A lodge in a remote rainforest, a town with more polar bears than people, and a train across the middle of the country. There are things to see here like no other.
If you're searching for the best things to do in Canada, you'll quickly hear that Niagara Falls, Banff National Park, and Lake Louise are the best things to see on a Canada vacation. While we love those spots, we want to give you a bigger list to choose from, and some unique options to add to your trip. And, when you're in those popular spots, our travel experts can help you with tips to see them the best possible way.
27 Best Things to Do in Canada
We've curated our 27 favorite Canadian experiences that highlight the very best this country has to offer. Along with each thing to do, we've included our best tour featuring it. That way, you know how to do it, and what you'll see along the way.
Rocky Mountaineer crossing the Bow Valley | Credit: Rocky Mountaineer
1. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer | Canadian Rockies
The Rocky Mountaineer is an ultra-luxurious two-day train through the Canadian Rockies. Experiencing the Canadian Rockies this way is undoubtedly a must-do for anyone visiting Canada.
Onboard, you'll see lakes, waterfalls, peaks, and valleys all from domed-glass windows. Alongside the views, warm Hosts tell stories of the things you see, and fine dining — either served to your seat or in the lower-level dining car — keeps you well-fed.
For route choices, see: Rocky Mountaineer Train Trips: Top Routes & Packages
For more information about the onboard experience, see: What to Expect Onboard a Rocky Mountaineer Train
Let us take you there: Signature Canadian Rockies by Train
Walking on Athabasca Glacier | Credit: Pursuit Collection
2. Walk on a Glacier | Jasper National Park
In Jasper National Park, you can walk on the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefield. You will journey onto the ice on an Ice Explorer, before disembarking to safely walk across the ancient glacier ice. Tip: If you bring an empty water bottle, you will have the opportunity to fill it with water direct from the source.
The glacier is approximately halfway along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most beautiful drives in Canada lined with sweeping views of dramatic mountains and wide valleys.
Let us take you there: Western Canada Highlights Train Tour
Niagara-on-the-Lake corner | Credit: Dalma Dioszegi on Unsplash
3. Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake | Niagara Falls
No list of things to do in Canada would be complete without Niagara Falls — it is Canada's most visited destination after all. And, while we think you should go see the Horseshoe Falls, a lesser-known gem nearby takes our top spot. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small, charming lakefront town just half an hour away from Niagara Falls, and makes a great addition to your time in the area.
Let us take you there: Grand Canadian Train Journey
Heli-hiking in the Bugaboos | Credit: CMH
4. Heli-Hike Backcountry Mountains | British Columbia
Backcountry hiking is an introduction to a lesser-visited Canada, where you will travel far from civilization into the solitude of uninterrupted nature. But reaching it is often difficult.
We recommend heli-hiking from a backcountry lodge. From places like Bugaboos Lodge, helicopter rides take you even deeper into the mountains to hike ridges, alpine meadows, and stunning viewpoints. After you land, you'll hike with expert guides in groups matched to ability, letting you see these exclusive backcountry views in both safety and comfort.
Let us take you there: Journey Through the Clouds Rail & Heli Adventure
The Cabot Trail around Cape Breton | Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Adam Hill
5. Drive the Cabot Trail | Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, you can drive one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world. The Cabot Trail circles the northern part of Cape Breton Island, with stunning views sweeping over the ocean on one side, and the Cape Breton Highlands on your other. Along the way, you'll find clifftop hikes, and see remote fishing villages.
Let us take you there: Atlantic Maritimes Explorer by Rail and ask your Travel Designer for time in Cape Breton.
The Skyline Trail on Cape Breton | Credit: Elyse Turton on Unsplash
6. Hike the Skyline Trail | Cape Breton
While driving the Cabot Trail, a must-stop is the Skyline Trail — so much so that it is a separate item on our list. Located in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the Skyline Trail offers dramatic views over the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the top of a headland. The walk is easy, and extremely rewarding.
