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

Get in

From the US

Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF IATA) in Buffalo, New York, is about an hour's drive away — assuming you don't encounter any delays at the international border.

Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG IATA) 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 (YHM IATA) in Hamilton is about a 75-minute drive away.

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ IATA) in Mississauga is about a 1½-hour drive away.

You can fly to St. Catharines/Niagara District Airport (YCM IATA) 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
  • GO Transit. Route 12 bus service from Burlington, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines to Niagara College station. From here, Niagara Region Transit On Demand service connects to downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 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.

Get around

See
  • 🌍 Niagara Apothecary, 5 Queen St (at King St). Mother's Day to Labour Day daily Noon-6PM; weekends to Canadian Thanksgiving Day. Museum featuring a restored 1869 pharmacy. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 St. Mark's Anglican Church, 41 Byron St. St. Mark's is the oldest Anglican Church in Ontario with construction begun in 1800. Its roof was destroyed in 1813 during the War of 1812, and was subsequently replaced. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Fort George, 26 Queen St, ☏ +1 905-468-4257. Apr-Nov: Sa Su 10AM-5PM. A reconstructed British fort and living museum which featured prominently in the War of 1812. It provides visitors a glimpse of military life in 19th century Upper Canada, and exhibits on the War of 1812. Ghost tours offered some evenings. Adult $12.50, senior $10.75, under 18 free. (updated Mar 2022)
  • 🌍 Fort Mississauga National Historic Site (the access path starts at the corner of Front and Simcoe streets). A fort on the shore of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the Niagara River that was built from 1814–1816 during the War of 1812, to replace nearby Fort George. The remains consist of a box–shaped brick tower and historic star–shaped earthworks. Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course surrounds the site, but public access is permitted via a walking path, with a warning to look out for golfers, who have the right of way. The interior of the blockhouse is closed, but has wooden staircases leading to some upper windows. (updated Mar 2022)
  • 🌍 McFarland House, 15927 Niagara Parkway. Preserved 1800 house features guided tours by costumed interpreters, and (in summer) afternoon tea with scones and desserts. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Living Water Wayside Chapel, 15796 Niagara Pkwy. It's claimed to be the world's smallest church by several internet sites. (updated Sep 2019)

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.

  • 🌍 Laura Secord Homestead, 29 Queenston St. The homestead dates from before the War of 1812. During that war, Laura Secord became a heroine by walking 32 kilometres (20 mi) to warn the British of an impending American invasion. Costumed interpreters provide historical information. The site also offers souvenirs and refreshments for sale. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum, 1 Queenston St. William Lyon Mackenzie (newspaper publisher, rebellion leader and Toronto’s first mayor) lived in this house 1858-1861. In 1936, the house was converted into a museum displaying heritage printing machinery. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Queenston Heights Park, 14184 Niagara Pkwy (near the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge). This park includes the Brock and Laura Secord Monuments, dedicated to Isaac Brock and Laura Secord who played a role in the War of 1812; the Battle of Queenston Heights took place here. The park is also an end point of the Bruce Trail, which winds it way northward over 800 km (497 mi) to Tobermory. 
  • 🌍 Floral clock, 14004 Niagara Pkwy (near the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge). A clock made entirely of flowers. Admission and parking are free. 

Do

Festivals
  • Shaw Festival, ☏ +1 905-468-2172, toll-free: +1-800-511-7429. Named after playwright George Bernard Shaw, this theater festival runs from April to November and features plays by Shaw, playwrights who lived during Shaw's lifetime, or plays about his era (1856-1950). Three main theaters plus the Studio Theatre comprise the festival venues, and all are within walking distance of downtown. The season opens in April. 
    • 🌍 Shaw Festival Theatre, 10 Queen's Parade. Seats 869. 
    • Studio Theatre, 10 Queen's Parade (beside the Shaw Festival Theatre). Seats 200. Doubles as a rehearsal hall. 
    • 🌍 Court House Theatre, 26 Queen St. Seats 327. The flagship theatre. 
    • 🌍 Royal George Theatre, 85 Queen St. Seats 328. 
  • Music Niagara, toll-free: +1-800-511-7429. Summer music festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring internationally renowned musicians of classical, jazz, opera, and more. From brilliant pianists (Andre Laplante, Dick Hyman), engaging ensembles (Swiss Piano Trio, Métis Fiddler Quartet), terrific instrumentalists (Paul Pacanowski, Julie Spring), and tremendous vocalists (Brett Polegato, Krisztina Szabo), hear great music round the clock in intimate venues including wineries, churches, and bistros. The season runs from mid-July to early August. $10-60. 
  • Niagara Wine Festival. There is also an Icewine Festival in January and a New Vintage Festival in June of each year. Festivals include winery tours and tastings, cuisine, and entertainment. 
  • Peach Festival, Queen St. 9AM-?. First Saturday in August to celebrate peaches. It starts at 9AM sharp and the day is full of jams and pies and peaches. 
  • 🌍 Art by the Lighthouse (Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre), 247 Ricardo St (on the river, between Navy Hall and the marina), ☏ +1 905 468-5455. 30 Jul - 1 Aug 2011: Sa Su 10AM-6PM, M 10AM-4PM. Art by the Lighthouse is a juried fine art show held on the grounds of the Niagara Pumphouse Visual Art Centre, accompanied by live music. Running concurrently; a free gallery exhibit of Robert Uhre and Katherine McDonald inside the Pumphouse Gallery. Free. 

