Places to visit in Canada

Known for its perfect "horseshoe falls," the Canadian portion is the largest of three waterfalls that make up the entire Niagara Falls. With 90% of the Niagara river gushing over, you can do everything from staring in awe to catching a ride on a ferry up close. You can even walk behind the falls! The city of Niagara Falls is a quaint, tourist-driven town with the biggest and best New Year's Eve celebration across the country. Be sure to check out nearby attractions such as the Skylon Tower observation deck, Niagara Botanical Gardens, and the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory. For the best in bargain shopping, Niagara Falls and surrounding regions are known for the best outlet stores. Shop your heart out knowing you won't find the same brands for less anywhere else in the country.

Location: Niagara Falls, Canada-US border

Known for: Niagara Falls is known as one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.

How to reach: Niagara Falls is accessible by car from three international airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport (1.5 hours), Hamilton International Airport (1 hour), and Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (30 min.)  Note that flying through Buffalo-Niagara International Airport will require an additional visa for entry into the U.S.

Type: Waterfall

The nation's capital, Ottawa has a lot to offer for nature and history lovers. Visit during spring to experience the magical Canadian Tulip Festival, with tulips from Denmark delivered yearly. Originally sent as a gift to Canada for safeguarding the Dutch princess during the Second World War, the royal family continues to send ten thousand bulbs to Ottawa every year. 

Take a tour of the parliament to learn more about Canada's history, and be sure to take in the beautiful Gothic architecture. In addition to being the central hub for the federal government, Ottawa is also the most educated city in the country. Art and history lovers are encouraged to visit a host of cultural institutes and galleries like the National Arts Centre and the National Gallery. You can also get more for less when you visit Ottawa thanks to its proximity to the border of Ontario and Quebec. With Montreal within driving distance, you can visit more than one of Canada's major cities on the same day.

Attractions: Parliament hill, Canadian Museum of Natural History, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature, Rideau Canal

Activities: skate on the canal, visit one of many museums, tour the parliament buildings

Food: Pure kitchen, Play food & wine, The Keg steakhouse 

Shopping: CF Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, Carlingwood Shopping Centre

Famous for the Calgary Stampede, Calgary will get you energized and excited. As Canada's first city to host the Winter Olympic Games, the city has the infrastructure of a large metropolis and boasts the friendly nature of a smaller community. Between the Rockies to the west and rolling plains stretching out across the east, Calgary is a genuinely scenic city. 

It's also close to favourite Western Canadian destinations like Vancouver, Banff, and Canmore, all within a drivable distance. These magnificent cities along with Calgary are also great destinations for camping and glamping. You can experience the outdoors your way at camping sites with full shower and power facilities, or rough it in lesser-serviced regions. Try your hand at fishing for trout in Bow River, or enjoy a relaxing spa day at any of the city's world-class hotels.

Attractions: Dinosaur Provincial Park, Calgary Zoo, Calgary Tower, Heritage Park Historical Village, Glenbow Museum, Fort Calgary

Activities: visit the old fort, dress up and learn about life as a pioneer in Canada

Food: Cactus Club Cafe, Big T’s BBQ and Smokehouse, the Cattle Baron Alberta Steakhouse & Bar, River Cafe

Shopping: CORE shopping centre, CK Chinook Centre, Sunridge Mall

As the cultural capital of the country, Montreal is the largest city in French-speaking Quebec. Based on an island in the St. Lawrence River, this scenic city is also Canada's second most populous. Named after Mount Royal, a hill in the heart of the city, this destination was once a battleground for French and English colonizers. Discover French Canadian culture, cuisine, and entertainment through the city's incredible attractions. While Quebec mandates French as its official language, you will hear several unofficial languages while you are in Montreal. 

Many people in Montreal are fully trilingual, and the city is full of neighbourhoods with ethnic specialities. Indulge in authentic dim sum and roast duck in Chinatown. If you have a favourite regional cuisine, chances are there is a neighbourhood in Montreal that offers it. When you are not gorging at the incredible restaurants, do not forget to take a walk through Old Montreal for a romantic evening out. Please note that Montreal has one of the longest and coldest winters across the country, so prepare to bundle up if you are visiting this December!

