15 of the best places in Canada

Continent-size Canada captivates visitors with its wildlife, wilderness and world-class cultural offerings. Whether you want to spot polar bears, cruise misty coastlines, savor amazing cuisine or enjoy extraordinary music, you can do it here.

The scale of this North American nation can make planning your itinerary somewhat daunting – so we’re here to help. Whether you’re a first-time visitor who doesn’t know where to begin or a passionate fan looking to experience something new, these are the best places to visit in Canada.

1. Manitoulin Island, Ontario

Best for First Nations culture

Expect a lovely, leisurely pace of life on the world’s largest freshwater island. Jagged expanses of white quartzite and granite outcroppings edge Manitoulin’s shoreline and lead to summery cottages, lakeside beaches and shimmering vistas. First Nations culture thrives here, with local foods and eco-adventures offered by the island’s eight communities. Powwows add drumming, dancing and storytelling promise immersive experiences that connect you with the people and the land of the country that we now know as Canada.

2. The Canadian Rockies

Best for mountain views

The amazing Canadian Rockies straddle British Columbia and Alberta and offer awe-inspiring adventures across five national parks. Explore these beautiful landscapes up close on a hiking trail, cut through river rapids and swirling waters on a white water rafting trip, or swoosh through snow-capped mountains on skis and snowboards.

For a different perspective, take the train and experience the grandeur from the comfort of your seat: luminous lakes, jumbles of wildflowers and glistening glaciers glide by as the steel cars chug up mountain passes and down river valleys en route to points east or west.

3. Montréal, Québec

Best for music lovers

As Canada’s cultural heart, Montréal is a marvel for music lovers. From June to August, Montreal’s parks, beaches and festivals come alive with buzzing rooftop bars and arts-filled streets. The best jazz-influenced musicians in the world play to equally jazzed spectators at the annual Montréal International Jazz Festival, which includes some 500 performances and shows, many free.

Planning tip: Check out Tourisme Montréal for the latest live-music events, big and small, throughout the city.

4. Niagara Falls, Ontario

Best for sheer grandeur

The top tourist attraction in Canada is Niagara Falls, famed for its stunning and powerful cascades. (A full 757,500 gallons of water pour over the falls every second.) Board the iconic Maid of the Mist boat tour, where you’ll feel the thunderous spray up close (you'll learn to love that protective poncho). Explore the wider area on the Niagara Glen hiking trail, which takes you through ancient forests and rugged terrain, offering a peaceful contrast to the roaring waters.

Tack on a few more days and take a scenic biking adventure along the Greater Niagara Circle Route or soar to new heights with the Wildplay Zipline, which offers unmatched views of the falls.

Planning tip: If you’re on a short trip to Canada, there are lots of tour operators that offer day trips to Niagara from nearby Toronto – perfect for a combination of urban fun and natural wonders.

5. Vancouver, British Columbia

Best for city life with access to nature

Sea-to-sky beauty surrounds the laid-back, fun-loving city of Vancouver. Skiable mountains ring the city’s outskirts, beaches fringe the coast, and Stanley Park’s thick rainforest lies just a short distance from downtown’s gleaming skyscrapers.

Pack a picnic and enjoy the (legally allowed) summer park drinking before strolling through diverse and charming neighborhoods. You may even spot a celebrity: known as “Hollywood North, ” Vancouver is the filming location for many TV and film productions throughout the year.

Planning tip: With its mild climate and beautiful beaches, Vancouver is definitely one of the best places in Canada to visit in summer.

6. The Prairies

Best for big-sky road trips

Solitude reigns supreme in Canada’s vast middle. On a drive across Manitoba’s plains and Saskatchewan’s endless fields of golden wheat, you’ll see how the flat landscapes melt into the horizon. When the wind blows, the wheat sways like waves on the ocean, punctuated by the occasional grain elevator rising up like a tall ship. Big skies mean big storms that drop like an anvil, visible on the skyline for miles.

Far-flung towns include arty Winnipeg, outlaw-loving Moose Jaw and Mountie-filled Regina, with Ukrainian and Scandinavian villages in between.

7. Whistler, British Columbia

Best for skiing and mountain biking

A 2010 Winter Olympics venue, Whistler is one of the world’s top ski resorts, located just 90 minutes from Vancouver. Featuring over 200 marked runs winding down two towering mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb – this alpine village is a skier’s paradise.

