Canada · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Canada
These are our favourite places to eat, drink, explore and stay across Canada, from big city classics to quiet local corners. Check opening days before you go, as some spots are seasonal.
Places to Visit in Toronto
Things to Do
- CN Tower (Downtown)
The city's landmark, with a glass floor and views far across Lake Ontario. - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (Downtown)
A moving walkway through a shark tunnel that children love. - Distillery Historic District (Distillery District)
Pedestrian lanes of Victorian brick buildings with galleries, cafés and a winter market. - Casa Loma (Midtown)
A castle-like mansion on a hill with secret passages and gardens.
Nature and Outdoors
- Toronto Islands (Toronto Harbour)
A short ferry ride to car-free beaches, bike paths and the best skyline view in town. - Evergreen Brick Works (Don Valley)
A former brickyard turned weekend farmers market and nature trails. - Scarborough Bluffs (Scarborough)
Tall white cliffs above a quiet Lake Ontario beach.
Shopping and Markets
- St. Lawrence Market (Old Town)
Historic food hall famous for its peameal bacon sandwich and local produce. - Kensington Market (Kensington)
A bohemian maze of vintage shops, cheap eats and street murals. - Eaton Centre (Downtown)
The big downtown shopping mall under a glass roof.
Arts and Culture
- Royal Ontario Museum (Bloor Street)
Dinosaurs, world cultures and Canadian history in one striking building. - Art Gallery of Ontario (Grange Park)
A superb collection of Canadian art including the Group of Seven. - Bata Shoe Museum (The Annex)
A surprisingly fun museum devoted to footwear through history.
Restaurants
- Pai Northern Thai Kitchen (Entertainment District)
A buzzing basement spot serving bold, authentic Thai curries and noodles. - Alo (Queen West)
An elegant French tasting menu restaurant for a special occasion. - Randy's Take-Out (Little Jamaica)
A long-running Jamaican spot for flaky beef patties and coco bread. - Chinatown dim sum on Spadina (Chinatown)
Busy dim sum halls and bakeries along Spadina Avenue.
Cafés
- Balzac's Coffee Roasters (Distillery District)
A characterful café in an old pump house, perfect for a break.
Bars and Nightlife
- Bar Raval (Little Italy)
A gorgeous wood-carved tapas and cocktail bar. - The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar (Queen West)
Nightly live jazz in a laid-back bar.
Events
- Toronto International Film Festival (Downtown)
One of the world's major film festivals each September. - Caribana Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Exhibition Place)
A huge summer celebration of Caribbean music, costume and food.
Stays
- Fairmont Royal York (Union Station)
A grand historic railway hotel right opposite Union Station.
Places to Visit in Niagara Falls
Nature and Outdoors
- Horseshoe Falls (Queen Victoria Park)
The thundering Canadian side of the falls, best seen from the riverside walk.
Things to Do
- Niagara City Cruises (Niagara River)
A boat ride into the mist at the foot of the falls. - Niagara-on-the-Lake (Old Town)
A pretty historic town surrounded by wineries famous for icewine.
Places to Visit in Montreal
Arts and Culture
- Notre-Dame Basilica (Old Montreal)
A breathtaking blue and gold interior in the heart of the old town. - Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Golden Square Mile)
Canada's oldest art museum with a strong Quebec collection. - Pointe-à-Callière (Old Montreal)
An archaeology museum built over the city's founding site. - Saint Joseph's Oratory (Côte-des-Neiges)
A huge domed basilica on the slopes of Mount Royal.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mount Royal Park (Plateau Mont-Royal)
The mountain park above the city with the classic Kondiaronk lookout. - Montreal Botanical Garden (Olympic Park)
Vast themed gardens including a Chinese garden with lantern nights in autumn. - Lachine Canal (Saint-Henri)
A flat waterside cycling path past old factories and markets.
Restaurants
- Schwartz's Deli (Plateau Mont-Royal)
The legendary home of Montreal smoked meat sandwiches. - St-Viateur Bagel (Mile End)
Wood-fired Montreal bagels baked around the clock. - Fairmount Bagel (Mile End)
The other great Mile End bagel bakery, open day and night. - La Banquise (Plateau Mont-Royal)
A late-night institution serving dozens of kinds of poutine. - Joe Beef (Little Burgundy)
A celebrated, rich and playful Québécois bistro.
Shopping and Markets
- Jean-Talon Market (Little Italy)
One of North America's great open-air food markets. - Atwater Market (Saint-Henri)
A canal-side market hall with butchers, cheese and maple products. - Underground City (Downtown)
Kilometres of connected walkways, shops and food courts.
