canada travel blogs

13 Coolest Hotels in Toronto, Canada

Looking for the coolest hotels in Toronto? From the luxurious Bisha Hotel to the stylish Ace Hotel, these are the coolest places to stay in Toronto!

13 coolest hotels in calgary, canada.

Are you looking for the coolest hotels in Calgary? From historic heritage properties to futuristic interiors, these are the best hotels in the city!

7 stunning places to visit in newfoundland and labrador, canada.

Looking for the best places to visit in Newfoundland and Labrador? From exploring St. John’s to seeing Bonavista, this is where to go in Atlantic Canada!

10 incredible day trips from montreal, canada.

Are you looking for the best day trips from Montreal? From skiing in Mont Tremblant to seeing the architecture of Ottawa, these are my top picks!

Montreal winter activities: a guide to mount royal park in winter.

Are you looking for the best Montreal winter activities? Then here’s everything you need to know about visiting Mount Royal Park in winter!

Montreal itinerary: 3 days in montreal, canada.

Heading to Montreal for a winter city break? Then here’s how to plan the perfect 3 days in Montreal including the best things to see & do in the city!

The most beautiful hiking hotels in the world.

Do you love hiking? Then get ready to be blown away – these are the most beautiful hiking hotels in the world to spark your wanderlust!

7 unmissable things to do in yukon, canada.

Planning a trip to the Yukon? From flying over Kluane National Park to hiking Miles Canyon, these are the best things to do in Yukon, Canada!

8 best places to visit in alberta in winter.

Are you looking for the best places to visit in Alberta in winter? From visiting Banff to the Rocky Mountains, this is how to spend winter in Alberta!

11 magical things to do in banff in winter.

From ice climbing up frozen waterfalls in Canmore to flying over the Rocky Mountains, these are some of the best things to do in Banff in winter!

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Top Canadian Travel Bloggers – The Best Blogs about Canada!

While blogging doesn’t command the same popularity it did 10 years ago, they are still a valuable resource for planning upcoming trips – especially when you want excellent advice from first-hand experience. As a travel blogger and die-hard Canadian myself, I’ve had exposure to some phenomenal travel bloggers and their resourceful blogs about Canada. So today I thought I’d share a little insight into – what I consider to be – the best blogs in Canada and the people behind them.

So without further ado, here are my picks for the top 10 Canadian Travel Bloggers!

My Criteria For Choosing the Best Canadian Travel Bloggers

Engaging Content – The blog must go beyond run-of-the-mill listicles. While the occasional listicle is okay (this post right here is technically a listicle, after all), the best blogs about Canada need to have actual substance to them. That includes great photos (not just stock photos), in-depth content and an element of storytelling.

Updated Regularly – There are some great blogs that just aren’t updated anymore. If a blog isn’t putting out regular content (which to me is at least one – two new posts per month), then it’s left off the list.

Actual Bloggers – This list is specifically about Canadian Travel Bloggers . As such, I’ve left Youtubers and Instagrammers off the list.

Reach – While I don’t think followers and pageviews is an indicator of quality, I did consider the relative reach of the different Canadian travel blogs when deciding who I would feature.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support is much appreciated! You can learn more by reading my full disclosure .

Top 10 Canadian Travel Bloggers

The planet d.

Best For : International Travel

Dave and Deb, the voices behind The Planet D , are easily the most famous Canadian Travel Bloggers out there. They’ve been travelling for more than 20 years and have been featured in National Geographic, Forbes and CNN. Their work has taken them all over the world and they share great articles about travelling to international destinations. However, they also have a ton of posts about travel within Canada (especially off-the-beaten places, which is why they’re one of my favourite blogs about Canada).

Happiest Outdoors

Best For : Outdoor Travel & Camping

Happiest Outdoors is a blog focused on outdoor travel. Taryn writes comprehensive guides about hiking and backpacking, with a special focus on her home province, beautiful British Columbia. In fact, she’s so knowledgeable on backpacking in BC that she just had her first book published: Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. This is a great blog to read if travelling for you involves pitching a tent or lacing up hiking boots – she has a ton of tips on camping, gear and being your happiest, outdoors.

The Wandering Wagars

Best For : Traveling with Children

The Wandering Wagars is my recommended resource for anyone who travels with kids. Kevin, his wife and their two young boys have travelled all over the world (I think his kids had visited more countries before they started school than I’ve visited in my whole life). As such, there are tons of great tips for travelling with kids. The blog is a mix of posts about Canada and international destinations.

Justin Plus Lauren

Best For : Vegan + Eco-Conscious Travel

Justin Plus Lauren is definitely the kindest blog about Canada. Lauren, and her partner Justin, are all about kind travel – travel that incorporates veganism, eco-tourism and sustainability so they can avoid doing any harm to the places they visit. Another element to their blog is a focus on local travel and supporting small businesses, especially in Canada. This is just another reason Justin Plus Lauren is one of the most useful blogs about Canada.

Traveling Mitch

Best For : Travel Writing

Mitch of Travelling Mitch is definitely a storyteller. You’ll rarely find lists or “top things to do” posts on his website. Instead, you’re going to get plenty of prose on the history of a destination, the feel of the people and culture, the taste of the craft beer. He’s very likely one of the best Canadian travel writers, and you can find his work in a lot of other online publications.

Hopscotch The Globe

Best For : Blog Aesthetic

Honestly, the thing I love most about Hopscotch the Globe is their beautiful website. It is so lovely to look at – the photos all match the perfect colour palette and there are custom graphics that make the blog look one-of-a-kind. Oh, and they have great content too. Kristin is a very authentic writer and shares her experience in off-the-beaten-path travel – like spending a month in an eco-community or living in an Airstream.

The Traveling Canucks

Best For : Traveling with Kids

The Traveling Canucks is another great blog about Canada and travelling with kids. As the name would suggest, Cam and Nicole are from British Columbia, and as a result, they write about BC a ton (I actually referenced their blog a lot when I first moved to Vancouver ). Their blog has a lot of destination guides specifically for those travelling with kids, and there is a lot of advice and recommendations for parents who are new to travelling with their kids.

Off Track Travel

Best For : Working Holidays

Off Track Travel is a great blog about getting outside in Canada. Gemma and JR travel across Canada and primarily write about outdoor travel activities, like kayaking, hiking and road tripping. In addition to outdoor travel, they also write about Working Holidays, having taken six working holidays in four different countries, and moving to Canada as an expat. There’s a ton of useful resources on this blog, making Gemma and JR two of the best Canada travel bloggers.

Bonus: Voyageur Tripper

Best For : Outdoor Adventure Travel

Obviously, it’d be too cheeky for me to include my own blog in a roundup of the best blogs in Canada. But in case you’re just stumbling upon this blog for the first time… Hi! I’m Mikaela and this is Voyageur Tripper, a blog dedicated to outdoor adventure (mostly in Canada). I’m a Canadian travel blogger who writes exclusively about the outdoors – hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, eco-lodges and the ~occasional~ nature-themed city guide. I used to work as a wilderness guide, so I also write a lot about travel in the backcountry and how to do it safely and comfortably. You can read more about me here .

The Best Blogs in Canada – Final Thoughts

So those are my picks for the best Canadian travel bloggers. It definitely does feel like so much of the focus is on social media (specifically Instagram) and Youtube, so blogging and bloggers aren’t in the limelight as much as they used to be. But I still love long form content and reading recommendations from real people (and not Trip Advisor), so I’m glad we have so many amazing bloggers to keep it all going.

I’d be interested in your favourite blogs about Canada. Any that I left off the list? Who do you recommend? Let me know in the comments.

Mikaela | Voyageur Tripper

Mikaela has been canoeing, hiking and camping for over ten years. She previously worked as a canoeing guide in Canada, and spent a season guiding hiking and kayaking tours in the high Arctic. Mikaela is a Wilderness First Responder and Whitewater Rescue Technician.

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We have curated this exceptional Canada 21-day itinerary to help you plan your trip efficiently. This itinerary incorporates epic road trips, foodie adventures, nature escapes, and much more. Canada is one of the most scenic destinations you’ll ever explore.

Your 21-day Canada tour itinerary will include visiting the Rocky Mountains, glaciers, turquoise lakes, world-class breweries, national parks, and much more.

Canada itinerary for 21 days

Day 1,2 – bustling vancouver.

Start your journey with this vibrant city. Enjoy the stunning views of the mountain ranges, an evening stroll through Stanley Park, and explore the Vancouver Aquarium. Vancouver is all about fun and exciting adventures. Even when it comes to foo,d when in Vancouver, you’ll get to experience the best of seafood and food in general from all over the world.

Day 3,4 – Vancouver Island

Start your day with a ferry ride from the city leading up to Vancouver Island. Located less than two hours from Vancouver, you’ll get to explore the famous Butchart Gardens, do whale watching at Ucluelet, and explore Tofino, with it’s natural rainforest scenery. 

Day 5,6 (Best in Winter) – The resort town of Whistler 

Driving up to Whistler is your chance to enjoy an epic road trip. Take the Sea to Sky Highway with a perfect mountain backdrop to get to your destination. Squamish and Garibaldi Provincial Park are a must-visit while you are in Whistler.  Experience the best of Whistle.r

 Whether you’re traveling to Whistler during the summer months or winter, the place is simply magical. You can hit the slopes or enjoy a hike up the mountain. You could also enjoy the views with a magical gondola ride up the mountain.

Day 5,6 – (Best for Summer) Visit the Wineries in the Okanagan

Drive up to Okanagan Valley on day 5 of your trip and explore some of the wineries there. Wine tours and tastings are an incredible experience. For those who enjoy golfing and hiking, Okanagan Valley has many spots for you to enjoy.. 

Day 7 – Welcome to Alberta!

Next up on your Canada 3-week travel itinerary is the picturesque province of Canada – Alberta. Located an hour away from Mount Robson, numerous photo opportunities are awaiting you. Visit Maligne Lake, spend time at the Miette Hot Springs and explore the Jasper National Park.

Day 8 – Icefields Parkway

Don’t miss an excellent opportunity to go on a scenic drive in the Canadian Rockies. Drive the route of Icefields Parkway to get to Banff National Park. Make pit stops by the Athabasca Falls and glacier, Cirrus Mountain Viewpoint, and Peyto Lake. With pine trees on either side and mountain ranges to look up to, the drive is definitely one for the books.

Day 9 – Instagram worthy moments at Lake Louise

Soon after the Icefields Parkway drive, you’ll get to one of Alberta’s most popular tourist stops – Lake Louise. Summer months are busy, so we recommend you get there early in the morning. 

Day 10 – Don’t miss Moraine Lake

For those who enjoy canoeing, paddling, or even hiking, Moraine Lake and its surroundings are an impeccable addition to your travel itinerary. Enjoy the stunning scenery and capture some Instagram-worthy shots while you are there.

Day 11 – Visit Canada’s 3rd highest waterfall

Takakkaw Falls, situated in the Yoho National Park, is Canada’s 3rd highest waterfall. This National Park is a bridge between Banff and Jasper. Indeed a must-visit, this is one of the best places that offer the best campgrounds and campsites. 

Day 12 – Experience the scenic town of Banff

Spend your day exploring the town, enjoy a delicious restaurant meal at one of the local restaurants and shop for souvenirs to take home at the artisan shops. 

Day 13 – Captivating Calgary

As you start making your way to Calgary, we recommend you make a quick stop by the mountain town of Canmore. Grassi Lakes and Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary are two absolute must-visits. In the evening, stroll through the streets of Calgary and eat out at one of the fine dining spots in town.

Day 14 , 15 – Explore Toronto

Arrive at the Toronto International Airport and start your day 14 by exploring the city. The CN Tower, distillery district, Casa Loma, St. Lawrence Market, and Royal Ontario Museum are some places you’ll need to fit into your itinerary.

Day 16,17 – Off to Montreal

Located 5 hours from Toronto, this French-speaking province boasts history and architecture. The vibrant city of Montreal is best known for its culture. From Notre Dame Basilica to St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, Montreal will leave you craving for more. While there, don’t forget to try the world’s best poutine from Maamm Bolduc.

Day 18,19 – Quebec City

Stroll through the cobblestone streets and explore all the historical spots in Quebec City. From museums to parliament buildings, there is never going to be a dull moment in the city. Some must-visit spots include Saint Lawrence River, Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Petit-Champlain, and Place Royale.

Day 20 – Jet off to Halifax 

Halifax is the capital city of Nova Scotia. Although it may be one of the smallest provinces in Canada, there is so much to do and see. Some places to explore include the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, botanical gardens, Citadel Hill, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. If you enjoy bar hopping, you’ll fall in love with the downtown bar scene.

