Top Things to Do in Canada | Best Places to Visit for Tourists

Canada runs from Atlantic cliffs to misty Pacific woods - covering nearly 10 million sq km, making it the second-biggest country on Earth. It mixes First Nations roots with old French castles, UK-style government, and wild lands where grizzlies, polar bears, and hundreds of birds live free. Made up of ten provinces and three regions, this two-language nation packs city energy, towering Rockies, and northern lights into one trip. Here’s a full look at what’s worth doing in Canada, highlighting standout spots with background stories, time-of-year advice, pricing in CAD and USD, travel planning help, and eco-smart moves that beat out most online guides

Hike Banff National Park's Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

Canada’s oldest national park opened in 1885 - home to Lake Louise, where canoe trips go for CAD 145 each hour beneath the icy flow of Victoria Glacier. Instead of driving, catch a Parks Canada bus to Moraine Lake between June and October - it costs just CAD 8 - to see the Valley of the Ten Peaks reflected in milky blue water shaped by mountain dust. When winter hits, explore Johnston Canyon on foot to witness towering frozen falls. Or ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for views at a cost of CAD 64

Historical Depth: After 1883, hot springs were found - long before that, Stoney Nakoda people lived here, fishing for thousands of years. Logistics: Stay in Banff town where hotels start at CAD 250; get around using Brewster buses costing about CAD 50. Jun-Sep brings crowds; if visiting in winter, rent snowshoes for roughly CAD 40. Families: Try a picnic on canoes through Fairmont - or save money by camping from CAD 30 nightly. Sustainable: Stick to Leave No Trace rules while out there; don’t forget grizzly spray, rents for CAD 45

Marvel at Niagara Falls' Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind

Horseshoe Falls drops 57 meters with 2,800 cubic meters of water each second - pushing the Hornblower cruise through thick mist at CAD 42, rain gear included. Down below, the Journey Behind Falls paths soak you after walking 125 meters under for CAD 25. Over near Niagara-on-the-Lake, more than 150 vineyards serve up cold pours of icewine, tastings around CAD 10

Found back in 1678 by La Salle, it became a go-to spot for newlyweds from the 1800s on. To get there, you can take VIA Rail from Toronto - about two hours, costs around $60; boat rides run between June and October. Try the zipline for $79 or hit up the kid-friendly butterfly house at $20. For eco-conscious travelers, look into tours that focus on clean energy

Wander Quebec City's Fairmont Château Frontenac and Old Walled Streets

Near the St Lawrence River sits North America’s sole fortified town - named a UNESCO site back in 1985. Perched above it stands Château Frontenac, built in 1893 and often snapped by cameras across Canada. Along Terrasse Dufferin, a wooden walkway glides past walls from the 1690s. Down in Petit-Champlain, stone paths lead to a hidden pastry shop known for its crème beans

French roots since 1608; took a hit in 1759 during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Get around by funicular for 4 bucks, catch the February Carnaval when snow turns into wild ice art. Stay in cozy B&Bs at about 200 dollars per night, grab greasy poutine for just 15. Bundle up - temps drop to -20 - and check out local Indigenous artists selling honest handmade goods.

Explore Vancouver's Stanley Park Seawall and Granville Island

Stanley Park’s 405 hectares wrap around a 9-kilometer seawall where you can rent bikes for ten bucks an hour. Ride by towering totem poles, then spot beluga whales at the aquarium - tickets cost forty dollars. Keep going till you hit Second Beach and its outdoor swimming pool. Over on Granville Island, the public market bustles with fifty stalls dishing out smoked salmon gravlax plus warm Indigenous bannock

City woods: Carvings from Chief Mungo Martin (1960s). Getting around: Aquabus costs 6 bucks; shows off fireworks when it’s warm. Flights on water cost 160; cheap beds run about 40. Green moves: Rent bikes through Mobi, just five a day

Drive Icefields Parkway's Athabasca Glacier and Peyto Lake

230 km linking Alberta and BC feels like Norway’s wilds - glass-floored Skywalk at Columbia Icefields costs 40 bucks. See glaciers from the Glacier Skywalk, then spot Peyto’s wolf-shaped lake glowing bright blue. Take a boat on Maligne Lake to reach Spirit Island; that ride sets you back 75 dollars.

Geology shows leftover ice rivers from ancient cold times - around 300 still hang on. Hit the road between Banff and Jasper using a shared ride, costs about C$100, runs June through October. Plug-in spots available for electric cars along the way. Watch out for animal traffic - often big-horned sheep slow things down. Camping? Roughly C$30 per spot for those who love sleeping outdoors

Spot Polar Bears and Belugas in Churchill, Manitoba

Beluga capital - around 60,000 whales show up in summer; instead of regular tours, tundra buggies cost CAD 600, run from October to November, follow polar bears; northern lights? Best seen mid-winter. Then there’s Prince of Wales Fort, built back in 1717, used by Hudson’s Bay Company for fur trading.

Arctic Edge: Tours led by Inuit guides. Get there via flight from Winnipeg - about a grand round trip; cold-weather kit costs fifty bucks to rent. Keep space between you and animals - it’s the right move; flights balanced with eco credits help less harm.

