Canada attractions

During the 17th century, Quebec City’s charming Old Port (Vieux-Port) was bustling with European vessels and crews offloading supplies to New France. Now thronged with passengers from incoming cruise ships, the area is filled with historic buildings occupied by art galleries, boutiques, and inviting French-influenced restaurants.

St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal (L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal), located in Montreal’s Westmount neighborhood, is Canada’s largest church and a registered National Historic Site. It started life as a small chapel in 1904, but the Roman Catholic basilica grew to contain a crypt church, a museum, gardens, a 56-bell carillon, and one of the largest church domes in the world.

Perched 545 feet (167 meters) above sea level, this well-kept park affords wonderful views over downtown Vancouver. A sunken quarry garden, a 1,500-tree arboretum, a rose garden, floral displays, and public artworks make this 128-acre (52-hectare) recreational space one of the most pleasing outdoor hangouts in the city.

This scenic stretch of British Columbia’s Highway 99 extends from Horseshoe Bay to Pemberton, an 83-mile (134-kilometer journey past Howe Sound, Squamish, and Whistler’s rugged peaks. It’s not just a pretty drive; with so many stops along the way you could spend a week exploring hiking trails, towering waterfalls, and the region’s First Nations cultures.

Dating back to 1917, when it was created to protect the city from erosion, Vancouver’s Seawall is the highlight of Stanley Park. The 5.5-mile (9-kilometer) stone wall hugs the edge of the park’s entire waterfront, providing a wonderful place for walkers, runners, and bikers to get their exercise with views of the harbor, sea, and forest.

Known as the “most photographed lake in the Yukon,” Emerald Lake is graced with vibrant hues of green water. The unique colors—created by sunlight reflecting off a layer of white calcium carbonate on the lake’s bottom—set the lake apart from the many others that dot the Yukon. The novelty draws in road trippers traveling the Klondike Highway.

A century-old lighthouse and a collection of First Nations totem poles—one of Vancouver’s most-visited attractions—sit on this exposed knob of land at the eastern tip of Stanley Park. The waterfront lookout, set between the Burrard Inlet and Coal Harbour, offers views of North Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains.

Occupying a prime 10-acre (4-hectare) site on the edge of Lake Ontario, the nonprofit Harbourfront Centre offers a jam-packed year-round program of events. The complex comprises more than 30 sights, including parks, outdoor and indoor performance venues, squares, art galleries, a boardwalk, artist studios, restaurants, and retail outlets.

Considered one of the most significant religious landmarks in North America, Quebec City’s Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica-Cathedral boasts nearly four centuries of history. Today a certified National Historic Site of Canada—and also part of the Historic District of Old Québec UNESCO World Heritage Site—the church is both a sightseeing highlight and an active place of worship. Pay no mind to its modest exterior: Its interior, which features lavish gilding and impressive works of art, is worth discovering.

Visiting Bow Lake feels like stepping into a postcard—you’ll half-expect to see “CANADA” emblazoned in the sky in bold font. Its water shimmers an icy blue while the snow-capped mountains rise in the background, offering the quintessential Rocky Mountain view. This idyllic place is a perfect picnic destination, and you can take the chance to stretch your legs as you explore the scenic Icefields Parkway.

Mount Royal (Mont Royal), a 764-foot (233-meter) “mountain” in the midst of urban Montreal, is much-loved by locals and visitors alike, with Montrealers frequenting the leafy slopes as if the area were their own backyard. Cyclists, joggers, sunbathers, picnickers, and strollers abound in the summer, while snowshoers, tobogganers, ice skaters, and cross-country skiers dominate in winter. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted—the creative force behind New York City’s Central Park—the 470-acre (190-hectare) Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal) encompasses forest trails, monuments, and grassy meadows. On a clear day, the views from the Mount Royal summit lookout can’t be beat.

Carved out of the limestone bedrock by a rushing river, this narrow and steep canyon—which reaches depths of up to 160 feet (50 meters)—is one of the most striking geological features of Jasper National Park. In summer, hikers flock here to follow trails that span the gorge, while in winter, the canyon freezes into an icy wonderland.

Within the boundaries of Banff National Park lie some of the world's most spectacular landscapes: think the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the glacier-fed Moraine Lake, and the mirror-like Lake Louise. Aside from its natural wonders, Canada’s oldest national park offers world-class skiing, hiking, and cycling, along with a wealth of outdoor attractions. It's a haven for day-trippers, nature lovers, and adventure seekers alike.

Separated by the Ottawa River, Gatineau and Ottawa sit on different sides of the provincial boundary between Quebec and Ontario. Visitors to Canada’s capital often hop across to Gatineau, with the Canadian Museum of History and the 139-square-mile (361-square-kilometer Gatineau Park proving especially popular among tourists.