 Day 21 – Peggy’s Cove, a classic spot

Located on the eastern shore of St. Margaret’s Bay, Peggy’s Cove is one of the most well-known lighthouses in Nova Scotia. This picturesque location offers a wide range of attractions and experiences. From photographing the colorful houses to enjoying a delicious meal at the seafood restaurants, the community at Peggy’s Cove is fantastic.

And just like that, your 3-week Canada trip has ended. This epic adventure 21-day trip would have given you a fair glimpse of Canada, but there is more to explore. Use the travel time to reminisce about the travel memories you’ve collected and planning your next adventure.

Don’t have 3 weeks fro your trip to Canada? Check out these shorter Itineraries.

Explore Canada, A 15-day Canada Travel Itinerary

A Taste of Canada, A 7-Day Canada itinerary

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These are all of my canada travel blogs.

From exploring Banff in winter to enjoying Edmonton in summer and seeing Montreal at the most romantic time of year, find out the best places to travel to in Canada here, in my Canada travel blogs.

Happy exploring!

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Canada Travel Guide

Looking for an in-depth Canada travel guide ?

Then you’re in the right place!

As North America’s northernmost country, Canada usually falls behind its neighbors to the south, the United States and Mexico in the rankings of top travel destinations.

There is so much more to this huge and diverse country than snow, maple syrup, and nice residents — although folks are actually very nice!

From glaciers to waterfalls to world-class cities, Canada has something for every kind of traveler. With so many options, you should definitely add some Canadian travel to your bucket list.

Canada’s national parks are some of the most beautiful in the world and preserve Canada’s diverse environment for all to enjoy.

For instance, Gros Morne National Park is the gem of Newfoundland. Located on the island’s west coast, the park features a cliff-lined freshwater fjord, gorgeous wildflower-covered mountains, and colorful fishing villages. With tons of trails open year-round, it’s a paradise for hikers in the summer and cross-country skiers in the winter.

Canada is also home to one of the largest national parks in the world, Wood Buffalo National Park. Stretching from Alberta into the Northwest Territories, the park is the perfect place to peep some of Canada’s most iconic animals like moose, eagles, and bears.

And you can’t miss the Canadian Rockies on display at the famous Banff National Park! Read on to learn more about this top park.

Major cities like Toronto, Vancouver , and Montreal are considered some of the top places to visit in Canada for their diverse cultures and amazing attractions. But if you’re looking to avoid the crowds and save a little cash, consider visiting some of the country’s smaller cities.

Quebec City on Canada’s east coast was founded in 1604 and offers a beautiful peek into French Canadian culture. From quaint streets lined with gorgeous little shops to historic buildings like Chateau Frontenac to museums celebrating the art and culture of Quebec, there’s something for everyone here.

And for nature lovers, Jacques-Cartier National Park is just a short drive away for your hiking and snowshoeing pleasure. It’s also a great place to start a French Canadian road trip along the St. Lawrence River.

Keep reading to dive into resources that will help you with planning a trip to Canada in North America .

Note: This ultimate Canada guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Use this Canada tourism map to begin planning your trip to this incredible country!

Click here for an interactive Google Map version of the above graphic.

Alberta Travel Guide

These Alberta tourism guides can help you plan the Canada travel itinerary!

10 Offbeat Reasons Why Edmonton Should Be Your Next Trip

14 Amazing Hotels In Banff With Private Hot Tubs

British Columbia Travel Guide

These British Columbia tourism guides can help you plan the perfect Canada trip!

10 Unique Experiences In Victoria BC (Beyond Butchart Gardens)

Organic Caviar Tasting On British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast

7 Can’t Miss Outdoor Experiences In Whistler

Traveler’s Guide To Vancouver On A Budget

Quirky Vancouver: A Visit To Granville Island

Canada’s National Gingerbread Competition Brings Sweet Offerings To British Columbia

Ontario Travel Guide

Plan an unforgettable trip to Ontario with the help of the following guides!

12 Best Places To Hike Near Toronto For Amazing Scenery

Quebec Travel Guide

These Quebec tourism guides can help you plan the perfect trip to Canada!

Tips For Exploring Montreal On A Budget

Solo Travel, Local Culture & Unique Things To Do In Montreal

Traveler’s Guide To Montreal

Best Canada Tours

Explore local culture with a Canada tour guide through these unique excursions:

• North Shore Day Trip from Vancouver: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Grouse Mountain from Vancouver
• Fundy Coast to Fundy Shore Tour from Saint John in New Brunswick
• Northern Lights and Huskies from Whitehorse
• Valley Wine Tour from Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Tundra Buggy Autumn Day Tours with Polar Bear viewing from Churchill
• Niagara Falls in One Day: Deluxe Sightseeing Tour of American and Canadian Sides from Ontario
• Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls Day Trip from Banff
• Victoria Whale Watch Tour with Views of Vancouver Island from Victoria

Renting A Car In Canada

Need a rental car for your Canada trip?

Use Discover Cars to quickly compare your car rental options.

Public Transportation In Canada

Getting around Canada by train, bus, or ferry?

Omio is a must! You can use this tool for all of your public transportation needs when traveling around Canada.

The site is straightforward and user-friendly — and you can pre-book your tickets in advance at a discount.

They even offer flight and car deals!

Canada Hotels

Click here to browse the best Canada travel hotels!

Prefer self-contained stays?

Click here to check out unique local rentals!

You can also use this map to search for local stays:

Canada Travel Insurance

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling solo or with a group on a Canada tour. When visiting Canada — or any other country in the world — make sure to get travel insurance to protect your health and safety.

In my opinion, the best travel medical insurance for travelers is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country).

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

With coverage, you’ll have peace of mind as you embark on your Canada travel itinerary.

Click my referral link here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Canada Travel Guide FAQ

Below, find answers to frequently asked questions about traveling in Canada .

Q: What is the best month to travel to Canada?

Canada is a huge country with a wide range of climates, so the weather will not necessarily be the same everywhere you go.

That said, fall is considered one of the best times to visit Canada. While temperatures are cooler than they are in the summer, it’s still quite comfortable across the board. The fall foliage also makes for some incredible views.

Summer is considered Canada’s peak season as the weather is much warmer; temperatures range between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Canada’s winters make it a top destination for winter sports but they are not for the faint of heart. Temperatures can drop to 0 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months.

Q: What is the cheapest way to travel across Canada?

The cheapest way to travel across Canada is probably by car. Car rentals are fairly affordable and having your own set of wheels will give you the flexibility to travel wherever you want. Plus, you can use DiscoverCars to easily compare rental prices and save up to 70%.

Buses are an easy and inexpensive way to get around Eastern Canada but sadly there is no one nationwide bus system.

VIA Rail, Canada’s train system, offers scenic coast-to-coast service but fares can get pricey. However, if you plan to travel, head to Omio to find and book tickets to destinations all across Canada.

Q: Is Canada expensive to travel?

How much does a Canada trip cost? That depends on your destination.

You’ll generally spend more on food, accommodations, transportation, and other travel expenses in big cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.

Smaller cities like Quebec City and more rural destinations are usually a bit more budget-friendly.

The average traveler spends about $145 USD per day in Canada.

Q: What are the best things to do in Canada?

Canada’s most popular attractions are definitely its natural wonders.

Niagara Falls, which sits on the border of New York and Ontario, brings in millions of visitors every year who come to marvel at one of the largest waterfalls in the world. You can take a ferry and get drenched by the mist coming off the falls or climb down to explore the caves behind the water.

There are also plenty of attractions to experience on the Canadian side of the falls, like butterfly conservatories, the 235 meter-tall Skylon Tower, and the gorgeous 1800s-style village of Niagra-on-the-Lake in Niagara County .

On the western side of the country, the Canadian Rockies draw in tons of hikers and climbers.

The breathtaking snow-capped mountains and gorgeous turquoise lakes of the Rockies are on display at Banff National Park in Alberta. The 2,564 square mile park has so much to explore at any time of year. It’s also a top destination for winter sports and is home to some of the country’s top ski resorts. Plus, there are a number of epic hotels in Banff with private hot tubs .

If you’re looking for a city getaway, Toronto has plenty to explore. Check out views that extend into New York state (on clear days, of course) at the CN Tower, a 553-meter 360 degree observation tower in the city center. You can also find some amazing hiking trails near Toronto .

Browse the collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of the largest art museums in North America.

And you can’t leave without seeing a show in the Entertainment District, home to theatrical productions that rival those on Broadway and London’s West End! It’s truly a top North America tourism experience!

Q: How many days do you need for Canada?

Since Canada is such a huge country, you’ll need a bit more time to get the full Canadian experience.

You can do a decent cross-country road trip with stops in cities like Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver in two weeks. If you want a shorter, more in-depth tour, stick to one area of the country, like Quebec and Ontario in the east or Alberta and British Columbia in the west.

Either way, you’ll want to factor travel times into your itinerary, especially if you’re driving between destinations.

Q: Is Canada safe to travel?

In general, Canada is very safe to visit and crime rates are low — though, of course, it is always smart to pack travel safety gear and to understand how to avoid pickpockets , especially in touristy areas.

If you’re exploring the outdoors, make sure to research local wildlife and how to stay safe in the wilderness. Canada is home to a number of animals — like the Grizzly Bear and Prairie Rattlesnake — that are amazing creatures but that are not friendly to humans.

Q: How long can a tourist stay in Canada?

Most visitors from abroad can stay in Canada for up to six months.

Q: Do I need a Canada travel visa?

While it varies by country, travelers from the United States, the EU, Australia, and several other countries do not need a visa to visit Canada for a period of fewer than 180 days.

It’s recommended to view your country’s Canada International Travel Information page for the most up-to-date information on entry and exit requirements. You can also contact the Embassy of Canada.

Q: Where is Canada?

Canada is the northernmost country in North America.

It is bordered by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, as well as the United States in the south.

It is the second-largest country in the world by total area.

Q: Are credit cards accepted in Canada?

Credit cards — particularly Visa and Mastercard — are widely accepted around Canada, though it is always wise to carry some cash for smaller establishments and in case of emergency.

Q: Can you drink the tap water in Canada?

While tap water is safe to drink in most places in Canada, it’s smart to check with the hotel in your specific destination to be safe.

Q: What is the local currency in Canada?

The local currency in Canada is the Canadian dollar (CAD).

What would you add to this Canada travel guide?

Enjoyed this ultimate Canada travel guide? Pin it for later!

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Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

Best Canadian Travel Blog

December 27, 2022 By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

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2022 was a big year for Must Do Canada. We travelled across the country making videos about incredible experiences, went to our first travel conference, had our best year in terms of income, and won the TMAC Travel Media Award at the TIAC Canadian Tourism Awards, which was a great way to end the year and solidify our position as having the best Canadian travel blog.

For those unfamiliar with those organizations, TIAC stands for Tourism Industry Association of Canada and TMAC stands for Travel Media Association of Canada. TIAC essentially represents Canada’s tourism industry and acts as their voice to the Canadian government whereas TMAC is the voice of the travel media, such as us. In 2022, however, both formed a partnership to bridge the gap between industry and media. As part of this new partnership, TMAC set up the Travel Media Award, a new award that would be given out at the 2022 Canadian Tourism Awards in Ottawa, Canada.

The criteria for the award are as follows:

Travel Media Association of Canada – Travel Media Award 

The Travel Media Award celebrates and rewards the very best representation of Canada by the media industry in the areas of writing, digital media, broadcast media, and publishing. 

The judging criteria in this category are: 

• Representation of Canada as a world-class travel destination (20%) 
• Engagement/interactivity with the target audience (20%) 
• Demonstrably attracts or enhances awareness. Converts awareness into visitor traffic (20%) 
• Contributes to or enhances the local, provincial, and/or national tourism industry (20%) 
• The originality of overall work (20%) 

As you can likely glean from the criteria, our Canadian travel blog seemed like the perfect fit. We had both fans and industry nominate us, and in November, we were notified that we had been selected as one of the three finalists for the award.

Although winning the award was certainly not guaranteed, we had a good feeling about it and decided to go to the awards gala and cross our fingers. We don’t go to a lot of conferences, and we’ve never been up for an award like this, so we booked a flight with Air Canada, wrote a short speech, got all dressed up, and made our way to the nation’s capital.

Thankfully, it all worked out and we won the award. The anticipation leading up to it was intense, but it was such a relief to hear our names being called out as the winners. Not only was it wonderful to be validated for all of the hard work we do, but it was also an honour to stand in front of many of the tourism leaders that shape the travel industry we have here in Canada.

