The 20 Best Places to Visit in Canada (By a Local)

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It’s the second-largest country in the world and finding the very best places to visit in Canada is a tall order. With ten provinces and three territories, Canada is home to beautiful coastal regions, mountains, prairies, and tundra alike.

Not only was I born and raised in Canada, but I’ve visited all 10 provinces. In this article, we’re going to discuss the best places to visit in Canada. And while you’re here, bookmark my picks for the top Canada road trips!

20 Best Places to Visit in Canada

Vancouver Island

Located in the southwestern corner of Canada, this British Columbian island is the ultimate nature escape.

📍 Google Maps | Vancouver Island Website

Located in the southwestern corner of Canada, Vancouver Island is where to go in Canada to fulfill your sea and forest dreams in one fell swoop.

While there, be sure to explore Victoria (the capital city of British Columbia), go hiking along the coast, surf in Tofino, and pay a visit to some of the most ancient forests in the country.

But most of all, make sure you go on a whale watching tour. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting, you can expect to see Grey Whales, Orcas, Minke, or Humpbacks. If whale watching is a priority for you, then definitely time your visit to be between April and October, when Orcas and Humpbacks are most present in the area.

👍 Plan your trip with my 21 picks for the best activities on Vancouver Island!

Vancouver

A stunning cosmopolitan city sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Rocky Mountains.

📍 Google Maps | Vancouver Website | Where to Stay in Vancouver

Undoubtedly, Vancouver is one of the most popular places in Canada. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, this cosmopolitan city is as stunning as it is bustling. There’s a reason it’s routinely chosen as a filming location for movies and TV. 

Vancouver has thriving arts, music, and gastronomy scenes. While here, check out Stanley Park, Gastown, Granville Island, and Kitsilano. But don’t just take my word for it, our Van local writer Catherine shares the top things to do in Vancouver.

Banff National Park

Canada’s first national park, this Alberta destination is perfect for outdoor adventures.

📍 Google Maps | Banff National Park Website

Perhaps one of the most famous places in Canada, Banff National Park is located in the scenic Rocky Mountains, just 110km (68 miles) from the city of Calgary.

A great place for outdoor enthusiasts, I recommend visiting the town of Banff, taking a soak in one of the many hot springs, visiting the historic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, and spending time at Lake Louise. Or check out my full guide to the best activities in Banff National Park.

In the summer months, Banff experiences warm days, melted turquoise lakes, and world-class festivals galore. While, in the winter, it transforms into a snowy wonderland perfect for skating, sledding, and winter hikes. 

While you’re in the area, if you want to cross another national park off of your list, then paying a visit to Jasper National Park is a great way to do it. Jasper is the largest park in the Canadian Rockies and is home to even more stunning views and natural attractions.

👉Did You Know? Alberta is rat-free. No joke. It’s one of the many weird things I’ve noticed about Canada.

Yoho National Park

📍 Google Maps | Yoho Website | 👉 Browse Yoho Hotels on Booking

Just 45 minutes down the road from Banff National Park is Yoho; an equally-stunning (in my humble opinion), but lesser-crowded alternative. In fact, Yoho just may be my favorite National Park in the Canadian Rockies I’ve visited to date.

Here, you’ll find all the usual suspects that a mountainous national park entails: waterfalls, dense forest, wildlife galore, turquoise lakes, and hiking trails for all abilities. I recommend hiking to Wapta Falls, visiting Emerald Lake, visiting the Natural Bridge, and exploring Lake O’Hara.

Ottawa

Visit the capital city of Canada and indulge in all things Canadiana.

📍 Google Maps | Ottawa Website | 👉 Browse Ottawa Hotels on Booking

Located in eastern Ontario, Ottawa is a great place to visit to learn all about Canadian history and culture. It’s the capital city of the country, so you should take a tour of Parliament Hill and visit museums like the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Natural History.

For a more eclectic side of Ottawa, I recommend ByWard Market, skating the Rideau Canal in the winter, and visiting Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum.

Bay of Fundy

With dinosaur fossils, gorgeous rock formations, and a famous tide, this New Brunswick destination is stunning.

📍 Google Maps | Bay of Fundy Website

The Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick gives visitors a trifecta of natural wonders: dinosaur fossils, whale migrations, and one of the most unique tidal systems on the planet.

The latter of which is actually one of the seven wonders of North America. The Bay of Fundy features the highest tides on earth at 16 meters (52.5 ft), and over 160 billion tonnes of seawater flowing in and out of the bay every single day.

To experience the Bay of Fundy’s tidal system at its finest, head over to The Hopewell Rocks, where you can walk around sea stacks at low tide and then witness the tide come in. 

St. John’s

A quaint and colorful city in Newfoundland and Labrador.

📍 Google Maps | St. John’s Website | 👉 Browse St. John’s Hotels on Booking

St. John’s is the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador and oozes quintessential maritime culture. Think seafood galore, stunning coastal hikes, puffins, whale watching, and celtic trad music.

