Do I need tickets to see Niagara Falls?

No, you don’t need tickets to see the falls themselves. The main viewing areas like Table Rock and Queen Victoria Park in Ontario, and Prospect Point on the U.S. side, are completely free and open 24/7. You can walk right up, snap a million photos, and feel the mist without paying a cent. The falls are a public natural wonder, not a theme park attraction.

However, if you want to get close enough to actually feel like you’re in the falls—like on the Hornblower boat tour or the Journey Behind the Falls experience—those cost money. Hornblower is about $35 CAD per adult for a 20-minute ride, and Journey Behind the Falls runs around $25 CAD. The Cave of the Winds (U.S. side) is $27 USD and gets you soaked on a wooden deck. Skip the overpriced "Illumination" viewing packages unless you really want a reserved chair—you can see the lights for free from the sidewalk. Bottom line: the view is free, the thrill costs.