Best things to do in Canada

Canada’s cities – enchanting Québec, trendy Vancouver, cosmopolitan Toronto and stylish Montréal among them – are rich with historical and cultural treasures, but above all Canada is a land of stunningly beautiful landscapes, from the spectacular fjord-slashed coastlines of Newfoundland and the Maritimes, to the Rockies’ glittering lakes and majestic peaks. Read our selection of the best things to do in Canada.

The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Canada, your essential guide for visiting Canada.

1. Vancouver for chic cafes and galleries

You’ll inevitably spend a good deal of time in the Downtown area and its Victorian-era equivalent, Gastown, a hip stretch of boutique shops and coffee houses. Chinatown could easily absorb a morning and contains more than its share of interesting shops and restaurants. The former warehouse district of Yaletown, on Downtown’s southeast fringes, is also great for exploring: a compact grid full of chic cafés, galleries and contemporary restaurants and bars.

For more inspiring ideas for visiting Vancouver, check out our guide, 8 Reasons why Vancouver is cooler than you think, also note that Vancouver is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Where to stay in Vancouver:

• Best for boutique stays: The Listel Hotel
• Best for cultural background: Skwachàys Lodge

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2. The Laurentians for breath-taking scenery

Five hundred million years of erosion have moulded a rippling landscape of undulating hills and valleys, and a vast sweep of coniferous forest dotted with hundreds of tranquil lakes and rivers. The region is now one of North America’s largest ski areas, helmed by the esteemed, stylish Mont-Tremblant. The old train tracks have been replaced by a terrific cycling trail.

Discover a picturesque landscape as you snowmobile in the heart of the Laurentians on this guided snowmobile experience. See local wildlife and immerse yourself in nature as you ride through forests.

3. Wild and unspoiled — Fogo Island, Newfoundland

Since then the island has become the envy of many an outport community. Grants and loans have improved infrastructure, and an innovative arts programme has boosted tourism. Yet all of this has simply highlighted what the locals knew all along – that the air here is cleaner, the ocean saltier, the people friendlier and the scenery more enchanting than anywhere else on the planet.

4. Snowboarding in Whistler

The resort consists of two adjacent but separate mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb. The mountains can be accessed from a total of three bases, including lift systems to both mountains from the resort’s heart, Whistler Village. Here you'll find a tight-clustered focus of many hotels, shops, restaurants and aprèsski activity.

Fly like an eagle over the Fitzsimmons Valley between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This tour features five different ziplines, including a 2400 ft zipline with a 30-story descent, perfect for anyone who wants a heart-pounding adventure.

Where to stay in Whistler:

• Best for comfort stays: Pangea Pod Hotel
• Best for chalet vibes: Summit Lodge

Find more accommodation options to stay in Whistler

5. The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto

• Level 1 is largely devoted to European art;
• Level 2 holds a wonderful collection of Canadian paintings as well as a battery of Henry Moore sculptures;
• Level 3 offers the Galleria Italia, a soaring, airy, gallery-linking wood-and-glass hall which hosts sculpture exhibits;
• Level 4 has a regularly rotated selection of contemporary art, as does;
• Level 5. There is a café, a restaurant, a large gift- and bookshop, and a first-rate programme of guided tours free with admission.

Planning your trip? Read our list of 8 things you didn’t know you could do in Ontario.

Where to stay in Toronto:

• Best for rooftop views: The Broadview Hotel
• Best for location: Le Germain

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6. Enjoy as lobster supper at PEI

PEI has a well-deserved reputation for cuisine. The island is home to organic farms, fine oysters, mussels and artisan producers of all kinds. Here you can try local potato vodka and gouda cheese, to ice cream and home-made pickles. It remains best known for the excellence of its lobsters, which are trapped during May and June and again in late August and September.

Enjoy a mix of history, sightseeing, and entertainment on a 2-hour guided tour of Charlottetown. Discover the fascinating history, stunning architecture and thriving culture of Prince Edward Island's capital city.

7. Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary for real encounters

Damage has been done to grizzly habitats by logging, mining, hunting and other concerns is one of the keenest environmental issues in the province. The best time to visit is mid-May to early August. In the summer, several local tour operators run full-day and multi-day boat tours to view the grizzlies on the water’s edge.

8. Georgian Bay Islands for exploring the Great Lakes

The Georgian Bay Islands National Park consists of a scattering of about sixty islands spread out between Honey Harbour and Twelve Mile Bay, about 50km to the north. The park’s two distinct landscapes – the glacier-scraped rock of the Canadian Shield and the hardwood forests and thicker soils of the south – meet at the northern end of the largest and most scenic island, Beausoleil.

Cruises of the waters surrounding the park’s islands depart from Penetanguishene, Midland and Parry Sound, but the only way of making landfall is from Honey Harbour.

Discover the beauty of Ontario on this guided day trip from Toronto. Hike to Grotto in Bruce Peninsula National Park, explore a secret beach surrounded by cliffs, and browse Tobermory's shops.

9. Lunenburg

Dating from the late nineteenth century, the most flamboyant of Lunenburg's mansions display an arresting variety of architectural features from Gothic towers and classical pillars to elegant verandas and the so-called “Lunenburg Bump”.

Just about every visitor to Lunenburg eventually ends up at the pride and joy of the town, the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, housed in an old fish-processing plant by the quayside. The museum has an excellent aquarium, a room devoted to whales and whaling and displays on fishing and boat-building techniques.

Our detailed guide to Canada's most colourful town will help you to decide what are the best experiences you can get in Lunenburg.

Where to stay in Lunenburg:

• Best for cosy stays: Sail Inn
• Best for panoramic view: Rum Runner Inn

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10. Western Brook Pond, Gros Morne National Park

From the car park, it’s a forty-minute (3km) walk on a well-maintained trail through forest and over the bog to the edge of the lake. When you get to the end, don’t skimp on the two-hour boat trip operated by Bontours. The boat inches its way between the cliffs right to the extreme eastern end of the lake, past several huge rockslides, dramatic hanging valleys and former sea caves now marooned high above the water.

11. Pacific Rim National Park for marine landscapes

It divides into three distinct areas. Long Beach is the most popular. Meanwhile, the Broken Group Islands consist of hundreds of islets only accessible to sailors and kayakers. Finally, the West Coast Trail is a tough but popular long-distance hike. The entire park has also become a magnet for surfing and whale-watching.

12. Whale-watching - one of the most breath-taking things to do in Canada

Another great destination for whale-watching is the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. It is one of the world’s best areas for whale-watching, thanks to its location on the main migration routes, food-rich waters and numerous sheltered bays. It’s easy to find a boat going out from Tofino.

Even if you don’t take a boat trip, you stand a slim chance of seeing whales from the coast as they dive. Often, you can locate their tails, or during fluking, when the animals surface and “blow” three or four times.

14. Haida Gwaii for eco-tourism

The islands are something of a cult destination among travellers and environmentalists. Partly for their scenery, wildlife, and almost legendary remoteness from the mainstream – but also because they’ve achieved a high profile in the disagreement between the forestry industry and ecology activists.

Some areas of Haida Gwaii were one of only two tracts in western Canada to escape the last Ice Age, which elsewhere altered evolutionary progress. This enabled the survival of many so-called endemics, species which aren’t found anywhere else in the world.

15. Enjoy Newfoundland folk music

Currently, Celtic music can be heard in the bars of St John’s (Shanneyganock is one of the biggest bands on the scene), but local musicians regularly perform in a more traditional idiom. In particular, look out for one of the most popular bands since the 1990s, the Irish Descendants, who still occasionally perform here.

16. Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum

The museum is divided into four main display areas, which work their way through Canada’s military history with accompanying text and quotations. The museum really gets into its stride when it reaches World War I in the second gallery.

