Quick answer: Clifton Hill is the main entertainment district in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It runs one block from Horseshoe Falls along the Niagara River, between River Road (Niagara Parkway) and Victoria Avenue. The street itself is free to walk and explore. Paid attractions on Clifton Hill include the Niagara SkyWheel (an observation Ferris wheel), Niagara Speedway go-karts, Dinosaur Adventure Golf, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, Movieland Wax Museum, Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks, the Great Canadian Midway arcade, and over a dozen other rides and attractions. The Clifton Hill Fun Pass bundles six attractions for $39.95 adult or $26.95 child. U.S. visitors need a passport, passport card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or NEXUS card to cross into Canada and reach Clifton Hill.
Where Is Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Located?
Clifton Hill Niagara Falls is a single street that runs uphill from the Niagara Parkway (River Road) to Victoria Avenue, in the city of Niagara Falls Canada (Ontario). It sits one block north of the Horseshoe Falls and Queen Victoria Park, making it the closest concentrated entertainment district and best place to find tourist attractions adjacent to the falls themselves. The Clifton Hill district is located within Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada and is open and operating year-round.
The street officially markets itself as “Fun by the Falls” or “Street of Fun.” It has functioned as a tourist district since the 1920s, with major attractions arriving in the 1960s when wax museums and Ripley’s first opened.
Clifton Hill is on the Canadian side of the Niagara River. U.S. visitors need a passport or equivalent WHTI-compliant document to cross the border. See our passport requirements guide for details on what documents are accepted.
Who Was Clifton Hill Named After?
The hill takes its name from British Army officer Ogden Creighton, who purchased the land in 1832 and laid out the original streets and building lots. Creighton named the settlement Clifton, after the district of Clifton in Bristol, England. He built his residence, Clifton Cottage, near the current site of the Quality Inn at the foot of the hill. After the Rebellion of 1837, the cottage briefly served as a military headquarters for border security. The Creighton family left the area in the early 1840s.
Complete List of Clifton Hill Attractions
Clifton Hill packs roughly two dozen attractions into a single street and the surrounding blocks. Here is the full current list, grouped by attraction type.
Rides & Observation
- Niagara SkyWheel: A 175-foot (53.3-meter) observation Ferris wheel, the tallest in Canada. The SkyWheel opened on June 17, 2006, at a cost of $10 million. Its 42 climate-controlled enclosed gondolas (Swiss-built) seat 6 to 8 people each and operate year-round, offering panoramic views of both American and Canadian Falls.
- Niagara Speedway: An elevated go-kart track that runs above and along Clifton Hill. The track wraps around buildings and gives you views of the falls between turns.
- Ghost Blasters Dark Ride: Interactive shooter dark ride where you blast ghosts and ghouls. Family-friendly.
Golf & Outdoor Activities
- Dinosaur Adventure Golf: A 36-hole mini golf course at 70,000 square feet, with life-size dinosaur replicas and a working volcano.
- Wizards’ Mini Golf: Indoor mini golf with wizard, dragon, and castle theming.
Museums & Wax
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum: Original 1960s Ripley’s odditorium with hundreds of “believe it or not” artifacts and oddities.
- Movieland Wax Museum: Wax figures of movie stars and pop culture icons.
- Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks: Operated under the Tussaud family name (related to but separate from the famous London Madame Tussauds), featuring historical and celebrity wax figures.
Haunted Attractions
- House of Frankenstein: Walk-through horror attraction.
- Dracula’s Haunted Castle: Multi-floor haunted house.
- Creepy Castle: Family-friendly themed walk-through.
Arcade & Indoor
- Great Canadian Midway: A 70,000-square-foot indoor arcade and game center with redemption games, classic arcade machines, virtual reality, and prize counter. The largest indoor entertainment venue on Clifton Hill.
- Strike Game Zone: Bowling, billiards, and other social games.
- Carnival Chaos: Carnival-themed games and rides under one roof.
- Toy Store 4D: Interactive 4D theater experience.