Winning the Travel Media Award was the perfect way to end 2022, our best year ever at Must Do Canada. Not only does this strengthen our thoughts of having the best Canadian travel blog, but it’s also great to be recognized as a company that successfully promotes tourism in Canada. It might seem funny to those reading this, but media platforms like Youtube, and social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, are still not always looked at in the same fashion as traditional outlets like magazines and newspapers. Since Must Do Canada operates in the online world, it really is a thrill to see these platforms being taken more seriously year after year.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, 2022 was a big year for us. In fact, 2020 and 2021, both of which will go down as the “covid years”, were also exciting years for us. Although the first half of 2020 was terrible as lost dozens of high-end projects, it did give us time to focus on the business, creating a stronger foundation, and forced us to dig deeper into smaller, local destinations. It was a very slow year but the foundation we built that year led to a successful 2021. It helped us focus on growing the website and creating a stronger plan for our business, while also working with new types of partners, such as national brands. Although 2021 was still not a great year for international travel, it did open up nationwide, allowing us to finally leave Alberta and visit places like Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia. Once 2022 arrived, and travel really opened up, business took off and we had the busiest year ever. We explored many parts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. We worked with major national brands such as Toyota, Best Western, and Canadian Tire while continuing to work with tourism boards from across the country.

However, as we mentioned in our speech, there’s been some interesting surprises along the way as well. Of course, our Canadian travel blog has inspired many Canadians and non-Canadians to explore Canada. But in addition to this, we’ve also inspired many people to immigrate to Canada. We’ve literally been stopped on the street in our home city of Calgary by people saying thank you for helping them decide on Calgary or on Canada as a new place to call home. I can’t imagine how difficult, exciting, and scary it must be to move to a new country, so to know that our videos helped make that transition easier really means a lot. Some of them even followed in our footsteps and did their own cross-Canada road trip to learn about the country they would be calling home.

Perhaps more surprisingly, we’ve also learned that our videos on Youtube have been used in elementary schools across the country, helping to educate their students on the diversity, nature, and different provinces of Canada. We even did a video call with some students in Toronto that were eager to meet us. They asked us all sorts of questions and it was so cool to see their faces light up. If we can accomplish all of this with a media channel focused on Canada, I think we’re heading in the right direction.

However, like all businesses, we’re now focused on 2023. Typically, as the winter starts, business declines rapidly and we never really know what the next year will look like until well into the spring. That’s something that we’d like to change as it can be hard to plan and stressful to budget. So, if you’re keen to advertise with us or hire us to create content for you, send us an email !

We offer a variety of services for tourism companies, travel-related products, and destinations, including content creation (video, articles, photos, etc), advertising (website ads, sponsored articles, newsletter advertising, etc), promotion (social media advertising, giveaways, etc), and more. Check out our “ work with us ” page to learn more and send us an email if you’d like a media and sales kit.

If you’d like to see some samples of work we’ve done, we’ll list some below:

Rocky Mountaineer Video (Travel Experience)

This video we did for the Rocky Mountaineer has more than 300,000 views and was our most popular video for 2022. In addition to the video, we also included a detailed article about the Rocky Mountain Train on our website, lots of social media promotions, and a feature ad in our newsletter, which goes out to 70,000 Canadians every Wednesday.

Toyota Road Trip Video (Vehicle Marketing)

In this video, we combine a destination in Alberta while organically promoting the new 2022 Toyota Tundra Hybrid. This video is a great example of how we integrate travel-related products into our videos. In addition, we promote this truck in our newsletter and across our social media channels.

Canadian Tire Product Video (Travel Products)

In this video, we featured camping and hiking along the Icefields Parkway while promoting travel-related products from Canadian Tire. This is a great example of how we can organically integrate products into our videos. In addition to the video, we created a travel article about how to plan a road trip while integrating the products into the article and combined it with social media and multiple newsletter ads.

Working with the Best Canadian Travel Blog

Once again, if you’re interested in working with us, send us an email to matt (@) mustdocanada (dot) com. Whether you represent a destination, a product, anything travel-related, or “Canadiana”, we can certainly help with marketing, advertising, and content creation.

If you’d like to see more articles that we’ve created, here are some links below:

• Things to Do in Eastern Shore, Nova Scotia
• Calgary Restaurants You Need to Try
• Things to Do in Dinosaur Provincial Park
• Weekend Getaways from Toronto
• Family Travel Tips (Life Insurance)
• Jase Medical Emergency Kits

About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net .

Reader Interactions

January 4, 2023 at 11:02 am

Great, great news…knowing you guys got this Award. I’ve been following Must do Canada, for quite sometimes and I really enjoyed it. Keep up the astounding job.

January 8, 2023 at 10:45 am

Thank you so much 🙂

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Authentik Blog

Hike to waber falls in la mauricie national park [with map + photos], bonaventure island cruise: our practical guide, canada travel: 5 tips for a successful trip, visiting wells gray park in british columbia: the complete guide, best 7-day road trip in quebec, visit halifax: our 10 must-see attractions, all-inclusive travel to canada: our expert advice, top 5 canadian road trips, western conquest, the west by rv, legendary landscapes, west with the family, faq on canada tours, itinerary ideas for a canada road trip by car.

If you're looking for tour ideas for your road trip to Canada , check out our Road trips section for inspiration.

You can also design your custom tour with our online road trip planner . To do this, you can start from an existing road trip and modify it as you wish, or even start from scratch by choosing " My custom road trip " in our Road trips section.

Authentik USA also suggest road trips in California and everywhere in the U.S.

When to travel to Canada ?

For a beautiful vacation in Canada, you have to choose your travel dates with care. First you should know that for a summer trip, the high season is between mid-July and mid-August. It is during this period that there are the most travelers on the roads and, of course, that the prices are the highest. That being said, it is possible to travel between mid-May and mid-October without having to expect winter conditions.

Between mid-September and mid-October, you can experience Indian Summer in Canada . Trees are colourful and weather is still enjoyable. Some say it is the best time to tour Canada.

For a winter trip, make sure to pick dates between Christmas and mid-March. The busiest times are obviously during the holidays but also the last 2 weeks of February.

For more information, see our " When to visit Canada ?" Section.

How to save on RV and car rental ?

The best way to save on your car rental or RV rental  is to use our price comparison tools, available for both types of vehicles.

The Authentik Price Comparators bring together all of the top rental companies in the country. Our volume pricing allows unbeatable rates, even when compared to the suppliers direct rentals.

We are so sure that our prices are the lowest that we guarantee them. If you find less expensive elsewhere after your reservation, we will refund the difference -5% .

Tips to protect yourself from mosquitos while on a Canada tour holiday

If you are planning a  Quebec road trip  in the summer, you might want to know a few tips to protect yourself from biting insects which, let's face it, can sometimes make a few nature walks a bit less enjoyable.  Sunrise and sunset bring out the unpleasant mosquitos, especially if you are close to water. Make sure to pack long and light colored clothes and do not wear perfume. Cover your body the best you can, especially your ankles and feet.

Your most effective ally during your Canada tour will be a DEET-based mosquito repellent. You can buy them when you arrive in Canada, as they do have an expiry date. 

What to wear on your trip to Canada

For a 2 weeks Canada itinerary or even a longer one, it is better to know what to put in your suitcase in order to be comfortable even with the changing weather.

To prepare well, check out our section on  How to dress for a trip to Canada ?

View all our FAQs on Canadian travel

To find out more about preparing for a trip to Canada, check out our specific FAQs depending on the type of product you are looking for:

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Home > Canada > Vancouver > Vancouver Travel Blog

11 Essentials for Visiting Our Hometown – A Vancouver Travel Blog

This Vancouver travel blog is your gateway to discovering even more detail on the city we grew up in, including the best neighborhoods to explore and stay in , inside travel tips , unique restaurants , non-touristy things to do , and true must-dos .

Vancouver, Quick and Easy

This Vancouver travel blog gives you a quick and easy understanding of what's where , what's good , and what's special ( and not so special ) about Vancouver.

That way, you'll be prepared to hit the ground running and make the most of your stay.

As born-and-raised Vancouverites, Kim and I have helped hundreds of visitors discover the city while working in and owning hospitality businesses here and hosting guests in our apartment through Airbnb .

And, when it comes down to it, everyone asks us the same 11 questions.

So we've put together this Vancouver travel guide to answer them for you. Quick and easy.

Vancouver Travel Blog Contents

• Why Vancouver?
• Why NOT Vancouver?
• What's where?
• Where to stay?
• How to get around town?
• What are the most popular things to do?
• What should visitors REALLY do?
• Where to eat and drink?
• Where to explore outside of Vancouver?
• What else to know before coming?
• Where else to go for Vancouver travel info?

1. Why Vancouver?

• Everything's close: Vancouver doesn't have freeways and is surrounded by water and mountains, so it's super compact and walkable / bikeable / busable.
• Fresh air: Forests, mountains, beaches, and ocean are everywhere.
• No worries:  No matter where you wander you're totally safe, even in our infamous skid-row, the Downtown Eastside (a.k.a. "Shitshow" in the map below).
• Good for your health: Like in any great beach city (and Vancouver is one ) we Vancouverites feel the pressure to have beach bodies. And we have limitless options for doing so. You won't help but be compelled to be more active and eat more healthy than usual.
• Open-minded: Vancouver's a diverse and accepting place where you'll feel comfortable no matter who you are, what you believe, and how you look.

2. Why NOT Vancouver?

• Van-boring:  Compared to other cities of its size and reputation, there aren't many parties, events, or cultural happenings going on in Vancouver.
• Van-cliquey: Locals are generally friendly to newcomers, but hard to actually befriend.
• Rain-couver:  If you visit between September and May and don't get any rain, that's probably because it snowed (which is super rare. Lucky you!). It rarely rains hard, but it's always dreary and grey.
• Van-stolen: You won't get in any trouble unless you really ask for it, but if you leave things lying around they will be stolen. Petty crime is a big problem in Vancouver.
• It's freaking expensive. Everyone wants a piece of Vancouver, but it's a small place, so prices of everything keep rising and rising.

3. What's Where?

Know the neighborhoods, boring but useful map of vancouver's neighborhoods:.

Entertaining, Un-Politically Correct, But Reasonably Accurate Map of Vancouver's Neighborhoods:

Geography Crash-Course

Super quick info so you don't get lost:

• The mountains are north .
• The airport is south .
• Downtown and Stanley Park are on a peninsula at the north of the city where 98% of tourists are, so be part of the 2% from time-to-time. 
• Outside of downtown, numbered streets go east-west and named streets go north-south .
• East Vancouver (brown areas in the map above) used to be poor. Now it's hipster.
• West Vancouver (green neighborhoods in map above) was hippy (Kits) and humble (the rest). Now it's too expensive.
• The West End (downtown neighborhood) is not the same as the West Side (half the city) or West Van (a suburb across Lions Gate Bridge).

For forty of our our top-recommend spots in Vancouver, see our Treasure Map , below.

4. Where's the Best Area to Stay in Vancouver?

Our Top Pick

As we write in our post where we rank Vancouver's best neighborhoods across various criteria , the best place to stay in Vancouver is in the West End.

It's a relaxed but densely-populated local area within walking distance of everywhere downtown and close to the SkyTrain to the airport.

Look to stay in the area between Davie, Denman, Robson, and Burrard streets we've zoomed into here:

For a More Unconventional Trip

For a cheaper and less conventional alternative, consider staying near Broadway and Commercial in Vancouver's Eastside.

Commercial Drive is probably the most culturally diverse street in the city. There are restaurants with cuisine from every continent, ethnic food stores, cultural community centers, and a wide-ranging mix of incomes and ages.

Try to stay as close to Broadway (which is 9th avenue) as you can. That way, you'll be right by the SkyTrain, which takes you downtown or the other way to very uncharted tourist waters like Burnaby's Crystal Mall, and the 99 B-Line express bus, which can efficiently take you to Kitsilano and UBC.

Vancouver Neighborhood Guide

Our Where to Stay in Vancouver guide explains our top-recommended neighborhoods (and ones we don't recommend so much), then helps you choose for yourself by scoring each across various categories like fine dining, proximity to attractions, and affordability.

5. What's the Best Way to Get Around Vancouver?

Our Dos and Don'ts for Getting Around Vancouver covers this in full, but here's the short version:

How to Get to and from the Airport

If there are there or less of you in your group, take the SkyTrain, Vancouver's subway, from the airport into town.

It'll get you downtown in half an hour, connects with all the city's other transit lines, and costs $9.25 each (the standard $4.25 2-zone fare plus a $5 airport fee).

Hold onto your ticket if you're transferring because you'll need it as proof of purchase.

If there are three or more of you, a taxi can be cheaper than the SkyTrain (though, depending on where you're staying and the time of day you arrive, not always faster).

There are fixed rates (PDF)  depending on the area you're going to. For example, it's currently $31 plus tip from the airport to the center of the city.

How to Get Around Town

Don't rent a car.

