yoghurts. Nice place to go if you are in the neighbourhood of Petite Marché or the Musée.
 * Nigerian Hot Pockets stuffed with curried mashed potatoes, and other goodies Take a taxi to Rond Point Liberté. Head north for 1/3 block and she is on the left, with the hot pockets displayed in a glass case, next to a tiny blue-painted shop. She is Nigerian and speaks English. Prices are cheap. This is a good place for a snack if you are at the Grand Marché. From the Grand Marché, go to Côté Maourey and walk down the road that goes towards the Stade. In a couple blocks you will see Pharmacie Liberté and the round point. She also has delicious fried dough cakes wrapped around hard-boiled eggs.

 * The Meat Sandwich Guy The meat sandwich guy is on the left Mali-Bero road, just west of the Stade road. Taxi to “Pharmacie Mali-Bero” then with the pharmacy on your left, walk a half-block and look for his red Nescafe booth just past the technical school. He is open to coincide with the breaks at the school. He is ready to serve around 10:00 and 16:00. Most Peace Corps volunteers use him for a quick stop in passing for his delicious meat sandwiches stuffed with fries. However, he is more than just meat sandwiches. Vegetarians should try his omelette sandwich. Highly recommended is his version of nacho fries. This is a mountain of fries topped with seasoned ground (minced) beef or a fried egg, sauce, mayonnaise etc. all for about CFA 750. Sit down, order the fries, and get a coffee to boot. Well worth taking your time there rather than just doing take away.
 * Fried cheese (Wagashi) (I): In season, this is a delicacy coming to us from Benin and Togo. It sells in the Petit Marché as red discus-shaped rounds that you can then cook up yourself. Not to be eaten raw. Alternatively, there are two women who sell it fried and ready to eat. One is just behind Score near the Senegalese Restaurant with the blue walls. Ask around as she is not always there. The other is near the fuel station “Station Katako” on the road leading into town from the Stade, in the trees on the North side of the street that form the Tillaberi and Gotheye bush taxi station. She sells all sorts of chichena (fried bean cakes) and patats (fried sweet potatoes) etc. so the cheese can sometimes be hidden in the pile. Look for it in the centre of her wares in a small plastic bowl. Buy some (25F each) and then eat it with rice from the rice lady a little to the west.
 * A great street food lady with fufu and wagashi under a big tent (I): Wagashi (friend cheese) is also sometimes available at a very popular food tent that runs from 09:00 to 13:00 across from the Grand Mosquée, on the street heading south. It is at the crossroads on the south-eastern corner of the grand mosquée compound. There is usually a swarm of taxicabs parked there while drivers have breakfast/brunch. Good pounded yam (fufu) and lemu-hari drink too.
 * Good hand-made grilled sausage (I): Take a taxi to Cinema Soni and get out at Avenue Arewah. Start walking north on Avenue Arewah. Pass one intersection and then look for him half-way along the blank wall of the school on the right. He is sometimes hidden in among the Ghanaian semi-trailers that use the wall as a waiting point.
 * “Pepperoni-style” hand-made grilled sausage (I): Take a taxi to Rond Point Eglise. Walk south towards Marina Market. He is at a Maggi grill on the left just a block or two down. CFA 250/sausage with condiments. He is there in the afternoons and evenings. He may not look like he has sausage if he is not grilling, but he keeps the cooked meat covered and warm so step up and ask.
 * Grilled Meat (I): Down the road from the bar La Toulousain/Ebenezers is a meat griller with a Maggi stand. There are always cars parked next to it waiting for well-seasoned meat. Rumour has it that former President Tandja liked to get his meat from here. However, there is grilled mutton on almost any street corner in Niamey and it is always delicious. Specify that you prefer meat to fat. CFA 500 gets you a small serving for 1-2 people.
 * Fried plantains In season, find them on either side of the intersection just north of the Grand Marché, formed by Avenue Arewah and Boulevard de l’Independence. One of these women makes them as little fried balls of banana bread, which are excellent with sugar or her spicy salsa. She is from Ghana and speaks English.
 * Delicious Kilishi (beef jerky): Kilishi is a specialty of Niger. There are three varieties: plain, hot pepper, and spicy peanut sauce. Never buy it from Katako Marché as it is dried over the aluminium smelters (worth seeing sometime). Try instead one of the smaller operations around town, such as the drying racks just east of Round Point Liberté or at the Yantala night market. If you buy it on the street, ask the seller where it was made as you really do not want the stuff that has been dried in Katako.
 * Dégué Dégué are little millet balls, and when they are in yoghurt they are reminiscent of a wholegrain tapioca pudding. Excellent dégué is available next to “Nigelec siege” in Plateau, within easy walking distance from the Centre Culturel Americain. Martine’s stand is slightly hidden, next to a lady selling dumbou but if you ask someone will point you in the right direction. It is usually sold in increments of 150, 200, 250 and so on in sachets or sit in and enjoy the dégué with a plastic bowl and ladle. Dégué is also available from sellers in the Grand Marché if you are in there and need a snack while shopping. Or ask around where you are and see if someone is not selling out of their concession nearby where you are staying.
 * Best bisap and apollo in town (I): Bisap is a sweetended hibiscus-leaf drink with mint.
 * Apollo is a frozen slushy made from the baobab fruit, with a deep rich flavour. Take a taxi to Lamordé Ganda from the Grand Marché or Petit Marché for CFA 200. Pass the big mosque and then get out at a white-walled square boutique with a blue-green door a ways along on the left. If it is closed, ask for Rashida in the courtyard to the right.
 * Masaki’s Some nights there is live music at Masaki’s. Taxi to Mairie Commune 1 and walk east. Look for their fliers or call in to ask what is planned. It is run by a French guy and his Nigerien wife. Also serves as a hotel with nice rooms.

