The best places to visit
Are you planning to travel to Canada soon? If so, then the wide green spaces, beautiful wilderness and gigantic cities of Canada's cities are waiting for you!
There is always something to do, see and discover in Canada whatever the season of the year.
Here is a list of twenty must-see places in Canada:
Montreal
Plateau Mont-Royal and its atypical colorful houses and their long stairs
Mount Royal Park and its belvedere which will allow you to enjoy the breathtaking view of the whole city
Old Montreal which remains a historic district
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
The Old Port ideal for a walk along the St. Lawrence River
Saint Joseph's Oratory, a gigantic building on the sides of Mount Royal
Quebec
We now invite you to take the direction of the second provincial city of Quebec which is Quebec. The decor changes somewhat and we say goodbye to the tall buildings of Montreal. Quebec is often referred to as a small, old, European-style city. Quebec is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; this city has indeed kept all its charm and has a unique character thanks to its old architecture and its small streets.
Let’s find out now, some places not to be missed if you are in Quebec.
Château Frontenac is one of the most photographed hotels in the world
The Dufferin terrace will amaze you with its breathtaking view of the castle but also of the St. Lawrence River, Orléans island and its Lower Town Quebec.
The little Champlain district, the oldest district in North America, with its small pedestrian streets illuminated in all seasons and its Royal place where the city was founded in 1608
- The citadel of Quebec and its fortifications
- The Plains of Abraham, a huge green space where the summer festival is held every year. It is the largest music festival in Canada. There were great international artists such as the Rolling Stones, Muse, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga etc who did performed in the previous festivals.
The Niagara falls
The falls can be admired from different angles, and it is important to book in advance such activities as, it is one of the most demanded attractions
Toronto
Not far from Niagara Falls is Toronto. Many tourists compare Toronto to New York. One of the most popular attractions in Toronto is the CN Tower; Be careful though if you have vertigo.
Other tourist sites to see in Toronto are:
- The Royal Ontario Museum, Canada's largest natural history museum
- Ripley's Aquarium of Canada and its 16,000 marine animals
- The historic distillery district with its restaurants, art galleries and trendy clothing boutiques
- The Art Gallery of Ontario
- The Toronto Islands with their charming 1920s vacation homes
The Thousand Islands
This place is a must do by boat, you will be amazed by the view!
The cruise allows you to navigate in the middle of 1865 islands which all have a different cachet, of different sizes. Some with huts and others with castles.
A boat trip to see the whales
The “spot” for whale watching is at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, in Tadoussac more precisely. The best time to do this is mid-May to October
Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant is one of the most famous places in Canada, because it is the ideal place to admire the colors of Canadian fall.
Snowmobiling
A must-do activity in Canada is snowmobiling, which is also called Skidoo.
Canada has marked trails where you can practice this sport in complete safety.
Dog sledding
After snowmobiling, a sleigh ride with dogs is also a great activity to do.
Here is a list of the best places to go sledding:
- Dog sledding in St Hippolyte near Montreal
- Dog sledding in the maple groves, not far from Montreal
- Dog sledding near Lac Saint Joseph, Quebec
- Dog sledding on the Saguenay Fjord near Tadoussac
- Discovery of the sled dog in Charlevoix
Ottawa
Must-see places in Ottawa are
- Parliament Hill where the seat of the federal government of Canada is located.
- Climb to the top of the Peace Tower for a 360° view
- Walk along the banks of the Rideau Canal, known to turn into the largest natural ice rink in the world in winter
- Discover the BY market district, a very lively area all day long
Visit one of the many museums: the Canadian Museum of History, the Aviation and Space Museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Museum of Fine Arts of Canada, the Canadian War Museum
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Canada.
This natural park is in the Canadian Rockies, one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the world. The landscapes are breathtaking. This place is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Banff National Park has the 2 most photographed lakes in the world: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
Icefield Parkways
The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) is one of the most beautiful roads in Canada. even for some, of the world.
This place allows you to admire the magnificent natural landscapes and take beautiful photos. Waterfalls, canyons, glaciers, rivers, lakes…. This will delight nature lovers.