Parking's a huge pain and it's easier, cheaper, and even sometimes faster to get around without one.

Rent a bike if it's nice out.

Vancouver's so bike-friendly that car-lovers are always complaining that bike lanes are taking over the city.

You can't beat 'em, so join 'em.

The cheapest way to do so is to use Vancouver's shared bike system, Mobi , which costs about $10 a day.

For bigger bike rides rent a better bike for $30 to $50 a day. We strongly recommend the route we outline in our post on our favorite 7 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Vancouver ,

Also,  take public transit (it's safe, clean, and efficient here), walk (the city's compact), and, only when you really have to, use ridesharing (finally allowed in the city as of Jan 2020).

Check out our Dos and Don'ts For Getting Around Vancouver guide for a handful more tips to help you cover more ground in less time and for less money.

6. What Are the Most Popular Things to Do in Vancouver?

This isn't our person top ten things to do, but no Vancouver travel blog is complete without at least mentioning these.

Here's our honest take on each:

1. Stanley Park

Lots of trees right beside downtown. It's nice to bike around it on the Seawall as long as you avoid the crowds. Head to Lynn Canyon for a more beautiful forest.

2. Granville Island

Fish, arts, crafts, theatre, and markets on an island peninsula under the Granville Street Bridge. Take a little ferry there from downtown.

Vancouver's "old" town is good place to go for dinner and drinks… and kitschy, overpriced souvenirs. Our Vancouver neighborhoods guide provides a lot more info.

4. Canada Place  

For whatever reason, it's Vancouver's tourism epicenter. Flyover Canada may be overpriced and gimmicky, but it's something to do when the weather's crappy.

5. Museum of Anthropology

Go if you're interested in the British Columbia's Aboriginal culture and history. If you're out that way in the summer, start at Wreck Beach , stop at the museum, then bike back along the beaches (see Vancouver's best bike ride ).

6. Capilano Suspension Bridge

Many locals, including Chris, have never been. It's not obligatory for you to spend $50 to go either. Consider Lynn Canyon's suspension bridge as a free alternative.

7. Vancouver Lookout

The needle-topped, space-ship-looking building in Vancouver. Go in March for the Urban Grind . Otherwise go elsewhere—like Grouse , Cypress , or Locarno Beach —for city views.

8. Grouse Mountain

Forest, views, grizzlies, lumberjack shows, hikes. Do hike up in the summer, but instead of the often unpleasantly-busy Grind consider taking the locals' route that we share in our guide to our favorite non-touristy things to do in Vancouver .

9. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

It's a nice garden. Give it a quick walk-through if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way to see it.

10. Science World

It's the golf ball-looking structure at the end of False Creek. It's mostly for kids, though once a month they have the adults-only Science World After Dark and every February there's the Science World of Cocktails

7. What Should Visitors REALLY Do in Vancouver?

Do these Types of Things

Instead of telling you exactly what to do in Vancouver, here are the  types of things you really should do to get a true feel for the city:

1. Experience the Asian side of Vancouver

Vancouver is the most Asian city in the world outside of Asia. Dive into it (and dig into the food).

2. Get into the woods

Go even if it's raining. It's a rain -forest after all.

3. Eat by the sea

There's something about the salt in the air that makes the food taste better. We recommend a couple of places in our Only-in-Vancouver Dining Experiences post.

4. Try some Canadian food

There's no such thing as Canadian cuisine, but there are a few things you should try while in Canada such as poutine, Nanaimo bars, and Caesars.

5. Go to the beach

In the summer this is a no-brainer, but even in the winter, you should go for the views and fresh air. Our guide to Vancouver's beaches  will help you find the best one.

6. Get out of downtown

The views are nicer. The people are too. It's cheaper. And who knows what you'll discover.

7. Exercise

Vancouverites famously don't always work hard, but they do work out hard. Join the fun. Yeah, fun . As we wrote in our tips for staying fit while traveling , not only will you feel better but you'll meet some cool people and have some of your favorite travel experiences doing so. Join an outdoor bootcamp, drop in at a yoga studio, go to one of the city's calisthenic parks , or, if you're a bit crazy, try a beach rock workout .

For complete details on all of the above, read our 7 Things Everyone Must Do in Vancouver .

Try these Non-Touristy Things to Do

Whenever friends visit, these are the things we always recommend they do.

Our Non-Touristy Things to Do in Vancouver post has the full details, but if you're lazy or short on time here's the recap:

• Have a sunset picnic on the beach
• Hike up Grouse Mountain the other way
• Go foraging
• Play the People’s Golf, frisbee golf and pitch 'n' putt
• Laugh with them (or at them) at a comedy club or improv show
• Dabble in Vancouver's marijuana culture
• Do Vancouver’s BEST bike ride from UBC to downtown

8. Where Are the Best Spots to Eat and Drink?

Go to the Dining Districts

When you're hungry, walk along the following streets. You'll be sure to find something to your cravings, whatever they may be.

• Alexandra Road:  An easy SkyTrain ride south to Vancouver's southern suburb of Richmond. You'll be overwhelmed by the 200+ mostly Asian restaurant options.
• Main Street: Hipster mile. Tons of vegetarian and vegan options and casual spots to "nosh," or whatever they say these days.
• Commercial Drive:  As explained in Where to Stay , it's got options from all corners of the globe.
• Gastown:  Definitely the most popular area of the city for a dinner out, with tons of reasons why.
• Yaletown:  Where the yuppies go to pre-game and spend more than they should.
• West Robson:  Japanese and Korean row. Tons of ramen spots with ever-present lines.
• West 4th Ave:  The birthplace of Lululemon, with plenty of spots that cater to Lululemon-types. Go to Maenam for Thai food.

Related: Dos and Don'ts for Foodies Visiting Vancouver for the 1st Time

Try Some Only-in-Vancouver Dining Experiences

There are plenty of hip and/or fancy places that serve "better" food than the following places, but you'll find similar restaurants in any American city.

On the other hand, here some dining experiences you can only enjoy in Vancouver:

• Snack on unpretentious food while enjoying unbelievable views of the mountains and downtown Vancouver at The Galley Patio and Grill
• Drink your favorite chocolate bar or fruit in a wild and crazy bubble tea from  Bubble Queen
• Fill yourself up on samples of crazy flavors before settling on one or two at the pink palace, La Casa Gelato
• Put a cap on another great day with a picturesque picnic at Sunset Beach

For some more detail on these and more recommendations, check out our full Only-in-Vancouver Dining Experiences post .

Drink Craft Coffee and Beer

Just like its fellow Pacific Northwest cities, Portland and Seattle, just about everyone in Vancouver is passionate about starting their day with a brew (of coffee) and ending their day with more brews (of beer).

Cafes are everywhere, so we won't even bother trying to recommend which one to go to…

..But if you insist, we'll give you one:

If you stay in the West End, as we recommend (see: Where to Stay ), check out Greenhorn Cafe for a small-town vibe in the heart of the big city.

With regards to beer, there are a couple of microbrewery districts to do a beer crawl at:

• On and around Main Street between 1st and 7th.
• Along Powell Street between Clark and Victoria.

Savor Vancouver's Best Ice Cream

Rumor has it that Vancouverites consume the most ice cream per capita in the world.

We doubt it's true, but what's undeniable is that everyone here has strong opinions on whose ice cream or gelato is best.

So, as we love to do and recommend you try too , we blind tested the best to put an end to the debate. The winner was…

…hipsters and buy-local-supporters are going to hate this…

Haagen Dazs.

The local favorites, Earnest, Bella, and Rain or Shine, came in 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively. 

Eat Vancouver's Best Sushi

Vancouverites eat so much sushi that there's a company that designs furniture with all our used chopsticks , and, like with ice cream, everyone has their own opinions about whose sushi is best.

Once again, we did a blind taste test to find out.

Surprisingly, we discovered that the best California roll sushi was not from the restaurant where it was invented (and costs $18 a roll!), Tojo's , but from the all-you-can-eat place across the street, Tomokazu !

Dos and Don'ts

Get about fifteen helpful tips for finding and enjoying great food and drink in our Dos and Don’ts for Foodies and Drinkies Visiting Vancouver .

9. Where to Go Outside of the City?

As we explained in our 16 Best Countries to Visit for 16 Unique Types of Trip , Canada is the best country to visit to connect with nature, so you really should escape the city and do so.

Here's some inspiration:

One thing that makes Vancouver special is that in as little as half an hour you can flee the city and be immersed in full-fledged, watch-out-for-bears-and-cougars, Canadian wilderness.

If you're short on time, consider hiking up Grouse Mountain (and maybe try the local route ). Or, if you're short on fitness too, walk around Lynn Canyon. Both are nice.

But, if you're able to, go for a real hike.

In general, the harder the hike is to get to, the better it is. It'll be less spoiled by hordes of others and more beautiful. To whet your appetite, here are a couple of hikes that we've put together detailed guides to:

Anvil Island

Hike up to the top of Leading Peak on this essentially uninhabited island just outside Vancouver and enjoy 360-degree views of Howe Sound and the surrounding mountains from the helicopter pad up top. The only thing is you'll need to hire a boat or rent a kayak to get there. Here's our Anvil Island guide .

Brandywine Meadows

If you can find someone with a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle to get you there, it's one of the fastest ways to get to the B.C. alpine. Come in August or September and you'll be rewarded with wildflowers galore as you explore the waterfalls, creeks, and mountains in this alpine playground. Read more about hiking Brandywine Meadows here .

If you want other suggestions, let us know what you're looking for in the comments and we'd be glad to help.

Nearby Destinations

Squamish and whistler.

If you're more into mountains than beaches, head up the Sea-to-Sky corridor to Whistler.

But, before going straight to Whistler, consider stopping half way in Squamish.

Squamish  is Canada's outdoor adventure capital . It's famous worldwide to rock climbers, mountain bikers, and kite surfers, but unknown otherwise. It's kind of like what Whistler was thirty years ago.

We have no posts about Squamish to share with you (yet), but Chris used to own a hostel there and his brother owns a cafe , an ice cream shop , and a climbing gym in town, so we're definitely qualified to answer any questions. Ask away in the comments below !

Squamish is also way cheaper than Whistler. And since it's only forty-five minutes away it's worth considering staying there to save money. But if you insist on staying in Whistler, at least save some money by checking out our post on  how to find cheap(-er) accommodation  and our guide to Whistler's hostels .

Vancouver Island

Some common misconceptions among visitors to Vancouver (which we cover in our Vancouver Travel Tips post) are that Vancouver Island is A) really close to Vancouver and B) not that big.

The truth is it's as big as Belgium and takes at least four hours to get to from Vancouver. Go if you have more than a few days to explore it.

Savary Island

Only 140 kilometers (less than 100 miles) from the Vancouver is a little, totally overlooked, and borderline tropical island called Savary .

It's unlike any other island in the Pacific Northwest (maybe because it's really just a giant sandbar). And they say it's got the warmest water of anywhere on the Pacific Coast north of Mexico!

The Okanagan

Located about a four-to-six hour drive from Vancouver, the Okanagan is BC's mini Sonoma Valley.

In the summer months, you can bike from winery to winery, lay by the lake in the dry heat, and munch on the fresh berries and local produce the valley produces every summer.

10. What Else Should Visitors Know Before Visiting?

Here are some tips and insights that other visitors we've helped have found most surprising and helpful:

• Vancouver is tiny.  The entire city of Vancouver is only 115 square kilometers (44 square miles), so everything is within easy biking (or even walking) distance.
• Free water. Our tap water is potable, clean, and delicious. It comes from up high in the beautiful mountains that help make Vancouver one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
• Take ID.  If you want to drink something more alcoholic than water or get into any place that serves drinks, you'll need to show ID, even if you're well past the legal drinking age of 19.
• You’re safe on your own. Everywhere. There is no unsafe part of the city, no matter at what point of day or night.
• Your stuff isn't safe on its own.  Never leave any personal items unguarded in Vancouver. There is a large underworld of thieves who prowl the city waiting for the chance to grab your stuff when you're not looking.
• Free Wifi.  Save on roaming fees and enjoy free internet throughout the city by connecting to any of the 550 (and counting) #VanWifi hotspots. Here's the map .

These are just seven of the 50+ helpful things to know before you go to Vancouver that we share in our Vancouver Travel Tips post.

11. What Are Other Good Sources of Vancouver Info?

Other helpful vancouver guides.

• Airbnb's City Guide . A little-known experiment by Airbnb, it's a compilation of all the insider tips from hosts around the city. It's better than Google Reviews, TripAdvisor, Yelp, or whatever else.
• Vancouver Tourism's Story Sheets. These aren't meant to be seen by the public. They're made to help tourism "insiders"—influencers, agencies, and media—come up with fresh things to write about. Why not skip the middleman and go straight to the source?
• The Daily Hive . Most of their content is BuzzFeed-esque mental fast food, but it is the best resource there is (for now) to find out what's going on in Vancouver.