Drink

Keep in mind that drinking alcohol is generally forbidden in Muslim culture, so take extra care to keep drunken inappropriate behaviour behind closed doors and out of the public eye. Most of the Western-style restaurants above also serve drinks, Cap Banga or Oxygène in particular have amazing river views, especially great around sunset. (See the "Eat" section)

Sorghum beer bars
There are three Burkinabé millet or sorghum beer bars (called dolo or tchouk), all in Yantala Ancien, behind the French Embassy. The easiest place to start is to have a cab drop you off on the paved road that runs along the east wall of the French Embassy. Start walking along the dirt road that runs along the North (back) wall of the Embassy. You will pass a Christian Pentecostal church. Take the right after the church, then another immediate right, then the next left. She runs the operation out of her courtyard, is really nice if you are kind to her and her kids, and she will help keep the drunks at bay. Late afternoon is a great time to go. It is also a great cultural experience as almost everyone there is from Burkina. Take some ice if you want cool dolo. She has dolo on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and sometimes Monday. Two different women make it on the other days of the week as well as the weekend. For the other two, it is best to go to the first lady, pretend like you did not know she was not serving that day, and tip a child CFA 50 to take you to the next location. Or, from Rond Point Yantala, walk towards the French Embassy a few blocks and then veer off on a diagonal road to your right. Take the next right, then a quick left into her compound at the end of a long and narrow path between her houses. The only problem is there are two diagonal roads: try the first one and then ask someone if you get confused.

Learn
The Universite Abdou Moumouni de Niamey was created 1971 and is the only public university in Niger. The university has five faculties.

Libraries

 * The CCFN (see above) contains a large library in French. There is an impressive collection of French-language books about Niger found in a separated part of this library (and with slightly different hours) called the "Centre des Resources Documentaires".
 * The Centre Culturel Americain (Rue de la Tapoa) has a modest selection of English-language books (mostly about the USA), a couple dozen magazines, and (most of the time) a small selection of newspapers (often a week or two old). There is another library which mostly contains novels used by students taking English courses at the center; however, if you are carrying books with you that you no longer want, you could ask the librarian if you could swap for one of the books in the library. This center also hosts a weekly film (usually in English with French subtitles), although it's not as large a venue or spectacular a crowd as at the CCFN or CCOG.
 * There are two large libraries for serious research (not for casual browsing), both of which only allow librarians to enter the room where books are kept to retrieve what you are looking for: Institute des Recherches des Sciences Humaines (Humanities Research Institute, 227 20 735141) and the neighboring Centre d'Etudes Linguistique et Historiques par Tradition Orale (Center for Linguistic Studies and Historical Oral Tradition, 227 20 735414). Both have nearly 20,000 titles, but, again, are not very formidable to casual browsing.

Splurge

Connect

 * Internet (slow) modem and satellite connection. Rate is about CFA 500/hour. Wi-Fi is emerging in the city and can already be purchased on a 'pay as you go' basis with scratch-off cards in the better hotels and in the city centre.
 * Post/CourrierThe main post office is located on Rue de la Poste halfway between the Place de la Concorde/Assemble National and Place Monteil. DHL Express is located on Boulevard de la Liberte.

Respect
Proper attire: Dress is much more conservative than other West African countries. Look around to see how the majority of local people dress, and you can see it is offensive if you are not dressed conservatively. Shorts, above-the knee skirts, and tank tops should never be worn in the capital, in Hausa regions or up north. This will also help cut down on harassment. Note, as well, that people in Niamey dress as nicely as they can afford to, so it's not recommended to dress like you are "slumming."

