10 Amazing Places to Visit in Canada
O Canada - you'll surely be mouthing the opening words to the Canadian national anthem after a few days in this awe-inspiring country.
But what is there to do in Canada?
As you might expect from the world's second biggest nation, the landscape is incredibly diverse - and so are the kinds of things you can experience here.
Here are 10 of the most amazing destinations and best places to visit in Canada during your holiday - Planning a visit to one or more of these Canadian destinations will guarantee you have the best Canada holiday trip!
CN Tower, Toronto
Amongst the many things to do in Canada, a visit to the CN Tower in Toronto is a popular choice for tourists.
Until 2007 the CN Tower was the world's tallest free-standing structure. And while it has been overtaken by the Burj Khalifa and a few others, it's still a deeply impressive tower - especially when you're standing at (or near) the top!
Experiencing the LookOut level (346m) at the CN Tower costs $40 (£23) for an adult, while rising 33 floors higher to the SkyPod (447m) costs $55 (£32).
For the best views of Toronto's legendary skyline, it's best to book it during a spell of brighter weather.
With a 4.6/5 Google review rating, a Canada holiday trip to the CN Tower is almost certain to delight!
Niagara Falls
While you're in Toronto, don't miss the world famous Niagara Falls. Indeed, this may be one of your main reasons for visiting Canada.
Arguably the best place to visit in Canada, from several vantage points you can view the majestic 57m falls, including the famous Clifton Hill.
Journey Behind the Falls is a year-round attraction that offers a unique view of the Falls from below and behind; Descend 125 ft. by elevator, where a short tunnel gives you access to two outdoor observation decks and two portals located directly behind the Falls.
It's also possible to cruise to the base of the falls. During a 20-minute Niagara Falls cruise, enjoy breathtaking views of the Niagara Gorge, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, and come face-to-face with the famous Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
For the more adventurous, for a truly amazing Canada holiday trip experience, take a helicopter flight over Niagara Falls and see the falls in a way that is unimaginable from the ground.
The adjacent town of Niagara Falls maintains a carnival atmosphere being as it is home to innumerable tightrope walkers and other eye-catching performers.
Banff National Park
There are many national parks to visit in Canada. Banff National Park, located in the Alberta Rocky Mountains, boasts some of Canada's most awe-inspiring landscapes.
Take a ride on the Banff Gondola to the summit of Banff’s Sulphur Mountain for the most spectacular views across the park.
It takes 8 minutes for the Gondola ride to climb the 698m to the peak of the mountain, where you will be awarded with an incredible vista of six stunning mountain ranges and the sweep of the Bow Valley before you.
Take a walk along the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk to learn more about Canada’s first national park or enjoy the views in relaxation with refreshments in one of the terminal building’s restaurants.
The town of Banff itself may be small, but it's a mecca for skiers and hikers.
Plus, you won’t want to miss out on a trip to the nearby Jasper National Park when vising Banff.
Montreal
Fusing modern Anglo-Saxon Canada with the nation's Gallic links, Montreal dynamically juxtaposes skyscrapers with cobblestone cafe culture.
One of the top attractions to visit on your trip to Montreal is the Notre-Dame Basilica.
A hugely popular place to visit in Canada, approximately 11 million people visit Notre-Dame Basilica every year. Unique stained glass windows, interior decor sculpted, painted and gilded in gold leaf, a 7-000 pipe organ and a massive church bell make it easy to see why this impressive church is such a draw for visitors during their Canada trip.
During your stay in Montreal, be also sure not to miss a visit to Montreal Museum of Modern Art; Canada’s oldest art museum.
With over a million visitors annually, the MMFA is one of Canada and North America’s most visited museums, containing over 45,000 paintings, sculptures, graphic art works, photographs, multimedia installations and decorative art objects
At the Montréal Botanical Garden, visitors of all ages can explore and learn about plants from every corner of the world, with its rich collection of 22,000 plant species and cultivars, whilst Mount Royal Park, offers fabulous views over this buzzing city.
Jasper National Park
Part of a world UNESCO Heritage Site, Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and is a nature lover's dream, with 53 mammal species calling it home - including cougars, black bears and bighorn sheep.
Known for glaciers, lakes, hot springs, mountains and waterfalls, key attractions of Jasper National Park include:
- Mount Columbia, Alberta's tallest mountain;
- the Columbia Icefield the largest ice field in North America's Rocky Mountains;
- and the Moraine Lake, adored for its crystalline blue waters.
Activity-wise there's white water rafting down the Athabasca River; hiking through Maligne Canyon; or taking a Maligne lake boat tour.
Take the Jasper SkyTram, a seven-minute ride up Whistlers Mountain to an elevation of 2,285 m (7,496 ft) for bird's eye views of the stunning landscape or undertake the Glacier Skywalk for an experience like no other: a cliff-edge walkway where a glass floor is all that separates you from a 280 m (918 ft) drop.
