This Commonwealth nation is the second largest on the planet. Yet, the vast majority of that area is uninhabited wilderness. One of the many reasons people travel to Canada is to explore its immense wilderness. It has enormous national parks with breathtaking scenery.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Canada
If you enjoy the outdoors and activities like mountaineering, hiking, boating, swimming, and cycling, you’ll find a lot to love in this area. Explore Banff National Park in search of grizzly bears, ski the fresh powder at Whistler, or sample Vancouver’s best wild salmon.
Canada truly has something for everyone. Canadian culture and history are worth investigating when you need a break from the country’s breathtaking landscapes, which include the Great Lakes Area.
Toronto’s magnificent Victorian architecture, Vancouver’s glittering skyscrapers, and East Asian culture pockets, Ottawa’s ‘château style’ grand railway hotels, and Canada’s neo-gothic public buildings are all worth exploring. Use our guide to the top tourist attractions in Canada to help you organise your vacation to this beautiful country in North America.
1. Calgary
Calgary, the province’s largest city, is nestled between the flat lands of the Canadian Prairies and the rolling hills of Alberta. The Calgary Stampede, a rodeo that draws thousands of visitors every year, is one of the reasons the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has grown so rapidly since oil was discovered nearby in the early 1900s.
Although there are many distinct communities in Calgary, the downtown area is where much of the city’s business, cultural, and retail activity takes place. Barclay Mall and Stephen Avenue Walk are two of the most well-known pedestrian areas in the city.
Many of Calgary’s tall buildings have vantage points from which to take in the city and Rocky Mountains. The Bow and the Calgary Tower are the two most well-known examples. A world-class zoo, thrilling amusement parks, beautiful gardens, and an interactive science centre are just some of the family-friendly activities available.
The Calgary Stampede is a ten-day Old West event in July that include rodeos, chuckwagon races, parades, and competitions, and is the most well-known of the city’s many yearly festivals of music, cinema, and dance.
2. Churchill
Despite its small population of only 1,000 people, the polar bears of Churchill are a major tourist attraction. Churchill, Manitoba, on the shore of Hudson Bay, is known as the “Polar Bear Capitol of the World” due to its abundance of polar bears.
In addition to polar bears, Churchill is also the location to go for observing beluga whales, birds and the aurora borealis. In Churchill, polar bears are most easily spotted between October and November, when the bears move to the coasts in search of marine food.
Tundra buggies and other trips are offered by the local tourism sector to keep visitors and bears safe. The beluga whales come here by the thousands every summer, and tour companies take visitors out on the ocean to watch them.
Some visitors even get in the water with the whales while wearing bikinis. Churchill is also a haven for birdwatchers, since it is home to more than 270 different bird species. Throughout the summer, thousands of birdwatchers go to the region in hopes of catching a sight of the region’s snowy owls, gyrfalcons, stilt sandpipers, and tundra swans.
3. Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island, though now part of Nova Scotia, was originally its own colony until 1820, when it was forced to unite with the rest of the province. As many of Scots settled there in the early 19th century, it is still the only site in North America where you can hear Gaelic spoken and is home to many events featuring traditional Scottish music.
Cape Breton is home to a sizeable French community in addition to the indigenous Scots, and its most famous landmark is the Fortress of Louisbourg, built in the 18th century. The addition of the Mi’kmaq people makes for an intriguing and interesting cultural blend.
It’s impossible to forget your experience seeing whales here. The best chance of seeing wildlife is at the island’s northern tip (the highest point), which can be reached by boat or kayak tour and is stunningly beautiful nonetheless.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park, with its amazing Cabot Trail and beautiful vantage spots, is the park’s undeniable crown jewel. Bay St. Lawrence and other picturesque seaside communities are worth a visit for their delicious seafood.
4. Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada’s capital, is situated at the confluence of three rivers and currently has the sixth-largest population in the country. Strangely, the city’s residents are able to communicate in two languages. People here are likely to use a combination of English and French in their daily conversation.
At the middle of the 19th century, many mills were constructed along the Ottawa River in what was then known as Bytown, a timber town. It has been transformed into a lush, green metropolis with soothing parks and canals.
The routes that are used for biking during the summer are transformed into ski runs during the winter. The Rideau Canal is an iconic landmark that cuts through the centre of Ottawa. The canal freezes over in the winter and creates the largest ice skating rink in the world.
The Byward Market should be high on your list of priorities. On the other hand, history buffs are in for a real treat. The National Library and Archives is the fourth largest library in the world and one of Ottawa’s many outstanding historic structures, although the city isn’t officially recognised as Canada’s cultural capital.
5. Whistler
The Whistler resort is the largest and most well-known alpine ski destination in North America, and it is all thanks to two stunning mountains called Whistler and Blackcomb.
