Canada attractions

The Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal (MAC) houses a permanent collection of more than 8,000 works by Quebec, Canadian, and international artists. A diverse range of mediums are represented from digital, sound, and video works to photographs, installations, and sculptures, showcasing modern and avant-garde art dating from 1939 onward.

Spanning for around 179 miles (289 kilometers), the Pacific Marine Circle Route offers drivers and their passengers the chance to take in some of the prettiest scenery on the southern part of Vancouver Island. Expect to pass by quiet towns, alongside epic stretches of coastline, and through sweeping expanses of old-growth forest.

Located in Montreal’s Eaton Centre, the Grevin Museum (Musée Grévin Montréal) features 120 lifelike wax figures with a focus on Hollywood stars, Canadian celebrities, and world icons, from Tom Hanks to Celine Dion. With eight themed rooms, plenty of photo opportunities, and an on-site café, the museum is a popular choice for families.

With more than 100 shops, the Outlet Collection at Niagara is one of the largest outdoor outlet malls in Canada. Opened in 2014, this modern mall offers all kinds of brand-name goods at discounted prices, from outdoor gear to beauty products, making it a must for bargain hunters.

West coast Canada’s oldest lighthouse watches over ships in the Juan de Fuca Strait at this pair of historic sites near Victoria, British Columbia. Gun batteries, concrete walls, and other fortifications comprise the defense system of Fort Rodd Hill, an artillery fort that’s a prime example of 19th-century military engineering.

The Museum of Vancouver in Vanier Park tells the story of the city and its surrounding areas. Visit the largest civic museum in Canada for a deeper understanding of Vancouver, including its First Nations roots. Learn more through its range of historical and contemporary artifacts, stories, and interactive exhibits and programs.

At 75 feet (23 meters) tall, Athabasca Falls may not be the highest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, but it is one of the most powerful. Originating in the Columbia Icefield, the Athabasca River narrows dramatically before it thunders over the falls and creates a natural wonder.

Visit a bedouin tent and ride in a decorated Pakistani bus at the Canadian Children's Museum, where activities bring the cultures, art, and history of countries across the globe to life. The interactive exhibits encourage kids to visit a variety of recreated countries and gather stamps on a passport booklet issued at the entrance.

Explore the artwork of renowned Haida artist Bill Reid, as well as other First Nations artists, at the Bill Reid Gallery. Located in downtown Vancouver, the gallery offers an exceptional collection of art in its permanent and temporary exhibits, education programs, and presentations that celebrate artwork from the northwest coast.

Each year over a thousand Chinook salmon pass through the world’s longest wooden fish ladder at the Whitehorse Fish Ladder and Hatchery. The fish ladder is part of their journey from the Bering Sea back to their home waters to spawn. This 1,200-foot (366-meter chute allows the salmon to bypass the Whitehorse Dam and is a popular spot to watch the salmon run.

Canadian modernists, Asian art, and works by Emily Carr anchor the impressive collections at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, where holdings go from fiber art to sculpture and oil paintings. The art gallery is housed in the historic Spencer Mansion, whose manicured gardens are a tranquil setting for a Japanese Shinto shrine.

PondView at Bella Terra Vineyards is a family-run winery started by an Italian immigrant who put his winemaking knowledge to work in his new country. The winery isn't alone in the Niagara-on-the-Lake area of Ontario, renowned for its landscapes and wines. Visit the winery on a vineyard tour or as a standalone attraction for fine wine.

The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is a tranquil piece of Japanese culture set in the Canadian city of Lethbridge. A unique treasure in Southern Alberta, the garden is an oasis where you can take part in cultural events, yoga, and tea ceremonies among flower gardens, lakes, and water features.

Though it’s just 11 miles (18 kilometers) long, the Harrison River—a tributary of the Fraser River, which flows through British Columbia—is one of the most important fishing spots in the region. All major species of Pacific salmon can be found here, and riverside hot springs attract travelers looking to relax and unwind.

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown, make a beeline for Philosopher's Walk, a leafy path bordering Trinity College on the University of Toronto campus. Whether you take a book to read on a bench, or pack an alfresco lunch, Philosopher’s Walk is a lovely place to find a touch of nature in the city.

Confederation Square is a triangular plaza between Wellington Street and Elgin Street in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The urban space was, together with the National War Memorial, officially completed around 1939. The giant granite memorial sits at the center of the square and was originally a tribute to the Canadians who fought in World War I but has since become a symbol of all Canadians serving in times of war.

Ville-Marie is the core of Montreal, encompassing most of the downtown area, including Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal), the Quartier des Spectacles cultural quarter, the Gay Village, two islands on the St. Lawrence River, and most of Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal). It’s jam-packed with museums, churches, shops, restaurants, and other top attractions.

Montreal’s La Ronde amusement park (operated by Six Flags) is one of the largest in Canada, and the largest in the country’s east. It offers everything from toddler-friendly rides and a huge Ferris wheel to 10 roller coasters and even a thrilling human catapult. With more than 40 rides, there should be something for everyone at this seasonal favorite.

Confederation Bridge stretches 8 miles (13 kilometers) in length, making it the longest bridge in the world to cross ice-covered waters. Completed in 1997, the bridge stands as a testament to human ingenuity, showcasing advanced engineering techniques. While crossing, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the surrounding coastal scenery.

With a trio of beautiful glacier-fed lakes with bright turquoise water and snow-capped mountains, Joffre Lakes Park is one of the prettiest provincial parks in British Columbia. Located northwest of Whistler, visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, mountaineering, and camping at this popular backcountry park.

The only ice hotel in North America, the Hôtel de Glace, just outside Quebec City, takes five weeks to build every year from over 500 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow. Construction begins in late November, and the finished building contains guest rooms, a bar, and even a wedding chapel.

Winding through the front ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the glacial blue waters of the Kananaskis River offer exhilarating white water rafting adventures. Considered one of the most scenic rivers in Alberta, the Kananaskis also affords mountain views and the chance to spy wolves, elk, eagle, and black and grizzly bears.

The dining and shopping options are near-endless at The Forks Market in Winnipeg. Occupying a building that was formerly horse stables and a hayloft, the market is home to an eclectic food hall serving the best in local and international flavors, as well as more than 50 stores where you can purchase items made by local Winnipeggers.

Named after the now-demolished fur trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Fort Street has long been at the heart of Victoria’s commercial life. Once a hotbed for vintage and collectibles, this central artery is now home to an eclectic mix of shops and eateries, among them several remaining second-hand stores and auction houses.

Alberta’s stunning Rocky Mountains are one of the biggest attractions in the province. Protected by Banff and Jasper National Parks, the Canadian Rocky Mountains run along the border of British Columbia and Alberta through a landscape of glaciers, snow-capped mountain peaks, hot springs, and turquoise lakes.

Arriving in Victoria by ship is a fantastic introduction to the British Columbian capital city and the Victoria Cruise Port is now the busiest cruise ship stop in all of Canada. Conveniently situated at Ogden Point, not far from downtown and Inner Harbour attractions, Victoria Cruise Port is the ideal jumping-off point for exploring British Columbia.

Visitors to Hopewell Rocks sense a gravitational pull—and it’s not just because of its scenic beauty. Home to some of the world’s highest tides, Hopewell Rocks offers visitors a chance to experience these dramatic tidal shifts by walking on the ocean floor at low tide then watching the floor disappear as the tide rushes in.

Located at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, Whistler Village is the heart of Whistler, British Columbia. Famous for skiing and its Olympic history, the village features a range of lodging options, over 200 shops, more than 90 bars and restaurants, and a buzzing live entertainment and arts scene. While best known for access to the ski slopes, there’s plenty to see and do in Whistler Village year-round from ziplining to outdoor concerts.

Enter the stone battlements at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site and you might feel like you’ve stepped back to 1744, when French and British forces grappled for control of the region. The fully reconstructed complex now bustles with costumed actors in 18th-century garb, and also features museum-quality historical exhibits, five scenic walking trails, and views of the Cape Breton shoreline.

When Montrealers refer to “the mountain,” they mean Mount Royal. Really, it’s a 764-foot (233-meter) hill, but that’s no matter. Mount Royal Park was designed in 1876 by none other than Frederick Law Olmsted—of Central Park fame—and since then, it’s been the city’s green lung, where locals go hiking, biking, boating, bird-watching, and picnicking.