Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge
4.5
About
The Rainbow Bridge across the Niagara River connects the two cities of Niagara Falls, on both the U.S. and Canadian sides. You can cross the bridge by motorized vehicle, bicycle or even on foot, as long as you have your passport—though note that there is a toll fee. There are even duty-free shops on both ends of the bridge. The crossing takes less than 30 minutes, though peak summer season can see delays of up to one to two hours. Many tours from New York or Ontario stop at, but may not cross, the Rainbow Bridge—you'll get magnificent views of the falls and even the occasional rainbow (naturally!). – Tripadvisor
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Rainbow Bridge

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

The area

Address
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • Rita S
    25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful view.
    It is a beautiful view from this bridge looking over to the Cabausn side, the city lights and the Falls. Recommend go off -season to avoid the crowds. Bring a winter coat, hat and gloves and it will be fine. Niagara Falls is mesmerizing, it never gets old.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 10, 2024
  • Suzanne L
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    So amazing!
    Thoroughly enjoyed our two night and three day stay in Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Embassy Suites on the Canadian side, falls view, 39th floor and the views were amazing! On our last day we walked from the Canadian side to the American side of the falls via the Rainbow Bridge. A moderate walk with easy access across the border. You just pay one dollar and show your passport. The round trip walk and viewing of the falls was around 7 miles, but there are plenty of nice park benches to sit and rest or gaze at all the water wonders. Snack vendors are available as well as gift shops. Such a miraculous place to visit!
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 28, 2024
  • eldosokyjl
    Arlington, Virginia273 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely stroll over the border
    Incredible views of Niagara Falls from this bridge. Loved walking with with my family, including stroller so definitely accessible. Remember to bring your passport since it is an international border. Also need quarters to return from Canada. Walk takes about 10 minutes.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 25, 2024
  • Isaiah C
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun
    Ride. The boat, walk the tunnel, have lunch in revolving tower restaurant for 39.00 including the 20.00 ride to the observatory deck. If you pay with us credit card is like 30% off because of the exchange rate.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 2, 2024
  • solvitur ambulando
    Prato, Italy537 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    How many are you, where are you going, a florin
    The bridge allows you to walk to Canada and admire the falls from the front. On the way out, on the U.S. side, there are turnstiles to access the bridge, which pass without undergoing any control. On the other hand, when you arrive on Canadian soil, your passport will be checked very quickly. The reverse path is a bit more cumbersome. To leave Canada and re-enter the bridge, you must enter 1 Canadian dollar each in coins in the machine. Okay, there are also money change machines: you put in 1 U.S. dollar, and you get four Canadian quarter-dollar coins. The problem is that the two of us only had a $5 bill, and so we have $3 left in Canadian coins that are impossible to spend on the other side, so try to have exactly the cash you need By the way, the exchange rate is not at par, the Canadian dollar is worth much less than the American one. I suspect this is why you can't pay the toll by credit card, Canada would lose out. Back on U.S. soil, this time you do not pass the turnstiles freely, but a real customs check, with lots of questions about how long you have been in Canada, what you have done, and what programs you have in the U.S. Anyway, it's all pretty quick.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 8, 2024
  • sanju_222323
    New Jersey17,776 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    great for viewing the Falls & Friday night fireworks
    When you’re in Niagara Falls you will probably see the Rainbow Bridge. It’s not a multicoloured bridge, but a pedestrian and vehicle bridge that connects Canada and the US. This is a legal border crossing and you’ll have to go through customs in the US and Canada. You’ll need to have your passport (and any visas you might need for each country). Crossing as a pedestrian from NY to Canada is free and the reverse route costs $1 but make sure you have cash; there is a machine to get the change from if needed. Rainbow Bridge is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Typically, there are no delays in crossing on foot but traffic can impact delays crossing via car; especially during the holidays. The Rainbow Bridge is also great for viewing the Falls & Friday night fireworks.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written November 20, 2024
  • GabrielaSeevetal
    Seevetal, Germany10,416 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great view from the bridge to the falls
    From Horseshoe Falls we hiked along the Niagara River to Rainbow Bridge, which could be seen from afar. Take a passport to cross the bridge, as you enter the US on foot from Canada at the end of the bridge - it's funny. Costs: 11 US and close control.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,905 reviews
Excellent
970
Very good
607
Average
268
Poor
30
Terrible
30

