Throughout the year, Canada hosts different types of cultural events and festivals that attract guests from all over the world. From the Calgary Stampede to the Montreal Jazz Festival, there’s always something happening. While Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver may be the most popular cities among tourists and top places to visit in Canada, countless other places show the diverse beauty of the country. The best places to visit in Canada for nature lovers are the fjorded coast of British Columbia, the Canadian Rockies, the Prairies, lakes, forests, and rivers of central Canada.
The cities are generally much smaller compared to other cities in the United States, so it’s easy for travelers to weave their way throughout Canada. If you’re searching for the best place to visit in Canada for the first time, keep in mind that crime is comparatively low and the people are very amiable to travelers. Visitors and students in Canada appreciate the sense of security and peace of mind while visiting the country. Canada consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in the world. A report from the U.S. News Best Countries 2021 revealed that Canada is one of the safest countries to visit in 2024.
Best Food in Canada
The food in Canada is amazing; guests are treated to all kinds of seafood, meat, fries, and other local delicacies. If you happen to visit the country, the best places to eat in Canada are local eateries with a touch of luxury restaurant setting. There’s Poutine, consisting of fries, cheese, and gravy. Bannock is a Canadian flatbread that comes in different shapes and toppings. Most of these meals are enjoyed by not only locals but also guests.
Among the popular baked goods are smoked meat sandwiches, tourtière, and Ontario’s sweet and crunchy butter tarts made with flaky pastry, a creamy center, and a blend of sugar, egg, butter, and syrup.
Top Places to Visit in Canada
Here are some of the best places to travel to in Canada.
British Columbia
If you’re looking for tips, ideas, and inspiration for your next trip to Canada, try British Columbia. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, mountain ranges, verdant landscapes, and desert, British Columbia is certainly Canada’s most scenic and adventurous province. It’s a spot where you can enjoy the city life of Vancouver while also escaping to the rainforest to embrace giant old-growth trees.
British Columbia has several cities, the two most popular including Victoria and Vancouver. Most travelers prefer visiting Vancouver Island, Vancouver, the Okanagan, or the Rocky Mountains. You can hike in the Rocky Mountains or drink biodynamic wine at a winery overlooking Okanagan Lake. You might witness orcas breaking the sea near a foggy forest, or salmon-eating grizzly bears fattening up for winter. B.C.(short for British Columbia) has it all.
Near downtown Vancouver, there’s a popular area for dining, shopping, and entertainment located beneath a large bridge. Granville Island is a bustling community where talented craftspeople make one-of-a-kind presents, fervent chefs share their creations, and budding musicians hone their skills. On the island, something is always going on. You can come for a beer or stay all day shopping, indulging in the Public Market’s sensory experience, and enjoying the performances.
There’s the Vancouver Aquarium, home to nearly 50,000 creatures, which in our opinion is an animal lover’s paradise. From friendly sea otters to brilliant jellyfish, you can get up close and personal with wildlife from across the world.
Alberta
Alberta is one of the most diversified provinces in Canada while being one of the only two landlocked regions. Alberta is a fantastic destination to visit, whether your goals are to walk the magnificent Rocky Mountains, explore the Foothills, or take advantage of the largest indoor waterpark in the world.
In addition to being home to two of the most well-known national parks in the nation, Banff and Jasper, Alberta is also home to two large cities, Edmonton and Calgary. Calgary is frequently listed among the best cities in the world for quality of life, while Edmonton has one of the largest malls in the world. Don’t miss the annual Calgary Stampede rodeo and state fair, Alberta’s Badlands, or family-friendly spots like the Spark Science Center, Glenbow Museum, and the Calgary Zoo.
Saskatchewan
Regina in Saskatchewan is an art haven with film festivals, arts and cultural events, etc. Although Saskatchewan is mostly renowned for its vast prairies, it also has dense forests, untamed badlands, over 100,000 rivers and lakes, and some of the biggest dunes on Earth. There’s plenty of space to spread out your arms and take in the fresh air when you combine all of that with a population of slightly over a million.
The province may not have many large cities, but it more than makes up for it with interesting sites and small-town-feeling communities that are home to hip museums and a thriving culinary culture. Saskatchewan needs to be on your Canadian bucket list if you’re searching for undiscovered wilderness, camping, hiking, canoeing, freshwater fishing, or horseback riding.
Ontario
Ontario, home to some of Canada’s most well-known cities and tourist destinations, makes up around 40% of the country’s total population. The extreme southeast of the province is home to the enormous metropolis of Toronto, the capital city of Ottawa, and one of the most well-known natural landmarks in the world, Niagara Falls. With so many top-notch museums and athletic events in Toronto, together with the overwhelming force of Niagara Falls, it’s no wonder Ontario has grown to be such a well-liked travel destination.
Featuring vast expanses of undeveloped woodland and some of the biggest lakes, there are also popular landmarks like Parliament, the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of War, the historic Distillery District, CN Tower, Kensington Market, and the Toronto Islands.
Quebec
The biggest province in terms of total geographical area in Canada and the only officially French province that provides a wealth of experiences. Quebec has something for everyone, whether you want to explore the streets of the last walled city north of Mexico, party it up in the vibrant metropolis of Montreal, or head into the countryside for some bicycling, hiking, or skiing.
Even though the province is rather large—it stretches from the Arctic tundra to the US border—the majority of visitors only visit Montreal and Quebec City. But if you go beyond, there are plenty more locations to discover.
Newfoundland and Labrador
It’s one of tourists’ favorite places in Canada. Newfoundland, Canada’s most easterly province is one of the best cities to travel to in Canada. It is a big island that boasts a rugged coastline, gorgeous land-locked fjords, charming fishing villages, and possibly the best and most accessible place in the world to see icebergs.