Let us take you there: Atlantic Maritimes Explorer by Rail and ask your Travel Designer for time in Cape Breton.
The Aurora Borealis over the Northern Lights Resort and Spa | Credit: Northern Lights Resort and Spa
7. See the Northern Lights | the Yukon
If you want to see the Northern Lights in North America, the Yukon, Canada, is the perfect destination. Through winter, you can stay in remote wooden cabins or glass-fronted chalets while you wait for the lights to brighten up the long nights, far from the light pollution of big towns or cities. Not only can you see the Aurora Borealis here, but you can experience Canada in its winter wonderland form.
Book with our partner brand, Canada By Design: Northern Lights Resort & Spa | Winter at it's Best | Canada By Design
The Banff Gondola | Credit: Pursuit Collection
8. Take a Gondola Ride | Banff National Park
When visiting Canada, you have to see Banff National Park. It is a classic destination for a reason — beautiful lakes between postcard-perfect peaks and alpine towns dotted between. But, while there, the best way to see Banff National Park is to take the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain.
From the 8-minute ride, you gain the quickest access to mountaintop views, an easy ridgetop boardwalk, and the chance to dine in Sky Bistro overlooking Bow Valley.
Let us take you there: Canadian Rockies Scenic Delights by Road & Rail
Three orcas off the coast of Vancouver Island | Credit: Destination BC / Reuben Krabbe
9. See Orcas | British Columbia
The coasts of Vancouver Island are home to orcas — also known as killer whales — year-round. For the best chance of spotting an orca, we recommend a dedicated whale-watching tour, as each operator will journey to where the orcas are, rather than chance across them. But they can be spotted from both dedicated tours and, for lucky visitors, the ferries connecting the island and the mainland.
Our favorite tour leaves from Tofino to voyage through Clayoquot Sound in search of whales. We position our wildlife-watching itinerary during peak viewing season — from April to October — so that you have the best chance of exceptional views.
Book with our partner brand, Canada By Design: Grizzlies, Orcas and Black Bears Vancouver Island Road Trip | Canada By Design
Christmas in Fairmont Banff Springs | Credit: Fairmont
10. Celebrate Christmas in Canada | Banff National Park
Canada's pristine pine forests, snow-covered landscapes, and frozen lakes make the perfect backdrop for a magical Christmas. And the stunning Fairmont Banff Springs — the Castle in the Rockies — is the perfect place to spend Christmas Day.
An added bonus is arriving to the winter wonderland by way of snow train: VIA Rail's Canadian train running through snowy landscapes and past frozen lakes. Onboard Canada's own Polar Express, you'll enjoy cozy sleeper cabins and hot chocolate under the viewing domes as the winter rushes by.
Let us take you there: Christmas in the Canadian Rockies Winter Rail Vacation
A spirit bear and her cub in the Great Bear Rainforest | Credit: Spirit Bear Lodge / Cael Cook
11. Spot a Spirit Bear | Great Bear Rainforest
To see a spirit bear — an extremely rare white subspecies of black bear found only in small pockets of British Columbia — you have to venture to remote coastal fjords in the Great Bear Rainforest. There, you'll stay at a wilderness lodge with just 12 rooms in a remote community.
At the aptly named Spirit Bear Lodge, the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation welcomes you to their Traditional Territory, and offers the chance to spot spirit bears in their natural habitat. The bears are difficult to spot, preferring more remote locations to most others, so the Indigenous guides' traditional knowledge of the land and the spirit bears' movements is key to encountering these elusive creatures.
Book with our partner brand, Canada By Design: Spirit Bears of the Great Bear Rain Forest | Canada By Design
A walking safari to see polar bears in Churchill | Credit: Churchill Wild
12. Experience a Polar Bear Safari | Churchill, Manitoba
Churchill, Manitoba is one of the best places to see polar bears in Canada, if not the world. Dubbed the 'Polar Bear Capital of the World,' and having more polar bears than people, Churchill, Manitoba, offers the chance to set out on a unique safari across the tundra to uncover the polar bears roaming the Great White North.
