Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Canada

A photograph of Canada
Photograph · Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area and has the longest coastline of any, running from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north into the Arctic across ten provinces and three territories. Just over 41 million people live in it, and not evenly: the great majority are in urban areas while very large stretches hold almost nobody. Ottawa is the capital, and Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are the three largest metropolitan areas and the three realistic starting points. The federal government is officially bilingual in English and French, and which of the two a street is lived in changes as you cross the country.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
English and French
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+1
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 120 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
Water systems and advisories are managed by multiple jurisdictions

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Miller Tavern
    02 1 hour

    Miller Tavern

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  2. Dunn's
    03 1 hour

    Dunn's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Montreal
  3. La Banquise
    04 1 hour

    La Banquise

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Montreal
  4. Moltaqa
    05 1 hour

    Moltaqa

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  5. St. Lawrence
    06 1 hour

    St. Lawrence

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  6. Schwartz's
    07 1 hour

    Schwartz's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Montreal
  7. AnnaLena
    08 1 hour

    AnnaLena

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  8. Barbara
    09 1 hour

    Barbara

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  9. Burdock & Co
    11 1 hour

    Burdock & Co

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  10. Kissa Tanto
    14 1 hour

    Kissa Tanto

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  11. Lunch Lady
    15 1 hour

    Lunch Lady

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  12. Masayoshi
    16 1 hour

    Masayoshi

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  13. Motonobu Udon
    17 1 hour

    Motonobu Udon

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  14. Phnom Penh
    18 1 hour

    Phnom Penh

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  15. Shoushin
    22 1 hour

    Shoushin

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  16. Sushi Hil Sushi Hil
    23 1 hour

    Sushi Hil

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  17. New Ho King
    26 1 hour

    New Ho King

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  18. Alo
    27 1 hour

    Alo

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  19. Anh and Chi
    28 1 hour

    Anh and Chi

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  20. BB's
    29 1 hour

    BB's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  21. Edulis
    31 1 hour

    Edulis

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  22. Elisa
    32 1 hour

    Elisa

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver
  23. Jazz Bistro
    35 1 hour

    Jazz Bistro

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  24. Joe Beef
    36 1 hour

    Joe Beef

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Montreal
  25. Quetzal Quetzal
    40 1 hour

    Quetzal

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  26. The Goof
    41 1 hour

    The Goof

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  27. The Rivoli
    42 1 hour

    The Rivoli

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  28. Tiflisi
    43 1 hour

    Tiflisi

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  29. Yukashi
    44 1 hour

    Yukashi

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  30. Café Polonez
    46 1 hour

    Café Polonez

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  31. DaiLo
    47 1 hour

    DaiLo

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  32. Patois
    50 1 hour

    Patois

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  33. Piano Piano
    51 1 hour

    Piano Piano

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  34. rasa
    52 1 hour

    rasa

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  35. Eat BKK
    59 1 hour

    Eat BKK

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  36. The Manna
    60 1 hour

    The Manna

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Toronto
  37. Van Houtte
    61 1 hour

    Van Houtte

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Montreal
  38. Vij's
    62 1 hour

    Vij's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Vancouver

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Canada be?

Ten to sixteen days is realistic for one Canadian region, not for crossing the country. An eastern cities route, a Rockies journey and a Pacific itinerary each work better as their own trip.

What entry documents are needed for Canada?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada lists visitor visa and electronic travel authorisation rules. The required document depends on passport, travel method and status, so complete the official eligibility check for the actual journey.

What is the best way to travel around Canada?

Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal are the principal air gateways. VIA Rail is most useful in the Québec City–Windsor corridor and on selected long-distance services; outside major centres, a car or domestic flight may be necessary.

When is a practical time to visit Canada?

May to September suits many city and national-park itineraries, but northern access and mountain conditions have shorter operating seasons. Winter is a separate travel plan with different road, daylight and activity constraints.

What money and payment basics apply in Canada?

Prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Payment fees and acceptance are Not recorded at national level here, so verify rental deposits, remote-area fuel payment and card conversion terms directly with each provider.

What practical safety details should I save for Canada?

Call 911 for an emergency in Canada. Electrical supply is 120 V through Type A and B sockets; the source set does not record one nationwide tap-water statement, so local guidance applies.