Things to Do
- Old Port of Montreal (Old Montreal)
A riverside promenade with a big wheel, zip line and summer fun. - Montreal Biodôme (Olympic Park)
Walk through four ecosystems, from rainforest to the sub-Antarctic.
Cafés
- Café Olimpico (Mile End)
A neighbourhood espresso bar where locals linger on the terrace.
Events
- Montreal International Jazz Festival (Quartier des Spectacles)
Free outdoor stages fill downtown every summer. - Just for Laughs (Quartier des Spectacles)
The world's biggest comedy festival each July. - Igloofest (Old Port)
An outdoor electronic music party in the deep freeze of January.
Stays
- Hotel Nelligan (Old Montreal)
A romantic boutique hotel with a rooftop terrace in the old town.
Places to Visit in Quebec City
Stays
- Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (Upper Town)
The copper-roofed landmark hotel above the St. Lawrence.
Things to Do
- Dufferin Terrace (Upper Town)
A wide boardwalk with river views in front of the Château. - La Citadelle de Québec (Upper Town)
A star-shaped fortress with a summer changing of the guard. - Petit-Champlain (Lower Town)
One of North America's oldest shopping streets, magical at dusk. - Old Quebec Funicular (Lower Town)
A short ride linking the Lower and Upper Town. - Lévis ferry (Lower Town)
A short ferry crossing with the best view of Old Quebec.
Nature and Outdoors
- Plains of Abraham (Battlefields Park)
A vast clifftop park and historic battlefield. - Montmorency Falls (Beauport)
Falls taller than Niagara with a cable car and suspension bridge. - Île d'Orléans (Île d'Orléans)
A rural island of farms, cider makers and strawberry stands.
Arts and Culture
- Museum of Civilization (Lower Town)
Engaging exhibits on Quebec and Indigenous history.
Restaurants
- Chez Ashton (Saint-Roch)
A local chain loved for its poutine. - Aux Anciens Canadiens (Upper Town)
Traditional Québécois dishes in one of the city's oldest houses. - Le Saint-Amour (Upper Town)
Refined French dining under a glass-roofed garden room.
Shopping and Markets
- Marché du Vieux-Port (Lower Town)
A local market for maple products, cheese and produce. - Rue Saint-Joseph (Saint-Roch)
An independent shopping street where locals eat and browse.
Cafés
- Paillard (Upper Town)
A busy bakery café for croissants and sandwiches.
Bars and Nightlife
- Grande Allée terraces (Grande Allée)
The city's lively strip of bars and outdoor terraces.
Events
- Quebec Winter Carnival (Old Quebec)
Ice sculptures, night parades and Bonhomme the snowman. - Hôtel de Glace (Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier)
An ice hotel rebuilt every winter, open for visits.
Places to Visit in Vancouver
Nature and Outdoors
- Stanley Park (Downtown)
A forested peninsula with a seawall loop and totem poles. - Lynn Canyon Park (North Vancouver)
A free suspension bridge over a forested canyon. - Kitsilano Beach (Kitsilano)
A beach with mountain views and a long outdoor saltwater pool. - Deep Cove (North Vancouver)
Calm water for kayaking and the Quarry Rock hike. - English Bay Beach (West End)
Sunset central, with a famous fireworks event in summer.
Shopping and Markets
- Granville Island Public Market (Granville Island)
A lively market of fresh food, crafts and buskers. - Commercial Drive (Grandview-Woodland)
An independent street of Italian cafés and quirky shops.
Things to Do
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (North Vancouver)
A swaying bridge and treetop walks through the rainforest. - Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver)
A gondola to hiking, skiing and big views over the city. - Gastown (Gastown)
The oldest quarter, with cobbles, a steam clock and good restaurants.
Arts and Culture
- Museum of Anthropology at UBC (Point Grey)
An outstanding collection of First Nations art and totem poles. - Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (Chinatown)
A tranquil Ming-style garden in the heart of Chinatown.
Restaurants
- Richmond Night Market (Richmond)
Summer evenings of Asian street food stalls. - Miku (Coal Harbour)
Known for flame-seared aburi sushi with a harbour view. - Japadog (Downtown)
Japanese-style hot dogs from a beloved street cart. - Vij's (South Granville)
Celebrated modern Indian cooking.
Cafés
- 49th Parallel Café and Lucky's Doughnuts (Kitsilano)
Great coffee with fresh doughnuts made on site.
Bars and Nightlife
- Main Street breweries (Mount Pleasant)
A cluster of craft breweries and tasting rooms.