The section on World War II is similarly intriguing and there’s good stuff on the Cold War too. For example, learn about the details of the strange case of the Russian defector Igor Gouzenko, who was so scared of retribution that he was often interviewed with a bag over his head.

17. Visiting Niagara Falls - not only one of the best things to do in Canada but in the world

There are actually two cataracts, as tiny Goat Island divides the accelerating water into two channels. On the far side, across the frontier, the river slips over the precipice of the American Falls, 320m wide but still only half the width of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side.

The spectacle is even more extraordinary in winter, when snow-covered trees edge a jagged armoury of freezing mist and heaped ice blocks. Even after the sun goes down, the Falls are a splendid sight, thanks to the Falls Illumination, a multicoloured light and water show.

Along this tailor-made trip From West to East: Canada & USA Adventure you’ll visit some of the most iconic cities in the world, all rich in history, culture, cuisine and nightlife.

18. Canoe in Algonquin Provincial Park

Canoeing is very popular here. With an astounding 1600km of routes, there’s a good chance of avoiding all contact for days on end. Wildlife is as varied as the flora. Any trip to Algonquin is characterized by the echo of birdsong, from the loons’ ghostly call to the screech of ravens.

Public “howling parties” set off into the wilderness during August in search of timber wolves, or rather their howls. Many of the rangers are so good at howling that they can get the animals to reply.

Visit the oldest provincial park in Canada, Algonquin Provincial Park, on a guided tour from Toronto. Set off for a full day of hiking, canoeing, swimming, and taking in the beautiful views.

19. Montréal’s Just For Laughs comedy festival

In many cities, festivals are special occasions; in Montréal, they’re a way of life. In the summer, especially, the city explodes with festivals, many taking place in the gleaming entertainment quarter, Quartier des Spectacles. You can buy festival tickets via a variety of sources, including the festival websites, at the the Quartier des Spectacles’ central info and ticket centre and Admission, a division of TicketMaster.

Juste pour Rire (“Just For Laughs”) is the world’s largest comedy festival, with past headliners including Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carrey, John Candy, Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg.

Where to stay in Montréal:

• Best for budget: Manoir Sherbrooke
• Best for unique concept: Hôtel Birks

Find more accommodation options to stay in Montréal

20. Battle Harbour — one of the most memorable things to do in Canada

An epic restoration project by the Battle Harbour Historic Trust has resulted in a clutch of wonderfully evocative old wooden buildings opening to the public, a visitor centre and several walking trails; you can also stay in some of the old houses.

21. See Vieux-Québec — UNESCO World Heritage Site

Vieux-Québec, surrounded by solid fortifications, is the only walled city in North America, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the old city winding cobbled streets are flanked by seventeenth- and eighteenth-century stone houses and churches, graceful parks and squares, and countless monuments.

Although some districts have been painstakingly restored to give tourists as seductive an introduction to Québec as possible, this is nevertheless an authentically and profoundly French-Canadian city.

Where to stay in Québec City:

• Best for luxury stays: Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
• Best for boutique stays: Hotel Manoir Morgan

Find more accommodation options to stay in Québec City

22. The staggering sight of Mount Robson

Mount Robson is one of the most staggering peaks you’ll ever see. It's southern face has a rise of 3100 m. The view from the road frames the mountain as a single mass isolated from other peaks. A spectacular glacier system, concealed on the mountain’s north side, is visible if you make the popular backcountry hike to Berg Lake.

Enjoy a fantastic 7-day tour of the Canadian Rocky Mountain national parks. Canoe Lake Louise, explore Banff, Jasper, and Yoho national parks, and get a glimpse of Mount Robson. Visit Whistler, Vancouver and Clearwater.

