Discover
Canada
Breathtaking Rocky Mountains, cosmopolitan cities, and vast untouched wilderness.
Top Destinations
Explore our curated selection of landmarks and cities you must visit.
Banff National Park
Canada's first national park is a stunning wilderness of majestic mountains, pristine alpine lakes, and dense coniferous forests. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, it spans over 6,600 square kilometers of breathtaking landscapes. The park features an intricate network of hiking trails, world-class ski resorts, and abundant wildlife including grizzly bears and elk. Its unparalleled natural beauty makes it an iconic symbol of the Canadian wilderness.
Best Time
June to August for hiking and sightseeing; December to March for winter sports.
Insider Tip
Take the Banff Gondola just...
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a massive collection of three spectacular waterfalls straddling the international border between Canada and the United States. The Canadian side, known as Horseshoe Falls, offers the most expansive and dramatic views of the roaring cascade. Millions of gallons of water plunge over the crest every minute, creating a mesmerizing display of raw natural power and an ever-present mist. The surrounding area has evolved into a bustling hub of entertainment, dining, and observation points.
Best Time
June to August for the best weather and full access to all attractions.
Insider Tip
Book a Fallsview room at...
Jasper National Park
As the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper offers a vast, untamed wilderness characterized by towering peaks, massive glaciers, and deep canyons. It is renowned for its expansive backcountry, providing a more rugged and secluded alternative to its southern neighbor, Banff. The park is a designated Dark Sky Preserve, making it one of the best places in the world for stargazing and astrophotography. Its diverse ecosystems support a wide array of wildlife, offering exceptional viewing opportunities in a pristine environment.
Best Time
July to early September for optimal hiking conditions and wildlife viewing.
Insider Tip
Take the Jasper SkyTram early...
CN Tower
Dominating the Toronto skyline, the CN Tower is a globally recognized architectural marvel and former world's tallest free-standing structure. Standing at an impressive 553.3 meters, it serves as a central hub for telecommunications and a premier tourist destination. The tower features multiple observation levels, including a famous glass floor that provides a thrilling view straight down to the city streets below. Its elegant, needle-like design has made it the undisputed icon of Canada's largest city.
Best Time
Clear days year-round; visit just before sunset to see the city in both daylight and illuminated at night.
Insider Tip
Dining at the 360 Restaurant...
Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a world-famous alpine lake celebrated for its surreal, vivid turquoise waters, which are fed by glacial melt containing rock flour. The lake is dramatically framed by soaring, snow-capped mountain peaks and the imposing Victoria Glacier, creating a picture-perfect landscape. Nestled on its eastern shore is the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, an iconic hotel that adds a touch of historic elegance to the rugged setting. The area serves as a premier basecamp for extensive hiking and mountaineering expeditions in the summer.
Best Time
Late June to early September to see the lake thawed and vibrantly colored.
Insider Tip
Arrive before 7 AM or...
Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec)
Old Quebec is a meticulously preserved historic neighborhood and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, offering a genuine slice of Europe in North America. It is the only walled city north of Mexico, defined by its fortified city walls, cobblestone streets, and centuries-old stone architecture. The district is dominated by the majestic Château Frontenac, perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River. Wandering through its narrow alleys reveals a charming array of bistros, boutiques, and historic landmarks.
Best Time
Summer for festivals and patio dining; winter for a magical, snowy wonderland and the Winter Carnival.
Insider Tip
Take the funicular down to...
Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb is a premier, world-renowned mountain resort spanning two massive mountains, offering the largest skiable terrain in North America. Beyond its legendary winter sports, the resort transforms into a mountain biking and hiking mecca during the summer months. The pedestrian-only Whistler Village sits at the base, bustling with high-end boutiques, diverse dining options, and a vibrant après-ski scene. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola, connecting the two mountains, holds records for the longest unsupported span and highest point above the valley floor.
Best Time
December to March for winter sports; July and August for summer activities.
Insider Tip
Purchase lift tickets well in...
