Things not to miss

Rough Guides Editors

5/10/2019

#01 Vancouver

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#02 The Laurentians

Some of the finest and most diverse scenery in Québec, from rolling farmland to a vast coniferous forest.

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#03 Fogo Island, Newfoundland

Wild and unspoiled, this is Newfoundland at its most traditional, with gorgeous fishing villages clinging to the rocky shore.

#04 Snowboarding in Whistler

Hit the slopes where Olympians triumphed at North America’s largest ski resort, with hundreds of acres of mind-blowing terrain.

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#05 Art Gallery of Ontario

With an outstanding collection of works by Canada’s Group of Seven and an architectural revamp by Frank Gehry, Toronto’s main art gallery is a must.

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#06 Lobster suppers in PEI

End a day lounging on the reddish sands of PEI’s National Park with one of the island’s celebrated seafood feasts.

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#07 Grizzly Bear Sanctuary

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Take a boat trip from Prince Rupert to this remote, lush preserve, which is home to at least sixty grizzlies.

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#08 Georgian Bay Islands

Get a taster of the Great Lakes at Ontario’s most scenic spot – easily explored by boat or kayak.

#09 Lunenburg

Of all the old fishing towns along the Nova Scotian coast, Lunenburg is the prettiest.

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#10 Western Brook Pond, Gros Morne National Park

Take a boat trip on Newfoundland’s most jaw-dropping lake, hemmed in by 600m walls of rock.

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#11 Pacific Rim National Park

The majestic centrepiece of Vancouver Island is beguiling mix of islets, rainforests and mountains.

#12 Whale-watching

On both the east and west coasts, venturing out to view whales – from orcas to humpbacks and minke to belugas – at close quarters is an unforgettable experience.

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#14 Haida Gwaii

This magical west-coast archipelago of 200 islets boasts a vibrant Aboriginal culture, unique fauna and deep, mossy forests.

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#15 Newfoundland Folk Music

St John’s is an enclave of live music excellence, especially noted for the quality of its folk artists, Celtic bands and fiddlers.

#16 Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum

This impressive homage to Canada’s military history competes with the National Gallery as cultural centrepiece of the nation’s agreeable capital.

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#17 Niagara Falls

Millions come to see the Falls – three great sheets of water thundering over a 50m precipice.

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#18 Canoe in Algonquin Provincial Park

The wild tracts of this enormous park – the largest in Ontario – are best explored by canoe.

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#19 Montréal’s Just For Laughs

Catching some of the thousands of acts at the world’s largest comedy festival is just one of the ways to enjoy this city’s many delights.

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#20 Battle Harbour, Labrador

Step back into the world of Moby Dick at this beautifully preserved nineteenth-century fishing port.

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#21 Vieux-Québec

With its clutch of fine old buildings, handsome location and great restaurant scene, Québec City’s historic old town feels more European than Canadian.

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#22 Mount Robson

The highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, set amid stunning scenery on the Alberta/BC border.

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#23 See a glacier up close

The largest collection of snow and ice in the Canadian Rockies is at the Columbia Icefield, home of the famed Athabasca Glacier.

#24 Cabot Trail

This scintillating highway snakes along the rugged Cape Breton coast, through misty forests and traditional Acadian and Gaelic communities.

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#25 Calgary Stampede

Let your inner cowboy (or -girl) loose at this annual bonanza of all things rodeo and Western.

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#26 Drive the Icefields Parkway

Taking in the dramatic Rockies for over 200km, this is one of the world’s most beautiful drives.

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#27 Polar bears in Churchill

Bleak and solitary, this northern town bills itself as the “polar bear capital of the world” – with justification.

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#28 Dawson City

Take a step back into history in this iconic frontier town, the centre of the great 1898 Klondike gold rush.

#29 Hiking in Banff

Countless trails make it easy to escape the crowds and explore the great outdoors around the Rockies’ bustling summer capital.

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Travel advice for Canada

Find even more inspiration for Canada here