How to Get Around Niagara-on-the-Lake (With or Without a Car)

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Thinking about visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake and wondering how easy it is to get around?

Ultimately, it depends what you want to see and do. 

If you’re visiting for a few hours and just want to check out NOTL’s downtown area (AKA Old Town), you could explore by foot. 

If you want to venture further afield to visit a few wineries or restaurants outside of Old Town, you’ll need a vehicle (or a bike).

There are a few different options and several things to keep in mind, so I’ll get into all those details below.

What you need to know about NOTL

Before I dive into the nitty gritty, here’s a quick rundown of Niagara-on-the-Lake so you have a better idea of the town’s size and layout.

The most popular area of Niagara-on-the-Lake is the “downtown” core, called the Heritage District or Old Town.

Old Town is where you’ll find most of NOTL’s main attractions: shops, restaurants, theatres, historic landmarks, and galleries.

This part of the town covers an area of roughly 2.5 km (1.5 miles), so it’s relatively compact and walkable.

Beyond Old Town, Niagara-on-the-Lake is largely made up of farmland and vineyards. 

You’ll find other attractions here as well, from wineries to restaurants and historic sites. But they’re located further apart from each other—which is why you’ll need a vehicle to get around this area.

To give you an idea of distances, the Prince of Wales Hotel (located in Old Town) is a 13-minute drive from Wayne Gretzky Winery, and a 17-minute drive from Ravine (a winery located closer to Niagara Falls).

Getting around with a car

Driving yourself is the easiest option for getting around Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Once you arrive in NOTL, you can find public parking throughout Old Town. There’s a parking lot behind the Old Courthouse, as well as street parking on nearby streets like King Street, Regent Street, and Victoria Street.

You have to pay to park and rates will vary depending on the location (check out this map for more details). 

Always double-check for parking signs or restrictions before you choose a spot. The town does not hesitate to hand out parking tickets to visitors.

If you’re staying overnight somewhere in Old Town, you can park at your accommodations and explore this area on foot. And then hop in the car to drive further afield whenever you need.

Getting around without a car

If you’re visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake without a car, there are a few ways to get around:

• By foot (if you’re planning to stay in Old Town only)
• Taxi/Uber
• Bike
• Guided tours

By foot

One of the best ways to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Old Town is by taking a leisurely stroll.

The main street in this area is Queen Street; this is where you’ll find landmarks like the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, the Old Courthouse, and the Niagara Apothecary.

Queen Street is also lined with boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, and galleries. Two of the three Shaw Festival theatres are here as well.

From Queen Street, you can walk two blocks down to Queen’s Royal Park—a lovely green space with views of Lake Ontario.

For more recommendations on things to see and do in Old Town, check out my guide on how to spend one day in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

By bike

Cycling is another popular way to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake.

You can rent a bike from Zoom for the day, or use their bike share option if you only want to cycle for an hour or two.

They offer a variety of bike types, including comfort cruisers, hybrids, and pedal-assisted e-bikes. 

With a bike, you can cycle around town or along the Niagara Parkway—a scenic paved path that runs along the Niagara River. 

Several wineries are located along (or close to) the Niagara Parkway, so it’s easy to visit vineyards like Two Sisters, Peller Estates, Lailey, and Reif. 

Zoom also offers self-guided bike tours with a customized itinerary and tasting experiences for specific wineries.

Guided tours

Want to visit a few wineries without having to worry about planning or driving? A guided tour is the way to go. 

Companies like Grape Escape Wine Tours and Winery Guys offer half-day or full-day tours that include stops at several wineries.

Depending on your preference, you can choose from shorter or longer tours that depart in the morning or afternoon. 

These tours will typically pick you up from your hotel or the location of your choice in Niagara-on-the-Lake or Niagara Falls.

Some tours include only wine tastings, while others include a lunch or three-course dinner. Prices will vary depending on the length and what’s included.

Taxis

Niagara-on-the-Lake Taxi is the main cab company servicing NOTL. Uber is also available.

If you need help finding a taxi when you’re in town, head to the Tourism Information Centre in the basement of the Old Courthouse (26 Queen Street). 

The staff there can assist you with arranging a taxi or other transportation.

Getting to Niagara-on-the-Lake

Driving yourself is the quickest and easiest way to get to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but there are a few different options via public transportation.

If you’re travelling from Niagara Falls without a car, you can take the WEGO, a hop-on, hop-off bus service that stops at most major hotels and attractions in Niagara Falls.

The service also includes a seasonal shuttle connecting Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake (departing from the Floral Clock).

It’s not the fastest or most direct route, however, as you will have to take the WEGO bus and then transfer to get on the shuttle. The shuttle also makes a few stops on the way to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

For this option, start by taking the WEGO Green Line to the Floral Clock, then transfer to the Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle. The shuttle will take you from the Floral Clock to Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

One thing to note: the Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle only runs from early April to early October.

You can find the WEGO bus map and the latest schedule on the Niagara Parks website (the schedule changes seasonally).

If you’re travelling from Niagara Falls with a car, I recommend driving along the Niagara Parkway—a scenic road that runs along the Niagara River. 

It’s an easy drive and there are plenty of great places to stop along the way, including picnic spots, wineries, and fruit stands.

The drive will take roughly 25 – 30 minutes from Niagara Falls.

If you’re travelling from Toronto without a car, you can take the GO Train to Niagara Falls. 

Once you arrive at the Niagara Falls GO station, you can take the WEGO bus to the Floral Clock and then transfer to the Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle (follow the same directions I mentioned above).

If you’re visiting during winter, you’ll have to take a taxi or an Uber from the Niagara Falls GO station to Niagara-on-the-Lake.