From the town, we fly you further into the tundra to stay at a lodge in the direct path of the Great Polar Bear Migration. There, you will have the chance to see them wander by the lodge before you venture out on a walking safari with an expert guide.
Book with our partner brand, Canada By Design: Canada Polar Bear Safaris | Birds, Bears and Belugas | Canada By Design and ask your Travel Designer for rail options to Churchill
A quaint square in Quebec City | Credit: Destination Canada
13. Wander the Old Streets | Quebec City
Quebec City is a magical destination in both summer and winter. Narrow cobblestone streets weave through 17th-century architecture. Quebec City truly feels like a little slice of Europe in Canada.
However, our favorite time to visit is in winter, when twinkling lights and trees line the Rue du Petit-Champlain and surrounding streets, German markets are scattered through the city, and an ice rink takes over Place D'Youville, just beside the Old City walls.
Let us take you there: Montreal & Quebec City by Rail | Winter Splendors
The rugged Pacific Rim on Vancouver Island | Credit: Tourism Vancouver Island / Tourism Ucluelet / Tyler Cave
14. Go Storm Watching | Tofino
Some of the best coastal storm watching in the world is found in Tofino on Vancouver Island. The town is set on the Pacific Rim and has exposed, wild beaches lined with rugged rocks and temperate rainforest.
In the summer, Tofino is a surf destination. But once fall arrives the large waves begin crashing into the rocks in dramatic waves. There are few better places to experience the storms than from waterfront hotels like the Wickaninnish Inn and Black Rock Resort, which have expansive windows overlooking the Pacific.
We recommend booking your trip later in the year — October onwards — for the best chance of storm-watching.
Let us take you there: Rail & Drive through the Canadian Rockies and ask your Travel Designer for extra time to explore Vancouver Island.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise on the edge of the water | Credit: Rocky Mountaineer
15. Spend the Night at Lake Louise
Lake Louise is one of the most iconic places in the Canadian Rockies, but is known for being busy during the summer days.
However, there's an easy way to beat the crowds: spend the night at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
At both dinner and breakfast, you'll have the opportunity to dine overlooking sunset and sunrise on the water. You'll see the lake at night, long after visitors have left, and have it to yourself in the early hours of the morning.
Let us take you there: Reflections of the West | Luxury Train to the Canadian Rockies
VIA Rail's Canadian train passing through the Rockies | Credit: VIA Rail
16. Take the Train Across Canada
The train across Canada runs between Vancouver and Toronto. You will travel across the country on VIA Rail's iconic The Canadian, a vintage steel sleeper train, with domed viewing cars, private cabins, and a dedicated dining car serving freshly made meals.
As you traverse five provinces in four days, you will see small pockets of Canada that few visitors experience. And connecting options in Toronto let you continue on to Halifax on the Canadian East Coast, letting you say you have traveled Canada coast-to-coast by rail.
On the train journey across Canada, you will come to understand that Canada is truly made for slow travel.
For more information, see: Train Across Canada: How to Plan the Journey of a Lifetime
Let us take you there: Canadian Trails Rail Across Canada | Toronto to Vancouver
An iceberg passing by the Avalon region of Newfoundland | Credit: Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
17. See Icebergs | Newfoundland
Every spring, visitors can witness icebergs drifting down 'Iceberg Alley' in May and June as they pass the eastern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The icebergs can often be seen from the land — the best locations being the towns of Twillingate or Trinity on the Bonavista Peninsula, or Fogo Island — or from boat trips into the ocean to get up close.
Let us take you there: Atlantic Maritimes Explorer by Rail and ask your Travel Designer to extend your time in the Maritimes to visit Newfoundland.