After all that adventure, Miette Hot Springs are ideal for a relaxing soak in the stunning surroundings of the park.
Quebec City
A popular place to visit in Canada, Quebec City is another destination infused with French culture.
Founded by the French explorer Champlain in the early 17th century, Quebec City is one of the most European-looking cities in North America.
Centuries-old architecture comprises Old Quebec, which is made up of two parts, the upper town and the lower town. The historic district of Old Quebec is a remarkable example of a fortified colonial town which unsurprisingly holds UNESCO World Heritage Site certification.
For a taste of home, visit the Citadelle, which you will find atop Cap Diamant in Old Québec. Once the largest British fortress in North America, the Citadelle boasts a characteristic star shape, clearly distinguished from above. In summer, you can watch the changing of the guard, a ceremony which takes place in only 3 other places in the world, London and Windsor, and Ottawa in Canada.
Nearby, you’ll find the Château Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world, whilst a stroll along Dufferin Terrace, stretching from the foot of the Citadelle to Château Frontenac, offers breathtaking views of Île d’Orléans, the St. Lawrence River, and Québec City’s Lower Town.
For an adrenaline rush, why not ride the toboggan slide on Duffarin Terrace, where you’ll fly downhill at speeds of up to 70 km an hour.
In the lower town, take a stroll along the cobblestone streets of Petit-Champlain lined with one-of-a-kind boutiques and restaurants.
There are several staircases leading to Petit-Champlain, but you can also get there via the funicular. In operation since 1879, it links Lower Town with the Dufferin Terrace and offers passengers a wonderful view of the neighbourhood and of the St. Lawrence River.
In the Lower town you can also experience the charm of the many art galleries, cafés, and restaurants of the Old Port.
Having filled your boots with Parisian-inspired cafe culture, head to Montmorency Falls Park and admire the 272-foot-high waterfall; 30 foot higher than Niagara Falls.
A suspension bridge, panoramic staircase and a cable car all offer amazing experiences of the falls. For those feeling a little more adventurous, the double zipline will get you extremely close to the falls.
Victoria & Vancouver Island
If Quebec epitomises Canada's French past, Victoria celebrates the nation's British roots.
The capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast.
The parks, museums, urban squares, place names, and English-style pubs of Victoria reflect the city's colonial British heritage.
Afternoon tea, a tour of the elegant Parliament Buildings, and a visit to the Royal British Columbia Museum are must places to visit during your trip, while the 80+ orca whales in Victoria's waters will keep nature lovers happy.
Whistler
Many tourists visit Canada each year for their skiing holidays.
Of the Canada places to visit for winter sports, the famous Whistler resort is a dream come true for skiers and snowboarders, and represents one of the largest ski resorts in North America.
In Whistler, take a bobsled ride on the 2010 Winter Olympic track, (thankfully the passenger bobsleigh experience was made for regular people who want a little taste of the sport so is safer and slower than any run done by the pros!)
Other pursuits at the Whistler resort include bungee jumping, ziplining and snowmobile tours, while evenings are renowned for the après ski.
For stunning 360-degree views of Whistler Village, mountain peaks, lakes, glaciers and forests, take a ride on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, the first lift to join the two side-by-side mountains.
If visiting Canada in summer, don’t miss the Brandywine Falls Provincial Park with its 230-foot waterfall. Brandywine Falls is best seen from the viewpoint which also presents some marvellous views of Daisy Lake and the surrounding mountains.
During the summer months, it’s also possible to arrange a trip to venture into the wild to view Whistler’s famous black bears and cubs in their natural habitat.
Mont-Tremblant
80 miles north of Montreal is Mont-Tremblant.
For the best Canada holidays for adventure lovers, Mont-Tremblant is ideal.
Well loved for its lofty ski resort which has 102 ski trails across 4 slopes, Mont-Tremblant is a great place to visit in Canada outside of the winter months also.
Summer visits to this area of Canada are equally rewarding thanks to the Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, boasting a network of hiking trails and beaches across 400 lakes and streams, and six rivers.
There’s also plenty of scope for mountain biking, fishing and watersports.
Prince Edward Island
The famous novel Anne of Green Gables is set on Prince Edward Island. It is believed that more than 50 million copies have been sold worldwide but when it was first published in 1908, most readers were not even aware that Canada's smallest province, PEI was a real place.
But real it is, and if you find yourself running low on adrenaline after visiting Canada's more adventure-packed destinations, Prince Edward Island offers a little pleasant downtime: red sandstone cliffs, bucolic green hills and superb seafood (the eponymous mussels are freshest and cheapest here).
Explore fishing villages, charming small towns, sprawling farming communities and thriving urban centres.
As you explore Prince Edward island, look for the Arts & Heritage Trail Quilt Boards and QR codes to learn about the best cultural attractions: heritage buildings, industrial heritage, ecology, music, artisan studios and much more.
Seals, beaches and numerous golf courses complete the laid-back picture of this amazing Canadian destination.
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