Country guides
North America
Canada Travel Guide
From breathtaking landscapes to towering cities, Canada has something for every kind of adventurer. Nature lovers can roam the windswept prairies, soaring mountains, glaciers, pristine lakes and rocky coastlines of the world's second-largest country, where first-class hiking, canoeing and skiing await. Those who prefer urban attractions can marvel at the museums in Ottawa, browse the restaurants and art galleries of Toronto's Distillery District, or have a picnic in Vancouver's Stanley Park. Culturally, some travellers will be enthralled by the French charm and historic fortifications of Quebec, while others will rave about the Scottish flavour and rich seafaring history of Nova Scotia. Canada could truly fill a lifetime of holidays.
Best time to visit Canada
The weather in Canada is extreme, ranging from frigidly cold in winter to uncomfortably hot in the peak of summer. The size of the country and the vast variability of terrain also make the climate ranges drastically different between regions. This is a year-round destination, though, attracting winter sports enthusiasts in the snowy months, and nature lovers in autumn thanks to glorious fall foliage. The best time to visit Canada is generally summer (June to August), when it is hot and lush. May and September are the best times to go for smaller crowds, as few American and Canadian families travel at these times.
What to see in Canada
- Stroll the cobblestone streets of Vancouver's historic Gastown district.
- Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
- See the enormous collections at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
- Take in the panoramic view of Toronto from the top of the CN Tower.
What to do in Canada
- Ride the Maid of the Mist to get a close view of the famous Niagara Falls.
- Get a taste of French-Canadian culture in Winnipeg's St. Boniface district.
- Hike on the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park.
- Go skiing at Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies.
Getting to Canada
There are dozens of direct cheap flights to Canada from the US and the UK, mostly to major hubs such as Toronto Airport and Montreal Trudeau. As most cities in Canada are close to the US border, driving to Canada is a popular way to get there as well.
Read
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, In The Skin of A Lion by Michael Ondaatje, Klee Wyck by Emily Carr, and Consolation by Michael Redhill
Listen
Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire, Celine Dion, and Alanis Morissette
Watch
Brokeback Mountain (2005), Taking Lives (2004), One Week (2008), The Grey (2011) and Toronto Stories (2008)
Drink
Ice wine or ice cider from Ontario and British Columbia.
Eat
Pancakes with maple syrup, poutine and fresh British Columbia salmon.
What to Buy
Hockey memorabilia and Native American art.
What to Pack
The warmest clothes possible (when travelling in winter).
What's on in Canada
The biggest rodeo in the world takes place each summer when Calgary hosts the famous Calgary Stampede.
Did you know?
Ninety percent of Canada's population lives within 100 miles (160km) of the US border.
A final word
An untamed wilderness dotted with cosmopolitan cities, a holiday in Canada really is the best of both worlds.