A photograph of Canada

Country guide

Historic sites in Canada — page 2

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area and has the longest coastline of any, running from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north into the Arct...

Photograph · Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0

14,620 Places
4Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area and has the longest coastline of any, running from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north into the Arctic across ten provinces and three territories.

Just over 41 million people live in it, and not evenly: the great majority are in urban areas while very large stretches hold almost nobody. Ottawa is the capital, and Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are the three largest metropolitan areas and the three realistic starting points. The federal government is officially bilingual in English and French, and which of the two a street is lived in changes as you cross the country.

Checked 2026-08-25

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
English and French
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+1
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 120 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
Water systems and advisories are managed by multiple jurisdictions

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Waterfront station Waterfront station
    26 45 min

    Waterfront station

    Waterfront Station

    Waterfront Station is a heritage transit hub in Vancouver serving as a major interchange for rail, SeaBus, and SkyTrain services. The building preserves classical architectural elements while functioning as a practical arrival point for commuters and visitors.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Vancouver
  2. False Creek False Creek
    27 45 min

    False Creek

    False Creek is a short inlet in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia, separating downtown from the rest of the city to the south.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Vancouver
  3. Canada Place Canada Place
    28 45 min

    Canada Place

    Canada Place is Vancouver’s sail-roofed landmark on Burrard Inlet, recognised by five white roof sails that echo a ship in harbour.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Vancouver
  4. Nathan Phillips Square Nathan Phillips Square
    29 45 min

    Nathan Phillips Square

    Nathan Phillips Square is Toronto's primary civic square, serving as the city's central public gathering space and a signature landmark. Located directly in front of Toronto City Hall, it functions as the symbolic heart of municipal governance and community celebration.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Toronto
  5. Plains of Abraham Plains of Abraham
    30 45 min

    Plains of Abraham

    Plaines d'Abraham

    Plains of Abraham is a historic battlefield landscape and major urban park beside central Québec City.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Quebec City
  6. Henry-Stuart House Henry-Stuart House
    31 45 min

    Henry-Stuart House

    Maison Henry-Stuart

    Maison Henry-Stuart is a preserved 1849 house and garden near the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. It offers a close look at domestic life in a nineteenth-century residence, with the building itself providing the main historical experience.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Quebec City
  7. Jesuit House of Sillery Jesuit House of Sillery
    32 45 min

    Jesuit House of Sillery

    Maison des Jésuites de Sillery

    Maison des Jésuites de Sillery is a historic house in Quebec City's Sillery district and a surviving part of a former Jesuit estate established in the seventeenth century.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Quebec City
  8. Mackenzie House Mackenzie House
    33 45 min

    Mackenzie House

    Mackenzie House is a compact historic house museum in downtown Toronto and the final home of William Lyon Mackenzie. Mackenzie was Toronto’s first mayor, a journalist, politician and reformer associated with Upper Canada’s democratic movement.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Toronto
  9. fontaine de Tourny fontaine de Tourny
    34 45 min

    fontaine de Tourny

    Fontaine de Tourny

    The Fontaine de Tourny is an ornate public fountain situated on the grounds of the Parliament Building in Québec City's capital district. It serves as a significant public-art landmark within the parliamentary precinct.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Quebec City
  10. Grande roue de Montréal Grande roue de Montréal
    35 45 min

    Grande roue de Montréal

    La Grande Roue de Montréal

    La Grande Roue de Montreal is an observation wheel located at the Old Port of Montreal. It stands as a prominent landmark offering elevated perspectives of the surrounding urban and natural landscapes.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Montreal
  11. Colborne Lodge Colborne Lodge
    36 45 min

    Colborne Lodge

    Colborne Lodge is a historic house museum within Toronto’s High Park. Built in 1836, it was the home of John George Howard, an architect and engineer who shaped the city’s early development.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Toronto
  12. Todmorden Mills Todmorden Mills
    37 45 min

    Todmorden Mills

    Todmorden Mills is a heritage site located in the Don Valley of Toronto, Ontario. It preserves the industrial and village history of the area, which was once a significant milling centre along the Don River.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Toronto
  13. Harbourfront Centre Harbourfront Centre
    38 45 min

    Harbourfront Centre

    Harbourfront Centre is Toronto's principal waterfront arts and festival venue. It occupies a significant stretch of the city's Lake Ontario shoreline and serves as a major cultural hub for performing arts, visual arts, and community programming.

    • High
    • Historic site
    • Toronto
  14. Brockton Point Totem Poles Brockton Point Totem Poles
    39 45 min

    Brockton Point Totem Poles

    Brockton Point Totem Poles is a cultural landmark located within Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. The display features multiple totem poles representing Indigenous art and heritage from various First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
    • Vancouver
  15. Gastown Steam Clock Gastown Steam Clock
    40 20 min

    Gastown Steam Clock

    The Gastown Steam Clock is a street-side clock at Water and Cambie streets in Vancouver, designed and built by Raymond Saunders in 1977. It is not a nineteenth-century survivor, even though it stands in a neighbourhood known for older buildings.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
    • Vancouver
  16. Chinatown Millennium Gate Chinatown Millennium Gate
    41 45 min

    Chinatown Millennium Gate

    Chinatown Millennium Gate is a ceremonial landmark at the western entrance to Vancouver Chinatown. Its traditional Chinese architectural forms make it an immediate visual marker for the historic neighbourhood.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
    • Vancouver
  17. Evergreen Brick Works Evergreen Brick Works
    42 45 min

    Evergreen Brick Works

    Evergreen Brick Works is a former brick-making complex in Toronto’s Don Valley, now a destination where industrial heritage, environmental learning, community activity, and the ravine landscape meet.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
    • Toronto
  18. Onhwa' Lumina
    43 45 min

    Onhwa' Lumina

    Onhwa' Lumina is a night-time Indigenous storytelling experience in Wendake near Québec City. Its core is an outdoor night walk combining light, sound and a defined route to present contemporary Indigenous storytelling.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
    • Quebec City
  19. The Bentway The Bentway
    44 45 min

    The Bentway

    The Bentway is a public realm and arts space located beneath the elevated Gardiner Expressway in Toronto. It functions as a linear corridor connecting the historic Fort York district to the city's waterfront area.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
    • Toronto

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Canada be?

Ten to sixteen days is realistic for one Canadian region, not for crossing the country. An eastern cities route, a Rockies journey and a Pacific itinerary each work better as their own trip.

What entry documents are needed for Canada?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada lists visitor visa and electronic travel authorisation rules. The required document depends on passport, travel method and status, so complete the official eligibility check for the actual journey.

What is the best way to travel around Canada?

Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal are the principal air gateways. VIA Rail is most useful in the Québec City–Windsor corridor and on selected long-distance services; outside major centres, a car or domestic flight may be necessary.

When is a practical time to visit Canada?

May to September suits many city and national-park itineraries, but northern access and mountain conditions have shorter operating seasons. Winter is a separate travel plan with different road, daylight and activity constraints.

What money and payment basics apply in Canada?

Prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Payment fees and acceptance are Not recorded at national level here, so verify rental deposits, remote-area fuel payment and card conversion terms directly with each provider.

What practical safety details should I save for Canada?

Call 911 for an emergency in Canada. Electrical supply is 120 V through Type A and B sockets; the source set does not record one nationwide tap-water statement, so local guidance applies.