Clifton Hill Fun Pass: Cost & What It Includes
The Clifton Hill Fun Pass is the most affordable way to experience multiple attractions in one visit. Pricing for 2026:
| Pass Type | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Fun Pass | $39.95 | 6 attractions bundled (single-use each) |
| Child Fun Pass | $26.95 | 6 attractions bundled (single-use each) |
The pass covers a curated selection of six attractions from the Clifton Hill list. Buying tickets individually for the same six attractions costs roughly $70-$90, so the pass is a significant savings if you plan to use all six. If you only want to do two or three attractions, individual tickets are cheaper.
Free Things to Do on Clifton Hill
Walking Clifton Hill costs nothing. The street itself is a great place for a pedestrian-heavy tourist promenade with neon lights, themed building exteriors (giant Frankenstein heads, dinosaurs, dragons mounted on facades), and street performers during peak season. The visual experience is one of the most photographed parts of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and a memorable place to walk with friends or family.
Among the many attractions on the strip, free elements include the giant exterior props that make Clifton Hill a great place for photos, the gardens at the southern end where the hill meets the Niagara Parkway, the gift shops with windows full of souvenirs, and the arcade games visible from the street as you walk past the Great Canadian Midway entrance. The mirror maze inside the Great Canadian Midway requires a ticket, but you can see the entrance and lobby for free.
Other no-cost activities:
- Walk the full street, end to end (about 5 minutes at a normal pace)
- Window-shop the souvenir stores and Beavertails pastry shops
- Take photos with the giant exterior props (Frankenstein, King Kong on the Tussaud’s building, dinosaur head)
- Walk down to Queen Victoria Park (across the Niagara Parkway) for free views of Horseshoe Falls
- Watch the Festival of Lights illumination spillover on the Niagara Parkway (November through January)
- Wander through the entertainment options near the south side where the hill connects to the gardens of Queen Victoria Park
- Browse the gift shops on the south end of the strip for souvenirs and free window-shopping
Food & Restaurants on Clifton Hill
The Clifton Hill district has roughly two dozen restaurants open year-round, ranging from quick-service chains (Boston Pizza, Burger King, Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza) to themed restaurants attached to attractions (the Hard Rock Cafe, Rainforest Cafe, Margaritaville, and a Planet Hollywood operate within or directly adjacent to the strip). Boston Pizza on Clifton Hill is the largest of the casual sit-down restaurants and is open late, making it a common landing spot after evening attractions.
For a more memorable meal, walk one or two blocks off Clifton Hill to find independent restaurants on Victoria Avenue or down at Table Rock Welcome Centre overlooking Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls Canada. The fine-dining options are in fallsview hotels (Skylon Tower revolving dining room, Watermark Restaurant at the Sheraton) rather than on Clifton Hill itself.
One uniquely Canadian option worth trying: Beavertails on Clifton Hill itself. A flat, hand-stretched pastry fried and topped with cinnamon sugar (or other toppings). Locations are scattered across the strip.
Hotels Near Clifton Hill
Several major hotels sit directly on or adjacent to Clifton Hill Niagara Falls, making it possible to walk to attractions, restaurants, and the falls within minutes of checking in. Hotel chains represented in the Clifton Hill district include Hilton, Embassy Suites, DoubleTree, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton, and Marriott. The Falls Avenue Resort complex sits directly at the foot of Clifton Hill and connects to the Great Canadian Midway, restaurants, and the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark via an indoor concourse.
Rates vary widely by season. In peak summer (June-August) and during the Festival of Lights (November-January, with December the busiest), hotels near Clifton Hill Niagara Falls can charge $300-$500 CAD per night for falls-view rooms. In off-season (January-March, excluding holidays), the same rooms drop to $100-$180 CAD per night. Many hotels include Clifton Hill parking with the stay, which can save $20-$30 CAD per day versus parking on its own.
For visitors who want maximum convenience: a hotel on Falls Avenue or one block off Clifton Hill puts you within a 2 to 5 minute walk of the SkyWheel, every wax museum, the themed restaurants on the strip, and Queen Victoria Park. For visitors who want a quieter base: hotels on Stanley Avenue or further up Victoria Avenue are 10 to 15 minutes away on foot, cost less, and avoid the late-night neon and crowd noise.