On the road, you will be able to see in particular:
- Bow Lake, one of the most popular
- Peyto Lake has the particularity of being in the shape of a fox or a wolf (according to opinions)
- Waterfowl Lake
- The Columbia Glacier
- Tangle Falls
- The valley of the 5 lakes
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is the largest of the Rocky Mountain parks.
Also, not to be missed in the park:
The Maligne Canyon 50 meters deep
Maligne Lake and Spirit Island located in the middle that you can reach on a cruise
The Medicine Lake.
Rocky Mountaineer
A superb activity, which you will never forget.
However, please note that the cost of the ticket is very expensive.
This activity allows you to explore inaccessible places inaccessible by car during the day and at night you will sleep in luxurious hotels because the train only runs during the day.
Visit Canada's other national parks
Did you know that Canada has more than 45 parks?
Here is a selection of the most beautiful parks that you can include in your program during your trip:
Prince Edward Island National Park offers swimming on one of its many sandy beaches
- The Pacific Rim nature reserve known for hosting one of the best surf spots in Canada
- The Bruce Peninsula National Park renowned for its turquoise waters
- Gros Morne National Park and its 100 km of hiking trails in the wilderness
- Parc national des Hautes-Terres-du-Cap-breton, whose Skyline trail will allow you to admire the sunset over the St. Lawrence River
- National Park La Mauricie between Montreal and Quebec
- Wood Buffalo National Park, the largest in Canada
Vancouver
Vancouver is a city where life is good and regularly appears in the ranking of the top 5 of the most pleasant cities in the world. Vancouver is where urban meets rural. In order to discover this magnificent city in all its splendour, here are a few places to visit and activities to do:
- Climb to the top of the Vancouver Lookout tower to admire the panorama from 170 meters high
- Walking in Stanley Park
- Go to Granville Island to stock up on local produce
- Cross the Capilano suspension bridge, 70 meters above the river
- Ride the Seawall, a 22km seafront promenade, a paradise for cyclists and joggers
- Visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden
Gaspesie
Gaspesie is one of the most touristic regions.
What makes this place so attractive?
- The national Parc of Gaspésie, an ideal area for hiking
- The pierced rock in front of the village of Percé
- The colony of northern gannets which has taken up residence on Bonaventure Island and which you can get closer to
- Forillon National Park of Canada and its magnificent landscapes of cliffs plunging into the sea
- The Reford Gardens occupying more than 100 hectares
Calgary
If you want to visit the national parks of Banff and Jasper, you will have to go through Calgary. Located between the prairies and the mountains, Calgary is a beautiful place to discover.
This town is famous for its annual rodeo contest, the Calgary Stampede which is held every summer in July for 10 days.
In Calgary, you can also:
- Go to Winsport to take a bobsleigh ride or experience the longest zip line in North America
- Visit the historic village of Heritage Park where you can board a steam train or paddle steamer
- Walk along the Bow River and stroll on Saint Patrick's Island
- Eat at Kensington Village
- Climb to the observation deck of the Calgary Tower
- Discover the Glenbow museum to learn all about the history of the region
- Take a picture of the Bridge ‘La Paix’ which lights up at night
The New Scotland
Known for its beautiful natural landscapes, Canada's east coast abounds in natural beauty.
The Yukon
Although it is a less known region by the tourists, the Yukon has this wild side that makes you feel alone in the world.
Visiting the Yukon is also an opportunity to discover people with fascinating cultures and traditions, the First Nations.
What to do in the Yukon?
- Kluane National Park, home to Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada
- Whitehorse, the capital, the ideal starting point for visiting the region
- The Yukon Wildlife Preserve to observe caribou and bison in their natural environment
- The Miles Canyon with the hiking trails that border it
- The thermal springs of Takhini Hot Springs and their pools at 40°
Aurora borealis
An extraordinary and marvelous spectacle: the aurora borealis which adorns the sky with colorful hues.
To see this, you will have to take the direction of the North of the Country, closest to the magnetic pole, from 60 degrees of latitude. Winter remains the period when you will have the best chance of seeing them because the sky must be clear, and they occur between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.