The Rest of Our Vancouver Blog Series

To help you plan most memorable Vancouver trip possible, don't miss the other four posts from our 5-part Vancouver Series:

• Vancouver Travel Tips You Likely Haven't Heard Already

Where to Stay in Vancouver: The Best Neighborhoods, Ranked

• 7 Things Everyone Actually Must Do if They Visit Vancouver
• Our Favorite Non-Touristy Things to Do in Vancouver

12. (Bonus) How to Get an Answer to Any Very Specific Question

Ask us in the comments!

Kim and I would love to hear from you and will do our best to help.

Read This Next:

Vancouver Travel Tips: What to Know Before You Go

Vancouver Must-Dos: 7 Things You Honestly Can't Miss Out On

7 Non-Touristy, Cool Things Do in Vancouver

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19 thoughts on “11 Essentials for Visiting Our Hometown – A Vancouver Travel Blog”

Very impressive collection of information. My wife and I are visiting the latter part of October to visit my son and his girl friend and big question is money or more to the point, what is our best option on exchanging US$ for Canadian and where? what credit cards are better to use as well.

Thanks in advance and really love the insider information.

Clarence Palmer

I'm glad you found our Vancouver blog posts helpful, Clarence!

Your best bet is to get an exchange-rate free credit card. That'll save you the 2.5% foreign exchange fee plus whatever extra margin the credit card companies add between their rate and the true rate. I've only studied Canadian credit cards ( this post ), but am sure you can find even better ones for Americans.

Otherwise, if you have a bunch of US cash you want to exchange to CAD, the best rates are at the Vancouver Bullion & Currency Exchange, which has a couple locations in town.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the update and info.

can you recommend itinerary for January trips let's say 3 days 2 nights. I am planning to drive from Seattle to Vancouver. Thanks a bunch

Hey Novi. A whole itinerary would be another post in itself. Weather will be a big determinant. Since you have a car, drive the Sea-to-Sky highway at least to Squamish and back. Eat at my brother's funky and very popular cafe, Zephyr, while you're there. Maybe do a meal in the Alexandra Rd area of Richmond in your way in or out since you'll be driving by. Go to a comedy and/or improv show. Eat some poutine. Walk around Lynn Canyon Park. Eat at Salmon House on the Hill or in Deep Cove, maybe. It's especially tough to give recommendations to a Seattleite since our cities are so similar. I guess you can compare each city's areas too: Pike Place vs Granville Island Market, Pioneer Square vs Gastown, etc.

Hi, Fantastic blog! Love it! Very informative.

I'm travelling to Seattle in January. Planning to go to Vancouver from Seattle for a couple days (about 2 to 3 nights stay). Have heard Whistler is an expensive but very pretty place to check out. What's your recommendation for transport up to Whistler?

Alternatively, would it be advisable to rent a car from Seattle, drive into Vancouver and back to Seattle? (I'll have to get back to Seattle for my flight home)

Thanks in advance 🙂

Hi Yen, Would a rental car company allow you to cross the border without too much additional fees? If so, definitely consider that. The drive from Seattle to Vancouver is meh but from Vancouver to Whistler it's spectacular, and worthy of taking your time on. Here's a post I wrote a while back for the hostel I used to co-own on attractions to check out along the way: https://www.squamishhostel.com/blog/sea-to-sky-highway-attractions . Some are more summer-friendly, but others are worth seeing any time of year. Then, to save money, you could stay in Squamish instead of Whistler. Enjoy your trip! (And hopefully you like Vancouver more than Seattle, haha. The cities are quite similar so there's a bit of competition between the two… an unfair one in favor of Vancouver if you ask me!)

Hi! Great blog post ( https://theunconventionalroute.com/vancouver-travel-blog/ ).

My friend and I are so excited to visit Vancouver. We live in Chicago (me) and right outside NYC (her) , and will be coming to town for our birthdays. We're aiming for early September, but…. when does the rainy season start? And is there a cut-off date you'd say not to come, b/c of the rain? Realize it's hard to predict exactly. We plan to stay 4-5 days, although it's early planning at this point.

Thank you – Suzanne (who's happy to offer Chicago or NYC travel tips, if needed)

Hi Suzanne. September's one of the best times to visit Vancouver. It's way less busy (and cheaper) and the weather's still generally not so bad. The later in September, the less likely you'll have rain, so early September you should be ok. Once you hit October, all bets are off.

Kudos for being super proactive about planning. I couldn't imagine researching 9 months in advance, but it makes sense for more availability and better prices. And thanks for the offer for NYC / Chicago tips. Kim and I aren't shy about taking these types of offers, so if and when we go you can expect to hear from us! Enjoy Vancouver and let us know if you have any questions leading up to your trip.

Leonila A. Dalanta Assistant Media Manager PhamilyPC.tk

Thanks, Leonila,

Interesting move adding an email signature to a blog comment!

Chris Blachut Blogger The Unconventional Route

Hi, great post. I might be in Vancouver for a few months, what would be the best way to pay for public transport? I tried to research the Compass card but found it quite confusing!

Thank you, Gem

Hi Gem. If you're going to be using public transit regularly, definitely get a Compass card. It's actually pretty straightforward. You pay the refundable $6 fee, load some credit (which you can set to reload from your credit card automatically), then ride to your heart's content at a lower rate than if you paid individually every time. Or get a bike if you're living centrally, sporty, and are coming during the nicer months.

great blog! enjoyed reading it. it will be very helpfull for our visit this summer, thank you.

One of the best blogs i've ever read! Thank you very much for all the information. I am going on a hike alone by myself by the end of August. I only have 2/3 hours for it. What would you recommend me: Murry loop hike or Stawamus Chief (only first peak)? Thank you in advance (and greetings from Mendoza, Argentina)

Gracias, Val. The upside of The Chief is it's more exercise, you get higher up, and it's maybe more of an accomplishment to go up and down a little mountain. But it also gets CRAZY busy in the summer. Murrin will be more peaceful—physically and in terms of people. Hope that helps.

Loving all the content on your blog about Vancouver! I'll be going next month and will also be heading up to Squamish for a few days for some hiking and camping. Do you have any recommended spots to camp (front-country)? Or must-do hikes near Squamish? Thank you!!

Hey Cari. Cool. No specific recommendations, sorry. Generally (and logically), the closer to Squamish you get, the busier the campsites and hiking. So the Chief and Sea to Summit are great, but also teeming with people when the weather's nice. Go deeper down Squamish Valley, for instance, and you'll find quieter places to camp. Or cross the Squamish River to try Lake Lovely water, for example. Curious to know what you settle on. Enjoy!

I tried to get your free Treasure Map (twice) but nothing seemed to happen. I thought I might get an email from you, but no. I'm using Chrome on a Mac.

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The Ultimate Guide to Niagara Falls: An honest guide to Niagara Falls by a resident

June 10, 2018 by Karen Turner 32 Comments

As a former Buffalo resident who has been to Niagara Falls more times than I can count, it was time to write a complete guide to Niagara Falls with tips for travelers visiting these epic waterfalls.

Visiting Niagara Falls is a magical experience, especially for families, and it ranks high on many people’s bucket lists. Here you’ll find tips to help you decide which side of Niagara Falls to visit, where to eat in Niagara Falls, when is the best time to visit Niagara Falls, and logistics on how to get to Niagara Falls.

This guide includes a FREE Niagara Falls map that you can download offline with Google Maps at the end!  

• 1 What is covered in this ultimate Niagara Falls guide:
• 2 Where is Niagara Falls located?
• 3 Why visit Niagara Falls?
• 4 What to do in Niagara Falls and day trips from Niagara Falls
• 5 Best viewpoints of Niagara Falls
• 6 Where to stay in Niagara Falls? Hotels in Niagara Falls
• 7 How long to spend at Niagara Falls? 
• 8 Which side of Niagara Falls is best: American side or Canadian side?
• 9 Is Niagara Falls a tourist trip? Should you go to Niagara Falls?
• 10 One day itinerary for Niagara Falls
• 11.1 Food on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls
• 11.2 Food on the American side
• 12 When is the best time to visit Niagara Falls? ​
• 13 How to get to Niagara Falls; Do you need a car to visit Niagara Falls?
• 14 What do you need to pack for Niagara Falls?
• 15 Safety tips for Niagara Falls
• 16 Do you need a tour to visit Niagara Falls?
• 17 Have you visited Niagara Falls?  Anything I missed? ​

What is covered in this ultimate Niagara Falls guide:

Where is niagara falls located, why visit niagara falls.

• What to do in Niagara Falls? What are the Niagara Falls attractions?

Best viewpoints of Niagara Falls

• Where to stay in Niagara Falls: Hotels in Niagara Falls
• How long to spend in Niagara Falls?

Which side of Niagara Falls is best: American side or Canadian side?

• Is Niagara Falls a tourist trap?  ​/  Should you go to Niagara Falls?
• 1 day itinerary for Niagara Falls

Where to eat in at Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York

• When is the best time to visit Niagara Falls?

How to get to Niagara Falls; Do you need a car to visit Niagara Falls?

What do you need to pack for niagara falls, safety tips for niagara falls, do you need a tour to visit niagara falls .

It’s on the New York and Canadian border along the Niagara river, which flows between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie (two of the Great Lakes). It’s in the westernmost part of New York State, which is part of the East Coast.

Niagara Falls to New York is about about 8 hours each way by car (without stopping) or about 10-12 hours with Megabus/public transit, so this is not a day trip from New York City.  It is a nice stopover if you’re traveling from New York to Toronto.  (Scroll to the bottom for a free map of Niagara Falls!)

Niagara Falls is actually composed of three waterfalls although the most famous waterfall is Horseshoe Falls. The combination of flow rate and height make the falls epic to see in person. This does not include the loud roar of the waterfall.

Niagara Falls is the perfect family getaway as there are lots of kid-friendly activities nearby and it will impress your kids (I promise!).  It’s a perfect day trip if you’re traveling in between the United States and Canada.

What to do in Niagara Falls and day trips from Niagara Falls

You will see many things to do in Niagara Falls while reading online… and while in Niagara Falls, you’ll find that Niagara Falls tourism is mostly unrelated to the falls. Just be aware of the tourist traps.

See Niagara Falls from both sides: American and Canadian!

Take the Maid of the Mist / Hornblower [Canadian side] or Cave of the Winds for a unique view of Niagara Falls.

Hornblower v. Maid of the Mist. Which one to choose?  If you’re trying to decide whether to take the  Hornblower  or Maid of the Mist, note that the Hornblower boat goes from the Canadian side while Maid of the Mist departs from the New York side.

Both boats follow the same route although the  Hornblower boats carry more passengers .  (You can purchase both tickets in advance.)

Take a day trip from Niagara Falls to  visit the adorable town of Niagara-on-the-Lake  for the summer Shakespeare festival and its famous ice wine. You can taste ice wine ( bring a designated driver! ) in Canada’s wine capital.  Ice wine is made by allowing the grapes to freeze on the vines, which makes the wine extra sweet–and very alcoholic.  ( You can take a day tour with ice wine tastings from the Canadian side, including a designated driver !)

See the Niagara Falls light show (at night). The schedule for the Falls Illuminationvaries throughout the year with the sunset, but if you’re taking a day trip, see if you can stick around for the magic of the lights!

For those with kids, add some of the many kid-friendly attractions in the area to your list.  One of the main attractions is the Fallsview water park.

Niagara Falls has a lot to offer for adults as well. You’ll find plenty of clubs/bars (admittedly with lots of 19 – year old Americans) and gambling.  There are two casinos in Niagara falls: Fallsview on the Canadian side and Seneca Niagara Casino on the New York Side.  Have a cocktail at the Sheraton bar overlooking the falls.

• Goat Island on the New York side for the crazy over the edge view.
• Sheraton hotel if you’re into a cocktail with a view (Canadian side)
• Maid of the Mist boat /  Hornblower [Canadian side]  (requires fee)
• Cave of the Winds (requires fee)
• The Rainbow Bridge
• Journey Behind the Falls if you want the epic tunnel shot (requires fee)
• Footpath leaving up to Journey behind the walls (for the wider angle shot!)

Where to stay in Niagara Falls? Hotels in Niagara Falls

You’ll find a large assortment of hotels for every budget in Niagara Falls, but hotels in Niagara Falls are most expensive in peak season (summer).  Prior to the advent of popularity of airplane travel among Americans, Niagara Falls was a major honeymoon destination, so you’ll still find some  cute and kitschy ‘50s motels  in Niagara Falls, Ontario for those looking for cheap hotels in Niagara Falls.

