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Fairmont Royal York, Canada

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Canada

Updated 1 October 2026 · 16 things to do

Pictured: Fairmont Royal York

Canada is enormous, polite and spectacular. The east is cities, history and French charm: a glass-towered Toronto, a cobbled Montreal, a walled Quebec City. The west is mountains, rainforest and ocean, with Vancouver sitting between peaks and sea. In between, an unbelievable amount of wilderness.

Because of the scale, the best plan is to pick one side. The east works well by train and hire car, with Niagara Falls thrown in. The west pairs a Vancouver city break with Victoria, Whistler or the Rockies. Do both and you'll need two weeks and a good playlist.

Don't miss

  1. 1Niagara Falls
  2. 2CN Tower
  3. 3Old Quebec and the Château Frontenac
  4. 4Stanley Park
  5. 5Banff and Lake Louise

Toronto and Niagara

Canada's biggest city and its most famous waterfall, a short drive apart.

  1. CN Tower

    Landmark

    The CN Tower rising above Toronto
    Photo: Scott Webb scottwebb, CC0

    Toronto's skyline icon rises more than half a kilometre above the lakefront. A lift whisks you up to an observation level with a glass floor, and the brave can take an EdgeWalk around the outside. On a clear day, you can see the lake stretching to the horizon.

    Tip: Book a timed ticket ahead, and go on a clear day for the best view.

  2. St. Lawrence Market

    Market

    The St. Lawrence Market building in Toronto
    Photo: – Wladyslaw [Disk.], CC BY-SA 3.0

    A historic food market in the heart of old Toronto, with butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers and bakers under one roof. Try a peameal bacon sandwich, the city's local speciality, and take a tour of the produce stalls.

  3. Niagara Falls

    Nature

    The curve of the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara
    Photo: Photo (c)2007 Helen Filatova, CC BY 2.0

    The thunder of the Horseshoe Falls carries a long way, and the sight of that vast curve of water pouring over the edge never gets old. Boat trips take you into the spray at the base, walkways lead you behind the falls, and at night the cascade is lit up in colour.

    Tip: Pack a rain jacket if you are going near the water. You will get wet.

  4. Niagara-on-the-Lake

    Day trip

    A pretty 19th-century town at the mouth of the Niagara River, with a main street of historic buildings, flower baskets and a clock tower, and wineries in the surrounding orchards and vineyards. It's also home to the Shaw Festival theatre season.

Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa

  1. Old Montreal and Notre-Dame Basilica

    Neighbourhood

    The blue vaulted interior of Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The oldest part of Montreal is a district of cobbled streets, grey-stone buildings and horse-drawn carriages, running down to the Old Port. Step inside Notre-Dame Basilica and you'll gasp: the vaulted ceiling is deep blue and studded with golden stars.

  2. Old Quebec and the Château Frontenac

    Neighbourhood

    The Château Frontenac at dusk in Quebec City
    Photo: Wilfredor, CC0

    The walled old town of Quebec City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and feels more European than almost anywhere in North America. The turreted Château Frontenac hotel crowns the cliff above the St Lawrence River. Stroll Dufferin Terrace, ride the funicular to the Petit Champlain quarter and get lost in the lanes.

  3. Montmorency Falls

    Nature

    Just outside Quebec City, a ribbon of water drops over a cliff into the St Lawrence, higher than Niagara Falls. A cable car and a footbridge across the top let you see it from above, and stairs lead to the base.

  4. Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal

    Landmark

    The Centre Block and Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa
    Photo: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Ottawa's Gothic Revival Parliament buildings, topped by the Peace Tower, sit on a bluff above the river. Nearby, the Rideau Canal is a leafy, UNESCO-listed waterway that turns into a skating route when it freezes in winter.

The west coast

  1. Stanley Park

    Nature

    Stanley Park in Vancouver
    Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A huge, forested park on Vancouver's doorstep, ringed by a seawall path for walking or cycling, with beaches, totem poles and big views of the mountains and the city. It's the best way to see the city's natural side without leaving town.

    Tip: Hire a bike and ride the seawall counter-clockwise.

  2. Granville Island

    Market

    Looking towards the Granville Street Bridge from Granville Island
    Photo: Xicotencatl, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A former industrial spit of land beneath the Granville Street Bridge, now home to a lively public market, craft studios, theatres, breweries and restaurants. Hop on a tiny ferry across False Creek to arrive in style.

  3. Butchart Gardens

    Nature

    The Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens near Victoria
    Photo: Warfieldian, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Near Victoria on Vancouver Island, these gardens were created from a worked-out limestone quarry, and the Sunken Garden is the showpiece. It's a riot of colour in summer, and strikingly pretty at other times too.

  4. Whistler

    Day trip

    North of Vancouver along the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway, Whistler is a mountain resort famed for skiing and snowboarding. In summer it turns to hiking, mountain biking and cable-car rides between the peaks. It was a host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

  5. Banff and Lake Louise

    Nature

    Lake Louise in Banff National Park
    Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The Canadian Rockies at their finest: the mountain town of Banff, and the turquoise glacial water of Lake Louise with a ring of peaks behind. Calgary is the usual gateway, and hiking, wildlife viewing and hot springs fill the days.

    Tip: Access to the most popular spots is managed in summer, so check shuttle and parking arrangements before you go.

Eat and drink

  1. Poutine

    Food

    Quebec's great contribution to comfort food: chips topped with squeaky cheese curds and hot gravy. It's messy, salty and wonderful, and you can find it everywhere from diners to smart restaurants.

  2. Montreal bagels

    Food

    Montreal bagels
    Photo: Coastal Elite from Halifax, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Smaller, sweeter and chewier than their New York cousins, Montreal bagels are hand-rolled, boiled in honey water and baked in wood-fired ovens. Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur are the best-known names. Eat one warm, straight from the oven.

  3. Okanagan wineries

    Food

    A vineyard overlooking Okanagan Lake near Kelowna
    Photo: Kelowna09, CC BY 2.0

    In the interior of British Columbia, the Okanagan Valley is lakeside wine country with sunny summers, orchards and vineyards that produce excellent whites, reds and sparkling wines. Visit a few wineries and book a driver for the day.

Where to stay in Canada

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Canada →

Getting around

Canada is vast, so fly between the east and the west. In the east, trains link Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, and hire cars are good for Niagara. In the west, Vancouver is walkable and well served by transit, and a car is useful for Whistler, Vancouver Island and the Rockies.

When to go

Summer is the best time for the cities, the coast and the Rockies. September and October bring autumn colour, especially around Quebec and Ontario. Winters are cold and snowy but ideal for skiing and for Quebec City's winter charm.

Questions about visiting Canada

What is Canada best known for?
Niagara Falls, the Rocky Mountains, the CN Tower, maple syrup, poutine, and cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
How many days do you need in Canada?
Ten days covers one side well, such as Toronto, Niagara, Montreal and Quebec City, or Vancouver, Victoria and the Rockies. Two weeks lets you do more.
Is Canada worth visiting?
Yes. Great cities, spectacular nature, friendly locals and good food make it one of the best long-haul trips from the UK.
What is there to do in Canada with kids?
Niagara Falls, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Butchart Gardens and wildlife-spotting in the Rockies are big hits with families.
Do you need a car in Canada?
In big cities, no. For Niagara, Vancouver Island, Whistler and the Rockies, a hire car is the easiest way to get around.

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