The snow is Whistler’s main draw, but summer visitors with bikes and paddleboards keep it hopping year-round. Take a break from the outdoor action to explore the thriving arts and culture scene, with highlights like the Audain Art Museum and Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre appealing just as much as the famed slopes.

8. Drumheller, Alberta

Best for dinosaur enthusiasts

Dinosaur lovers flock to dust-blown Drumheller, where paleontological pride runs high thanks to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, home to one of the planet's pre-eminent fossil collections. The world’s largest “dinosaur” is here, too: a giant fiberglass T rex that visitors can climb and peer out of (through its mouth). Beyond the dino-related attractions, you can enjoy classic Badlands scenery, including the eerie hoodoos (craggy spires of rock).

9. Toronto, Ontario

Best for cultural diversity

With an array of cultures and neighborhoods unique in the world, Toronto dazzles and delights visitors. The city’s eclectic mix of art galleries, theaters and hockey mania make it Ontario’s coolest city; Toronto is also Canada’s most diverse place, with nearly half of its residents born abroad. You can get a (literal) taste of the city’s many communities through food: dine in Chinatown, visit Greektown or enjoy five-star fusion.

10. Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Best for surf beaches and boutique food ventures

With bohemian shops, wood-floored coffee bars and a past steeped in English tea culture, picture-postcard Victoria is the gem of Vancouver Island. British Columbia’s capital city is full of charm, and it’s only the jumping-off point to an island that has a bounty of natural wonders to explore.

Pacific Rim National Park’s West Coast Trail offers misty wilderness and Tofino’s waves, alongside countless outdoor adventures to enjoy. Wandering gourmets should head to the Cowichan Valley, which is studded with welcoming small farms and boutique wineries.

11. Rideau Canal, Ontario

Best for ice skating

Consisting of canals, rivers and lakes, this 124-mile-long waterway connects Ottawa with Kingston via 47 locks. The Rideau Canal is at its finest in wintry Ottawa, where a stretch of it becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway – the world's largest skating rink.

People swoosh by on the 4.8 miles of groomed ice, pausing for hot chocolate and slabs of fried dough called beavertails (a quintessentially Canadian treat). February’s Winterlude festival kicks it up a notch when townsfolk build massive ice sculptures.

Local tip: Once the canal thaws, it becomes a boater’s paradise, meaning you can appreciate it whatever time of year you visit.

12. Churchill, Manitoba

Best for polar bear encounters

The first polar bear you see up close will simply amaze you – and there’s no better place for such an encounter than Churchill, which lies along the bears’ migration path. From late September to early November, tundra vehicles take you close enough to lock eyes with the beautiful bears.

Planning tip: If you don’t want to brave polar temperatures, summer brings kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding near beluga whales.

13. Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Best for whale watching

It has lighthouses, boats and trawlers, fishing villages and other maritime scenery – yet this is not your average Canadian bay. The Bay of Fundy’s extreme tides attract whales, including fin, humpback and endangered North Atlantic right whales, making it a must-visit spot for seeing these beautiful creatures.

14. Québec City, Québec

Best for romantics

With over 400 years of history, Québec’s capital is a treasure trove of romance and charm. Its stone walls, spired cathedrals and jazz-filled cafes create an atmosphere reminiscent of the most enchanting European cities. Wander through the narrow, winding streets of Vieux-Québec, where you can lose yourself amid street performers, cozy inns and the irresistible aroma of café au lait and flaky pastries.

For those looking to explore beyond the city, consider taking a scenic drive along Québec’s Rte 132, which winds past the sea, mountains and charming towns, offering fabulous views and a taste of the region’s natural beauty.

15. Baffin Island, Nunavut

Best for Inuit art and incredible landscapes

The rugged landscapes of Baffin Island are home to cloud-scraping mountains and a third of Nunavut’s human population. On Canada’s largest island, an Arctic safari to spot narwhals, belugas and bears beckons. The island’s crown jewel is Auyuittuq National Park – its name means “the land that never melts,” and indeed glaciers, fjords and vertiginous cliffs fill the eastern expanse. The park is a siren call for hardcore hikers and climbers...and more than a few polar bears.

Local tip: Baffin Island is also a center for Inuit art. Studios full of high-quality carving, printmaking and weaving can be found in many of its small towns.