Cruise Bay of Fundy Tidal Bore and Hopewell Rocks

At low tide, giant waves - up to 16 meters high - shape the Hopewell Rocks; explore them on foot. Try bore rafting if you like thrills - it costs around CAD 60. For hiking, head to Fundy National Park - a day pass is about CAD 10.

Tidal Science: The pull between the moon and Earth gets strong. When: Use tide chart apps from June to October. Kayaks cost 70 bucks; lobster meals are around 40. Watch nature - climbing rocks isn't allowed.

Bike Prince Edward Island's Green Gables and Red Beaches

Confederation Trail - a 273-km path on old rail lines - runs past the Anne of Green Gables site, which costs CAD 8.25 to enter; meanwhile, Cavendish Beach shows off its red-tinted sand where piping plovers make their home.

Literary roots go back to L.M. Montgomery’s 1908 book. Jump from island to island - bridge fee is about CAD 50 round trip. Grab a bike for CAD 30 each day if you wanna explore more. Feast on mussels for just CAD 25. Check out local family farms, entry costs around CAD 15.

Summit Gros Morne's Tablelands and Western Brook Pond Fjords

UNESCO site where Earth’s insides show - hike the Tablelands, see steaming peridotite; ride a boat through the fjord, spot whales, costs 80 bucks, takes two hours.

Tectonic plates shifted 485 million years back when continents crashed together. In Newfoundland, you can fly into Deer Lake - the best time is summer, from July through September. Stay at small guest spots costing around 150 Canadian dollars per night. Skip typical tours instead join residents gathering wild berries using eco-friendly ways.

Stroll Toronto's CN Tower, Distillery District, and Kensington Market

At 553 meters, the CN Tower’s EdgeWalk drops you - harnessed - for CAD 225. Instead of whiskey, old brick vaults in the Distillery District brew craft beer today. Meanwhile, Kensington Market sells retro records in alleyways covered in street art.

Skyline shaped by the '76 Expo. Riding the TTC? Day fare’s $13.50; grab a shawarma feast for fifteen bucks instead. Pride events roll through June.

Kayak Haida Gwaii Totem Poles and Watchmen Trails

Queen Charlotte Islands’ old Haida houses at SGang Gwaay sit by towering 17-meter poles; explore them via kayak in Gwaii Haanas - about CAD 1,200 for five days if allowed. Local Watchmen, from the First Nations, share stories of Raven legends along the way.

First Nations craft: Haida stone carvings. Far-off spot reached by plane from Sandspit - flights run June through September. Stay at eco-lodges for about 300 Canadian dollars or camp lightly on the land.

Chase Northern Lights in Yukon Whitehorse

Klondike Gold Rush paths from 1896; check out the Yukon Wildlife Spot - about CAD 20 for moose or lynx views. Northern lights are strongest between September and April, best seen under Kluane’s clear night sky.

Gold rush times: ride the SS Klondike paddleboat. Cold months: plane trips cost $400; mushing behind dogs runs $200. Eco-friendly twist: watch animals without using fur - opt for synthetic covers instead.

Whale Watch in Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island

BC’s Johnstone Strait orcas (July–Aug, $160 on Zodiac boats); instead of July try August for clearer water. Spot grizzlies chasing salmon come September. Stay overnight on raised huts - $250 per cabin.

Sea life: 26 killer whale groups stay here. The island? Boat ride costs 50 bucks; rent a kayak for 60. Green tech: engines that won’t harm whales.

Float Manitoba's Churchill Tundra Lodges for Bears

Glass domes high up cost $1,200 a night - spot more than 1,000 bears from there. Beluga-viewing kayak trips with clear tops run in July, about $300.

Polar frontier - climate watcher. North lands: train from Winnipeg, $300 via VIA Rail; keep clear by design.

Historian’s take on Canada’s cultural layers: Back in 1980, Haida artist Bill Reid carved Spirit of Haida Gwaii in bronze - there he said the shapes show a lively clash of characters forming today’s diverse nation. That tension? It also mirrors how First Peoples have held strong over time, visible even in places such as Gros Morne.

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Check out our Canada eSIM tips to get signals from the Rocky Mountains up into the Arctic.

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FAQs: Top Things to Do in Canada

What’s worth checking out in Canada if you’re visiting for the very first time?

Banff Lake Louise trails, then the Niagara boat ride instead of just walking. Explore old Quebec’s castle-like streets or stroll Vancouver’s ocean path. Take a road trip along Icefields Parkway for views that stick. Ride VIA trains between provinces - roughly two to three weeks feels about right.

Top moment for activities across Canada?

Hike the Rockies or hit parks from June till September. Try Whistler in winter - or catch Churchill’s northern lights. Explore Atlantic shores when tides are high in summer. Skip the north if temps drop below -30°C.

What can you do in Canada while traveling with children?

Niagara boats - Banff cable cars... PEI shorelines; aquarium dolphins - orca sightings in Jasper parks.

Budget things to do in Canada?

National park tickets cost around 150 bucks per family, hostel beds sit at roughly 40 dollars, street food portions run about fifteen Canadian, while oceanfront paths don’t charge a dime.

What’s there to explore in Canada outside city limits?

Rugged trails, wild river surges, paddling narrow seas, cabins where bears roam, hunting northern lights deep in untouched land.