You’ll also find standard American hotels on both sides of the falls.  The Marriott  on the Canadian side is the well known hotel for its view of the falls.  For a 5* experience, consider staying at the  Sterling Inn & Spa .

If you’re interested in saving money, you can  stay in nearby Buffalo  (on the American side) after seeing the falls.

You’ll find many reasonable hotels (some in  historic buildings in Downtown Buffalo ), funky neighborhoods ( Elmwood Village and Allentown ) , and many reasonable food options. This includes Duff’s if you want to try the  best Buffalo wings in Buffalo! 

How long to spend at Niagara Falls? 

One day is all you need to visit Niagara Falls. (It is the perfect day trip from Toronto.) If you want to visit the ice wineries, you’ll need an extra day.  It’s possible to visit Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake in one day if you take a tour from Toronto!

Canadian side hands-down. The falls are magnificent, but you can only see the height/views of the falling water with a partial view…but the Canadian side of Niagara Falls gives you the epic view/feeling that made you want to visit.

If you don’t mind getting drenched in the midst (which gets  more intense as you get closer to Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side), you’ll feel like you’re in a superhero movie.

Is Niagara Falls a tourist trip? Should you go to Niagara Falls?

YES , but it depends how much you love waterfalls.  I’ve been to both sides many times, but honestly, I really do not like the American side and this is a sentiment I’ve heard from quite a few people.

One day itinerary for Niagara Falls

If you’re day-tripping from within the US with a car, park your car (bring cash to pay for parking!) on the American side and walk across the Rainbow Bridge (the Canadian/American pedestrian border crossing) to the Canadian side, which has an epic view of the falls.

Driving across can be time-consuming depending on the line at the Peace Bridge (especially around rush hour), so check the wait ahead although I’ve always found the pedestrian bridge much faster.

Buy tickets for Maid of the Mist /  Hornblower  as buy a cheap poncho if you don’t have one. (You can take the boat from either side.)

Walk around Clifton Hill (15 minutes) past all the tourist traps to enjoy the view of Horseshoe Falls.

Enjoy the view and catch the illumination show if you’re there around sunset.

Head back to the American side to enjoy the overlook over the American falls from Goat Island (New York side), which allows you to look STRAIGHT down the falls.

Food on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls

Do you love TGIF’s? Y ou’re in luck. If you can think of every single chain restaurant, …it’s in Clifton Hill (the touristic part of Niagara Falls).  I have heard that the new IHOP on the Canadian side has a nice view, but besides  Antica Pizzeria ,

I’d recommend  eating before  as you’ll pay tourist prices for food that you could get almost anywhere. There are more options as you get further from the touristy areas, but if you’re on foot, you will be limited by your choices.

You can check off your Canadian bucket list by trying poutine, which is french fries made with cheese curds and gravy, at  Smoke’s Poutinerie . (I know it sounds horrifying, but it is so delicious!) If you need a snack, visit the Canadian chain Tim Horton’s for some donuts and hot chocolate.

Food on the American side

Consider stopping by the Third Street Retreat for a cozy meal. Alternatively, you can picnic on Goat Island as well as eat at one of the cafes within Niagara Fall State Park.

If you have a car, stop off at  Wegmans supermarket  to stock up on picnic supplies or order a delicious handmade sub with special oil dressing. You can also get food to go from the buffet section OR the salad bar. It is truly the best supermarket in the area and it’s 24 hours with a fantastic selection of beer. (I love Wegmans!)

My local friend recommends visiting  The Como Restaurant  it is a classic Niagara Falls institution famous for Italian food.  Be sure to try the garlic bread.

Otherwise, stop off at  Dicamillo Bread  in Niagara Falls for their bread and their cannolis, as recommended by my friend who spent a lot of her childhood in Niagara Falls.

When is the best time to visit Niagara Falls?  ​

Summer without question. Although you’ll have the crowds, it is very windy at Niagara Falls and the extra spray can feel really good on a hot day.

In winter, you’ll just be ready to curl up with a hot chocolate away from the falls after snapping a photo, however if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the falls frozen over (which is a very rare occurrence).

Niagara Falls’ average temperature in December is 21 degrees F / -6 C in December…so imagine getting sprayed with freezing cold water in addition to being blown around by heavy winds while standing in a blizzard. (That sums up my feelings about visiting in winter.)

If you’re staying in Niagara Falls for 1-2 days, you don’t need a car.

The best airport for the United States to get to Niagara Falls is from  Niagara Falls International Airport  OR  Buffalo Niagara International Airport . Fares are usually cheaper from the Buffalo AIrport. From the Canadian side, you’ll want to fly into  Toronto International Airport.

If you fly into Buffalo Niagara International Airport, I strongly recommend renting a car. This area has public transit, but it is much easier to drive.

If you use public transit to get to Niagara Falls from Buffalo Airport, you will spend a lot of money on a taxi OR spend two hours on a bus (take the 24 towards Downtown Buffalo then transfer by the Greyhound Station [Washington St & South Division St] to the 40 bus to Niagara Falls. (It’s $2 that you can pay on the bus although be sure to ask for a transfer!) Note that the bus only runs 5am to midnight, so if you come in late, you cannot take the bus.

From Niagara Falls International AIrport to Niagara Falls, it will take one hour ($2) on the 55 bus to reach the American side of the falls.

You can also take the train or Megabus to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls, which will take about two hours. It’s much easier with a car.

If you’re going from New York to Niagara Falls without a car, you have four options.

• Take a Greyhound from New York City to Niagara Falls (with a transfer in Buffalo). (10 hours)
• Ride a Megabus towards Buffalo (with taking a Greyhound/public bus to Niagara Falls (12 hours)
• Take an Amtrak train from Penn Station (New York City) to Niagara Falls direct. (10 hours)
• Fly from New York (LGA) to Buffalo (BUF).  (5 hours)
• Your passport card (for Americans) OR passport to visit the Canadian side (and vice versa)
• A fully charged  camera  and  portable power bank  for your phone
• A  poncho  and/or waterproof bag if you’re planning on going Maid of the Mist / Hornblower
• Your hotel reservations if you’re crossing the border as immigration officials often ask you how long you’ll be visiting and a hotel reservation can speed things up considerably
• Warm clothes in winter, especially a  good winter jacket !
• Sneakers as the footpath can very slippery year-round, but especially so in winter.
• Picnic supplies if you’re on a budget

Do not dangle your camera or phone over the edge. I promise this will not end well. Hold your phone tight, especially in winter.

Be careful in Niagara Falls, especially the American side. I wish I was kidding, but it has one of the highest violent crime rates in the United States.

High crime is an issue primarily for residents, but still, be careful on the New York side of Niagara Falls. This includes not leaving your valuables visible in the car, which is a bad idea  anywhere .

Don’t come hungry and/or broke. You’ll pay tourist prices and …well, it’s just best to eat before.

Wear sneakers as the footpaths near the falls can be very icy in winter or just slippery in summer.

No, you do not need a tour for your trip to Niagara Falls, however it is not a “convenient” place to visit if you’re doing a larger US trip.  Unless you’re passing through this area OR have it very high on your bucket list, it is a bit expensive to visit for one day. If you have limited time and this is high on your bucket list, it might be worth it to take a tour package to Niagara Falls.

Have you visited Niagara Falls?  Anything I missed?  ​

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

June 11, 2017 at 3:43 am

I agree with you. I have been and it wasn’t really my thing. I mean it was pretty but the American side has strip malls right near the falls. Kind of detracts from the beauty. But this guide is great and I will tell anyone going to check it out. So helpful!

June 11, 2017 at 4:11 am

This is the best guide to the falls I’ve seen in a long time! Love the info and photos.

June 11, 2017 at 4:44 am

This is an AWESOME guide! I like how you show both the American and Canadian side of Niagara Falls, giving suggestions for food and view points.

June 11, 2017 at 4:52 am

This is a great comprehensive guide and super helpful! I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, I always love your guides!! 🙂

June 11, 2017 at 4:55 am

The pictures are STUNNING! I have never been to Niagara Falls, but I hope to go one day. I knew that the falls crossed the borders, but I didn’t realize that there was a difference in the views/experience! Truly informative guide that I plan to save for when I am able to go on the trip. The ice wine sounds like something I would definitely enjoy doing 🙂

June 11, 2017 at 6:38 am

Your photos are amazing! I haven’t been to Niagara Falls yet but would love to go. The photo of the falls frozen over is so cool! Although I would definitely prefer to visit in summer 🙂

June 11, 2017 at 7:59 am

Ahhh back at it with the badass guides! I love this! I went to Niagara Falls once when I was young, but barely remember a thing. I’ve been teetering back and forth on whether or not to go again this summer since I’ll be on the East Coast, but I think this post sealed the deal… and it’ll most definitely come in handy. Thank you thank you thank you.

June 11, 2017 at 12:51 pm

This is a really useful post! I’ve visited Niagara Falls but from the Canadian side only – it was a day trip from Toronto which included Niagara-on-the-Lake and a wine tasting, as well as plenty of time at the falls. Interesting to hear more about the American side which I only saw from the boat!

Yes, it’s a tourist trap, but you can tune that out (mostly) and the falls really are spectacular. Definitely worth the trip.

June 11, 2017 at 1:29 pm

I have never been to The Niagara Falls but this seems a pretty informative guide for those who want to go. I would love to experience it at least once for myself.Thank you for sharing it!

June 11, 2017 at 2:28 pm

Oh man, Nigara Falls has been on my bucket list for such a long time. I’m definitely thinking that the Canadian side is a lot more impressive than the US side. I’ve also wanted to visit Canada for equal amount of time, so this definitely needs to happen soon! Beautiful photos, and awesome in-depth useful post! Thank you 😀

June 11, 2017 at 3:15 pm

Your photos of the falls are awesome! I’ve never been but would love to go see the falls and try to experience some of the mid-century kitsch that is still there. Buffalo NY is still on my list to visit as well. Great guide!

June 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm

This guide is awesome! I think Niagara Falls is a fun place to visit every once in a while if you’re not too far away. I spent a couple of weeks in Buffalo a while ago, so my boyfriend met me there for the weekend since he’d never been before. We had a pretty good time even though a lot of the touristy stuff was closed for the winter. I would second the Smoke’s Poutinerie recommendation, as I’ve been obsessed with it since trying some of their offerings in Ottawa last year. There’s talk of them opening a location in Detroit soon, and I’m praying that the food gods make it happen so I can eat it all the time.

June 11, 2017 at 9:32 pm

I wish I had read this guide before our first visit!! Niagara Falls was the first place my partner and I went to on our first ever travels together and is actually where we said we loved each other for the first time! As cheesy and busy as the Canadian side was in the height of summer, I actually loved spending the day doing the various activities around the falls and then the evenings sipping weird and wonderful cocktails and visiting the silly wax museums and mini golf course! 🙂

June 12, 2017 at 4:24 am

I find it so cool that two countries share the same landmark. I haven’t been to the Niagara falls but my grandmother has talked a lot about it. She visited it so many years ago. Your pictures bring life to her words.

June 12, 2017 at 3:44 pm

This article is so fitting for me as I don’t live too far from the Canadian side and want to go this summer! So helpful 🙂 especially love the map. Nice touch!!

June 13, 2017 at 2:13 am

This is a great guide! I was so bummed when the Maid of the Mist left the Canadian side and they replaced it with the “hornblower” boat! I loved dawning the blue poncho and getting wet like Bruce Almighty! You need to try the Windows restaurant at the Sheraton! BEST beetroot soup in the world.

June 14, 2017 at 8:23 pm

I found this post to be SO helpful as I will be at the falls in only a couple of days. I loved the tip about parking on the American side and walking over to the Canadian side. Eeeek – I’m so excited now! Thanks for sharing!

June 15, 2017 at 4:55 pm

This is so timely and so useful! I’m planning a trip to Canada and I’ll be stopping in Toronto for a few days, and of course I will be visiting the falls. Bookmarking it! Thanks for sharing 🙂

July 27, 2017 at 6:43 pm

Niagara Falls is amazing! I saw it 6 years ago from the Canadian side with my family in the peak summer holiday season. Though touristy, the falls and The Maid of the Mist boat tour really gets up close to the falls and really beautiful. This is one of those places that you have to see in person.

December 31, 2017 at 10:13 pm

Well done! This post carries its title like a charm! This is more than a mouth full and all that one truly need to know in just one post! Thanks a lot!

March 3, 2018 at 4:50 pm

Some of the hotels have shuttles from the buffalo airport to the Canadian side. We waited to rent a car when we got to the hotel.

