I went to Niagara Falls and HATED it – the water was dirty, the crowds were insane and it’s basically the VEGAS of Canada
A travel influencer has shared the harsh reality of what it’s like to visit Niagara Falls, claiming it’s not as beautiful and glamorous as some might think.
Avid traveler Amy, from Canada, often flies around the world and documents her adventures on her TikTok account, where she has amassed more than 87,000 followers.
She recently took a trip to one of the most popular tourist attractions in her home country, but was amazed by what she found.
The content creator said there were crowds of people, dirty water, expensive parking and a “tacky” town before labeling the beautiful waterfall as the “Vegas of Canada.”
A travel influencer has shared the harsh reality of what it’s really like to visit Niagara Falls, claiming it’s not as beautiful and glamorous as some might think
Avid traveler Amy, from Canada, often flies around the world and documents her adventures on her TikTok account, where she has amassed more than 87,000 followers
“This may be controversial, but Niagara Falls is overrated,” she wrote on a TikTok video.
She recently took a trip to one of the most beloved holiday destinations in her home country
“Tourist trap to the extreme,” she added in the caption.
In the video, she said her boyfriend Sam, who is from Britain, “really wanted to see the famous falls,” so they decided to take a day trip together.
She explained that they had to pay $15 for parking, and while the view was beautiful, it was difficult to enjoy it due to the sheer amount of people.
“Sure, the view isn’t bad, but what you don’t see are the crowds and the tacky city,” she said.
“I hate to say it, but this is the Vegas of Canada. I mean, look at this water, this is exactly what you actually see when you look down,” she added, showing a brown, cloudy pool.
Instead, Amy suggested we drive 30 minutes to a town called Niagara on the Lake, on the edge of Lake Ontario.
She ended her TikTok by showing her and her boyfriend sitting together and enjoying a glass of wine.
She said there were crowds, dirty water (seen), expensive parking and a “tacky” city, which labeled the beautiful waterfall as the “Vegas of Canada.”
She explained that they had to pay $15 for parking, and while the view was nice, it was difficult to enjoy it due to the sheer amount of people
Instead, Amy suggested we drive 30 minutes to a town called Niagara on the Lake, which sits on the edge of Lake Ontario and has numerous wineries.
“You will find many beautiful wineries there, spend the day there,” she concluded.
She ended her TikTok by showing her and her boyfriend sitting together and enjoying a glass of wine
The area outside Niagara Falls, called Clifton Hill, is known as a very popular destination filled with lavish casinos and resorts, restaurants, theme parks, museums and shopping.
Amy further spoke on her Instagram about some of the downsides of visiting the ‘natural wonder of the world’.
“Parking is a minimum of $15 per day, but it can be $20+ if you want to be closer to the falls,” she wrote.
‘(Whatever day you go), you will always be among a crowd of people.
‘We went on a Monday and it was packed.
“And at the falls you really only need 30 minutes because there isn’t much to do.”
She criticized the “commercialized city built around the falls,” claiming it “really takes away from the beauty.”
“(The area outside) is super tacky and filled with chain restaurants and bad theme parks. Avoid if you can,” she said.
The area outside Niagara Falls, called Clifton Hill, is known as a very popular destination filled with lavish casinos and resorts, restaurants and amusement parks.
Amy’s video, which has been viewed more than 281,000 times, sparked a debate among viewers, some of whom were grateful for her advice and others who disagreed with her.
Amy’s video, which has been viewed more than 281,000 times, sparked a debate among viewers, some of whom were grateful for her advice and others who disagreed with her.
“It’s overrated,” one person agreed. “You have to do the trails/hikes and the trip behind the falls and stuff like that to really enjoy it.”
“As someone who lives nearby, I totally agree,” said another.
“I was disappointed the first time, I thought it would be surrounded by mountains,” said another user.
A fourth comment read: ‘We completely agree with you. Way to busy. We loved Niagara on the Lake.”
“Someone finally said it,” another person commented. A sixth simply wrote: ‘So real.’
However, others defended the area, with one person insisting: ‘No Niagara is beautiful and amazing.’
“I love my city, it’s not tacky,” someone else replied. Another wrote: ‘No, Niagara Falls is fire.’
Ultimately, Amy said it was just “not her vibe.”