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North America

CanadaTravel guide

Explore Canada visa rules

Canada is the world's second largest country by area. It has large cities, forests, lakes, mountains, open plains and three ocean coasts. Distances are very large, so allow several days to explore even one part of the country.

Why go

  1. Explore the Rocky Mountains and the national parks of Alberta and British Columbia.

  2. Visit Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver for city sights and food from many cultures.

  3. See historic streets and old city walls in Quebec City.

  4. Discover Atlantic fishing villages, coastal scenery and the high tides of Fundy.

  5. Learn about Indigenous cultures and Canada's multicultural heritage.

  6. Visit the northern territories for remote lakes, mountains and Arctic landscapes.

Best time to go: June, July and August bring generally warm weather to the most populated parts of Canada. Winters are harsh in most places, while coastal British Columbia is milder.

Getting there

By air

  • Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal have Canada's main international airports. Other arrival cities include Calgary, Ottawa, Halifax, Edmonton and Quebec City.
  • Air Canada and WestJet are the main national airlines. Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines and Air Transat also offer international flights.
  • Check your airline's baggage rules before packing. Limits can cover the number of bags, their weight and their size.

By land

  • Canada's only land border open to travellers is with the United States. Crossings connect Canada with the southern states and Alaska.
  • Check border waiting times with the Canada Border Services Agency. Holiday traffic and less straightforward entry cases can cause delays.
  • Before driving across the border, check that your vehicle insurance covers Canada. Tell your rental company about the trip, even for a day visit.

Customs

  • Declare all food when you arrive, even food that is allowed into Canada. Failing to declare it can lead to a large fine.
  • Do not carry cannabis into or out of Canada, even with a prescription. Bringing illegal drugs into the country can lead to a long prison sentence.
  • Firearms and explosives need the correct paperwork and must be declared. Some weapons are banned, and people under 18 cannot bring in a firearm.

Getting around

  • Plane

    Flying is the best way to cover Canada's long distances. Travel to northern communities often requires a flight. Air Canada has the largest network, and WestJet offers a strong alternative, especially in western Canada. Flair Airlines offers cheaper basic flights, but complaints about cancellations and customer service are frequent. Economy tickets generally charge extra for checked bags and meals. Flights to remote northern places can be expensive.

  • Intercity bus

    Buses connect most cities, but some destinations do not have daily service. Most routes do not run overnight. Check every part of a journey before travelling. Different companies may have separate bookings and schedules that do not connect. Check what facilities are available where you change buses. Compare flights too, as flying between distant major cities can cost less.

  • Car

    Drive on the right. Road distances use kilometres, and speed limits use kilometres per hour. Many natural attractions are only accessible by car. Northern roads are less developed, and some communities have no road access. Check rental limits on distance, travel between provinces and unpaved roads. Returning a car to a different location can carry a high extra charge. Rental cars have automatic gears. Cars with manual gears are not available to rent. Visitors can generally use an English or French driving licence for up to 90 days. Licences in other languages must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Some fuel pumps do not accept cards without a chip and personal identification number. You may be able to pay the cashier inside.

  • Train

    VIA Rail is the main long-distance passenger train company. It serves most major cities, but not Calgary. Trains can be slow and expensive, and delays are common on long routes. There are no high-speed trains. Services are better developed between Quebec City and Windsor, through Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Long-distance trains offer comfortable travel and scenic views. The Canadian takes four days between Toronto and Vancouver. The Skeena travels between Jasper and Prince Rupert over two days. Its overnight accommodation in Prince George is not included in the ticket.

What to see and do

  • Banff and Jasper national parks

    These famous Alberta parks showcase the Rocky Mountains.

  • Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island

    These parts of British Columbia offer wilderness and coastal scenery.

  • Quebec City and Montreal

    Both cities have historic areas and notable architecture. Old Quebec City still has its original city walls.

  • Ottawa-Gatineau

    The national capital area has a large collection of museums.

  • Fundy National Park

    The Fundy coast showcases the highest tides in the world.