A boat tour of Vancouver passing by Sunset Beach | Credit: Vancouver Water Adventures
18. Take a City Boat Tour | Vancouver
See the meeting of ocean, mountains, and city from sea level on a Zodiak boat tour of Vancouver. And then, venture along Howe Sound to see the neighboring Bowen Island and the hard-to-reach places just beyond the city.
On a boat tour, you can see just how close Vancouver really is to the nature around it. Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled for marine wildlife as you go — your stunning water views may come with otters, sea lions, or orcas.
Let us take you there: VIA Rail Vancouver to Toronto Train
Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park | Credit: Barrett & MacKay Photo
19. Visit the Earth's Mantle | Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of magnificent geological features formed by moving tectonic plates and ancient glaciers. You'll find towering tablelands where the Earth's mantle surfaces above the crust in a martian landscape of red rock, and a vast landlocked freshwater fjord, Western Brook Pond.
Let us take you there: Atlantic Maritimes Explorer by Rail and ask your Travel Designer to extend your time in the Maritimes to visit Newfoundland.
Fireworks and fair food at Calgary Stampede | Credit: Nolan Gorniak on Unsplash
20. Attend Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is the world's largest outdoor rodeo and an event like no other in Canada. The Stampede features ten days of ranching heritage in the form of rodeos, chuckwagon races, agricultural showcases, and classic fair foods.
But it doesn't stop there.
Pancake breakfasts announce each morning, and impressive concerts at the Coca-Cola Stage and fireworks close out each night. Armed with a cowboy hat and your finest denim, be ready to experience Canada's western welcome.
Let us help you see it: Calgary Stampede Train through the Canadian Rockies
Green Gables Heritage Place | Credit: Tourism PEI / Adam Hill
21. Experience Anne of Green Gables | Prince Edward Island
Anne of Green Gables is a famed 1900s novel set on the idyllic Prince Edward Island. PEI continues to be as beautiful as the day it was written, with lush orchards and rolling farmland connecting seaside villages.
Fans of the book can visit Green Gables Heritage Place for a recreation of Anne's famous home, and stroll the neighboring Lake of Shining Waters. But regardless of whether you are a fan of the novel, the slower pace of life found among living history is magnetic.
Let us take you there: Atlantic Maritimes Explorer by Rail
The Public Market at Granville Island | Credit: Terry Lai on Unsplash
22. Take a Granville Island Food Tour | Vancouver
Granville Island is an industrial-island-turned-bustling-market filled with merchants selling local and artisan goods. The Public Market is filled with delights to discover, but that can leave first-time visitors overwhelmed. However, paired with a local, you can venture through it all on a foodie tour, stopping at all the best and oldest vendors in the market. Through your time here, you'll learn the history of the market while tasting the foods that make it what it is today. Our favorite? The local maple-smoked salmon, which can be purchased after the tour with a discount.
Let us help you see it: Grizzly Bears & the Canadian Rockies Rail Vacation
A totem pole at Knight Inlet Lodge | Credit: Knight Inlet Lodge
23. Discover Indigenous Culture | Vancouver Island
Indigenous peoples have inhabited Canada since time immemorial, much, much longer than any settler. Their connection to the land and understanding of its ways are unmatched. The best way to experience this is through Indigenous-owned, Indigenous-run tours and lodges.
Knight Inlet Lodge is one such place, owned by five partner First Nations — Da’naxda’xw Awaetlala, Mamalilikulla, Tlowitsis, Wei Wai Kum, and K’ómoks. During your stay, they share their ancient cultural knowledge of the lands, introduce you to the wilderness, and show you the wildlife that inhabits it.
Let us help you see it: Grizzly Bears & the Canadian Rockies Rail Vacation
A humpback whale seen on a tour from Brier Island in the Bay of Fundy | Credit: Natasha on Unsplash
24. Go Whale Watching | Bay of Fundy
While Canada's West Coast is the place to go to see orcas, the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia is the place to go for the largest variety of whales. Over 12 species of whales inhabit these waters, which move with the world's strongest tides, but the most popular are the humpbacks, which are found in abundance from June until August.