Vancouver Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a magnificent, 400-hectare green oasis located almost entirely surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, right beside downtown Vancouver. Unlike many urban parks, it is not a planned landscape but a naturally evolved temperate rainforest featuring ancient, towering cedar and fir trees. The park is encircled by the famous Seawall, a paved path offering spectacular views of the city skyline, mountains, and ocean. Within its bounds, visitors will find formal gardens, cultural monuments like the First Nations totem poles, and the Vancouver Aquarium.
Best Time
Year-round, but spring (cherry blossoms) and summer offer the most vibrant flora and pleasant weather for the Seawall.
Insider Tip
Rent a bicycle near the...
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake situated in the dramatically rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks, renowned for its intense, surreal shade of azure blue. The lake is relatively small but packs an immense visual punch, with the jagged, snow-capped peaks rising precipitously from its shores. The vivid color is caused by light reflecting off rock flour deposited in the lake by surrounding glaciers. The iconic view from the Rockpile trail is one of the most photographed and recognizable landscapes in all of Canada.
Best Time
Mid-June to early September (the access road is closed during winter).
Insider Tip
Personal vehicles are no longer...
Churchill (Polar Bears)
Churchill is a remote, subarctic town on the shores of Hudson Bay, globally celebrated as the 'Polar Bear Capital of the World.' Every autumn, hundreds of polar bears congregate in this area, waiting for the sea ice to form so they can begin their winter seal hunt. Specialized tundra vehicles with massive tires allow visitors to safely venture into the bears' habitat for incredibly close and intimate viewing encounters. Beyond bears, Churchill is also a prime location for viewing beluga whales in the summer and the Northern Lights in winter.
Best Time
October and November for polar bears; July and August for beluga whales.
Insider Tip
Book an excursion that includes...
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a coastal wonder renowned for having the highest tides on earth, with water levels fluctuating up to 16 meters (53 feet) twice daily. This incredible tidal action has sculpted dramatic coastal landscapes, including the famous Hopewell Rocks—massive, tree-topped sea stacks carved by the relentless water. When the tide is out, visitors can walk on the ocean floor and explore sea caves, only to watch the same area become deep enough to kayak hours later. The bay's rich ecosystem also makes it a spectacular feeding ground for numerous whale species.
Best Time
June to September for warm weather, accessible ocean floors, and peak whale watching.
Insider Tip
Check the tide charts meticulously...
Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne is a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site known for its dramatic and complex geology, which visually illustrates the process of continental drift. The park features a striking landscape of deep, landlocked fjords, towering seaside cliffs, and the barren, otherworldly Tablelands where the earth's mantle is exposed. Visitors can take boat tours through the sheer-walled Western Brook Pond gorge or hike extensive coastal and alpine trails. The region is rich with unique flora, abundant moose, and traditional Newfoundland outport culture.
Best Time
June to September for hiking, boat tours, and accessible trails.
Insider Tip
Book the Western Brook Pond...
Victoria Inner Harbour
The Inner Harbour is the picturesque and bustling heart of Victoria, British Columbia's charming capital city located on Vancouver Island. The area is framed by magnificent historic architecture, most notably the majestic, ivy-draped Fairmont Empress Hotel and the grand British Columbia Parliament Buildings. The waterways are constantly active with seaplanes taking off, ferries docking, and elegant yachts sailing in, creating a vibrant maritime atmosphere. The harbor is ringed by a beautiful pedestrian promenade that hosts street entertainers, artisans, and numerous dining patios.
Best Time
May to September for pleasant strolling weather, blooming gardens, and active harbor life.
Insider Tip
Visit the Inner Harbour at...
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal is a historic, 19th-century waterway that winds beautifully through the heart of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains a fully operational, hand-operated lock system connecting lakes and rivers over 200 kilometers. In the summer, the canal in Ottawa is a scenic corridor bustling with boaters, kayakers, and cyclists enjoying the adjacent pathways. During winter, a nearly 8-kilometer stretch freezes solid to become the Rideau Canal Skateway, the largest naturally frozen ice skating rink in the world.
