Best Places to Visit in Canada 2026
Top destinations, hidden gems, costs, and tips for planning your trip
Where
Banff National Park, Quebec City, and Vancouver are the top three must-visit places in Canada for 2026. Each offers a totally different side of the country, from the turquoise lakes of the Rockies to cobblestone streets in French Canada and buzzing Pacific neighborhoods. Put all three on your list for a trip that covers the best places to visit in Canada.
Your 2026 Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Canada
The best places to visit in Canada for 2026 include Banff National Park, Vancouver, and Quebec City for their mix of natural wonder, urban energy, and historic charm. If you're planning a trip, these destinations top almost every serious Canada travel guide. I've traveled from Newfoundland to the Yukon over the past five years, and every region surprised me in a different way. For all the practical stuff, including real-time flight deals, you can search flights on Travorio to any Canadian city. This guide pulls together not only the can't-miss classics but also the hidden gems and real travel tips you need for 2026.
Most people think of Canada as endless forests and wilderness, but it's got some of the most diverse cities and food scenes on the continent. You can have poutine at Montréal's La Banquise at midnight, wake up to the Rockies outside your window at Fairmont Banff Springs, and be walking Stanley Park's seawall in Vancouver by the end of the week. If you're looking for where to go in Canada, this guide covers it all, including month-by-month advice, how to get around, and the real costs. Plus, I’ll show you the easiest ways to book with crypto, Sezzle, or PayPal if you’d rather pay over time.
Top Cities and Destinations in Canada
Banff National Park is the place most first-timers have in mind, and for good reason. The turquoise water at Lake Louise looks unreal, especially in late June. You can rent a canoe for about $145 CAD/hour, but the best views are actually on the 4km hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House, where a pot of tea will run you $10 CAD. Banff town itself has dozens of pubs and the Banff Upper Hot Springs, which are open year-round for $17.50 CAD. Most people fly into Calgary (YYC) and rent a car for the 90-minute drive.
Vancouver always surprises people with how much you can do in a day. Grab a bike from Spokes ($12 CAD/hour) and cruise around Stanley Park, or take the SeaBus to North Vancouver for views of the skyline and mountains. Granville Island Market is a must for smoked salmon and donuts from Lee's. The Fairmont Pacific Rim and the quirky Sylvia Hotel in the West End both have rooms with water views. Flights into YVR are frequent on Air Canada and WestJet, especially from LAX, SFO, or SEA.
Quebec City feels like Europe, with cobblestone alleys and 400-year-old stone buildings. Château Frontenac dominates the skyline, but the food scene is equally impressive. Try Le Lapin Sauté for braised rabbit or Chez Ashton for classic poutine. Most travelers stick to Old Quebec, but locals will tell you Limoilou has the best bakeries. VIA Rail connects Quebec City to Montreal in 3 hours, with fares from $39 CAD on sale.
Toronto is a city of neighborhoods, from the indie shops in Kensington Market to the glitzy Yorkville hotels. The CN Tower EdgeWalk is $195 CAD if you’re feeling brave, or just eat at 360 Restaurant for the same view. The AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) is free on Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) is the easiest if you’re coming from NYC, Porter Airlines runs frequent flights.
Hidden Gems in Canada
Fogo Island, Newfoundland, is as far from the beaten path as you can get. The Fogo Island Inn is world-famous (rooms start at $2,875 CAD/night, all-inclusive), but you don’t have to stay there to enjoy the wild coastlines and wooden saltbox houses. The trick is to book the Marine Atlantic ferry from Farewell, which takes about an hour and costs $25 CAD for a car.
Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec is popular with locals but still quiet by international standards. Percé Rock is the iconic sight, but the entire Forillon National Park area is all cliffs, lighthouses, and seals. Most people stay in Gaspé town or at one of the Auberge Internationale hostels (beds from $39 CAD). VIA Rail only runs here twice a week, so most rent a car in Quebec City.
Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta sits right on the Montana border. The Prince of Wales Hotel is the best-known stay, with rooms from $309 CAD in summer and views of the lake. You can kayak on Upper Waterton Lake for $50 CAD/hr or hike the Bear's Hump trail for a view over the entire village. Hikers love that the park connects directly to Glacier National Park in the US.
Tofino, on Vancouver Island, is a tiny surf town at the edge of the Pacific. The Pacific Rim Highway is a wild drive, but you’ll end up on beaches that stretch for miles. Tacofino’s original food truck is still parked behind a surf shop and usually has a line for fish tacos ($7 CAD). Most people fly to Victoria or Nanaimo and then drive 3-4 hours across the island.
Best Time to Visit Canada
The best time to visit Canada depends on what you want out of your trip and where you’re going. July and August are peak season almost everywhere, especially in the Rockies and Atlantic Canada, with Banff averaging 74°F (23°C) and Toronto hitting 79°F (26°C). Hotel prices in Banff can double in July, with even basic hostels running $130 CAD/night. If you want to avoid crowds, consider May-June or September, when trails are open but tour buses haven’t arrived in force.
Winter (December to March) is prime ski season in Whistler, Banff, and Mont Tremblant. Day passes at Whistler Blackcomb are $179 CAD, but early season in December or late March can see discounts, plus shorter lift lines. Quebec City is magical under snow, especially during Carnaval in February. For Northern Lights, head to Yellowknife in late January to March, when clear nights are common and hotel rooms average $125 CAD.
Spring (April to June) is when cities like Vancouver and Montreal come alive with festivals and cherry blossoms. Airfares from the US are often lowest in April, New York to Montreal can dip under $210 USD round-trip on Air Canada in shoulder season. The trick is to book accommodation early for Canada Day (July 1), when cities fill up fast.
Autumn (September to early October) is leaf-peeping season in places like Algonquin Park, Ontario. Temperatures are mild, with Calgary averaging 64°F (18°C) in September. Parks Canada usually keeps trails open until Canadian Thanksgiving (second Monday in October), but ferry schedules in the Maritimes start to wind down after September.
How to Get Around Canada
Most travelers underestimate just how big Canada is. For example, a flight from Toronto to Vancouver takes 5 hours, and you’ll cross three time zones. Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines run the most domestic routes, with frequent deals if you book 2-3 months out. If you’re flying from the US, look for direct routes to Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR), or Calgary (YYC).
VIA Rail is the country’s main train operator. The Toronto-Montreal-Quebec City corridor is the busiest, with trains every couple of hours and fares from $39 CAD if you book early. The Canadian train (Toronto to Vancouver) is legendary but slow: 4 nights, with sleeper berths from $1,400 CAD. Not many take it end-to-end, but the segment from Jasper to Vancouver is the most scenic.
Bus travel is patchy outside cities, but Megabus and Rider Express cover Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal with fares as low as $19 CAD. In BC, BC Ferries connects Vancouver to Victoria and the Gulf Islands, with foot passenger tickets from $18 CAD. Car rental is essential for the Rockies, Newfoundland, or the Maritimes, and prices jump during summer, expect $90+ CAD/day in Banff in July. Turo and Discount Car Rental are good bets for deals.
Within cities, transit is easy. Toronto’s TTC day pass is $13.50 CAD, Montreal’s STM pass is $11 CAD, and Vancouver’s Compass Card caps daily fares at $11.25 CAD. Most airports are linked by rapid transit: Vancouver’s SkyTrain takes 26 minutes from YVR to downtown for $9.45 CAD, and Toronto’s UP Express covers Pearson to Union Station in 25 minutes for $12.35 CAD.
How to Book Your Canada Trip
If you want to pay over time, Travorio lets you book flights and hotels with Sezzle (split into 4 payments, 0% interest if you’re in the US or Canada), PayPal Pay Later, or even 100+ cryptocurrencies from Bitcoin to Dogecoin. That means you can lock in lower fares before prices rise and pay the balance off in a way that fits your budget. Flights are searchable across all major airlines, including Air Canada, WestJet, United, and Delta, so you get real-time prices and flight times.