Parking on Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill has several paid parking lots within walking distance, plus larger lots at the bottom of the hill near the Niagara Parkway. Typical rates range from $10 to $30 CAD per day depending on the season, with peak summer weekends at the upper end. Most lots are operated by Niagara Parks or by private operators (Falls Avenue Resort, Hilton, Embassy Suites). On-street parking on Clifton Hill itself is limited and time-restricted; using a paid lot is more practical.
If you are driving up from the U.S. side, parking in Niagara Falls State Park on Robert Moses Parkway and walking across the Rainbow Bridge is often faster and cheaper than crossing by car. Bridge wait times by vehicle during peak summer can exceed 60 minutes; walking takes about 10 minutes.
Events on Clifton Hill Niagara Falls
Several signature events run on Clifton Hill Niagara Falls throughout the year. The Festival of Lights starts in mid-November and runs through late January each year, with most events concentrated in December and the first week of January. During the Festival of Lights, the entire Clifton Hill district stays open later than its summer hours, illumination spillover lights the parkway, and free outdoor events happen on weekends.
Other annual events that bring visitors to the Clifton Hill Niagara Falls area:
- Canada Day fireworks (July 1) over the Niagara River, visible from the top of Clifton Hill
- Independence Day weekend events (early July) drawing U.S. visitors to the Niagara Falls Canada side
- Niagara Falls Comic Con at the nearby Niagara Falls Convention Centre (typically June)
- Winter Festival of Lights New Year’s Eve countdown at Queen Victoria Park (December 31)
- Honeymoon City Music Festival (mid-summer, fallsview area)
The Clifton Hill district itself is open and operating during all these events. The Niagara SkyWheel and most attractions stay open through 11 PM during peak event weekends.
Best Time to Visit Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill is busiest from mid-June through late August (peak summer) and during the Festival of Lights, which runs in Niagara Falls Canada from mid-November through late January. The single busiest two weeks of the year are December 23 through January 2, when Christmas and New Year’s traffic combines with the lit illumination spillover from Queen Victoria Park onto Clifton Hill. Crowds peak on weekends and during U.S. and Canadian holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Canada Day, U.S. Independence Day, Labor Day).
For the most enjoyable Clifton Hill experience:
- Quietest: Weekday mornings in May or September. Most attractions are open, lines are short.
- Most atmospheric: Evenings 7-10 PM during summer. All neon is lit, street is alive, but lines build up.
- Cheapest: Off-season (January through March, excluding Festival of Lights tail end). Some attractions reduce hours or close midweek.
- Avoid: Saturday afternoons in July and August. Crowds peak, parking is impossible, lines exceed 45 minutes at the SkyWheel and Niagara Speedway.
For a broader month-by-month view of Niagara Falls visiting conditions, see our best time to visit Niagara Falls guide.
How to Get to Clifton Hill From the U.S. Side
If you are visiting Niagara Falls, NY and want to spend an afternoon or evening on Clifton Hill, here is the practical approach:
- Walk or drive across the Rainbow Bridge from Niagara Falls State Park (5 to 10 minutes on foot from the Observation Tower area). Walking is almost always faster than driving during peak hours.
- Bring your WHTI document: U.S. passport, passport card, Enhanced Driver’s License (issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington), or NEXUS card. Children under 16 can use a birth certificate.
- Clear Canadian Customs on the bridge.
- Walk up to Clifton Hill from the Canadian customs exit, about 10 minutes. The street is uphill from the Niagara Parkway, hence the name.
Returning to the U.S. takes the same documents in reverse. U.S. Customs inspection is typically faster than Canadian Customs.
For travelers without documents, see our passport requirements page for what you can do on the U.S. side without crossing.
Combining Clifton Hill With a Niagara Falls Tour
Most of our Canadian-side combination tours pass through or near Clifton Hill as part of the route. Tours typically include time for visitors to walk Clifton Hill on their own before continuing to Table Rock, Journey Behind the Falls, or Hornblower Niagara Cruises.
If you want a guided introduction to the Canadian side that includes Clifton Hill access, our private tour options can build it into a custom itinerary. Our standard tour packages include the Canadian side on combination tours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls?
