A photograph of Canada

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in Canada — page 4

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. The Polygon Gallery The Polygon Gallery
    76 1 hour

    The Polygon Gallery

    The Polygon Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Situated in the Shipyards District at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue, it occupies a prominent waterfront position with views across Burrard Inlet toward downtown Vancouver.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Vancouver
  2. Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park
    77 1 hour

    Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park

    Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse

    Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park, also known as Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse, is a large woodland reserve in Montreal’s west-island area.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Montreal
  3. Edwards Gardens Edwards Gardens
    78 1 hour

    Edwards Gardens

    Edwards Gardens is a formal former estate garden located in Toronto, Ontario. It serves as the landscape setting for the adjacent Toronto Botanical Garden. The gardens were originally developed as a private estate before becoming a public space.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Toronto
  4. Grange Park Grange Park
    79 1 hour

    Grange Park

    Grange Park is a public green space in downtown Toronto, directly behind the Art Gallery of Ontario and beside OCAD University.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Toronto
  5. Jarry Park Jarry Park
    80 1 hour

    Jarry Park

    Parc Jarry

    Jarry Park, known locally as Parc Jarry, is a large public park located in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough of Montreal.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Montreal
  6. Kew Gardens Kew Gardens
    81 1 hour

    Kew Gardens

    Kew Gardens is a historic public park in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood, close to Lake Ontario. It is a neighbourhood green space rather than a botanical institution, offering landscaped areas, lawns, trees and room for community life.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Toronto
  7. La Fontaine Park La Fontaine Park
    82 1 hour

    La Fontaine Park

    Parc La Fontaine

    La Fontaine Park, known locally as Parc La Fontaine, is a major urban park in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. It serves as a central recreational space for residents and visitors alike.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Montreal
  8. Locarno Beach Locarno Beach
    83 1 hour

    Locarno Beach

    Locarno Beach is a public Vancouver beach on the English Bay shoreline, between Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks. It belongs to the city park system and offers a calmer western waterfront setting than the busier central beaches.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Vancouver
  9. Maisonneuve Park Maisonneuve Park
    84 1 hour

    Maisonneuve Park

    Parc Maisonneuve

    Maisonneuve Park is a large urban green space in eastern Montreal, beside the Montreal Botanical Garden and close to the Olympic District.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Montreal
  10. Sugar Beach Sugar Beach
    85 1 hour

    Sugar Beach

    Sugar Beach is a public waterfront park on Toronto's eastern harbour. Its sandy beach, pink umbrellas, and shoreline seating create a distinctive public space beside an area shaped by industrial harbour activity.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Toronto
  11. Third Beach Third Beach
    86 1 hour

    Third Beach

    Third Beach is a sandy public beach on the western shoreline of Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It faces westward toward the Strait of Georgia, offering direct views of the sunset over the water.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Vancouver
  12. Woodbine Beach Woodbine Beach
    87 1 hour

    Woodbine Beach

    Woodbine Beach is the principal public swimming beach in The Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. It stretches along the shore of Lake Ontario and serves as the area's main summer recreation destination.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Toronto
  13. fontaine de Tourny fontaine de Tourny
    88 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
  14. Grande roue de Montréal Grande roue de Montréal
    89 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
  15. Le Diamant Le Diamant
    90 1 hour

    Le Diamant

    Le Diamant is a contemporary theatre in Old Québec, created through the reinvention of a heritage building.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Quebec City
  16. Saint-Dominique Church Saint-Dominique Church
    91 30 min

    Saint-Dominique Church

    Église Saint-Dominique

    Église Saint-Dominique is a Dominican parish church on Grande Allée in Québec City.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Quebec City
  17. Canoe Landing Park Canoe Landing Park
    92 1 hour

    Canoe Landing Park

    Canoe Landing Park is a public park in Toronto's CityPlace neighbourhood, surrounded by high-rise residential towers and former railway lands. Its identity comes from public art by Canadian artist and author Douglas Coupland, especially the large red canoe.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Toronto
  18. TIFF Lightbox TIFF Lightbox
    93 1 hour

    TIFF Lightbox

    TIFF Bell Lightbox is the permanent headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival, located in Toronto's Entertainment District. The facility serves as a year-round cultural centre dedicated to film exhibition, education, and presentation.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Toronto
  19. Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park
    94 1 hour

    Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park

    Grand Parc de l'Ouest

    Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park, or Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques, is Montreal’s largest nature park. The park occupies the western tip of the Island of Montreal on a peninsula where the Ottawa River meets the Lake of Two Mountains.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Montreal
  20. Domaine de Maizerets Domaine de Maizerets
    95 1 hour

    Domaine de Maizerets

    Domaine de Maizerets is a historic estate on Quebec City's east side, encompassing extensive gardens and parkland. The property functions as a public green space where visitors can experience landscaped grounds with heritage character.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Quebec City
  21. HTO Park HTO Park
    96 1 hour

    HTO Park

    HTO Park is an urban beach park located on Toronto's central waterfront. The park features sandy beach areas, grassy lawns, and distinctive yellow umbrellas that have become a visual signature.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Toronto
  22. Parc Chauveau Parc Chauveau
    97 1 hour

    Parc Chauveau

    Parc Chauveau is Quebec City's largest park, situated along the Saint-Charles River. This extensive green space serves as a genuine riverfront outdoor destination for residents and visitors seeking natural surroundings within the urban environment.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Quebec City
  23. Parc régional des Rapides Parc régional des Rapides
    98 1 hour

    Parc régional des Rapides

    Parc des Rapides

    Lachine Rapids Park, known locally as Parc des Rapides, is a riverfront park situated at the western end of the Island of Montreal.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Montreal
  24. Spanish Banks Spanish Banks
    99 1 hour

    Spanish Banks

    Spanish Banks Beach

    Spanish Banks is a public beach park on Vancouver's west side, situated along English Bay.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Vancouver
  25. Trinity Bellwoods Park Trinity Bellwoods Park
    100 1 hour

    Trinity Bellwoods Park

    Trinity Bellwoods Park is a large public green space in Toronto’s west end, between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West.

    • High
    • Nature 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.