Located in Canada's wine country, Niagara-on-the-Lake was named among the 25 best destinations in the world for a honeymoon in Tripadvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards, the only Canadian location on the list.
And it's no wonder — with 19th-century charm, cozy wineries, grand hotels and quaint shopping, it doesn't get more romantic than this.
Whether you're visiting for your honeymoon or just for a weekend getaway, there are so many perfect date activities to do in town. Here are nine romantic things to do during your next stay.
Skate and sip at Wayne Gretzky Estates
Price: $5 per person
When: Rink open until March 2024
Address: 1219 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: For a romantic winter activity, you and your loved one can glide across the ice at this twinkling Niagara winery.
Wayne Gretzky Estates has brought back its enchanting winter ice rink for the season, allowing visitors to glide around beneath a canopy of lights.
Admission is $5 per person. While the rink offers $10 skate rentals, visitors are strongly encouraged to bring their own skates.
Off the ice, you can relax at the heated Whisky Bar Patio bar and enjoy wine or a hot cocktail, or snack on something from the menu of savoury treats.
Wayne Gretzky Estates website
Go on a horse-drawn carriage ride
Price: $90+ for carriage tour
Address: 220 King St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: To feel like you're in a fairytale, you can enjoy a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Sentineal Carriages offers guided tours of the town that showcase the history, majestic homes, and beautiful scenery of Niagara-on-the-Lake from a peaceful carriage.
You'll feel like the star of a rom-com as you get a horse-drawn carriage ride through the quaint streets.
The guided tour typically goes to the waterfront, through the Historical District and down the main street of Old Town.
Tours are available next to the Prince of Wales Hotel. Prices start at $90 for a 15-minute tour without a reservation, or $130 for a 30-minute tour (available by walk-up or reservation).
Sentineal Carriages website
Sip afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel
Price: $55+ per person
Address: 6 Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can enjoy a romantic afternoon tea with someone special at the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel.
The hotel offers a traditional afternoon tea in its luxurious Drawing Room for $55 per person, complete with finger sandwiches, pastries, and scones.
The hotel is a super romantic spot in itself, decorated with bespoke art and featuring ornate architectural details.
If you want to extend your visit, the hotel is offering a number of stay packages in 2024.
The hotel also has a luxurious spa where you can relax and unwind during your stay.
Prince of Wales Hotel website
Book a stay at the Pillar and Post Inn & Spa
Price: $75 per person for day pass; $150+ for massage
Address: 48 John St. W., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: The Pillar and Post is a 13,000-square-foot Niagara spa resort offering an extensive menu of luxurious spa services.
You can book a relaxing massage for two in the spa's romantic couples massage suite, and unwind together. The spa offers aromatherapy massages, deep tissue massages, scrubs, body treatments, facials and more, so you can get pampered from head to toe.
Your visit includes access to the spa's fireplace lounge as well as a heated indoor saltwater pool, hot tub, outdoor pool, and hot spring pool.
Pillar and Post website
Go on a winery tour
Price: $30 per person
Address: 1249 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: Niagara-on-the-Lake definitely isn't short on beautiful wineries. If you're looking for a romantic place to sip wine and bubbles, a stop at Trius Winery should be on your itinerary.
The winery has been creating fine wines for over 40 years, and is home to Canada’s largest underground sparkling cellar.
The winery offers a supremely Instagrammable wine tour complete with an elevated hot pink vineyard perch and a bubble tub as well as a romantic restaurant where you can grab a bite.
Trius Winery website
Walk among butterflies
Price: $19
Address: 2565 Niagara Pky., Niagara Falls, ON
Why You Need To Go: Niagara is home to one of the largest butterfly conservatories in North America, and you and bae can walk through its lush gardens for the perfect date activity.
The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is home to more than 2,000 brilliantly coloured butterflies that fly freely throughout the conservatory.
There are 180 metres of pathways to explore, surrounded by towering tropical plants and gorgeous blooms.
Here, you'll find feeding trays where butterflies gather where you can get an up-close look at the creatures, specially curated plants, and a picturesque waterfall.
Niagara Parks website
Enjoy fine dining in a romantic restaurant
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 155 Byron St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: Named the best romantic restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Tripadvisor, Tiara is a contemporary restaurant in the Queen's Landing hotel.
The restaurant overlooks the Niagara River, offering gorgeous views, farm-to-table flavours and award-winning regional wines.
Tiara was named one of the best restaurants for fine dining in Canada in 2022, and was also named among the 100 most scenic restaurants in Canada in 2019.
The restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, with a menu featuring some of "the most interesting ingredients in the country," Niagara wines, craft cocktails, and local beer.
Tiara Restaurant website
Wander through the Heritage District
Price: Free
Address: 34 Queen St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Why You Need To Go: Niagara-on-the-Lake's Heritage District is a beautiful part of town, embodying its old-world feel.
The charming area is the perfect place to stroll arm-in-arm with a loved one as you peruse the quaint shops.
You'll find curated fashion and antique stores, eclectic boutiques, bakeshops, tasting rooms and more. Be sure to stop into Just Christmas, Canada's oldest year-round Christmas Emporium where it's Christmas every day.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Tourism website
Take in Niagara Falls in colour
Price: Free
Address: Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, ON
Why You Need To Go: Just 20 minutes away from Niagara-on-the-Lake, you can take in the nightly illumination of Niagara Falls.
Every evening beginning at dusk, the falls are transformed into an incredible, multi-coloured water and light masterpiece.
The stunning array of colours in the tumbling falls is certainly a sight to see, especially so in winter when the falls appear to freeze over and become a breathtaking winter wonder.
The falls are lit nightly until 1 or 2 a.m. depending on the month. A schedule of the illumination of the falls can be found online.
Niagara Parks website
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