Clifton Hill is the main entertainment and tourist district in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It is a single street running from the Niagara Parkway uphill to Victoria Avenue, lined with attractions, museums, mini-golf courses, haunted houses, restaurants, and the Niagara SkyWheel. It markets itself as “Fun by the Falls” or “Street of Fun” and has been a tourist destination since the 1920s.
How much does Clifton Hill cost?
Walking Clifton Hill is free. Individual attractions range from $10 to $30 per person depending on the experience. The Clifton Hill Fun Pass bundles six attractions for $39.95 adult or $26.95 child, the best value if you plan to do multiple attractions. Buying tickets individually for the same six attractions costs $70-$90.
What are the top attractions on Clifton Hill?
The most popular attractions are the Niagara SkyWheel (175-foot Ferris wheel with falls views), Niagara Speedway (elevated go-kart track), Dinosaur Adventure Golf (70,000 square feet of mini golf), Great Canadian Midway (largest indoor arcade), and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum. Most visitors also do at least one wax museum or haunted attraction.
Is Clifton Hill on the American or Canadian side of Niagara Falls?
Clifton Hill is on the Canadian side. It is in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, one block from the Horseshoe Falls and Queen Victoria Park. U.S. visitors need a passport or equivalent document to cross the Rainbow Bridge and reach it.
How far is Clifton Hill from the falls?
Clifton Hill is one block from Horseshoe Falls along the Niagara River. Walking from the top of Clifton Hill down to Table Rock at the brink of the falls takes 5 to 10 minutes.
What does the Clifton Hill Fun Pass include?
The Fun Pass bundles six attractions in a single ticket: typically the Niagara SkyWheel, Niagara Speedway, Dinosaur Adventure Golf, Great Canadian Midway tokens, one of the wax museums, and one of the haunted attractions. The exact list varies. The pass is $39.95 adult or $26.95 child and saves roughly 50% versus buying tickets individually.
What are the best things to do on Clifton Hill with kids?
Family-friendly attractions on Clifton Hill include the Niagara SkyWheel (climate-controlled gondolas, suitable for all ages), Dinosaur Adventure Golf, Wizards’ Mini Golf, Ghost Blasters Dark Ride, Great Canadian Midway, and Toy Store 4D. Skip the haunted attractions (House of Frankenstein, Dracula’s Haunted Castle) for young children.
Is Clifton Hill open year-round?
Yes, but with seasonal variations. Most attractions operate year-round with extended hours from May through October and during the Festival of Lights (mid-November through late January). Some outdoor attractions like Niagara Speedway run shorter hours or close on the coldest winter weekdays.
How long does it take to walk Clifton Hill?
The full length of Clifton Hill takes about 5 minutes to walk at a normal pace, but most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours exploring the attractions. A complete Clifton Hill day with the Fun Pass and a meal usually fills 4 to 6 hours.
What is the Niagara SkyWheel?
The Niagara SkyWheel is a 175-foot observation Ferris wheel located on Clifton Hill, the tallest in Canada. The enclosed climate-controlled gondolas seat up to 6 passengers and operate year-round. The 8 to 12 minute ride circles slowly and offers panoramic views of both American Falls and Horseshoe Falls.
Can you walk to Clifton Hill from the American side?
Yes. Walk across the Rainbow Bridge from Niagara Falls State Park (5 to 10 minutes on foot), clear Canadian Customs with a valid WHTI document (passport, passport card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or NEXUS), then walk uphill about 10 minutes to reach Clifton Hill. Walking is usually faster than driving during peak hours due to bridge traffic.
Where do you park for Clifton Hill?
Several paid parking lots serve Clifton Hill on the Canadian side. The closest lots are at the bottom of Clifton Hill near the Niagara Parkway, with rates of $10 to $30 per day depending on the season. Some hotels in the Clifton Hill area include parking with stays. Free street parking is rare and time-restricted.
Is the Clifton Hill Fun Pass worth it?
Yes, if you plan to do at least four of the six included attractions. Individual ticket prices for those six attractions add up to $70-$90 adult, so the $39.95 pass saves about half. If you only want one or two attractions, individual tickets are cheaper.