Top 10 Destinations You Must Visit In Canada

Canada shares the longest land border with its neighbor, the United States and it’s an amazing place for a number of reasons. Canada is home to some of the most wonderful attractions in the world. So what could one see and visit there? We have compiled a list of ten stunning attractions so let’s see what makes each one unique.

1. Vancouver.

Famous for housing the 2010 Winter Games, Vancouver is like a cluster of museums, galleries and stunning buildings. Here you can visit the Vancouver Art Gallery built in 1906, designed by Francis Rattenbury who was also responsible for designing the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

In downtown Vancouver you can see a number of modern buildings like the Harbour Centre or the Low Court and the Library Square. In the same area there’s also a collection of Edwardian buildings that add to the charm of the city and let you see into the past.

2. Montreal.

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec with a variety of buildings that provide a legacy of historic and architectural interest. The downtown area and the Old Port area are the richest in terms of beautiful architecture.

Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica

Montreal is also home to 50 National Historic Sites. Some of the most iconic buildings present here include the Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica, Bonsecours Market and the 19th century headquarters of all major Canadian banks on St. James Street. Other attractions include the Place Ville Marie office tower and the Olympic stadium. In 2006, Montreal was named a UNESCO City of Design.

3. Niagara Falls.

Famous all over the world, Niagara Falls is actually the name given to three waterfalls along the international border between Ontario and New York.The three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls.

Canadian Horseshoe falls

The first one can be found on the Canadian side while the second one is on the American side, like the name suggests. The Bridal Veil Falls is smallest of the three is also located on the American side of the border. Combined, all three form the highest flow rate of any other waterfall in the world. They were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation.

4. Toronto.

Toronto is the largest city of Canada and home to a mix of periods and styles. The buildings in this city vary in design and age and some are dating back to the mid-19th century.

CN Tower is a 553.33 m-high (1,815.4 ft) concrete communications and observation tower

The CN Tower is an important landmark and a major attraction here. It’s a telecommunication and tourism hub completed in 1976 and it has a height of 553.33 meters. It used to be the world’s tallest building until it was dethroned by Burj Khalifa in 2007. There was a period of time when significant buildings from the city’s architectural heritage have been demolished but lately there’s been a revival.

5. Quebec.

The city of Quebec has a very beautiful skyline which is dominated by the Château Frontenac Hotel. The hotel is perched on top of Cap-Diamant and it was designed by architect Bruce Price and it offers beautiful views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral

The interior was designed by Jean Baillairgé and his son François from 1786–1822.

Another major attraction is the Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral. It’s the first church to be raised to a basilica and the primatial church in Canada. Quebec City is home to 37 National Historic Sites. Some of the most beautiful architectural structures can be seen in Old Quebec and Place Royale, an area with a distinct European feel.

6. Banff.

Banff National Park Alberta

Banff is a resort town in Alberta and it’s also one of Canada’s most popular tourist attractions. It’s famous for its mountain features and for the hot springs and it’s also a perfect destination for outdoor sports, hiking, biking and skiing.

Aurora at Banff, Canada.

The town features a number of popular attractions such as Lake Minnewanka or Tunnel Mountain named so because originally surveyors wanted to make a tunnel for the Canadian Pacific Railway right through the mountain. The town is also home to the Banff World Television Festival, Banff Mountain Film Festival, Rocky Mountain Music Festival and Bike Fest.

7. Victoria.

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and it’s located off Canada’s Pacific Coast. It’s known as the “City of Gardens” and it’s a popular tourist destination. It has several major attractions, one of them being the Beacon Hill Park, a 75 hectare space that includes playing fields, beautiful gardens, exotic plans animals, a petting zoo and views of the Olympic Mountains.

The Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens

The city is also rich in beautiful architecture and it has buildings like the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, The Empress Hotel, Victoria Police Department Station Museum, the gothic Christ Church Cathedral, and the Royal British Columbia Museum that impress with their ornate styles and elegance.

8. Lake Louise.

Lake Louise – Alberta

Located in Alberta, Lake Louise is part of the Banff National Park. Here, tourists can enjoy a number of outdoor activities that include cross-country skiing, heli-skiing and snowboarding.

Other popular activities in the area are ice fishing, skating, dog-sledding and ice-climbing. This area is most popular during summer when tourists come to visit the trails and to admire the waters and the views. The colors here are amazing. Visitors can stay at the renowned grand hotel Chateau Lake Louise which, along with Fairmont Banff Springs is one of the most famous and historic Canadian hotels.

9. Ottawa.

The Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and it’s located on the south bank of the Ottawa River. It was founded in 1826 and most of the city’s architecture is formalistic and functional.

The Maman statue, a 9.144 m or 30 ft bronze cast of a spider

Here you can see influences of the Romantic and Picturesque styles on buildings such as the Parliament which features a gothic revival architecture. The city’s skyline is controlled by building height restrictions although today modern buildings can be quite tall, such as the Place de Ville. The city is also home to the National Gallery of Canada where the Maman statue is located.

10. Whistler.

Whistler is a resort town in British Columbia and it’s annually visited by millions of people that come here for alpine skiing and snowboarding. Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Ski holidays in Whistler

It has a stunning landscape and it’s a fantastic destination for those that need to unwind. Visitors may even get to see a black bear since their population has recovered since the resort’s development. Although the bears have become docile, they have also learned new tricks like opening car doors so don’t let them catch you off guard.