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Na Pa
Bruchsal, Germany341 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
Good for getting to the other side, which is also worth seeing. Unfortunately, we weren't lucky enough to see a rainbow. We were very lucky at first, we got through quickly on both sides of the border. On the Canadian side you pay either one Canadian dollar or 4x American quarters (1 dollar).
On the way back to the Canadian side we queued for half an hour, it was just bad luck that there were suddenly so many people there. So it's difficult to plan your time.
Google
Written September 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew
Harveys Lake, PA223 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Solo
The USA entry to pedestrian walkway is in a tiny alley behind the parking lot. After entering I learned that I will be charged $1 bridge fee to be collected at the Canadian side on the way back to USA. The view of the falls and Canadian skyline is very nice. There were only 5 people waiting to clear Canadian Customs, but I had to wait about 40 minutes to get in, although my clearance took less than a minute. On the way back to USA you have to put 4 quarters into turnstile to get on the bridge. There are machines to change American and Canadian dollar bills , but one was out of order. If the second one runs out of change or breaks down…… I guess you will need to get a hotel room in Canada!The last time I had to insert a quarter into anything was a pay phone in the year 1998. I can’t help but compare this to my recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, where you can pay 25 pence with a credit card to use public restroom!!! People there forgot what paper money look like. Let’s join them by upgrading the technology of 1922 to 2022!
Written August 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karrempje
Vleuten, The Netherlands3,188 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
With your passport in hand you can see both sides. You do have to pay $1 per person in cash if you go from the Canadian to the American side. You will be asked typical border control questions on both sides. What are you doing, how long are you staying, where are you from, etc.
I don't know how the car is going because we went on foot.
Google
Written October 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pathfinder526452
Chicago, IL1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Family
I went to Niagara falls for a day and I would give it 0 stars if I could. First off there are signs everywhere when walking across the bridge. But how was i know I was supposed to read them? Do you read every single sign posted on doors? Than I rang a phone and someone answered I asked if I could walk across the bridge with no ID they said no but thats not what my hotel staff told me so i went anyways. If i wasnt allowed to go than why would they make a turnstyle that just pushes. I didnt even go to canada anyways i just walked the bridge. So when I come back i tell them i just walked the bridge but the toll collector coming back they told me that i left the us when i walked threw gate but i never left the us i said what are you talking about. than they asked for my id and i said i didnt have any because i didnt leave the us but they insisted i did. long story short i had to give them my name and date of birth (i dont know why the heck they needed that) they asked me questions like where i live and where i was born like they were gonna meet me there for a date or something. that just seems to be alot of work to walk on a bridge. there needs to be a sign that says to read the signs bottom line. also i recommend you bring id because if you have nothing like me they will bother you when all you wanted to do was see waterfalls.
Written September 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jordan Morningstar
Burnsville, MN282 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
The rainbow bridge is a nice bridge. Well kept and secure for drivers and pedestrians alike. Traffic increases tremendously during the late morning and throughout the day. Would try to avoid 10am and sun down (as people get prepared for the lights and fireworks).
Written November 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ASB
Wolverhampton, UK62 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
Very easy experience travelling from Canada to US side by foot. Ignore the CBP website saying "Lanes Closed", the bridge was indeed open and it took no longer than 5 mins to enter US and 1 min to enter Canada on return. Travelling with British passport and Canadian Study Permit.

Note: US charged $6 p/p entry fee to all incoming travellers (valid for 90 days) which is apparently included in airfares, hence you might not have encountered it before.

Whichever side you're coming from, it's worth visiting the other as the niagara falls experience is just completely unique on both sides.
Written February 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DanKan
Dayton, OH226 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
We used this bridge to go to the Canadian side during our off-season, mid-week bisit of the Niagara Falls. There were very little lines, and all we had to do was show our passports and answer a few questions. COVID-19 restrictions were off as of Oct 1.

It does cost $6.50 CAD each time you enter Canada.

Be sure to turn your cells phones off or put them on airplane mode to avoid getting charged International rates for texts/calls if your plan does not cover these charges.
Written October 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tracy R
Aberdeenshire, UK177 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
We crossed Rainbow Bridge from Canada to the US side. It only costs a $1 dollar fee and we needed our passports but overall it was super easy.

The bridge itself has lovely views of the falls and we found it to be much quieter than we expected. We only passed 3 other people on the bridge.
Written June 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrés Blanco
Carteret, NJ737 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Passed through this bridge leaving the Canadian side of the falls. Even though it was during the peak season the traffic flow was constant and the process through customs was efficient. We took some great pictures of the bridge and the surroundings while we were on the Canadian side of the falls.
Written November 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Luis P
Valencia, Spain2,009 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
The bridge closest to the falls that connects the US and Canada. Good views of the falls. We crossed by car without problems to Canada since we had a hotel reserved there, a visa is not necessary if you are from the EU and arrive from the US. Very nice in the control of Canada. On the way back without problems for having US visas. Although it was the weekend there was no large crowd of cars and not many booths were open either.
Google
Written November 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 1,579
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Rainbow Bridge - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All Niagara Falls HotelsNiagara Falls Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Niagara FallsHotels near Rainbow Bridge
All things to do in Niagara Falls
Amusement Parks in Niagara Falls
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars