Canada attractions

Takakkaw Falls—whose name means “it’s magnificent” in the indigenous Cree language—tumble 1,260 feet (384 meters) down a rocky mountain, making it one of the highest waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. Located outside Field, British Columbia, the glacier-fed falls are the gateway to some of the best hiking trails in Yoho National Park.

Built in the 1960s by Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, Place des Arts is Canada’s largest cultural complex. In addition to housing the Contemporary Art Museum and outdoor art installations, the performing arts center boasts six concert halls where guests attend a range of cultural and musical performances, including ballet, opera, and theater.

Fort York was constructed in 1793 by the British Army and Canadian militia troops for the defense of York (now Toronto). Today it’s a National Historic Site with Canada’s largest group of original War of 1812 structures. Explore the stone and wood barracks used during the 1813 Battle of York, when the U.S. invaded and destroyed the fort.

Circling the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, the Cabot Trail takes you along sweeping stretches of open coastline, through swathes of Acadian and boreal forest, and past long-standing fishing villages that have been hauling in their catches for centuries. For road-trip enthusiasts and avid hikers, the Cabot Trail is the ideal way to take in the rugged and remote beauty of Cape Breton Island, part of the traditional ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq.

Perhaps best known as the site of the Ontario Legislative Building, Queen’s Park is a verdant oasis offering respite from the buzz of downtown Toronto. You’ll find monuments and memorials, walking paths and benches, and lawns ideal for lounging.

Queen’s Quay Terminal is a residential, entertainment, and shopping center on the harborfront of Toronto, Ontario. Built as a warehouse facility in the 1920s, the terminal was revitalized in the 1980s as a multipurpose complex featuring upscale shops and restaurants. The lakeside setting offers views of the Toronto Islands.

Lake Ontario, the 14th-largest lake in the world but the smallest of the five Great Lakes, is divided in half by the U.S.-Canadian border. Its shores are home to two popular Canadian destinations: Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Known for its islands, beaches, wildlife, and waterfront trails, this beautiful body of water offers something for everyone.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, in Vancouver’s Chinatown, was the first “scholar’s” garden built outside of China in the Ming Dynasty tradition. This cultural and natural oasis offers a serene break from Vancouver’s hustle and bustle, and the nonprofit organization was named the one of top 10 city gardens in the world by National Geographic.

Set in a former courthouse, the Vancouver Art Gallery is the largest public art museum in Western Canada. Its collection, which amounts to more than 11,000 works, includes international artists—both contemporary and historical—but a strong emphasis is also placed on British Columbian art, including First Nations artists.

Dating back to 1749, St. Paul’s Anglican Church is the oldest building in Halifax and the oldest standing Protestant church in Canada. As a National Historic Site of Canada, the church is noteworthy for its stained glass windows, pipe organ, subterranean crypt, and adjacent cemetery.

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Peller Estates Winery is one of the oldest in the area, as it was first established in the 1920s by a Hungarian immigrant. The award-winning winery specializes in riesling, chardonnay, and ice wine, a special variety of wine produced in the harsh winter climate of this region of the Great Lakes. Wine lovers shouldn’t miss the estate while traveling to the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada.

The eight Ottawa Locks regulate the flow of the city’s signature Rideau Canal as it flows south from the Ottawa River. The hand-cranked locks provide a gradient of 24 meters (79 feet) on the canal, which runs for more than 124 miles (200 kilometers) from Ottawa to Kingston, a stunning example of 19th-century ingenuity and engineering.

The huge star-shaped Citadel of Quebec (Citadelle de Quebec) is the largest military fortress in North America still occupied by troops. Begun by the French in the 1750s, the fortress was completed by the British in the mid-19th century, but never actually saw any action. Today, Canada’s French-speaking Royal 22nd Regiment (Royal 22e Régiment) is based here.

Niagara SkyWheel is one of Canada’s largest observation wheels, with sweeping views high above Clifton Hill and Niagara Falls. Board a climate-controlled gondola, and as you head up, you’ll be rewarded with great photo opportunities of both Horseshoe Falls and American Falls. Whether you visit by day or night, it’s a memorable way to experience one of North America’s most famous natural landmarks from above.

Streaming a sheer 230 feet (70 meters) from a rock ledge, dramatic Brandywine Falls is a sight in any season. Lucky for visitors, a short trail and viewing platform make getting to the falls a breeze, and the they aren’t the only reason to visit this provincial park, which is home to jewel-like lakes, lush forests, and rare frogs.

The Calgary Stampede is a grand celebration of Canada’s Western heritage that has been attracting visitors every year since 1923. Visit to experience small-town fun in a big way. The Stampede includes rodeo events, chuckwagon races, blacksmithing competitions, a midway, 300 performers on five stages, and First Nations cultural events.

At 183 feet (56 meters) tall, Brock's Monument in Queenston Heights National Historic Site is the highest of its kind in Canada. It commemorates Major General Sir Isaac Brock, a hero of the War of 1812. In Queenston, a short drive from Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, the national historic site is a fun, informative place to visit while touring the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.

A leading Canadian museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario is home of more than 79,000 works of art in its collection, including First Nations and Inuit carvings, noted Canadian works, and European art from Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry designed the gallery’s latest renovation.

Whether you want to seek out some shade in summer or stay warm during the sub-zero winter temperatures, Montreal’s Underground City lets you explore a whole other side of the city. Nicknamed the RÉSO (“réseau piétonnier souterrain de Montréal”) by locals, the vast network of subterranean passageways stretches over more than 20 miles (33 kilometers), and connects metro stations, shopping malls, office blocks, hotels, and many other attractions.

This magnificent river flows 765 miles (1,231 kilometers from Jasper National Park’s Columbia Glacier to Lake Athabasca. Along the way, it passes boreal forest, rocky summits, and national parks. Fishing, white-water rafting, and riverside trails make the river a top destination for outdoor recreation in Alberta.

The Columbia Icefield Skywalk (aka Glacier Skywalk) juts out from the side of a cliff in Jasper National Park. Only a curved, transparent pane of glass underfoot separates visitors from the Sunwapta Valley floor 918 feet (280 meters) below. This attraction is an exhilarating—if somewhat unnerving—way to experience the epic, untouched landscapes of the Canadian Rockies. From this vantage point, the view of the park’s ice-hatted peaks and glacial valleys is nothing short of spectacular.

Known locally as Kits Beach, this broad stretch of sand is a popular summer hangout and brims with joggers, tanners, and families. Views of downtown Vancouver skyscrapers, the Burrard Inlet, and the North Shore Mountains are a big draw, as is Kitsilano Pool, a huge heated outdoor saltwater pool that spans 451 feet (137 meters) in length.

Originating from the Athabasca Glacier, this pair of waterfalls are among the most picturesque in Jasper National Park, with easy access for those driving along the Icefields Parkway. The falls’ icy glacial water sprays a fine white mist up in the air as it drops, while pine forests and mountain peaks serve as the backdrop.

Atop a hill in Queen Elizabeth Park, the Bloedel Conservatory—also known as the Bloedel FloralConservatory—overlooks downtown Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains. The domed structure is divided into three climatic zones: tropical, subtropical, and desert. It houses plants and free-flying birds with eye-catching plumage.

Once the British Empire’s biggest copper mine, the Britannia Mine’s tunnels, shafts, and structures are now preserved in an award-winning museum. Come to the Britannia Mine Museum to ride a train into a mine, pan for gold flakes, and learn about the lives of generations of miners who worked copper deposits at the edge of Howe Sound.

Located in the walkable heart of Old Quebec (Vieux Quebec), the Roman Catholic Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church (Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires) is among the oldest in North America. Construction of the small stone church began in 1688 on the site of Samuel de Champlain’s original settlement, and it remains a beloved landmark.

Built in the 1870s and rebuilt after a 1922 fire, Montreal City Hall (Hôtel de Ville de Montréal) has long found itself at the center of Quebec history. In 1967, the building hosted one of the most significant political moments in the province’s recent past, when then–French President Charles de Gaulle gave a rousing speech from the balcony—one that spurred Quebec’s separatist movement.

St. Catharines is a vibrant city on Lake Ontario just northwest of Niagara Falls, known for its lakefront, parks, and vineyards. As a focal point of the 1850s abolition movement, St. Catharines is an important landmark in Black Canadian history. Its rich arts and culture scene also draws visitors from around the Niagara region and beyond.

British Columbia’s spectacular Coast Range is home to numerous glacier-covered peaks. Visitors to Garibaldi Provincial Park will find trails that lead to backcountry lakes, campgrounds, and forests that are near the towns of Squamish and Whistler. The most famous peak in the park is Black Tusk, a pinnacle of volcanic rock that juts skyward.

Now the Canadian Museum of Immigration, Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia served as the first glimpse of Canada for many people who came to make this country their home. Interactive exhibits offer visitors the chance to learn what these new residents faced as they left where they came from in hopes of finding something better.