Every twist and turn of the spectacular 144-mile (232-kilometer) Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) reveals cloud-piercing peaks, valley-carving glaciers, teal lakes, and dense forests. Running from Jasper to Lake Louise, this scenic Alberta drive offers absolutely fabulous views of the Canadian Rockies, with lots of roadside lookouts and trailheads along the way. For most visitors to Banff and other beautiful spots, it’s a must-do.

Constructed in the 1890s, the British Columbia Parliament Buildings still serve as home to the province’s legislature. Built according to the designs of young British architect Francis Rattenbury, the neo-Baroque complex’s imposing size, copper domes, turrets, and stained glass ensure a commanding and stately presence.

Sheer natural beauty is just the start of the appeal of of Beacon Hill Park, which sprawls across the southern edge of Victoria, British Columbia. It’s a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, with a petting zoo, splash parks, playgrounds, sports fields, seemingly endless footpaths, and one of the tallest totem poles in the world.

One of Quebec City’s best-preserved historic neighborhoods, the Petit Champlain District (Quartier Petit Champlain) has cobbled streets with sidewalk cafés, art galleries, and boutiques and European ambience. The city’s oldest staircase, the Breakneck Steps (L'Escalier Casse-Cou), leads from this quarter to the Côte de la Montagne.

An inlet dividing downtown Vancouver from the rest of the city, False Creek borders some of Vancouver’s busiest shoreside neighborhoods, from chic Yaletown to Granville Island. The inlet hums with the activity of ferries, kayaks, and other boats, while the water’s edge is lined with scenic paths.

When you first see Peyto Lake, nestled in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, the striking blue color of the water will astound you. The hue is thanks to the geologic makeup of the silt (“rock flour”) that mixes with the runoff from nearby Peyto Glacier. Take in the spectacular view from the Bow Summit or hike in for a closer look.

Colorful and over-the-top, Clifton Hill overlooks Niagara Falls and the raging river below. It’s all about entertainment—find haunted houses next to joke shops, and race go-karts along an elevated track. In the evening, climb aboard the Niagara SkyWheel for views of the illuminated Falls and to watch the bustle below.

Suspended high over the Niagara River, the Whirlpool Aero Car passes directly over the Niagara Whirlpool—a swirling whitewater vortex created by conflicting currents in the river. The cable car has been on the go for more than a century, carrying passengers for a thrilling view of the Class 6 rapids below. Fun fact: While it starts and ends on Canadian shores, the cable car actually crosses the US border four times during the 10-minute ride.

First established in the mid-19th century, Victoria Chinatown is among North America’s oldest. Now a National Historic Site, Victoria’s Chinatown is home to cafes, studios, herbalists, tea rooms, and shops, as well as the narrow Fan Tan Alley, which measures 35 inches (88.9 centimeters) wide at its narrowest point.

Part of Battlefields Park, the grassy expanse of the Plains of Abraham (Plaines d'Abraham) was the setting for a major military clash in 1759, which led to the British takeover of New France—a battle that is well-documented in the Plains of Abraham Museum. The park is an outdoor playground for Quebec City residents who come here to stroll, cycle, jog, sled, and cross-country ski.

Built between 1826 and 1832 to offer secure passage for British ships from Montreal, the Rideau Canal—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is an engineering masterpiece. It extends for 126 miles (202 kilometers) between Ottawa and Kingston. Ottawa’s most visited stretch lures boaters, cyclists, and strollers in summer, and ice skaters in winter.

Home to a half-dozen heritage villages, Île d’Orléans feels like a relic of the past. Measuring 21 miles (34 kilometers) long and 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide, this finger-like sliver of an island charms visitors with its expansive, fertile farmland, dotted with vineyards, apple orchards, and sugar bush. Located on the St. Lawrence River just downstream of Quebec City, it’s an easy escape from city life, even if for an afternoon.

A concentrated cluster of grand government buildings overlooking the Ottawa River, Parliament Hill is the centerpiece of Downtown Ottawa. At the heart of the complex is Centre Block, a neo-Gothic riot of greening copper turrets, stone-carved gargoyles, and pointed arches built around a soaring central campanile (bell tower) known as the Peace Tower. Parliament Hill is not just a pretty sight; it’s also home to Canada’s most important democratic institutions, including the Library of Parliament and the chambers of the House of Commons and the Senate.

Queen Victoria Park offers a quiet respite from the bustle of Niagara Falls. Take in stunning views of Horseshoe Falls and spend some time strolling among the plants and flowers that grow throughout the park. The colorful gardens and manicured lawns offer both relaxing picnic spots and great photo ops of the falls.

Hip Yaletown is one of Vancouver’s most happening neighborhoods, where former warehouses and other red-brick structures now house lofts, fashionable boutiques, and buzzy eateries favored for their patios. Its setting between downtown Vancouver and False Creek makes it popular with both locals and visitors.

Overlooking Downtown Halifax, this strategically set hilltop fortification has presided over the capital of Nova Scotia since 1856, with earlier versions of the fort having stood here since 1749. Today, the former British citadel remembers the military history of Halifax, with exhibits focusing on life within the 19th-century fort.