The 10 Most Beautiful Places in Canada to Visit

April 27, 2018

Vermilion Lakes, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Canada is the second largest country by area in the world. and it boasts some incredible natural wonders. Waterfalls, beaches, grassy tundra, impressive cities and the Aurora Borealis.

Here are ten of the most beautiful travel destinations in the Great White North.

1. Quebec City

Château Frontenac, Quebec City

This jewel of the province of Quebec is the only walled city left in North America outside of Mexico. The people of Quebec City are French, and their city has a distinctly European feel, full of winding side streets, quaint cafes and delicious bistros. Don’t miss the exquisite Chateau Frontenac, built on the banks of the mighty Saint Lawrence river.

Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada

2. Cape Breton

If you like camping or hiking, this island on Canada’s Atlantic coast is the perfect choice for a trip. Boasting incredible views and a largely untouched landscape, Cape Breton is a tourist destination for the wilderness enthusiast. Make sure to drive the Cabot Trail that encircles the island — you’ll think you’re in Ireland or Scotland!

Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Canada

3. Banff National Park

Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the heart of Alberta, Banff is a go-to destination for winter sports lovers the world over. Skiers and snowboarders flock to the slopes of the region’s many mountains, and hikers and revelers enjoy the park’s trails and the town’s bars, respectively!

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Banff National Park, Canada

Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Canada

4. Lake Louise

Although this lake is technically within the borders of Banff National Park, its beauty warrants a solo post. The glacial lake is a stunning emerald colour, thanks to the rock flour draining off of several nearby glaciers.

Lake Louise

5. Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

The largest city in Canada’s northern territories at a paltry 27,000, Whitehorse offers visitors hundreds of outdoor activities in all seasons. Travellers can hunt in the valley’s forests, fish and ice fish on the Yukon River, and enjoy the city with the least air pollution in the world (according to the Guinness Book of World Records!)

Lake Laberge, Brine, Yukon, Canada

6. Vancouver Island

Although most world travellers know about the city of Vancouver, the island that bears its name off the coast of British Columbia gets less international attention. Long known as a hippie paradise and a haven for creative types and oddballs from across Canada, the island has the delightfully weird cities of Victoria and Nanaimo (famous for their delicious bars!)

Vancouver Island

7. Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, Canada

Everyone knows about Niagara, but pictures do not do the waterfalls justice. Take a few days there to explore the delightful adjoining town, and to experience the majesty of the falls from the shore, or from the stern of the Maiden of the Mist.

Niagara Falls Border Crossing – Canada and USA

8. Winnipeg

The capital city of Manitoba is a classic prairie city, rising seemingly out of nowhere to dominate the horizon. Although winters are freezing, summers in Winnipeg can be a real treat — make sure to visit the city’s booming francophone district and take in an act or two at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Winnipeg, Canada

9. Gaspe Peninsula

Feel like being a modern day voyageur (French for explorer)? Go to this peninsula in northern Quebec, at the very end of the Appalachian mountain range. The ascent of Mount Albert is challenging, but the peak offers an uninterrupted view of the beautiful Atlantic and the placid Chaleur Bay.

Gaspe Peninsula, Canada

10. Fundy National Park

Rock formations, Bay of Fundy, Canada

New Brunswick’s most popular tourist attraction is also one of Canada’s most spectacular national parks. Located on the coastline of the Bay of Fundy, the national park’s hiking trails and beaches offer visitors incredible views of the world’s highest tides and fascinating regional flora and fauna.