Right from the vibrant streets of Toronto or the snow-covered peaks of the Canadian Rockies, there is no shortfall of tourist attractions in Canada that can be visited all year round. The best places to visit in Canada attract visitors with their scenic beauty, wilderness, wildlife, and diverse cultural offerings. Be it the coastlines of Vancouver or the cuisine of Toronto, or the music scene of Montreal, each city in this second-largest country in the world has a unique spirit. The top ten places to visit in Canada offer enough adventures and activities for anyone and everyone, whether you are travelling with family or taking a solo trip.
Top 10 Places To Visit In Canada
The best tourist places in Canada have attractions that can offer visitors of all ages an exciting time. You can begin to make your Canada tourist places list to plan your next trip.
1. Niagara Falls
Photo: Saffron Blaze / Wikimedia Commons
Among the top places to visit in Canada, Niagara Falls is a visually stunning treat for tourists. This powerful waterfall attracts millions of visitors across the globe during summer and winter when the frozen Niagara is a sight to behold. You can get a view up close of the Falls and get soaked by taking the Maid of the Mist boat ride. You can also enjoy spectacular aerial views by taking a helicopter tour or from the Skylon Tower. You can take the White Water Walk along the Falls and catch the Journey Behind the Falls ride that offers views of the falls from behind and below.
Location: Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
Fees: Free
2. Stanley Park
Photo: Adam Jones / Wikimedia Commons
The 3rd biggest park in North America, Stanley Park brings in over 8 million visitors each year. This lush urban haven has diverse flora and iconic totem poles with historic significance. You can either enjoy the scenic views, take a horse-drawn carriage tour, skate or walk along the 5.5-mile Seawall trail that runs along the water around the park border. This is one of the several trails in the 100 acres of greenery that also houses a nature center, an aquarium, and other entertainment facilities.
Location: Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4, Canada
Fees: Free
Timings: 6 AM – 10 PM
3. Notre-Dame Basilica
Photo: Avramescu Marius / Wikimedia Commons
The Notre Dame Basilica is the oldest Catholic church in Montreal, which was built in 1656. It is known for its intricate interior design and stained glass displays that chronicle scenes depicting the history of Montreal. You can discover the city’s heritage and past, from the origin of the urban colony to the formation of this massive neo-Gothic church. Once you tour the magnificent Basilica, you can immerse yourself in a sound and light display shown in the evenings called the “The Aura Experience”. One of the most frequented monuments in North America, this Basilica is among the top places to visit in Canada.
Location: 110 Notre-Dame Street West Montreal, Quebec Canada H2Y1T2
Timings: 8 AM – 6:45 PM (Monday to Friday), 8 AM – 7:45 PM
4. CN Tower
Go cup this 1815-foot-high observation tower to get a view of the entire Toronto city. You can view up to 100 miles from the CN Tower. Famed as the tallest structure in the world for over 30 years, visitors flock to the two observation decks in the tower – one of which has a glass floor. If you are in the mood for adventure, try the Edgewalk, where you can walk hands-free on the ledge around the topmost floors. There is also the unique 360-degree revolving restaurant that goes around the structure every 72 minutes, offering a dynamic view of the city while dining.
Location: 290 Bremner Blvd Toronto, ON M5V3L9 Canada
Timings: 10 AM – 9 PM
5. Banff Gondolav
Photo: Ron Cogswell / Wikimedia Commons
Cruise up the Sulphur Mountain summit easily via the Banff Gondola cable car ride. After only 8 minutes and 700 m of elevation gain, you can catch spectacular views of six mountain ranges as you slide over treetops. Once you are at the mountain top, you can stroll along the boardwalk to the Cosmic Ray Station, Sanson’s Peal and learn about Canada’s first national park. Then, go about exploring the mountaintop discovery centre, where you can grab some mountain coffee or enjoy a meal at the Sky Bistro amidst jaw-dropping views.
Location: Mountain Avenue, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Timings: 8 AM – 9 PM
6. Whistler
Photo: Iwona Erskine-Kellie / Wikimedia Commons
Take your adventure trip up a notch by visiting Whistler in winter. This winter resort town in British Columbia offers everything from skiing, bungee jumping, snowboarding and bobsled rides. You can spend your downtime browsing the local shops and the Whistler Olympic Plaza. If you visit here in the summer, you can experience hiking, kayaking, fishing, horse riding, and many other activities. Summer visitors can also explore the Brandywine Provincial Park with its 230 feet waterfall.
Location: Whistler, BC, Canada
Timings: 8:30 AM – 3 PM
7. Granville Island
Photo: Xicotencatl / Wikimedia Commons
Once an industrial site and a large sandbar, Granville Island is now a posh and artistic neighbourhood with eateries, old-world shops, breweries, and arts & cultural festivals year-round. Situated in False Creek, this neighbourhood is famous for the Granville Island Public Market, which sells fresh produce, handicrafts and gourmet food. In summer, this place becomes busy with outdoor acts of entertainment, and during holidays, it is lit up with festive lights and décor. You can get to Granville Island by crossing the Granville Bridge or by taking a ferry ride. You can also go walking or take a bike tour along the scenic waterfront.
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
8. Butchart Gardens
Photo: Marcus / Wikimedia Commons
The Butchart Gardens is around 55 acres of pure wonder and one of the best places to visit in Canada. Visit this breathtaking garden any time of the year. You can soak in an array of colours and fragrances of the numerous tulips, hyacinths and daffodils in Spring. You can enjoy the Rose Garden in full bloom in the Summer, apart from nighttime illumination, evening entertainment and firework displays on Saturdays. In later summer/fall, you can view the leaves turning to beautiful gold and then red. End your visit with a ride in the carousel, a hearty meal and a stop at the gift store.
Location: 800 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M1J8
Timings: 9 AM – 10 PM (Summer), 9 AM – 3:30 and 5 PM (Spring, Fall, Winter)
9. Okanagan Valley
Photo: xlibber / Wikimedia Commons
Popular for its fruit orchards and wineries, the Okanagan Valley is one of the best places to visit in Canada. Spread across 150 miles, this valley, featuring over 200 world-class wineries, is home to more than 85% of British Columbia’s vineyard territory. Sub-regions in the valley have their own unique grape varieties. Visit the Naramata Bench to indulge in wine tasting and fun activities such as mountain biking and kayaking. Apples and many soft fruits such as nectarines, peaches, plums, cherries, pears and prunes are grown in this valley.
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Fees: Varies with the activity
10. Ripley’s Aquarium
Photo: EuroCarGT / Wikimedia Commons
Explore the sea life of the world at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Situated in downtown Toronto, this aquarium is a top attraction for tourists of all ages. Go on an underwater adventure by entering the worlds of over 20,000 aquatic species. This aquarium has North America’s longest viewing tunnel underwater, with more than 100 interactive features. Get up close and touch exhibits such as horseshoe crabs, stingrays, shrimps and starfish. There are dive shows every two hours and nine galleries with a cross-section of freshwater and saltwater species from around the globe.
Location: 288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M5V3L9
Timings: 11 AM – 9 PM
Canada is a paradise for tourists and adventure enthusiasts. Be it summer or winter, the country is known for its natural wonders, national parks and winter retreats. From the many options, you can pick the best places to visit in Canada that can offer you an unforgettable experience. Now that you know the best places for a Canada trip, connect with TripXL to plan your next memorable winter or summer vacation to one of the most culturally vibrant countries in the world.
Cover Photo: James Thomas / Unsplash