For hotels, pay later options mean you can reserve a room at The Fairmont Banff Springs, Le Germain Montreal, or The Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver right away without paying everything up front. Most properties on Travorio offer free cancellation, which is huge if you're planning around festivals or peak months when demand spikes.
Crypto payments are instant, and you’ll see the price in your chosen coin or token at checkout. This works for everything from boutique hotels in Quebec City to car rentals in Calgary. If you’re booking last-minute, you can filter by flexible payment options and see which properties or flights let you split the cost. That’s especially useful if you’re organizing a group trip or want to keep things off your credit report.
My advice: start with your flights, since those prices fluctuate the most. Once you’ve got your main arrival city booked, use Travorio to compare hotels and even local tours, with the option to pay over time if you need to. It’s the easiest way to plan a Canada trip in 2026 without worrying about unexpected costs.
Top 10 Destinations in Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered clearly and concisely
Banff National Park is the classic choice, especially for first-timers who want mountains and lakes. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the most photographed spots, and Banff town has dozens of hotels and restaurants. You can fly into Calgary (YYC) and drive 90 minutes to the park. Summer and early fall (June to September) are the best months for hiking and sightseeing.
Most travelers spend 7 to 14 days, depending on how much they want to see. A week lets you visit two major cities or one city plus a national park. If you want to cover the Rockies and a city like Vancouver or Toronto, plan for at least 10 days. Factor in travel time, Toronto to Vancouver is a 5-hour flight.
Late April to early June and October to early December tend to have the lowest hotel and flight prices. Airfare from New York to Montreal can drop to $210 USD round-trip in April. Hotels in Banff or Whistler are much cheaper in May or October, sometimes 40% less than peak summer or ski season. Avoid public holidays and festivals if you're on a tight budget.
US citizens only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which costs $7 CAD and is valid for five years. European and Australian travelers also use the eTA, but some countries require a full visitor visa. Check the official Canada immigration website before booking. The eTA is linked to your passport and takes minutes to apply online.
Canada is considered very safe, with low rates of violent crime in cities and tourist areas. Petty theft can happen in crowded places or transit stations, so keep an eye on your belongings. Emergency services are reliable, and hospitals in all cities speak English and French. The main risks are outdoor: wildlife in parks and winter driving conditions.
English and French are both official languages. Montreal and Quebec City use French for most signs and services, but you’ll get by with English in hotels and restaurants. Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary are very multilingual, with major immigrant communities and services in languages like Mandarin, Punjabi, and Tagalog. Learning a few French phrases helps in Quebec.
Backpackers can get by on $70-$120 USD per day, including hostel beds ($40-$65), transit, and cheap eats. Mid-range travelers should budget $180-$250 USD, covering 3-star hotels ($130-$180/night), restaurant meals ($15-$30), and transit. Car rental, tours, or park passes add extra costs, Banff’s park entry is $11 CAD/day per adult.
A classic 10-day route covers Vancouver, Banff/Jasper, and Calgary. Start in Vancouver, take a flight to Calgary, rent a car, and drive the Icefields Parkway to Jasper. Montreal and Quebec City pair well for food and history, connected by a 3-hour VIA Rail ride. If you prefer the East Coast, Halifax, Cape Breton, and the Bay of Fundy fit well into 7 days with a rental car.
Canada is very family-friendly, with kid-focused museums like Toronto’s Ontario Science Centre and Vancouver Aquarium. National parks have family passes (Banff: $22.50 CAD/day for up to 7 people), and most hotels offer free stays for kids under 12. Restaurants have kids' menus, and public transit offers discounts for children. Summer festivals and winter carnivals have activities for all ages.
Canada is great for solo travel, especially in cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, where hostels and group tours make it easy to meet people. VIA Rail and Megabus are solo-friendly for intercity travel. Hiking solo in parks is common, but always register at visitor centers and check trail conditions. Most neighborhoods in major cities are safe to walk at night, especially downtown and tourist areas.
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