Outdoor activities
  • Great Lakes Pyrate Lore & Harbour Walks (Historical NOTL Walking Tour), 26 Queen St (Lower Level), ☏ +1 905-381-0396. Join Pyrates in an historical walk through the town as they regale ye with true tales of Pyrates that used Niagara-on-the-Lake as a base of operations! Sunken ships, daring raids, men "put on account", merchant ships and sunken wrecks that sit at the bottom of Lake Ontario. Learn the secrets of Fort Mississauga & Fort Niagara, and what role Pyrates may have played in the disappearance of a notorious NOTL resident. $10. 
  • Haunted Hamilton presents a Lanternlit Ghost Walk of Niagara-on-the-Lake, ☏ +1 905-529-4327. Prepare yourself to stroll back through history and hear tales of haunted pubs, inns, forts and homes where restless spirits of the past are still said to linger. Regular walks offered March to December start at the Angel Inn on Regent at 8:30PM. 
  • Bike the scenic bike paths along the Niagara River.
  • Take a horse-drawn carriage ride or sleigh ride through the old town.
  • 🌍 Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, 61 Melville St. Powerful jet-boats speed upriver, making their way into the breathtaking stonewalled canyon that is the Niagara Gorge. The anticipation builds as the boats splash into the whitewater of Devil's Hole Rapids. April - October. 
  • 🌍 Hike the Bruce Trail. The southern end of the trail is in Queenston Height Park. Sidetrails follow the Niagara Parkway, toward downtown, while the main trail leads west toward St. Catharines. (updated Aug 2023)

Spas
  • 🌍 Spa at The Oban Inn, 160 Front St, toll-free: +1-866-359-6226. 9AM-8PM. Intimate boutique spa located in the Oban Inn overlooking Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course and Lake Ontario offering personalized massage, body treatments and aesthetics. Open daily, year-round. Outdoor pool, whirlpool and fitness room. 
  • 🌍 100 Fountain Spa, 48 John Street E (at the Pillar and Post hotel), toll-free: +1-888-669-5566. 

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):

Eat

Drink

Bars and pubs

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.

  • 🌍 Niagara Oast House Brewers, 2017 Niagara Stone Rd, ☏ +1 289-868-9627, . M-Th 10AM-5PM, F 10-midnight, Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 10AM-6PM. Oast House sources their raw materials from local Niagara area farmers. Public tours & tastings on Saturday & Sunday 11:30AM & 3:30PM. 
  • 🌍 Silversmith Brewing Company, 1523 Niagara Stone Rd (east of the village of Virgil), ☏ +1 905-468-8447, . M-W 11AM-9PM, Th F 11AM-11PM, Sa 10AM-11PM, Su 10AM-9PM. In a brick church from the 1890s. Their signature beer is a German-style Black Lager (Schwarzbier). 
  • 🌍 Niagara College Teaching Winery (Wine Visitor + Education Centre), 135 Taylor Rd. May-Oct: daily 10AM-6PM; Nov-Apr: Su-F 11AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM. Niagara College teaches winery and brewery skills, and offers the student production for visitors to sample and buy. The college is about 2 km east of St. Catherines, and 14 km from the village of NOTL. Visitors may sample and buy the student-produced wines. (updated Nov 2019)
  • 🌍 Niagara College Teaching Brewery (Brewery Retail Store), 135 Taylor Rd, ☏ +1 905-641-2252 ext 4099. Su-F 11AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM (with seasonal variations). Visitors may sample and buy the beer that Niagara College students brew at the teaching brewery. (updated Nov 2019)

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
Routes through Niagara-on-the-Lake
END ←  W  E  → Niagara Falls → Niagara Falls, NY via
Hamilton ← St. Catharines ←  W  E  → Niagara Falls → Fort Erie
Hamilton ← St. Catharines ←  W  E  → END


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