March 3, 2018 at 4:51 pm

That’s a helpful note to have Alexia! Great money saving tip 🙂

May 9, 2019 at 11:45 pm

We recently went to the American side (April 25-28, 2019). I was shocked to see how dirty the city was. Trash just blew across the streets and no one seemed to care. I thought at least the hotel staff would clean up in front of their building but there was bags, napkins, and even a diaper rolling down the street. We stayed at the Sheraton and the Wyndam while in town. No wonder everyone says Canada is better, the American side is run down and looks like none of the tourist money is going back into it. Empty buildings, empty lots and a huge eye sore that use to be a large slide. Someone should take pride and put it back into making the American side a nice tourist attraction again. Next time my money will go to the Canadians.

July 8, 2019 at 2:01 am

Having gone to college in niagara falls over 40 years ago, i was shocked at the downtown niagara falls ny. took our 5 year old grandkids to NF last year. The state park on the American side is beautiful. Much nicer than when i was in college. Picnic on three sisters island. But we stayed in Canada. Red coach inn on the NY side is probably the only place i would stay. In canada you can pick from a travelodge right on Clifton hill or a high class hotel. I would suggest if you are spending a full day in canada, purchase an all day bus pass. Lots of walking back and forth. And yes walk over the rainbow bridge. But also on the american side is the cave of the winds tour and an overview to see the falls. It is beautiful in summer and a crystal wonderland in the winter. Kids will want to do everything on clifton hill so be prepared.

May 25, 2019 at 1:37 pm

Thank you for the write up. To the point and one of the most helpful write ups I’ve found on the Falls. We’re stopping at the Falls as part of a Canadian road trip and was wondering how much days we’ll need. I know there are a lot of other attractions other than the Falls and I found articles advocating for 2-3 days but based on your article it does seem like a full day is enough. We’ll spend the extra day or two at Thousand Islands or Mont Tremblant instead!

June 19, 2019 at 12:48 am

I have a group of about 30 Sr. adults visiting the falls in Oct. We will be staying in NYC a few days and taking the Amtrak to Niagara, NY. The train gets in about 4:30 p.m. We are staying at the Sheraton on the Falls, Canadian side. Will we have time to see and do anything on the American side before crossing into Canada? From reading, there’s not much to see, but what is not to be missed on the American side? We will have the entire next day and night to explore the Canadian side, and our flight doesn’t leave from Buffalo until 5:30 on the following (3rd) day. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, or if you could recommend a guide.

June 19, 2019 at 3:00 am

Hi Becky, The Amtrak station is a bit of a walk from Goat Island and Cave of the Winds, but in theory, if you wanted to go, you could. I just think that it would be quite annoying to carry your luggage with you. The Lightshow can be seen from both sides and it’s nice at night.

I think that a day exploring Niagara Falls is more than enough and I’d recommend seeing if you can do a half day on Niagara-on-the-Lake with a private tour on the second (full) day after seeing the falls in the morning. Could be a fun excursion. Of the choices near Niagara Falls, that is usually what I recommend the most as it’s not as kitschy. Then, you have the rest of the last day for doing other activities around the falls and maybe visiting Buffalo.

Hope you all have a good time! I don’t have a specific guide in mind as I always went independently.

June 28, 2019 at 2:40 am

Karen, Thanks for the great guide! We’ll be visiting the Canada side in about a month so I’m obsessing over the itinerary. You mentioned an ice wine tour with designated driver for just $60. I know it’s been a few years since you wrote this, but what tour is that? The only ones I’m finding are pretty pricey. Thank you for the great tip of bringing our lodging reservation with us to the border. We never would have thought of that.

July 2, 2019 at 11:10 am

Hi Dena, prices change, so apologies if they’re higher now! I still hope that you have a great time!

November 3, 2019 at 9:44 pm

Hi! I will be in Buffalo this week. My husband and I are staying in downtown Buffalo, and want to spend a half day at Niagara Falls. From reading this guide, I am planning In is taking an Uber to Goat Island, then the Rainbow Bridge across to the Canadian side and catching that view. Is Uber pretty popular in the Buffalo/Niagara area? And when ordering the Uber, what should we choose as our NF “destination”? Any tips are much appreciated! This guide seem so helpful!

November 3, 2019 at 10:10 pm

Yes, Uber is very popular. You can walk from Goat Island to the Rainbow Bridge pretty easily before walking across. I’d ask for Goat Island as your destination. The Uber might need to drop you off by the parking lot (not sure how close you can get to “Niagara Falls Parking Lot 2” with the uber, but worth a try), but that should get you close enough. Enjoy. 🙂

February 7, 2020 at 3:55 pm

Thank-you for your thorough itinerary of Niagara Falls. I live an hour away from there. You’re right about Niagara On The Lake. It’s beautiful. I took a tour with Ghost Walks. The tour would take you around there and learned the history of the place. The tour was informative and entertaining. H

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Montreal 3 Day Itinerary: 72 Hours in Montreal for the Ultimate Getaway

Posted on Published: October 16, 2020  - Last updated: March 15, 2024

Categories Blog , Canada , City Guides , Montreal , Quebec , Travel Guides

This Montreal 3 day itinerary will show you how to have an amazing getaway to this fantastic Canadian city. There are so many awesome things to do in Montreal, and I’ve created a Montreal itinerary that I’m sure you will love, too. As I live in the Toronto area, I’ve been to Montreal on numerous occasions (it’s only about a five hour drive away). With this handy travel guide, you can spend the best 3 days in Montreal ever, whether it’s your first time visiting or you’ve gone a few times before.

Whether it’s one day , 36 hours, 2 days in Montreal, or a long weekend, this travel blog will give you lots of great ideas when searching for what to do in Montreal. Feel free to pick and choose your favorite aspects or follow it to a T. This Montreal 3 day itinerary will allow you to see the most iconic areas of the city, plus some of its hidden gems. Ready? Let’s go!

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Table of Contents

Day 1: Old Montreal and Old Port

One of the first areas of the city that comes to mind when you think of Montreal might be Old Montreal and Old Port. With its cobblestone streets and grandiose architecture, you might feel like you’ve transported yourself to Europe. It makes sense to start your first day in Old Montreal.

In the first day of this Montreal 3 day itinerary, we’ll explore Old Montreal by foot and also wander to some nearby neighborhoods. Then, I highly recommend that you rent a bike and do some cycling. Montreal is a very bike-friendly city. Cycling around Montreal is one way that you’ll feel connected to the city and feel a little more like a local resident.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal) likely tops your list of the best places to see on a weekend trip to Montreal. We’ll start the first day of your 3 days in Montreal with a walking trip around Old Montreal and other notable areas near downtown Montreal.

I recommend that you wander around Old Montreal on foot. Walk up and down all of its streets and side streets. You never know what you might discover around each corner. The historic cobblestone streets and old architecture definitely ooze European vibes.

If you enjoy walking tours to get acquainted with new cities, there’s no better place in Montreal to go for a walking tour than Old Montreal. I suggest booking this Old Montreal Walking Tour that’s about two hours long with a maximum of six people per group.

More into spooky experiences? Check out this Old Montreal Ghost Walking Tour of the older parts of the city. Hear chilling stories and tales from your guide, and be on the lookout for the spirits that haunt Old Montreal. There are lots of scary tales and unexplained mysteries, and your guide will share all of the gruesome details.

Rue Saint-Paul

Rue Saint-Paul is the oldest street in Montreal, and some of its cobblestones date back to 1672. Yes, there are many souvenir shops on this stretch. However, keep walking and you’ll find some interesting boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and patios.

Bonsecours Market

Bonsecours Market is the home of the largest public market in Montreal, dating back 150 years. You can’t miss its glimmering silver dome. It was built in 1847 and once served as City Hall. It became Montreal’s main marketplace for over a century until it closed in the 1960s.

Nowadays, it’s a heritage building that was recently renovated in the 1990s. You’ll find it on Rue Saint-Claude. It’s no longer the traditional farmers market that it used to be, but you’ll find lots of boutique and high end shops inside this grandiose building. There are also three restaurants, including a cafe, a brewpub, and a Japanese sushi restaurant.

We didn’t do much shopping inside the Bonsecours Market, but Justin and I definitely took a moment to admire this stately architectural work before continuing on our way. If you’re looking for a public market, head to the Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy.

Notre-Dame Basilica / Basilique Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal is one of the most visited monuments in North America with over 11 million visitors annually. This work of Gothic Revival architecture is one of the most brilliant and dramatic, decorated in blue and gold. The stained glass windows depict scenes from Montreal’s religious history rather than biblical scenes. There is a small admission fee to visit Notre-Dame Basilica as a tourist.

By night, you can visit Notre-Dame Basilica for AURA , an illuminating light show experience at the cathedral. It’s a three act multimedia spectacular featuring the architecture, lights, and orchestral music. It’s a fascinating and captivating way to visit the cathedral at night time.

Artist Alley on Rue Saint-Amable

The Arts Court, Artist Alley, or as its officially known, La Cour des Arts du Vieux-Montreal, is a must visit for those looking to purchase a gift or memento from their trip. Its tucked away inside a little alley off Rue Saint-Amable. Once you enter through the doorway, you’ll walk into a partially covered, partially open-air courtyard.

There are many vendors here selling local, handmade wares that are much more lovely than anything you’d find in the souvenir shops. You’ll find handmade jewelry, art, prints, wood carvings, and all sorts of locally produced gems.

Château Ramezay

Château Ramezay is a historic site and museum in Montreal featuring over 500 years of history in its exhibits and gardens. This home was originally built in 1705 as the home of the governor, Claude de Ramezay. Later, it was the first building to be declared as a historical monument in Quebec, and it was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1949.

Its permanent collection has over 30,000 objects, and there are also many temporary exhibitions and multimedia displays. There’s also a glorious garden on the property where you can go for a stroll. It’s divided into three sections: an orchard, a kitchen garden, and a pleasure garden. There are plant species that are very close or similar to the ones grown back when Ramezay lived at the property.

Coffee at Cafe Olimpico

When you’re in Old Montreal and Old Port, pop by Cafe Olimpico for a cup of coffee. Cafe Olimpico was founded in 1970 and it remains one of Montreal’s favorite coffee shops. You can get a variety of coffee and espresso beverages. It’s definitely one of the best cups of coffee that I’ve had in Montreal.

When I was walking around the artist alley in Old Montreal, one of the shop owners asked if I was from Montreal. When I replied that I wasn’t, she said that she was surprised to see someone from out of town drinking a coffee from Cafe Olimpico. She said that most tourists go for the bigger chains and they don’t realize that Cafe Olimpico has the best coffee. So, there you have it. When one of the locals can vouch for it, you know that their coffee must be one of the best.

The Old Port of Montreal is a historic 2km stretch along the St. Lawrence River. Old Port dates back to the year 1611 when it was used as a trading post for fur traders. Old Port is right next to Old Montreal, making it easy to combine a visit to both areas. You’ll likely walk from Old Montreal right into the Old Port area without even realizing it.

There are lots of activities and attractions in Old Port, such as the Montreal Clock Tower, La Grande Roue de Montréal (a gigantic ferris wheel), the Montreal Science Centre, zip lines, and paddle boat rentals. There are paved paths for cycling, roller blading, and walking that lead to the Lachine Canal. There’s no shortage of things to do in Old Port to add to your Montreal 3 day itinerary.

I also loved walking along Rue de la Commune to look at the old buildings and architecture that lines the waterfront. There are a few other places of interest in Old Port, such as the Pointe-à-Callière (Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History) and the Scandinave Spa Vieux Montreal . You can also book a craft beer tour in Old Port where you’ll be able to sample nine different craft beers along with some snacks.

Lunch at Le Panthere Verte

La Panthere Verte, or The Green Panther, is an all vegan establishment in Montreal that’s perfect for lunch. They’ve got some of the best falafels in town. La Panthere Verte serves up delicious sandwiches, hummus, bowls, and sweet potato poutine. I also highly recommend that you pair your meal with one of their refreshing fruit smoothies.

La Panthere Verte takes pride in serving meals made with fresh and organic ingredients. They use locally grown food whenever possible. Plus, they emphasize bringing your own container when possible, and they only use compostable takeout containers. It’s great to support a plant-based restaurant that also cares about the environment, too.

While La Panthere Verte has six locations across Montreal, there’s one not too far from Old Port that works perfectly with this Montreal 3 day itinerary. You’ll find it in the Latin Quarter of Montreal at 1735 Rue Saint-Denis. They also offer delivery with Uber Eats.

Gay Village

The two of us visited Montreal’s Gay Village on our last visit, and we suggest going for a walk through this lively and colorful Montreal neighborhood. A few years ago, we walked around an area that was closed down to traffic where we admired lots of outdoor public art. The Gay Village neighborhood is a brilliant place to include on a Montreal 3 day itinerary.