Attractions: Montreal Botanical gardens, Montreal Biodome, Mount Royal, Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Activities: take a walk in the botanical gardens, visit one of the many museums

Food: Brit & Chips, Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Bouillon Bilk, Toque, Ferreira Cafe

Shopping: Centre Eaton de Montréal, Place Montréal Trust, Complexe Desjardins

Located on the west coast of Canada, there is so much to do in British Columbia's largest city. From skiing and snowboarding to hiking and surfing, there is something for everyone no matter what time of year you visit. You can experience some of Canada's mildest weather in Vancouver and take in beautiful Pacific Ocean view while you visit. You can also traverse the Rockies, famous mountain range spanning most of western North America. Regarding art and culture, Vancouver is a country leader with spaces to learn like the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum of Anthropology. Within the city, you will find all the amenities you need to branch out and explore the rest of scenic Western Canada.

Attractions: Stanley Park, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver Art Gallery

Activities: Take a stroll in the city’s many parks, visit a museum or art gallery

Food: Chambar restaurants, Meat & Bread, Miku Vancouver, Bluewater cafe, Hawksworth restaurant

Shopping: CF Pacific Centre, Oakridge Centre, International Village Mall, Park Royal

Many tourists start in the heart of the country, Toronto. Often confused for the country's capital, Toronto is the most populated city in Canada, with over 2.8 million people. Home to the CN tower and the Toronto Raptors, you can find the best in entertainment, food, and nightlife, as well as exciting outdoor excursions like Centre Island and High Park. It's a highly diverse region so you can count on multi-ethnic cuisine at any budget. You are likely to meet locals and tourists alike in the city, especially as festival season and summer come around. Celebrate Canada Day in July with the rest of the country through the live action of this city.

Attractions: CN tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Royal Ontario  Museum, Lake Ontario, Casa Loma, Canada’s Wonderland

Activities: Walking tours, shopping, visit the Toronto islands

Food: The Richmond Station, The Keg, Canoe Restaurant & Bar

Shopping: Toronto Eaton Centre, Yorkville shopping centre

Canada is a place that is welcoming for all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations and identity. As host to World Pride in 2014, Toronto continues to be one of the largest celebrations of the LGBTQ community around the world.

When: July

Experience the best in new cinema from across Canada and around the world at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). With over half a million attendees, the film festival is one of the most accessible film festivals with multiple screenings at affordable prices. There are passes available for the entire festival as well.

When: September

Members of Canadian government gather here to conduct the country’s business on Parliament Hill. Characterized by beautiful, historically significant architecture, you can learn about the history of Canada while enjoying the scenery. Learn about Canada’s struggle for independence, the Central Tower fire, along with more recent events that have moulded the country’s identity. If you are visiting in spring, it’s impossible to miss the Canadian Tulip Festival, where over one million tulips bloom every year. In 1945, the Dutch royal family sent one hundred thousand tulip bulbs to Ottawa to show gratitude for Canada protecting and sheltering royals during the Second World War. The Dutch Royal family continues to send ten thousand bulbs every year to this day, and it beautifully symbolizes Canadian camaraderie with foreign nations.

Location: Ottawa

Known for: being the country’s capital, and the annual Canadian Tulip Festival

How to reach: By road, by public transport, and by air

Approximate Cost: Free to visit

Type: Notable Building

Like Stanley Park in Vancouver, Toronto’s high park offers its citizens and tourists an escape from the city, right in the city. Sprawled over four hundred acres, High Park has sporting facilities, cultural spaces, educational institutes, gardens, playgrounds, and even a zoo. Located just west of the downtown core, you can head to the Colborne Lodge, spend time in the hillside gardens, enjoy a bite to eat at the Grenadier Café, and watch Shakespeare in High Park. For a more nature-oriented experience, visit the High Park Nature Centre and pet llamas at the park zoo.

Location: Toronto, ON

Known for: Being a beautiful green space away from the downtown hustle

How to reach: By air, by road and by public transport

Operating hours: 24 hours

Approximate Cost: Free

Tips: Do not forget to bring enough drinking water, a hat, a camera and a comfortable pair of shoes to explore to your heart’s content.

Type: Park

Unlike most urban parks, Stanley Park was not designed by a landscape architect or urban planner. Instead, it has evolved and grown naturally with the city of Vancouver over many years. A large part of the park remains untouched since the 1800s, and is densely forested with hundred year old trees as tall as 76 metres. Visitors are welcomed throughout the year to the park, and the attractions change with the seasons. The Vancouver Seawall is a promenade where can enjoy for walking, running, cycling, and skating. Further inland, there is over 27 miles of forest paths to take in, and you may even catch a police officer patrolling on horseback! For families, the miniature railway is a great way to see the park with little ones. Other naturally occurring exhibits include the water lily-covered ‘Beaver Lake,’ and the Lost Lagoon. Spend the day at Stanley Park in Vancouver for a refreshing kind of walk in the park.

