24 Hours in Niagara-on-the-Lake: What To See, Eat & Do

In August 2025, I traded the concrete and skyline buildings of Toronto for a 90 minute drive to the picturesque village of Niagara-on-the-Lake. I was already in Canada for my first international trip of 2025 and had wanted to see the Niagara Falls in person. However, I was encouraged to spend more time in this 19th century village in the heart of the Ontario Wine Region. What an experience it was! A day to dress up and leisurely roam through the lush vineyards and scenic views in the wine country. I wish I could have spent another day there. This is an adventure not to miss the next time you are near the Niagara Falls.

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About Niagara-on-the-Lake

Known for its historical charm, scenic vineyards, numerous wineries and its summer Shaw festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the most prettiest towns that you’ll find in Canada. It is a small town that attracts millions of tourists to its doors all year round whether it is for its theatre productions and historic sights. From its lavender fields and thriving wineries, small town charms and friendly residents, historical architecture and outdoor activities, there is something for everyone.

For anyone planning a trip to Ontario, Canada or considering it as a possible destination, here is a day trip guide filled with activities to help you plan your trip and make the most of it.

Getting To Niagara-on-the-Lake From Toronto

From Toronto, the picturesque and charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is a 90 minute drive away. My friend and I decided to escape the concrete jungle of downtown Toronto. We got to enjoy the lush greenery and scenic views for the day. I recommend leaving as early as possible to enjoy a full day of activities and to avoid the midday traffic. If you don’t drive, you can take a shuttle bus transfer to Niagara Falls or any hotel in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region. In short, to make the most of that journey, I suggest staying in the village overnight to get your money’s worth.

What To Do In Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a relatively small town filled with charm, picturesque views and history. If you are looking for small town activities, historic adventures and colourful streets, Niagara-on-the-Lake is the town for you. Here are my top activity recommendations to do:

1) Stop over at Gelato Di Carlotta for some rare and popular gelato flavours

I’m not even a gelato or ice cream person but I heard good things about this family-run Italian artisanal gelato shop and gave it a try. It is extremely popular in this town, so I recommend getting there before midday. By the time I got my gelato, the line was already out the door!

2) Visit some wineries and go on a tour

Booking a wine tour is something that you cannot miss out on! It is a great way to learn more about the winemaking process and discover new wines. Ice wine is a special type of dessert wine that is popular in this region. You can book a tour here.

3) Have lunch and do a flight of wine tasting at 180 Estate Winery, a family-owned boutique winery

You can’t spend a day in the wine region and not have lunch at one of their wineries. There are so many to choose from in the town. I opted for 180 Estate Winery and the service was impeccable. I’ve shared my experience there in the next section.

Scenic Activities

4) Rent a bike and cycle through wine country and the lavender fields.

Scenic views and cycling routes that make you feel like a character in The Sound of Music. I did not have the opportunity to do this activity. However after seeing the lavender fields on my way lunch, I knew that I would have to come back to cycle here.

5) Stroll through the quaint and picturesque 19th Century town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

One of my favourite ways to learn more about a new town or a new area to explore it! I do this wherever I go. Stroll through this town like a local, admire the 19th Century architecture and everything else that it has to offer.

Activities within Niagara City

6) Explore Niagara City as you walk to the Falls.

The Niagara Falls is surrounded by its own little city catered towards tourists. You have to go through this to get the Falls. I bought all my souvenir gifts for myself and my family here. In sum, it feels like a theme park and a city rolled up into one.

7) Walk and admire the Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.

I have never seen the Niagara Falls from the American side but I was in awe with the beauty that I saw from the Canadian side. I suggest walking all the way down towards the mist to truly see how wonderful nature is.

Where To Eat In Niagara-on-the-Lake

Since I was in the wine country, it made it sense to stop over at one of the wineries for some lunch. I decided to eat with a premium flight of wine tasting instead of a wine tasting tour. If you have time, I suggest doing a wine tasting tour, especially if you haven’t done one before. Whatever tickles your fancy! The beautiful part of being in Niagara-on-the-Lake is that there are so many wineries attached to restaurants that can fit into any budget. You can go to family-owned boutiques, celebrity-owned, quaint and luxurious ones. Moreover, you can explore the variety of restaurants that they have in the village. Unfortunately, the first winery that I went to, is usually closed on Tuesdays. If you would like to try this spot, double check their opening hours before planning your day out. 

180 Estate Winery

In the end, I chose this family-owned boutique winery, 180 Estate Winery. If you don’t know this about me by now, I love anything boutique as I feel that the experience is more intimate and personable. The staff at this restaurant were easy-going and amicable. In addition to that, the service was impeccable from the moment we received the menu all the way until we left the restaurant. I ordered their BBQ Chicken Flatbread with a glass of water and a premium flight of four wines for tasting.

This was the first time that I had seen a restaurant do this type of wine tasting service. There were two options to choose from: the premium flight or the first class flight. With each flight, you get to choose four wines to taste. The difference between the two flights is that you have more exclusive options with the first class flight at a higher price. I highly recommend going to this restaurant when you visit the region.

Here are some other popular vineyards that may interest you: Château des Charmes and Lakeview Wine Co.

What To Wear

Canada has four distinct seasons that can vary from coast to coast. Depending on when you go and the activities that you plan to do, pack accordingly. When I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake in early September, the temperatures averaged from 24 to 26°C with 50 to 60% humidity. I wore this cotton summer dress that I bought from ASOS and didn’t need a jacket at all. It does get a little chilly once you reach the mists of the Falls but the sun will dry you up within minutes.

Final Thoughts

Both the town of Niagara-on-the-lake and the Niagara wine region are vibrant and rich in nature and architecture. This town should be on your radar when visiting any city in Ontario and especially the Niagara Falls itself. I hope this day trip guide provided you with plenty of activities that you can do in 24 hours and more. Thank you for reading this guide and share this with a friend that might be interested in visiting.

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Until next time,

Folakemi