  • Nova Scotia's coast

    See the lighthouse at Peggys Cove, historic shipyards at Lunenburg and the fortress at Louisbourg.

Food and drink

  • Poutine

    French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. It comes from French Canadian cooking and is available across the country.

  • Tourtière

    A French Canadian meat pie with roots in Quebec in the 1600s.

  • Nanaimo bars

    No-bake squares with a crumb base, custard or vanilla butter filling, and chocolate on top.

  • Butter tarts and beaver tails

    Butter tarts contain butter, sugar and eggs. Beaver tails are fried dough topped with icing sugar.

  • Peameal bacon

    Lean back bacon rolled in cornmeal. It is eaten with eggs at breakfast or in a sandwich.

  • Halifax donairs

    Sliced beef meatloaf in pita bread with onions, tomatoes and a sweet condensed milk sauce.

Money

Canadian dollar (CAD), written as $ or C$; one dollar equals 100 cents.

  • Prices marked with $ normally mean Canadian dollars unless another currency is named.
  • The $1 coin is called a loonie, and the $2 coin is called a toonie.
  • Common banknotes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Most businesses do not accept old paper notes, but banks exchange them free of charge.
  • Check restaurant bills for an included service charge before adding a tip. Some restaurants add 15–18% themselves.

Tipping: At restaurants with table service, the usual tip is 15–18% of the total before tax. Tips are not expected at cafeterias, fast food places or takeaway stands, and hotel housekeeping tips are not normally expected.

Typical costs

  • Restaurant meals can cost 25–30% more than the menu price once sales tax and a tip are added.
  • Returning a rental car to a different location can add a very high charge.
  • Sightseeing trains such as the Rocky Mountaineer are usually much more expensive than ordinary transport.

Language

  • English is the main language in most of Canada.
  • French is the main language in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick. Federal government services are available in both English and French.
  • Inuktitut is the first language of more than half the people in Nunavut. Most also speak English or French.
  • Many other Indigenous and immigrant languages are spoken across Canada.

Staying safe

  • Winter conditions can be harsh, especially in northern and mountain areas. Temperatures in inland cities can change very quickly.
  • Summer storms in the Prairies and southern Ontario can bring damaging winds, hail and, rarely, tornadoes.
  • Polar bears are frequently seen in Churchill. The town has a Polar Bear Patrol.
  • Obey speed limits and traffic lights. Cameras in many areas record offences, and fines are mailed to the vehicle owner.

Local customs

Do

  • Learn a few basic French phrases for Quebec. Attempts to speak French are often appreciated, including in larger cities.
  • Learn enough French to understand road signs if you plan to drive beyond Quebec's main highways.
  • Follow standard European-style table manners when eating.

Staying healthy

  • Bring a warm jacket for visits between October and April. You may need it earlier or later in the year in northern or mountain areas.
  • Be prepared for hot, humid summer weather in southern Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Summer temperatures can exceed 30°C in several southern regions.
  • Expect very cold winters in the Prairies. Temperatures around −30°C are not uncommon in Winnipeg.

Trips to Canada

Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.

5 nights
Toronto and Niagara, Take It EasyTorontoNiagara-on-the-LakeNiagara FallsFrom, per person~US$2,080
 6 nights
Québec, a Table for TwoMontréalQuébec CityÎle d’OrléansFrom, per person~US$2,610
 8 nights
Vancouver to the Mountain LakesVancouverBanffLake LouiseFrom, per person~US$4,100

Outdoor adventures in Canada

Canada has vast forests, lakes, mountains and three ocean coasts. Outdoor options include skiing at Whistler, whale watching, river surfing, canoeing and lakeside beaches. Distances are huge, so focus on one region for your first trip.

  • Whistler skiing and snowboarding

    SkiingBritish Columbia

    Choose Whistler, the best-known ski destination mentioned in British Columbia. Booking and transport details are not given.

  • Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park whale watching

    WildlifeQuebec

    Visit the marine park for beluga whale watching. No operator or departure point is specified.

