As one of the largest country in the world, Canada features numerous tourist attractions. Visitors are treated with awe-inspiring scenery, many vibrant cities, and a very heartwarming welcoming atmosphere. As it is a very big country, tourists get confused as of where to visit in Canada. Tourist attractions in Canada include majestic mountains, fantastic coastlines, spacious prairies, virgin forests, and Arctic tundra.
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and also one of the best places to visit in Canada. There are multitudes of tourist places in Canada where visitors can find numerous things to do in Canada. Tourists can spend their time by exploring, sightseeing or they can simply relax. Canada offers it all.
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Best Places to Visit in Canada:
Even though much of the nation is of British and French descent, Canada is home to a mosaic of multicultural communities. Here is an overview of the best places to visit in Canada so that you can enjoy your visit there.
10. Calgary
One of the best places to visit in Canada is Calgary. It is the largest city in Alberta. World famous for its rodeo event, the city is positioned between the Canadian Prairies and the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. The now largest metropolitan area of Canada has boomed after oil was discovered nearby in the early 1900s.
The Calgary Stampede is one of the best tourist attractions in Canada attracting thousands of visitors every year. This Old West celebration is held over ten days in July with rodeos, parades, chuckwagon races, crafts, competitions, and food. Enjoying the many events in Calgary during the celebration is one of the things to do in Canada.
9. Ottawa
Ottawa is located at the confluence of the Ottawa, Gatineau, and Rideau rivers in southeastern Ontario. As it is the nation’s capital, there are many financial, commercial and federal establishments including Parliament Hill is established here. Parliament Hill is the government seat where the ceremonial Changing of the Guard takes place daily during the summer.
The Rideau Canal, which runs right through the heart of the city, is one of the major tourist attractions in Canada. The canal transforms into the largest ice skating ring in the world during the winter. These attractions make Ottawa one of the best places to visit in Canada.
8. Whistler
One of the best places to visit in Canada is the Whistler Resort. The Whistler resort is the largest and most famous alpine ski destination in North America. This is largely thanks to a couple of magnificent mountains called Whistler and Blackcomb. Whistler is located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. It is a two-hour trip from Vancouver along the most scenic drive in Canada, the Sea-to-Sky Highway. It is one of the things to do in Canada to drive through the Sea-to-Sky Highway enjoying the breathtaking scenery all around.
This driveway along with skiing has made the Whistler Resort one of the famous tourist places in Canada. There are three quaint villages at the base of the two mountains, Whistler Village, Creekside, and Upper Village. The Peak 2 Peak gondola transports visitors from the villages to the mountains.
7. Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is the largest island off the West Coast of the North American continent. Named after the British explorer George Vancouver, the island is one of the best places to visit in Canada. The strategic location of the island, just across from Washington State, has made it a major staging point. The island is accessible by ferry through the San Juan Islands from Anacortes, from Vancouver on mainland British Columbia, or from Port Angeles on the state’s Olympic Peninsula.
Visitors can catch a ferry to Prince Rupert and another to Alaska from the island. The island itself is very beautiful with the mind-blowing scenery. The picturesque city of Victoria, the surf town of Tofino, the stunning Butchart Gardens and the wilderness in the north, all of these attractions have made the island one of the best places to visit in Canada.
6. Quebec City
You have to keep the Quebec City in the list of the best places to visit in Canada. Even though the city is located in Northern America, but its French legacy, style, and language make it emerge more like a charismatic European village. The historic district of the city, Vieux Quebec is perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The Old City offers attractions like the Citadel and the Place-Royale, the area where explorer, Samuel de Champlain, established the first North American-French settlement.
You can take a walk along the cobblestone streets of the city simply enjoy the view. Another major tourist attraction is the stunning Chateau Frontenac. Considered as the city’s icon, the hotel is regarded as the most photographed hotel in North America. Not only that, the hotel also offers tours even without an overnight stay. The European flavor of the Quebec makes it one of the best places to visit in Canada.
5. Toronto
Where to visit in Canada for cultural diversity? The answer is Toronto, the capital of Ontario. As one of the largest cities in North America, Toronto is also the most populated city in Canada. The city has a large number of ethnic districts like Chinatown, Little India, and Little Italy. As one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities, Toronto is one of the best places to visit in Canada.
The city has many tourist attractions from impressive landmarks such as the iconic CN Tower and the fairytale castle of Casa Loma. You can also visit the Toronto Islands where you can enjoy the beaches and various outdoor activities. The island is one of the main tourist attractions in Canada.
4. Montreal
Another one of the best places to visit in Canada in Montreal, the second largest city in Canada after Toronto. Boasting the largest French-speaking community outside of Paris, France, Montreal is the cultural and financial capital of the Quebec province. This lively metropolis comprised of a downtown district, entertainment district, a historic quarter and several idiosyncratic neighborhoods.
The tourist attractions of Montreal include downtown skyscrapers like the Olympic Tower and the historic buildings of Old Montreal. Several family attractions like the theme and water parks make it one of the best places to visit in Canada as a family.
3. Niagara Falls
One of the must things to do in Canada is visiting the Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is a series of three breathtaking waterfalls situated on the border of Canada’s Ontario and the United States’ New York. It is one of the best places to visit in Canada whether you are alone or in a group. The scenery is simply breathtaking. The Ontario side of the fall is called Horseshoe Falls and offers the best views and most attractions.
One of the premier tourist places in Canada is the immediate area surrounding the fall teeming in observation towers, souvenir shops, restaurants, casinos, and high-rise hotels. You can have the best view of the Niagara Falls on the Ontario side is from Queen Victoria Park. During the summer, the Falls are illuminated and fireworks are displayed nightly here. Truly, the Niagara Falls is one of the best places to visit in Canada.
2. Banff National Park
The Banff National Park is one of the best places to visit in Canada. The park is not only the first national park in Canada but also the largest in the nation. This famous park is located in the province of Alberta. It is also the most visited national park in Canada. The amazing scenery and wildlife of the park draw many tourists every year along the Trans-Canada Highway that passes through the park.
As one of the best tourist attractions in Canada, the Banff National Parks is home to mammals like black bears, grizzly bears, moose, bison, wolves, bighorn sheep, and bald eagles. Tourists can drive through the Trans-Canada Highway and enjoy the magnificent view of the park that is teeming with wildlife. It is one of the things to do in Canada.
1. Vancouver
There can be no doubt about the number one position on the list of the best places to visit in Canada. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Canada. This beautiful city is situated between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia. Vancouver is a natural tourist heaven. There are many tourist attractions including Scenic Park, majestic landscape, beach and mountains where tourist can ski.
It features magnificent landscapes that present a natural playground where tourists can swim in the ocean, rollerblade through scenic parks and snow ski in the mountains all in one day. The star attraction of Vancouver is Stanley Park. The park covers a huge area of woodlands, gardens and green spaces where tourist can relax or even have a picnic with their family.
Not to mention the Granville Island’s remarkable food market and Chinatown’s vibrant array of shops. The third largest metropolitan area in the country, Vancouver is one of the best places to visit in Canada.