Let us take you there: Atlantic Maritimes Explorer by Rail and ask your Travel Designer to include a whale-watching tour in your visit.
Fogo Island Inn | Credit: Destination Canada
25. Stay at a One-of-a-Kind Luxury Inn | Fogo Island, Newfoundland
Fogo Island Inn is perhaps the most beautiful hotel in Canada. The rugged landscapes surrounding the inn are outstanding, and the tight-knit community you're welcomed into by your local 'Community Host' is utterly charming. At the inn itself, high-end flourishes are seamlessly blended into your experience. The building is striking; the furniture, handcrafted; and the food, almost entirely Fogo-sourced fine dining. Though it comes at a price tag, this is a stay like no other.
Let our partner brand, Canada By Design, arrange your stay: Fogo Island Inn | Luxury Inn at the Edge of the Earth | Canada By Design
Two bathers in Banff Upper Hot Springs | Credit: Rocky Mountaineer
26. Soak in Natural Hot Springs | Canadian Rockies
The Rockies hide several hot springs through the mountains overlooking sweeping landscapes or nestled in the tree-lined valleys. The most popular, and our favorite to recommend, are Banff Upper Hot Springs, set on the side of Sulphur Mountain, and Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park.
As the origin of tourism in the Rockies, they are still a much-loved way of experiencing the region, and the perfect way to relax along your Canadian adventure.
Let us help you see it: Western Canada Highlights Train Tour | Rocky Mountaineer Train
The food at Schwartz's Deli in Montreal, including poutine, smoked meat sandwiches, and fries | Credit| Destination Canada
27. Try Uniquely Canadian Dishes | Everywhere
Canada has an expansive food culture that has been greatly influenced by immigration over the years. While you can find some incredible international food in Canada, especially in cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, some of the most fun to try are the Canadian classics found few other places on Earth.
We recommend:
- Poutine — french fries, gravy, and cheese curds
- Caesar cocktails — Clamato (clam-tomato) juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and spices meet vodka to make a unique cocktail. Try them in Calgary where they were first made.
- Nanaimo Bars — a chocolate-coconut crumb base, a custard buttercream, and a chocolate topping
- Butter tarts — bite-sized tarts filled with a brown sugar butter filling and, often, raisins or nuts
- Maple Taffy — maple syrup cooled until firm on snow and rolled onto a lollipop stick
While we can't point you to a specific itinerary that features these exact treats, we can assure you that you will undoubtedly stumble across them along your trip.
The Canada Rail Vacations team taking the trains in Canada
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Booking with Canada Rail Vacations means working one-on-one with your own travel expert to craft the trip that is right for you. We begin with a base itinerary, which your personal Travel Designer will then tailor and customize until it is uniquely yours. Whether you're looking for a road trip, a rail adventure, a wildlife safari, or a wilderness lodge stay, we'll help you find the places you love, and experiences that will stay with you for years to come.
FAQs
What is the best thing to do in Canada?
Some of the best things to do while in Canada are rail trips, wildlife viewing tours, and outdoor activities. However, it depends on your personal interests.
What is the #1 tourist attraction in Canada?
The most popular tourist attraction in Canada is Niagara Falls, which has around 13 million visitors a year. Other popular places include Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and Vancouver.
What is the prettiest place in Canada?
It depends on your interests, but some of the prettiest places in Canada include Banff in the Rockies, Peggy’s Cove village in Nova Scotia, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Where should I go in Canada?
Where you should go in Canada is not a one-size-fits-all answer — there are so many incredible places to visit in Canada. If you want to know where to go in Canada, Canada Rail Vacations’ Travel Designers will work with you person-to-person to craft the perfect trip for you. That means exactly where you want, when you want, in the way you want.