  • Algonquin Park camping and boating

    More to doOntario

    Visit Algonquin Park, between Toronto and Ottawa, for camping and boating. Booking and boat rental details are not given.

  • Churchill polar bear watching

    WildlifeManitobanear Churchill

    Head to Churchill, a destination for nature photography where polar bears are frequently seen. No viewing operator is specified.

    • Polar bears can enter town and attack people.
    • Churchill has a Polar Bear Patrol.

  • Narcisse Snake Dens

    WildlifeManitoba

    Spring

    Visit the Narcisse Snake Dens in spring to see red-sided garter snakes gather to breed. Transport details are not given.

  • Habitat 67 river surfing

    SurfingQuebecnear Montreal

    Surf the standing wave near the bridge between Montreal and Île des Soeurs. Surf 66 Boardshop at 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons.

    • The Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months each year.

  • Lachine Rapids kayaking

    KayakingQuebecnear Montreal

    Access the rapids just offshore from the park in Lasalle. Lessons are available in the sheltered area of swirling water formed by the peninsula.

    • The rapids have huge waves and fast water.

  • Lachine Rapids rafting

    RaftingQuebecnear Montreal

    Raft the Lachine Rapids on the Saint Lawrence River near Lasalle. No rafting operator or booking details are specified.

    • The rapids have huge waves and fast water.

  • Parc du Mont-Royal lookout path

    HikeQuebecnear Montreal

    Follow the broad, gradual 8 km walking and cycling path from Monument Georges-Étienne Cartier on Avenue du Parc to the lookout and Chalet Mont-Royal.

  • Montmorency Falls paths and suspension bridge

    HikeQuebecnear Quebec City

    Visit Parc de la Chute-Montmorency at 5300 Sainte-Anne Boulevard, about 11 km from the old city. Walk the paths below the falls and cross the suspension bridge above them.

    • Cost: CAD 7.57 for visitors from outside Quebec; CAD 3.78 for Quebec residents.

  • Wasaga Beach

    BeacheOntario

    Summer

    Head north of Toronto to the Georgian Bay area for Wasaga Beach. Transport details are not given.

  • Toronto Islands south-shore beaches

    BeacheOntarionear Toronto

    Visit the beaches along the south shore of the Toronto Islands. Island transport details are not given.

  • Hanlan's Point Beach

    BeacheOntarionear Toronto

    Head to Hanlan's Point Beach on the western shore of the Toronto Islands. Transport details are not given.

  • The Beaches neighbourhood beaches

    BeacheOntarionear Toronto

    Visit the Lake Ontario waterfront in Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood. No specific access route is given.

  • Parkdale beaches

    BeacheOntarionear Toronto

    Visit the Lake Ontario beaches at Toronto's western end, in Parkdale. No specific access route is given.

  • Prince Edward Island sandy beaches

    BeachePrince Edward Island

    Visit Prince Edward Island for sandy beaches. Individual beaches and access routes are not specified.

  • Northwest Arm canoeing

    More to doNova Scotianear Halifax

    Rent a canoe at St. Mary's Boat Club, 1641 Fairfield Road, off Jubilee. Paddle along the Northwest Arm toward the Dingle tower in Flemming Park.

    • Cost: CAD 8 per hour for canoe rental.
    • Swimming in the harbour is discouraged because of sewage treatment problems described in the listing.

  • Halifax nature and whale-watching boat tours

    WildlifeNova Scotianear Halifax

    May–October

    Take a nature or whale-watching boat tour with Murphy's the Cable Wharf on the Halifax waterfront.

  • Halifax tall ship sailing

    SailingNova Scotianear Halifax

    May–October

    Join a tall ship sailing trip offered by Murphy's the Cable Wharf on the Halifax waterfront.

  • Halifax deep-sea fishing

    More to doNova Scotianear Halifax

    May–October

    Join a deep-sea fishing trip offered by Murphy's the Cable Wharf on the Halifax waterfront.