Giving gifts: Think carefully before giving out “cadeaux” (gifts) or money to kids or even adults that you do not know personally, especially those that ask for one (genuine beggars excepted). Be aware that after you give out cadeaux, future visitors will be targets for unceasing and increasingly obnoxious demands for cadeaux, and Westeners will be seen only as a source of gifts. The annoyance you cause future visitors is probably not worth the trinket. Instead, give it to a reputable local charity or school to be distributed, or to a family that has done something nice for you.

Stay safe
See the warning box in the Niger article for information on the security situation.

General: Niamey is relatively safe, at least by Nigerien standards, but be aware of several things:
 * Carry as little as possible.
 * For men, watch your wallet in your back pocket.
 * For women, be aware that they can cut the strap of your bag and run.
 * The most dangerous places are anywhere the road crosses the ravine that runs through town, including next to the Stade (between the Stade and Katako), and between the Musée and Hotel Gaweye. Robberies are more common there because the perpetrators can disappear into the ravine.
 * The water in the city is usually OK to drink, but sometimes not. To be safe, you can buy filtered, sealed PureWater (pronounced Pure-Watta) for 25 CFA per small bag. (Outside of the city it may be either 25 or 50 CFA). Ask at any stall that has a fridge.

Con artists: A frequent scam, anywhere in the city but especially near Petit Marché, involves someone coming up to you and acting like he knows you. He says his car or motorcycle has been in an accident and he needs 10,000F to fix it, or variations on this theme. If you don’t know the person beyond a shadow of a doubt, don’t believe him or her.

Embassies & consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Visa extensions
Visa extensions are granted at the Direction de la Surveillance du territoire on Rue Heinrich Luebke. Bring two photographs and the appropriate fee. Expect one day service, although a small gift could probably get you same day service.

Go next

 * Koure West Africa's last surviving giraffe herd is just 45 minutes outside of Niamey (near Koure) and guided tours are available.
 * Baleyara, roughly 2 hours east, is home to a large and vibrant crafts market on Sundays. A must-do daytrip. On other days, however, the rural town is barren and there are no hotels.
 * Boubon, 25 km northwest on the route towards Tillaberi & Gao, is a city known for its pottery. Soil it taken from the banks of the river and formed into many different household potteries, set out to dry and fired in large open pits. Wednesday is market day here, and the easiest day to find public transport from Niamey. Other days, it might be necessary to take a bush taxi to nearby Relais and then take a pirougue to Boubon.
 * W National Park is a massive park named after the 'W' shape of the Niger River in it and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Similar to the large game parks of eastern Africa except that the landscape is less open and more shrub-filled and forest-like and there is less of a presence of large herbivores than E.Africa. Three hours south of Niamey, it could easily be organized as a day-long trip, but to fully enjoy the park, an overnight stay is recommended. The conservation project ECOPAS is working to improve the park's infrastructure, protect its inhabitants, and attract tourists. ECOPAS's Niamey headquarters can be consulted for tourism info ; they also sell printed books/guides for/about the park.
 * Agadez While a considerable distance away (1,000 km), there are frequent bus connections to this city which once was the most popular tourist destination in Niger. The city is safe to visit, but due to the ongoing Tuareg rebellion, travel outside the city is not allowed. A permit may be necessary, so consult local authorities before taking a bus. A military escort is necessary for part of the journey to protect against bandits, don't worry, though, as travelling this route is safe (with escort).

title: Niamey


text:
Nibong Tebal

Nibong Tebal (高渊) is a town located in Seberang Perai Selatan district of Penang, Malaysia. The majority of Chinese who live here speak Teowchew (潮州话) instead of the Hokkien (福建话), which is commonly used on Penang island.

Get in
35 min from Penang by bus, 20 min from Butterworth by bus or taxi.

There is a train station in Nibong Tebal.

Buses from Johor Bahru depart for Nibong Tebal at 9.45pm daily.

See

 * Temples
 * Temples

Do

 * Catching cockles / octopus
 * Watching fireflies
 * Catching "Udang Galah" (called "jumbo shrimp" in English, but really more like langoustines)
 * One day tour
 * Playing golf
 * Fishing at Byram
 * Pesta Pulau Pinang is an annual event held at Tapak Pesta, next to Sungai Nibong bus station in November. Snacks, entertainment, and sales of local products.

Eat
Ais Kacang, Assam Laksa, Cendol, & Char Kway Teow

There is nice sea food available in Nibong Tebal and some high quality restaurants in Taman Pekaka, near USM engineering campus such as ex-sara (which has nice Iranian kebabs and rice), M Box and Al-Rahman nasi kandar (good tandoori chicken). Besides this, Radha's Corner offers Indian food (only during lunch time) that some say is the best in town.

Drink
In Pekaka you can find some good drinks such as traditional tea and lychee special drink.

title: Nibong Tebal