Location: Vancouver

Known for: being a National Historic Site of Canada that is largely untouched by human activity

How to reach: Located next to downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park is highly accessible by road, by public transport and you can fly direct to Vancouver International Airport

Operating hours: 9am – 5pm every day

Approximate Cost: Entry to the park is free. Access to attractions like the aquarium is INR 1000 – 2000

Type: Park

The roots of any place can be explored through its museums. To learn about Canadian history, head over to the Royal Ontario Museum. Established over one hundred years ago, the ROM is a world-renowned museum. Today, you will find diverse exhibits featuring over six million artefacts in forty galleries. Regarding Natural History, you will find exhibits dedicated to fossils and evolution, as well as Earth and space. By region, the ROM explores Canadian, East Asian, European, African, and Ancient world culture through galleries dedicated to each of these cultures throughout time. The ROM is also a fully accessible attraction, so visitors of all abilities can have access to programs and tours to fit their personal needs.

Location: Toronto, ON

Known for: It is the largest museum in Canada, covering topics of art, world culture, and natural history

How to reach: By road, by subway (stop: St. George or Museum station), or by bus

Operating hours: 10-5:30pm every day, excluding Christmas

Approximate Cost: INR 750 – 1000 per person

Type: Museum

Filled with over 5.7 million litres of water, visit Ripley’s aquarium to view over 20,000 sea dwelling specimen covering 450 species. Opened in 2013, the aquarium has several exhibits from around the world. Explore the ‘Canadian Waters’ for a glimpse into the country’s own underwater wildlife. Enjoy the dive show at the ‘Rainbow Reef’ exhibit to interact with animals from the Indo-Pacific regions of the world. Check out the largest aquarium, ‘The Dangerous Lagoon’ for sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles. Learn about crustaceans and other sea animals at the ‘Discovery Centre.’ When you are done with all of the exhibits, go behind the scenes at ‘the Life Support System’, which peeks behind the curtain of the entire aquarium’s control room. Located right next to the CN tower, Ripley’s Aquarium will not be hard to find. There are also duo-attraction passes covering both the tower and aquarium for a day filled with beautiful sights and exotic sea creatures.

Location: Downtown Toronto

Known for: Canada’s largest public aquarium 

How to reach: By road, by subway (stop: Union Station), or by bus 

Operating Hours: 9am- 11pm every day

Approximate Cost: INR 500 – 1750 per person

Tips: Do not forget your selfie stick! You can take pictures to remember your experience and share it with friends back home. 

Type: Animal Sanctuary

Once the tallest freestanding building on Earth, the CN tower offers an uncompromised view of the city of Toronto. There are many ways to enjoy this landmark location from taking fun pictures outside the tower or enjoying a trip up to the top of the 553m high building. Intrepid souls can opt into the EdgeWalk and walk along the edge of the entire building! For a relaxed evening, you can head to the general observation deck or the 360 restaurant. It very gradually rotates as you eat your meal, for a panoramic view of the city and beyond.

Location: Toronto, ON

Known for: Being an iconic 19th-century building with furnishings and architecture that throw you back in colonial times. Its scenic location is also one to admire.

How to reach: By road, by subway (stop: Union Station), or by bus

Operating Hours: 9am- 10:30pm Everyday

Approximate Cost: INR 1250-2000 per person

Type: Notable Building/Landmark

One of the most wondrous places to visit in Canada, Banff National Park will leave you breathless. With its bright blue water against the looming Rocky Mountains, this World Heritage Site has been attracting visitors since its establishment in 1883. Hike over one thousand miles of trails and pathways or try out kayaking and canoeing in the summer months. During the winter, take advantage of pristine ski slopes. Throughout the year, the city of Banff is a tourist destination with stores and hotels to serve you year round.

Location: Banff, Alberta

Known for: Stunning natural beauty all year round. 

How to reach: Banff National Park is located 120 km from Calgary, or about a 1.5-hour drive.

Operating Hours: 8am - 8pm every day during the summer; 9am- 5pm every day during the off-season. Refer to park website before you visit to confirm operational hours.

Approximate Cost: INR 1000 for a day pass per vehicle

Type: Park

Literally translating to “white night,” Nuit Blanche is an outdoor winter celebration of art that goes through the night. Many museums, galleries and art-focused spaces stay open and are free to the public.

When: End of September