  • Circuit Gilles Villeneuve cycling

    CyclingQuebecnear Montreal

    Ride around Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Île Notre Dame in Parc Jean-Drapeau. The park is served by Parc Jean-Drapeau metro station.

  • Rivière-des-Prairies riverside cycling

    CyclingQuebecnear Montreal

    Start at Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation for a ride along the river. Reach the park via Henri-Bourassa metro station and bus 69 east.

  • Lachine Canal bike path

    CyclingQuebecnear Montreal

    Ride the bike path beside the Lachine Canal. Marché Atwater and Parc Daisy Peterson Sweeney are nearby.

  • Point Pleasant Park coastal walks

    HikeNova Scotianear Halifax

    Take bus 9 to Point Pleasant Park at the southern tip of Halifax's main peninsula, then explore on foot.

  • Dows Lake boating

    More to doOntarionear Ottawa

    Rent a boat at Dows Lake beside Commissioners Park, near Preston Street and Queen Elizabeth Drive.

Airports, metros and trains in Canada

Airports with scheduled flights

  • —(Duplicate)YEGEdmontonMain international airport
  • YYCCalgary International AirportCalgaryMain international airport
  • YEGEdmonton International AirportEdmontonMain international airport
  • YHZHalifax / Stanfield International AirportHalifaxMain international airport
  • YHMJohn C. Munro Hamilton International AirportHamiltonMain international airport
  • YLWKelowna International AirportKelownaMain international airport

Metro and subway

  • MontrealMontreal Metro68 stations69.2 kmsince 1966
  • MontrealRéseau express métropolitain23 stations64 kmsince 2023
  • TorontoToronto subway70 stations70.5 kmsince 1954
  • VancouverSkyTrain54 stations79.6 kmsince 1985

Trains

Rail network
49,422 km
Electrified
129 km

People and safety in Canada

Religion

Most people are Christian. Mixed.

  • Christian53%
  • No religion35%
  • Muslim5%
  • Other3%
  • Hindu2%
  • Buddhist1%
  • Jewish<1%

LGBT+ travellers

Legal and protected

  • Same-sex couples can marry.
  • Legal gender change is recognised.
  • Laws protect against discrimination.

Women travellers

Ranked #16 of 181 countries for women's safety, inclusion and justice.

63% of women say they feel safe walking alone at night where they live.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 56 of 198 countries can visit Canada easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required39
  • eTA required17
  • eVisa1
  • Visa required140
  • Admission restricted1

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Europe36 of 46 countries
  • Oceania5 of 14 countries
  • Asia9 of 50 countries
  • Americas6 of 34 countries
  • Africa0 of 54 countries

Questions

Can I see all of Canada in one short trip?

Canada is too large to explore quickly. Allow several days even for one part of the country, and expect long journeys between distant cities.

When is the weather warmest for a city visit?

Summer generally lasts through June, July and August in the most populated regions. Southern cities can be warm or hot, and some are humid.

Can I travel around Canada using English?

English is the main language in most regions. It is usually enough in Montreal and Quebec City's main tourist areas, but French can be essential elsewhere in Quebec.

What money does Canada use?

Canada uses the Canadian dollar. Prices marked with $ normally mean Canadian dollars unless another currency is specified.

How much should I tip in a restaurant?

The usual tip for table service is 15–18% of the bill before tax. Check whether a service charge is already included.

Do I need to rent a car?

Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have extensive public transport. Many natural attractions are only accessible by car, and public transport outside those cities can be limited.

Are trains a practical way to travel?

Trains are well developed between Quebec City and Windsor through Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Elsewhere they can be slow and expensive, but offer comfortable travel and scenic views.

Can I bring food into Canada?

You must declare all food at customs so it can be inspected. Failing to declare food can lead to a large fine, even when the food is allowed.

What local food should I try?

Options include poutine, tourtière, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars and Halifax donairs. Specialities vary greatly by region.

What number should I call in an emergency?

Call 911.

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