Events
- Celebration of Light (English Bay)
An international fireworks competition over the bay each summer.
Stays
- Fairmont Pacific Rim (Coal Harbour)
A sleek waterfront hotel with mountain views.
Places to Visit in Victoria
Things to Do
- The Butchart Gardens (Brentwood Bay)
World-famous gardens in a former quarry near Victoria. - Inner Harbour (Downtown Victoria)
Parliament lit up at night above a bustling harbour.
Places to Visit in Banff
Nature and Outdoors
- Lake Louise (Lake Louise)
Emerald water beneath a glacier, the classic Rockies view. - Moraine Lake (Valley of the Ten Peaks)
The most photographed lake in Canada, reached by shuttle. - Johnston Canyon (Bow Valley Parkway)
Catwalks along a canyon wall to waterfalls. - Lake Agnes Tea House (Lake Louise)
A historic tea house reached by a hike above Lake Louise. - Icefields Parkway (Lake Louise to Jasper)
One of the world's great drives past glaciers and lakes. - Peyto Lake (Icefields Parkway)
A wolf-shaped turquoise lake seen from a short walk. - Emerald Lake (Yoho National Park)
A green lake with canoe rentals and an easy loop trail. - Takakkaw Falls (Yoho National Park)
One of Canada's highest waterfalls, a short walk from the road. - Maligne Canyon (Jasper)
A deep limestone canyon with footbridges.
Things to Do
- Banff Gondola (Sulphur Mountain)
A gondola ride to a summit boardwalk with huge views. - Banff Upper Hot Springs (Sulphur Mountain)
A hot pool soak with mountain views, lovely in snow. - Columbia Icefield Adventure (Icefields Parkway)
Ride onto the Athabasca Glacier and walk the Skywalk. - Sunshine Village (Banff National Park)
A high ski resort with long seasons and great snow.
Arts and Culture
- Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (Banff Avenue area)
Mountain art and pioneer history in Banff town.
Restaurants
- Wild Flour Bakery (Banff Avenue)
A local bakery for breakfast and picnic supplies. - The Bison Restaurant (Downtown Banff)
Regional Rocky Mountain cooking in a relaxed room. - Park Distillery (Banff Avenue)
Campfire-style food and spirits distilled on site.
Bars and Nightlife
- Banff Ave Brewing Co. (Banff Avenue)
A busy brewpub for après hike pints.
Stays
- Fairmont Banff Springs (Spray Avenue)
The grand castle hotel of the Rockies. - Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Lake Louise)
Wake up to the lake and glacier outside your window.
Places to Visit in Canmore
Nature and Outdoors
- Grassi Lakes (Canmore)
A short hike to two clear green pools below climbing cliffs.
Places to Visit in Ottawa
Arts and Culture
- Parliament Hill (Centretown)
Gothic parliament buildings above the Ottawa River. - Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau)
Canada's story and a superb Grand Hall of totem poles. - National Gallery of Canada (ByWard Market)
Canadian and Indigenous art beneath a glass tower. - Diefenbunker (Carp)
A huge Cold War bunker turned museum outside the city. - Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Rockcliffe)
A big hangar full of aircraft for all ages. - Nordik Spa-Nature (Chelsea)
A large outdoor Nordic spa in the Gatineau Hills.
Shopping and Markets
- ByWard Market (ByWard Market)
A historic market area full of food stalls and bars.
Restaurants
- BeaverTails (ByWard Market)
The original stand selling the famous fried pastry.
Nature and Outdoors
- Rideau Canal (Centretown)
A UNESCO canal that becomes a skateway in winter. - Gatineau Park (Gatineau)
Forest trails, lakes and lookouts minutes from the capital.
Events
- Winterlude (Downtown Ottawa)
Ice sculptures and skating on the canal each February. - Canadian Tulip Festival (Commissioners Park)
Spring flower displays celebrating a wartime gift from the Netherlands.
Cafés
- Bridgehead (Ottawa)
A local coffee chain with fair trade beans.
Stays
- Fairmont Château Laurier (Downtown Ottawa)
A historic castle-like hotel next to Parliament Hill.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Bar Le Mal Nécessaire (Chinatown, Montreal)
A hidden tiki bar beneath Chinatown. - Sugar shack visit (Outside Montreal, Montreal)
A spring maple feast in the countryside, a true Quebec tradition. - Whitebark Café (Banff, Banff)
A small café for good coffee before the trails. - Lowertown Brewery (ByWard Market, Ottawa)
A lively brewpub in the market district.