While here, I recommend getting “Screeched-In” at Christian’s Pub, visiting Signal Hill Historic Site, going to Cape Spear (the Easternmost point of North America), and sipping pints in Quidi Vidi.

🛏️ Need a hotel? I stayed at JAG Boutique Hotel in St. John’s and loved it. It’s rock n’roll themed and has a great on-site restaurant.

Montreal

A Quebec city known for history, foodie offerings, and incredible arts and culture scene.

📍 Google Maps | Montreal Website | Where to Stay in Montreal

Located at the convergence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, Montreal is Quebec’s largest city and an artistic mecca of sorts.

While here, it is worth the splurge to indulge in a personalized Montreal food tour (the city is famous for bagels, smoked meat, and poutine), take a hike up Mount Royal, wander the 17th-century cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, pay a visit to the Biodome, explore art at the Phi Centre, and catch a festival. 

In particular, Just for Laughs, Osheaga (I can personally attest), POP Montreal, Montreal En Lumiere, and St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival are especially great. And if you’re looking for free or budget-friendly activities, you’ll find plenty.

Toronto

Canada’s largest city and a hub for entertainment, shopping, festivals, and events.

📍 Google Maps | Toronto Website | Where to Stay in Toronto

Canada’s most populous city, Toronto is a metropolis that offers a ton of fun no matter what you’re interested in.

While the Royal Ontario Museum, the CN Tower, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and catching a Blue Jays baseball game (or a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game) are perhaps what Toronto is most known for, there is a ton to discover once you branch out from the main attractions.

For example, I recommend visiting the ever-eccentric Kensington Market on a Sunday in the summer (pedestrian-only), going shopping along Queen Street, taking the ferry out to Toronto Island, visiting one of the many music venues, and checking out the Toronto foodie scene.

Niagara Falls

A fun Canadian city that’s adjacent to famed waterfalls of the same name.

📍 Google Maps | Niagara Falls Website

If you’re in Toronto, then you can never go wrong with a day trip to Niagara Falls! Fun fact, visiting Niagara Falls from Canada is *better* than the American side because the American Falls make for better viewing. 

For better or for worse though, you’ll find that the town of Niagara itself can be a bit like a mini Las Vegas. This is great if you love to party and gamble, but if nature and tranquility are what you’re aiming for, then skip the town of Niagara and head down the road to Niagara On The Lake. There are many more affordable places to stay near Niagara there!

Quebec City

If you’re keen on a Canadian city with a distinctly European feel, then look no further than Quebec City, Quebec.

📍 Google Maps | Quebec City Website

If a picture-perfect, European-style destination is what you’re aiming for on your trip to Canada, then look no further than Quebec City. Located just three hours from Montreal, Quebec City features the only fortified North American old town north of Mexico (it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site), strong francophone culture, and an incredible foodie scene.

Plus, the city has a ton of top-notch nature spots to explore nearby; some of the most beautiful places in Canada.

Montmorency Falls Park features waterfalls even taller than Niagara Falls, Canyon Ste-Anne has some beautiful suspension bridges and a via ferrata, Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier is home to a stunning glacial valley, and Baie de Beauport has a sandy beach perfect for relaxing on. 

Winnipeg

The capital city of Manitoba, Winnipeg is a hub of arts and culture on the prairies.

📍 Google Maps | Winnipeg Website

Canada’s centermost city, Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba, the province’s most populous hub, and one of the top places to visit in the province.  Famous for its Winnie The Pooh namesake, Winnipeg is a center of art and culture on the prairies.

Must-see things in Winnipeg include the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, eccentric neighborhoods (Osborne Village and the Exchange District are especially great), the historic Forks junction, and the Royal Canadian Mint.

While you are in the area, I highly recommend taking a day excursion from Winnipeg as well. Riding Mountain National Park, Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park, and Gimli are a few faves!

👍 Planning a trip to Manitoba? These 11 best hotels in Winnipeg will ensure you have a comfortable stay!

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

This central Saskatchewan city is known for farm-to-table experiences and exceptional prairie spirit.

📍 Google Maps | Saskatoon Website

Also known as the “Paris of the Prairies” due to the eight bridges arching the South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon, Canada does prairie spirit like none other.

While here, indulge in farm-to-table culinary experiences (you have to try the namesake Saskatoon berry), learn about indigenous history at Wanuskewin Park, paddle along the Saskatchewan River, catch a hockey or football game, go dog sledding, tour the LB distillery, or go for a swim at Manitou Lake. 

Churchill

Whether you come for the polar bears or beluga whales, you’re bound to leave this Manitoba destination with a sense of awe.

📍 Google Maps | Churchill Website

Whether you tack it onto a trip to Winnipeg or take it as a standalone adventure, paying a visit to Churchill, Manitoba should 100% be on your Canada bucket list. 

Known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World and therefore one of the most unique places in Canada, Churchill sits directly on a polar bear migration path. In fact, polar bears actually outnumber their human counterparts in this region during the late fall months. 

