The east: cities and French Canada
Most first visits begin in Toronto, the country's biggest and most multicultural city, with the CN Tower, a lakefront of islands and beaches, and food from every corner of the world. Niagara Falls is an easy day trip. A comfortable train ride east brings you to Montreal, a bilingual city of festivals, bagels, cafés and an old port with cobbled streets. Keep going along the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City, the only walled city north of Mexico, which feels like a corner of France in North America.
Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City sit on one rail corridor, so you can link all three in a week to ten days without flying. Ottawa, the capital, is on the same route and worth a night for its museums and Parliament Hill.
The west: ocean and mountains
Vancouver sits between the Pacific and the Coast Mountains, with Stanley Park, beaches, Asian food and ferries to Vancouver Island. From here, the drive, train or short flight inland leads to Banff and the Canadian Rockies, the turquoise lakes, glaciers and wildlife most people picture when they think of Canada. Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway to Jasper are the highlights.
How to choose
If you love cities, food and history, choose the east. If you want mountains, hiking and wildlife, choose the west. With two weeks you can do one region slowly and add a short flight to sample the other. Distances are vast: Toronto to Vancouver is a flight of around five hours, so do not plan to drive it.
Seasons matter
Summer, from June to early September, is best for the Rockies and lakes. Autumn brings famous red and gold maple colours in Quebec and Ontario. Winter is long and very cold in most of the country, but it is magical for skiing, winter carnivals and northern lights further north.
Not sure which to pick? Use the free trip planner or browse our places to visit.