Best Time
January and February for ice skating; May to September for boating and cycling.
Insider Tip
During winter, check the National...
Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park, translating to 'awe' or 'wonder' in the Cree language, perfectly lives up to its name with a compact but incredibly dense display of natural marvels. Located on the western slopes of the Canadian Rockies, it is characterized by vertical rock walls, spectacular waterfalls, and dizzying peaks. The park is home to Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada's highest waterfalls, and the stunning, emerald-colored waters of Emerald Lake. It also contains the Burgess Shale, one of the world's most significant fossil finds, preserving incredibly detailed ancient marine life.
Best Time
July to early September when all roads (including Takakkaw Falls) and alpine trails are clear of snow.
Insider Tip
Access to the spectacular Lake...
Peggy's Cove
Peggy's Cove is an iconic, quintessentially Canadian maritime village perched on the rugged Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. It is most famous for its classic red-and-white lighthouse, which stands isolated on a massive outcrop of wave-worn granite boulders. The surrounding working fishing village is a charming jumble of colorful wooden houses, lobster traps, and small fishing boats bobbing in the narrow inlet. The stark, glacier-carved landscape meeting the wild, pounding surf of the Atlantic creates an incredibly dramatic and photogenic setting.
Best Time
May to October for pleasant weather and open local businesses, though it can be stunningly dramatic during a safe winter visit.
Insider Tip
Arrive early in the morning...
Tofino (Pacific Rim National Park)
Tofino is a remote, laid-back coastal town nestled within the spectacular Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. The area is defined by its vast stretches of sweeping, sandy beaches backed by dense, ancient old-growth rainforests. It is Canada's undisputed surfing capital, drawing wave riders year-round to spots like Chesterman Beach and Long Beach. The rich coastal waters are also prime territory for observing grey whales, sea lions, and bald eagles in their natural, untamed habitat.
Best Time
Summer for surfing, hiking, and beach days; November to February for dramatic winter storm watching.
Insider Tip
Book a stay at a...
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's largest museum of world culture and natural history, located in the heart of downtown Toronto. The building itself is an architectural landmark, featuring a striking, controversial modern crystalline extension jutting dramatically from the original historic stone façade. Its vast, encyclopedic collections encompass millions of items, featuring spectacular dinosaur skeletons, intricate ancient Egyptian artifacts, and extensive galleries of Indigenous Canadian art and history. The ROM serves as a premier institution for global research and engaging, immersive public exhibitions.
Best Time
Year-round; weekdays in the morning tend to be less crowded.
Insider Tip
Check the museum's schedule for...
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin is Ontario's oldest and most famous provincial park, offering a vast, iconic expanse of dense maple hills, rocky ridges, and thousands of interconnected lakes. It is globally renowned as a premier destination for backcountry canoeing, providing endless routes through pristine, remote wilderness. The park's diverse habitats support a rich variety of wildlife, notably moose, black bears, and howling packs of eastern wolves. The landscape famously inspired the iconic Canadian artwork of the Group of Seven with its rugged, untamed beauty.
Best Time
September to early October for spectacular fall foliage; July and August for warm-water canoeing.
Insider Tip
To truly experience the park's...
Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a thrilling, historic attraction that stretches 137 meters (450 feet) across and 70 meters (230 feet) above the rushing Capilano River. Originally built in 1889, the swaying bridge immerses visitors entirely in the canopy of a spectacular, misty West Coast temperate rainforest. Beyond the main bridge, the park features the Treetops Adventure, a series of elevated suspension bridges connecting massive, ancient Douglas-fir trees. The site also highlights Indigenous culture with an impressive collection of intricately carved First Nations totem poles.
Best Time
Summer for the longest hours; late November to January to see the spectacular 'Canyon Lights' winter illumination.
Insider Tip
Take advantage of the free...
Travel Tips for Canada
- 1.
Carry layers for mountain weather
- 2.
Be bear aware in national parks
- 3.
Try poutine in Quebec