23. See a glacier up close

The busy Icefield Centre embellishes the background information and sheds light on both the Columbia Icefield and Canada’s most extensive cave system – the Castleguard Caves. These honeycomb the ice but are inaccessible to the public. Above all, the centre provides a viewpoint for the most prominent part of the icefields.

Get ready for an awe-inspiring adventure viewing iconic glaciers, waterfalls, and lakes from above on this Scenic Helicopter Tour.

24. Discover the scenic Cabot Trail along the coast

Though much of the park is actually off-limits to the public, land bordering the Cabot Trail can be explored by 25 hiking trails signposted from the road. Some of them are the easiest of woodland strolls, others offering steeper climbs to small lakes, waterfalls and rugged coastal viewpoints.

One of the most popular is the 9.2km Skyline Loop Trail, which clambers up the coastal mountains north of Corney Brook, a few kilometres up the coast from Chéticamp.

25. See the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede

The Stampede’s real action – the rodeo and allied events – takes place in Stampede Park, southeast of downtown. This vast, open area contains an amusement park, concert and show venues, bars, restaurants and a huge range of stalls and shows that take the best part of a day to see. The entrance charge gives you entry into everything except the rodeo and chuck-wagon races.

Join the only walking tour that is endorsed by the Calgary Stampede. Learn the story of Western Canada, the origins of the Calgary Stampede, and the history of the First Nations in the Calgary area while viewing public art located in Stampede Park.

26. Take a road trip through the Icefields Parkway

You could drive the whole highway in about four hours, but to do so would be to miss out on the panoply of short (and long) trails, viewpoints and the chance to soak up the incredible scenery. If you want to make a day trip of the Icefields Parkway, your best bet is to go just as far as the Columbia Icefield, the highlight for many.

Travel along the Icefields Parkway and see the Athabasca Glacier on this full-day tour from Banff and enjoy a packed lunch. Pass the Rocky Mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and emerald lakes.

27. Polar bears in Churchill

Polar bears start to arrive in June, forced ashore until the ice re-forms enough to support their weight, allowing them to hunt seals. A polar bear can detect a scent from 32km away and can pick up the presence of seals under a metre of snow and ice. The best months to spot polar bears are September, October and early November, just before the ice re-forms completely.

28. Explore historic Dawson City

Today, Dawson City has become something of a beacon for the arts. The Klondike Institute of Art and Culture has a contemporary art gallery and a residence programme that brings eighteen artists to town each year. In mid-July, the city hosts its annual Dawson City Music Festival which attracts scores of local and international musicians.

Find accommodation options to stay in Dawson City

29. Take a hike in Banff

Longer day-hikes from the town are limited. You will need transport and usually have to head a few kilometres up the Trans-Canada or Bow Valley Parkway to reach trailheads for hikes that leave the flat valley floor for the mountains.

Admire the views of Banff National Park's turquoise lakes and steep peaks as the Banff Gondola takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

Where to stay in Banff:

• Best for mountain view: High Country Inn
• Best for location: Moose Hotel and Suites

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30. Walk among treetops at Capilano River Bridge Park

After traversing the wiggly-wobbly bridge, you’ll come to Treetops Adventure. This is an idyllic boardwalk suspended 30m off the ground of the coastal temperate rainforest. One of the trees, dubbed “Big Doug”, is 1300 years old, 63m tall and 6m wide. Back on the other side of the bridge, be sure to traverse the heart-thumping Cliffwalk, an elevated glass walkway attached to a granite cliff with sheer drops down to the Capilano River.

Enjoy a half-day excursion that takes you from Downtown to the North Shore, visiting the region’s best attractions including the Shipyards District, Cleveland Dam, and the famed Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

If you prefer to plan and book your trip to the Canada without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.

Ready for a trip to Canada? Check out the The Rough Guide to Canada. If you travel further in Canada, read more about the best time to go and the best places to visit in Canada. For inspiration use the itineraries from The Rough Guide to Canada. A bit more hands on, learn about getting there, getting around the country and where to stay once you are there.

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