As if that wasn’t enough, the Northern Lights shine over 300 days of the year in Churchill and the town sees a Beluga whale migration every summer.

Cape Breton Island

Often taking the #1 island in Canada slot, this Nova Scotia destination is perfect for a road trip.

📍 Google Maps | Cape Breton Island Website

Often ranked as the #1 island in North America, Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island is known for its craggy cliffs, the scenic 298-km Cabot Trail, its multi-cultural Mi’kmaq, Acadian, and Gaelic history, and its decidedly coastal culture. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Nova Scotia, and is perfect for a road trip.

While on Cape Breton, be sure to explore Sydney, the island’s largest urban area, go hiking or mountain biking along the 92-km Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, visit Cape Breton Highlands National Park, indulge in all the fresh seafood, explore the quaint fishing villages, and go snorkeling with whales.

📚 Related Reading: 21 Fun Activities in Halifax

Charlottetown

Prince Edward Island’s capital city is chock-full of entertainment and Canadian history.

📍 Google Maps | Charlottetown Website

A city full of seaside charm and plenty of fun things to do, Charlottetown, PEI is located on the east coast of Canada between Nova Scotia, Quebec, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick.

While staying in PEI’s capital, head to Cavendish Beach Music Festival (an annual July event that’s also the largest multi-day music festival in the Maritimes), hit the trails of Prince Edward Island National Park, or take a historical tour.

And I can’t mention Charlottetown without mentioning Anne of Green Gables. If this is your cup of tea, then you know Prince Edward Island was the setting for the original novel, and there are a ton of related sites and activities to experience in PEI.

Dawson City

This Yukon Territory city is known for its gold-rush history and natural spectacles.

📍 Google Maps | Dawson City Website

If you have big dreams of panning the northern countryside for gold, then Dawson City, Yukon is for you. The hub of the Klondike Gold Rush, Dawson City was once a boomtown full of glamour and parties and is certainly one of the most historical places to visit.

Today, the town holds onto much of its glitzy past and is home to history tours, museums, festivals, and traditions.

In particular, perhaps the most famous thing to do in Dawson City, is in fact, kissing a toe.  Found in the Sourdough Saloon, the Sourtoe Cocktail has been a Dawson City staple since 1973 and features, you guessed it, a human toe (which is not to be consumed). The rules are simple: “You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow — but the lips have gotta touch the toe.”

👉 Pro Tip: Canada is a pretty safe place to travel, but the pandemic taught many travelers the importance of travel insurance for Canada.

Okanagan Valley

This British Columbia destination is perfect if you’re looking for an escape into wine country.

📍 Google Maps

Famed as one of the best places to visit in Canada (and the most beautiful), BC’s Okanagan Valley is home to beautiful vineyards, lavender fields, lakes, and forests. Truly a top place in Canada to relax and charge your batteries, I recommend basing yourself in sunny Kelowna while you explore the surrounding area.

In particular, you won’t want to miss taking a Kelowna wine tasting tour, skiing some of the many slopes, putting in one of the golf courses, floating along the Okanagan River, paying a visit to the Astrophysical Observatory, and exploring the Osoyoos Desert Centre.

Gros Morne National Park

This Newfoundland & Labrador park is full of scenic coastlines and natural wonders.

📍 Google Maps | Gros Morne National Park Website

A UNESCO world heritage site, Gros Morne National Park is located on the west coast of Newfoundland and is the second-largest National Park in the Maritimes. 

Featuring glacier-carved fjords jutting out of the water, sky-high waterfalls, exposed red-rock mantle, and miles of sandy beaches, this national park has one of the most diverse landscapes in all of North America.

Baffin Island

The ninth-largest island in the world, this Nunavut destination is truly off-the-beaten-path.

📍 Google Maps | Baffin Island Website

One of the most unique places to visit on this list, Baffin Island is one of Canada’s most northerly destinations and is often described as an “Arctic playground.” Baffin Island is the fifth-largest island in the world and is home to impressive fjords, towering mountains, northern lights, ancient artifacts, amazing festivals, and animal sightings galore.

To get to Baffin Island, you’ll have to fly into the capital city of Iqaluit and base your adventures from there.

📚 Related Reading: Canada Travel Essentials

Want More? Listen to My Canada Podcast Episode!

If you liked this post, you’ll love my Canada episode on the Travel Lemming Podcast. It’s available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts (just search “Travel Lemming Canada”). 

I talk about the best places to visit in Canada at minute mark 04:42.

The host, Betty, and I also discussed Canada’s top national parks (15:07), how to get around (21:51), the best time to visit (19:07), Canadian etiquette & taboos (28:55) and all the other common questions about travel to Canada.

Download now and remember to listen to the entire episode before you arrive in Canada.

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That’s it for my best places to visit in Canada! I hope this gives you tons of ideas for your upcoming visit. Before you go, check out my guide to the best time to visit Canada, and check out all my Canada travel blogs to help you plan your trip.

Have fun in Canada!