Country guide · Canada
Best places to visit in Canada
6 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
For a first trip to Canada, start with Montreal: French-speaking bistros, cobbled Old Montreal and a festival nearly every summer week. For beaches, look at Toronto and Vancouver. Montreal is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 6
- Best months overall
- June–October
- Start with
- Montreal
- Least expensive here
- Montreal
6 places to visit in Canada
Best: June–October · 4 days
Montreal
French-speaking bistros, cobbled Old Montreal and a festival nearly every summer week
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Best: May–October · 4 days
Toronto
Lakefront towers, global food neighbourhoods and Niagara Falls within reach
Best: June–September · 4 days
Vancouver
Seawall walks, mountains across the harbour and Pacific seafood
Best: June–September · 5 days
Banff
Turquoise lakes, hot springs and a mountain town inside a national park
Best: June–September · 2 days
Calgary
Stampede city on the Bow River, an hour from the Rocky Mountains
Best: June–October · 3 days
Quebec City
A walled French-speaking old town on a cliff above the St. Lawrence
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | Bagels and smoked meat and Old Montreal | June–October | 4 days | $170–$300 |
| Toronto | CN Tower and Multicultural food | May–October | 4 days | $200–$350 |
| Vancouver | Stanley Park and Mountains and ocean | June–September | 4 days | $200–$350 |
| Banff | Lake Louise and Moraine Lake | June–September | 5 days | $250–$450 |
| Calgary | Calgary Stampede and Gateway to the Rockies | June–September | 2 days | $170–$300 |
| Quebec City | Château Frontenac and City walls | June–October | 3 days | $180–$320 |
When to visit Canada
Across these destinations the most reliable months are June–October. Timing still varies by place: Montreal is best in June–October; Toronto is best in May–October; Vancouver is best in June–September.
Signature dishes across Canada
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | Montreal-style bagel | Smoked meat and Poutine |
| Toronto | Peameal bacon sandwich | Butter tart and Jamaican beef patty |
| Vancouver | Sushi and the BC roll | Wild Pacific salmon and Spot prawns |
| Banff | Alberta beef | Bison and elk and Cheese fondue |
| Calgary | Alberta beef | Ginger beef and Caesar |
| Quebec City | Poutine | Tourtière and Pea soup |
Events through the year in Canada
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Montreal: Igloofest — outdoor electronic music festival in the Old Port (usually mid-January to early February); Toronto: Winterlicious — prix-fixe menus at hundreds of restaurants (usually from late January) |
| February | Montreal: Montréal en Lumière — food, arts and light festival (usually late February to early March); Toronto: Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown and the suburbs (January or February) |
| March | Montreal: Nuit blanche — all-night arts event during Montréal en Lumière (usually early March); Toronto: St. Patrick's Day parade (usually a Sunday in mid-March) |
| April | Montreal: Sugar shack season (usually until late April); Toronto: Toronto Blue Jays home opener (usually early April) |
| May | Montreal: Canadian Grand Prix — Formula 1 on Île Notre-Dame (usually late May or June); Toronto: Doors Open Toronto — free access to notable buildings (usually late May) |
| June | Montreal: Francos de Montréal — French-language music festival (usually June); Toronto: Pride Toronto — parade and street festival (usually the last Sunday of June) |
| July | Montreal: Canada Day (1 July); Toronto: Canada Day — fireworks and events citywide (1 July) |
| August | Montreal: Osheaga — music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau (usually early August); Toronto: Toronto Caribbean Carnival grand parade (usually the Civic Holiday weekend in early August) |
| September | Montreal: Gardens of Light at the Botanical Garden (usually September–October); Toronto: Toronto International Film Festival (usually early to mid-September) |
| October | Montreal: Thanksgiving — Canadian holiday (second Monday of October); Toronto: Thanksgiving — Canadian holiday (second Monday of October) |
| November | Toronto: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (usually early November); Vancouver: Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza (usually from mid-to-late November) |
| December | Montreal: Christmas markets and lights in Old Montreal and the Quartier des Spectacles (usually December); Toronto: Distillery Winter Village (usually until late December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | Toronto | 504 km |
| Montreal | Vancouver | 3,686 km |
| Montreal | Banff | 3,123 km |
| Montreal | Calgary | 3,020 km |
| Montreal | Quebec City | 233 km |
| Toronto | Vancouver | 3,359 km |
| Toronto | Banff | 2,816 km |
| Toronto | Calgary | 2,711 km |
| Toronto | Quebec City | 730 km |
| Vancouver | Banff | 577 km |
| Vancouver | Calgary | 673 km |
| Vancouver | Quebec City | 3,792 km |
| Banff | Calgary | 106 km |
| Banff | Quebec City | 3,222 km |
| Calgary | Quebec City | 3,121 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Canada?
Montreal: Montreal sits on an island in the St. Lawrence River around Mount Royal, the hill that gave the city its name. North America's largest French-speaking city combines a 17th-century old town, a modern downtown linked by…
+When is the best time to visit Canada?
Generally June–October, though it varies by region.