Whistler, in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia in western Canada, is reached from Vancouver in just over two hours through Canada’s most spectacular highway, the Sea-to-Sky.
Whistler Village, Creekside, and Upper Village are the three charming communities that sit at the foot of the two mountains. Travelers from the towns can take the Peak 2 Peak gondola up into the Alps.
Whistler started out as a little logging community. A ski resort was established on London Mountain after the 1960 Olympics at Squaw Valley so that it could host the 1968 Games. It wasn’t until the 2010 Winter Olympics that this was finally accomplished.
London Mountain was rechristened Whistler Mountain to distance itself from the misnomer “London Mountain,” after the city in England, because of the whistle-like sound made by the local hoary marmots.
6. Vancouver Island
The largest island off the West Coast of North America, Vancouver Island was named after the British explorer George Vancouver. Situated by the Pacific Ocean, this island is a hiker’s paradise because to its glittering lakes, towering waterfalls, enchanted fjords, and icy mountains.
The climate is the most pleasant in all of Canada, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Butchart Gardens, Tofino, and the northern wilderness area where ferries to Prince Rupert and Alaska depart among the island’s best-known attractions. The wildlife of Vancouver Island is likewise world-renowned.
It’s a fantastic place to see grizzly bears and a variety of birds, and you can even go whale watching (and kayak with orcas!). The island is relatively uninhabited, with the vast majority of British Columbians residing in Victoria, the province’s capital. This allows visitors to fully experience the island’s natural beauty.
Most of the island’s breathtaking beauty can be found in Strathcona Provincial Park, making it an ideal location for a walk. You can go golfing at one of the many great courses or explore the old forest at Cathedral Grove.
7. Quebec City
Although being the provincial capital of Quebec in eastern Canada, Quebec City has the look and feel of a quaint European village because to its French history, culture, and language. Vieux Quebec, the city’s historic area, is perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River and is the only city in North America to still have its original walls.
Walking around the Old City’s cobblestone streets, you’ll see landmarks like the Citadel and historic places like the Place-Royale, where the first North American-French town was established by explorer Samuel de Camplain. All across the Old City, you may find cafes, shops, and bars.
The beautiful Chateau Frontenac, the city’s symbol, is known as the most photographed hotel in North America and may be visited even if you don’t plan to stay there. There’s also the Ice Hotel, which is quite incredible. This one-of-a-kind hotel is open from January to April and has rooms decorated with stunning ice sculptures.
8. Toronto
Toronto, Canada’s largest and most populous city, is home to nearly three million people. Toronto, situated as it is on the eastern bank of Lake Ontario, is a part of the Golden Horseshoe region that stretches from the lake to Niagara Falls.
Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is also one of the world’s most multicultural cities, home to about one hundred different ethnic groups. More than half of the population was not born in Canada, making this region unique.
This diversity, however, is what gives Toronto its unique character. There are street signs in a variety of languages and ethnic enclaves each with their own signature cuisine.
9. Montreal
Located at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, Montreal is Quebec’s second-largest metropolis. Culture in Canada is centred in Montreal. Modern street art, an enthusiastic subculture of musicians, and a lively nightlife can be found in the city’s hipster enclaves, making it one of the liveliest and most progressive places to be in all of North America.
It is the second largest city in which French is spoken as a first language outside of France, and while English is spoken, it is not the most frequent language. The city’s reputation as “Paris of North America” is well-deserved.
The cityscape of Montreal is beautiful at any time of year. In the fall, when the leaves turn fiery orange, the cityscape is especially stunning. Particularly noteworthy are the historic streets and buildings of Old Montreal, some of which date back to the 17th century.
Take advantage of the opportunity to look out over the St. Laurence River and the distant city from the top of the clock tower on the Quai de l’Horloge.
10. Niagara Falls
Located on the boundary between Ontario, Canada, and New York, United States, Niagara Falls is a succession of three breathtaking waterfalls. Horseshoe Falls, located on the Canadian side of the border, is where visitors will find the greatest vistas and most attractions.
There are many hotels, casinos, restaurants, and observation decks in the close vicinity of the Falls because it is such a popular tourist destination. Its New York twin is sometimes called the “honeymoon capital of the world” since it is one of the few cities where couples can get hitched without first having to wait.
There is a wealth of intriguing attractions and activities available to anyone seeking both romance and excitement. During the summer months, Queen Victoria Park in Ontario is one of the greatest spots to view the Niagara Falls because the Falls are illuminated and fireworks are presented nightly.
There are elevators that take you down behind the falls, as well as helicopter tours, jet boat trips, an observation deck next to Skylon Tower, and other options for seeing the falls from above or below.
