Walk Quebec City's old town ramparts
The only walled city north of Mexico, with cobblestone streets and a skyline dominated by the Château Frontenac.
diskover·us
Home › Destinations › North America › Canada
North America
Things to do in Canada
Glacier-fed lakes the color of blue Gatorade, mountain towns built for hiking and skiing, and cities that feel genuinely bilingual, plus more coastline than any country on earth.
Explore Canada on the map →Budget$$
Best for10-14 days
CapitalOttawa
VisaVisa-exempt visitors (including US, UK, EU, and Australian passport holders) flying into Canada need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), applied for online before departure; US citizens do not need an eTA but must carry a valid passport.
CurrencyCanadian dollar (CAD)
LanguagesEnglish and French (French primary in Quebec)
InternetExcellent
Typical lodging$45–$115/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage120V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug)
Time zoneUTC-3:30 to UTC-8 (multiple zones)
Emergency number911
Dialing code+1
★★★★★ Wildlife★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Photography
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Tap water is safe to drink. 15–20% at restaurants is standard.
Canada's Rocky Mountain parks protect some of the most photographed lakes anywhere, but the country's real scale shows in its coastline, longer than the rest of the world's combined. Quebec adds a French-speaking layer with its own food, language, and old-world architecture unlike anywhere else in North America.
When to go
SpringMarch–May
Mud season in the Rockies as snow melts, but a good window for cities before summer crowds and prices arrive.
SummerJune–August
Peak season for the national parks, hiking, and road trips. Book mountain-town accommodation well ahead.
AutumnSeptember–October
Fall foliage in Ontario and Quebec is spectacular, and the Rockies get a golden-larch window in late September.
WinterNovember–February
Ski season across the Rockies and Quebec, plus aurora viewing in the north, but many mountain roads and trails close.
20 things to do
▾
Culture & history
3Explore the totem poles and rainforest of Haida Gwaii
A remote archipelago off BC's north coast with some of the oldest and most significant Indigenous cultural sites in Canada.
Explore the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver
One of the finest collections of Northwest Coast Indigenous art anywhere, including monumental totem poles by Bill Reid.
▾
Adventure & outdoors
7Hike the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park
A two-day alpine traverse above the treeline with almost constant mountain views, one of the classic backcountry routes in the Canadian Rockies.
Ski or snowboard at Whistler Blackcomb
North America's largest ski resort by vertical drop, with terrain for every level and a lively village at the base.
Kayak among icebergs in Newfoundland
Icebergs calved from Greenland drift down 'Iceberg Alley' each spring, visible from shore and paddleable with a local outfitter.
Skate the Rideau Canal in Ottawa
The world's largest naturally frozen skating rink, nearly 8 kilometres of ice through the capital, complete with BeaverTail pastry stands.
Hike the Grouse Grind above Vancouver
A steep, unrelenting stair-stepped trail locals use as a lunchtime workout, with a gondola ride down and a city-and-ocean view at the top.
Paddle the Bowron Lakes canoe circuit
A roughly 116-kilometre chain of lakes and portages forming a full loop through BC wilderness, typically a 6-10 day backcountry trip.
Cycle the Confederation Trail in Prince Edward Island
A converted rail line running the length of the island through farmland and red-sand coastline, flat enough for casual riders.
▾
Nature & scenery
7Canoe or hike around Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
The two most photographed lakes in the Rockies, glacier-fed and startlingly turquoise, arrive before 7am in summer or the parking lots fill entirely.
Whale-watch off the coast of Tofino or the Bay of Fundy
Orcas and humpbacks on the Pacific coast, right and minke whales on the Atlantic side, timing depends entirely on which coast you're on.
Watch the Bay of Fundy's extreme tides
The highest tides on earth, up to 16 metres, expose the sea floor at low tide and swallow it whole a few hours later.
Ride the Rocky Mountaineer train
A daylight-only scenic rail route through the Rockies between Banff and Vancouver, built specifically so you don't miss the views to sleep.
See grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest
A remote temperate rainforest on BC's central coast, home to grizzlies and the rare white 'spirit bear,' reachable mainly by boat.
Walk behind Niagara Falls on the Journey Behind the Falls tour
Tunnels carved into the rock put you directly behind the curtain of water: bring the provided poncho, it doesn't fully help.
Watch the Northern Lights from Yukon or the NWT
Away from city light pollution, aurora displays here are among the most reliable in the world on clear, dark nights.
▾
Food & drink
3Eat poutine in Montreal
Fries, cheese curds, and gravy done right at a proper Quebec casse-croûte, not a tourist chain, La Banquise is the classic 24-hour stop.
Visit a maple syrup sugar shack in rural Quebec
Traditional cabane à sucre meals, ham, beans, and pancakes drenched in fresh syrup, run alongside the late-winter sap harvest.
Eat fresh oysters and seafood chowder in Nova Scotia
Maritime seafood culture centers on small-town wharves, Lunenburg and Digby are classic stops for oysters straight from the boat.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Canada?
Most visa-exempt foreign nationals arriving by air need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), a quick online application usually approved within minutes. US citizens are exempt from the eTA but still need a valid passport for air travel.
▾Can I see the Rockies without a car?
It's difficult: while Banff and Jasper townsites have some shuttle service, most of the best hikes and viewpoints require your own vehicle or a guided tour. Renting a car is the standard approach.
▾Is Canada as expensive as the US?
Broadly comparable, sometimes slightly cheaper outside major cities, though national park accommodation in summer runs high due to limited supply. Book Banff and Jasper lodging months in advance.
▾How different is Quebec from the rest of Canada?
Genuinely distinct: French is the primary language, the food culture leans French-Canadian (poutine, tourtière, maple everything), and Quebec City's old town looks more like Normandy than North America.
▾When's the best time to see the Northern Lights in Canada?
Late August through April, away from city light pollution: Yukon and the Northwest Territories offer the most reliable viewing, though clear, cold nights anywhere in the north can produce a show.
▾How much does a Parks Canada pass cost?
A Parks Canada Discovery Pass, which covers entry to national parks and historic sites for a year, runs roughly CAD 75 per adult or around CAD 145 for a group/family rate, cheaper than paying single-day entry fees (typically CAD 8-11 per park) if you're visiting more than a handful of parks. Confirm current pricing before your trip, since rates are reviewed periodically.