One of the main art installations there was  Les Boules Roses  – pink balls strung across the entire length of the road. It was so cool to see all of the pink balls overhead extending for as far as we could see. There’s always lots of street art on the buildings and public art displays. In addition, there are shops, restaurants, cafes, and more.

Rent a Bike and Go Cycling

Riding bikes around the city was one of our favorite things to do in Montreal during this Montreal 3 day itinerary. There are so many bike paths in Montreal, so there are numerous places to go cycling. We stuck to more of the scenic areas and parks for a pleasure ride between Old Port and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

You have a few options for riding bikes in Montreal. First, if you are looking for a guided tour experience with a local, I recommend booking this Montreal Bike Tour . This tour offers a few different options, such as riding around downtown and Old Montreal, venturing to vibrant neighborhoods like Mile End and Le Plateau, or combining your bike ride with lunch and a trip to the Nordic spa.

How to Rent Bikes in Montreal

For those looking to take shorter bike rides from place to place, there are Bixi Bikes all over Montreal. These are meant more for short distance bike rides from one spot to the next. You can download their app to see where there are bikes available at each station. You can buy day passes with Bixi Bikes. Use the bike for 30 minutes or less (or there will be additional charges). This program is designed more for city dwellers who need to get around from one place to the next rather than visitors looking to explore for a few hours by bike.

The third option is the one that we decided to do, which was rent bikes from a shop. Ça Roule Montréal , or Montreal On Wheels, offers half day or full day bike rentals. We rented our bikes for four hours, which gave us the freedom to ride wherever we liked. This is a slightly more expensive option than using Bixi Bikes. However, if we rented the Bixi Bikes and didn’t return them for many hours, it would be far more expensive. We also found that the bike rentals from Ca Roule Montreal were more comfortable and better quality than the Bixi Bikes.

The employees at the bike shop gave us a map and explained a few routes that we could take. We decided to ride from Old Port along the waterfront to Habitat 67 and Parc Jean-Drapeau. Justin and I wanted to ride our bikes around the neighboring islands to check out the Biosphere and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, an F1 race track where you can go cycling.

Habitat 67 is a unique housing complex in an architectural style that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Check it out on a bike ride between Old Port and Parc Jean-Drapeau. Designed by Israel-Canadian architect, Moshe Safdie, Habitat 67 was built as a pavilion for Expo 67. While it was conceived as a way to revolutionize housing around the world, it never quite stuck. There weren’t any others designed that used this one as a model.

In 2009, Habitat 67 was granted heritage status by the Quebec government. Today, Habitat 67 in Montreal is a popular residence and a community in itself. Many of the cubes that were singular apartments are connected together for sprawling residences with multiple terraces.

The views of the river and the city skyline are beautiful. It’s one of the most sought after properties in the city to call home. It’s also one of the most unique Montreal attractions and a must visit for architecture lovers on this Montreal 3 day itinerary.

The Biosphere

The Montreal Biosphere was built for Expo 67 to house the United States pavilion. Today, it’s a museum devoted to the environment. There are interactive exhibits and activities relating to climate change, sustainability, biodiversity, water, and much more. The goal is to raise awareness about these important issues and encourage visitors to take action in their daily lives.

The Biosphere was closed when we visited, but we rode our bikes to Parc Jean-Drapeau to admire this unique and photogenic structure. There’s also a Metro stop at Parc Jean-Drapeau, so it’s really easy to access by public transportation if you want to visit without riding a bike there.

Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is a Formula 1 race track that hosts the Grand Prix du Canada (since 1978). It’s 4,361 meters long and wraps around Notre Dame Island, a man-made island built up for Expo 67 (and now part of Parc Jean-Drapeau). When the F1 races aren’t happening, this race track is repurposed as a multi-use track for everyone to enjoy.

You can ride your bike around the F1 circuit track. It’s also possible to go rollerblading, go for a jog, and even drive your car around the F1 track. There’s a separate lane for pedestrians and cyclists, and there’s another lane for cars. Whether navigating the track by bike or car, it’s a pretty exhilarating experience to glide around an actual F1 circuit track (even if you’re traveling way slower than the professionals!).

We returned our bikes after riding around Old Port and Parc Jean-Drapeau for a few hours. If you find yourself with some spare time before dinner, it’s not too far to walk from Old Port to Montreal’s Chinatown neighborhood. Chinatown is essentially one large city block in Montreal, bordered by Rue Saint-Dominique, René-Lévesque Boulevard, Rue Viger, and Rue Jeanne-Mance.

There are four paifang  gates at each of the four entrances to Chinatown, which are intricately decorated archways to demonstrate that you’re entering Chinatown. In fact, Montreal has the most paifang gates out of any city in North America. Go for a stroll around Chinatown to visit shops, restaurants, and even check out some street art and murals.

Dinner at LOV

For dinner, LOV is our first restaurant choice in Montreal for fresh and flavorful meals. Their restaurants are super popular so you’ll want to make a reservation in advance. They’re 100% vegan, and the food leans towards a fine dining experience (but the restaurant is casual enough that you don’t need to get dressed up).

To drink, I ordered the Peach Bum cocktail, which has a little fuzzy peach candy sticking out of it. For food, it was a really tough decision. We decided to split the dumplings (mushroom and vegetable with an almond butter kimchi sauce). For our main courses, Justin and I ordered the LOV tacos (breaded tofu, avocado sauce, chili and red onion pickling) and the Mac n’ cheese LOV.

While we ate delicious food throughout our entire stay in Montreal, our meal at LOV was our favorite of all. The food is skillfully prepared, looks beautiful on the plate, and tastes super yummy.

Day 2: Mont Royal and Mile End

On day two of this Montreal 3 day itinerary, we’ll explore Mont Royal and the Mile End/Le Plateau neighborhoods. After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we’ll start the day off by climbing to the top of Mont Royal. It isn’t a super far walk from the hotel, but you can also choose to take the Hop On Hop Off Bus to learn a few facts about the city on your way.

Climb Mont Royal

Mont Royal (or Mount Royal) is Montreal’s small mountain or volcanic-related hill, and it’s where Montreal gets its name. Mont Royal is right in the middle of Montreal, not far from the downtown core. At the top of Mont Royal, you’ll be able to savor incredible panoramic scenery of the city. A visit to Mont Royal is an absolute must for your Montreal 3 day itinerary.

There are winding paved paths so you can ride your bike up to the top (these are also accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, although it can get a little steep). Climbing the staircases is the quickest way to reach the top. It’s a little bit of a trek to get to the top, and it might leave you a little winded.

If you’re in a reasonable amount of shape, it isn’t a problem to hike to the top. We managed to see some locals jogging up and down the stairs, as well as a woman dressed in heels and business attire climb to the top (while chatting on the phone, I might add) without breaking a sweat.

The views from the top are absolutely worth the climb. I know that the scenery here must look amazing in all four seasons. I’ve also heard that this is a fantastic place to watch the sunset.

Walk the Trails and Visit Beaver Lake (Lac aux Castors)

Mont Royal Park is so much more than that one viewpoint. It’s a beautiful park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the same man who designed Central Park in NYC. It’s a magnificent green space, one of the largest in Montreal, with a small lake and walking trails. When you’re looking for the best things to do in Montreal in 3 days, take the time to appreciate Mont Royal Park.

Beaver Lake (Lac aux Castors) is a beautiful, man-made lake where visitors can go for a stroll to admire the views. There’s vast open green spaces around the lake that are perfect for a picnic lunch. You can rent rowboats there in the summer and go ice skating there in the winter, making it the ideal all seasons destination. There are also many interesting sculptures to view on your walk between the summit of Mont Royal and Beaver Lake.

Coffee Break at Dispatch Coffee

Dispatch Coffee is one of the top coffee shops in Montreal. I suggest stopping for a coffee after you visit Mont Royal and before you explore Mile End and Le Plateau Mont Royal neighborhoods. It’s a charming little cafe with a funky mural on the side of the building.

They source, roast, and distribute their own coffee, keeping the prices affordable. At the same time, they are responsible in purchasing beans at a fair price directly from the farmers. Dispatch Coffee has a great selection of plant-based milks, including my favorite, oat milk. I ordered an iced Americano with oat milk and it was super refreshing.

Search for Street Art in Mile End

Many areas of Montreal are virtually open air art museums that you can visit for free, any time of the day or night. Mile End likely has the most murals as the art festival, MURAL, happens annually each June on  Saint-Laurent Boulevard. On this Montreal 3 day itinerary, you can’t help but stop to admire the street art because it’s virtually everywhere you look.

Don’t limit yourself to exploring only Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Some of the best works of art are around the corner, whether they’re painted on buildings down side streets, down narrow alleyways, or the backs of buildings facing parking lots. Sometimes we walked down the street only to realize that there were incredible works of street art behind us that we didn’t even notice. It won’t take long for you to stumble into one amazing piece after another.

If you love public art, street art, and murals, you should book this Montreal street art tour . You’ll walk around with a local guide to learn more about the artists and discover the most famous murals in the city.

Even though we saw so much street art throughout our stay, there’s always more to discover. I’m not sure you’ll be able to see all of the Montreal street art in one visit, but you’ll certainly see a lot of it when you walk around Mile End. In addition to soaking up those amazing street art views, I also adore the houses and buildings in this neighborhood, too.

Lunch at Mimi & Jones

Mimi & Jones is a vegan diner featuring delicious comfort food. You can choose from a burger, a cheeseburger, tofu nuggets, raviolis, Caesar salad, or their famous milkshakes. We decided to order some burgers, nuggets, and a chocolate milkshake.

Everything was super yummy! The tofu nuggets were heavenly little bites, especially when you dip them in the maple Dijon dipping sauce. They operate mostly for takeaway during the pandemic, but we dined on a small bench just outside of the restaurant.

Shop at the Boutiques of Mile End and Le Plateau Mont Royal

When you wander around Mile End and Le Plateau Mont Royal, you can pair street art hunting with boutique shopping. There are loads of great stores with unique, one of a kind items. We loved browsing the antique shops and poking our heads into indie record stores. There’s a shop for every taste and style, whether you’re looking for clothes, gifts, or something for your home.

Relax at Square Saint-Louis

Square Saint-Louis is an urban park and square in the Plateau Mont Royal neighborhood. There’s a Victorian fountain in the middle of the park, and the park is surrounded by rows of brightly painted Victorian homes. Throughout this Montreal 3 day itinerary, I’ve tried to build in some moments of relaxation. Square Saint-Louis is a great place to unwind with a cup of coffee, people watch, rest your legs, and collect your thoughts.

It’s one of the most beautiful parks in Montreal, and a great place to rest your legs after all of the walking you’ve been doing all day. Bring your camera as you’ll want to take some photos of the colorful graystone row houses.

Dinner and Drinks at Bowhead Pub

The Bowhead Pub is Montreal’s first vegan pub, and we absolutely adore it! They have a delightful patio just outside of the restaurant where we enjoyed a couple pints of beer along with some delicious appetizers. They have a full menu, but we were really feeling the sharable items that night. Justin and I ordered the Chkn Wings and the Cheese Sticks (vegan feta in a Guinness batter). They also have burgers, comfort main dishes, and desserts.

Day 3: Olympic Park and Museums

I’ve left the third day of your 3 days in Montreal devoted to some of the best museums and attractions in Montreal. You’ll start off your morning by visiting MAC, the contemporary art museum in Montreal. After lunch, you’ll travel a little outside of downtown Montreal to Olympic Park. I suggest taking the Metro there as there’s a subway stop right at Olympic Park.

If you’re only spending 2 days in Montreal, I’d suggest simply doing the first two days of this Montreal itinerary. However, if you’re able to create a Montreal 3 day itinerary, this plan is perfect. If you only have a weekend in Montreal, you can also mix and match your favorite aspects of this travel guide.

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal , also known as MAC, is the modern art museum in Montreal. Their collection includes over 7000 works by more than 1500 artists. They primarily focus on artists from Quebec and across Canada. You’ll find everything from paintings to digital and sound works, installations, sculptures, and more. It’s easy to spend at least a couple of hours wandering around MAC, enjoying the atmosphere and all of the thought-provoking works of art.

Lunch at Lola Rosa

Lola Rosa is a delightful vegan restaurant in Montreal with three locations. There’s one right across the road from the Montreal Contemporary Art Museum, so it’s easy to pop over for a quick bite. They have lots of comforting, hearty dishes that will please vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

Justin and I both couldn’t resist ordering their Cajun Burger (it’s funny when we both decide to order the exact same thing on the menu!). I got mine with a vegan poutine because…when in Montreal, right? They’ve also got a great selection of local beers, as well as pitchers of sangria and cocktails.

Montreal Botanical Garden

To reach Olympic Park , you’ll need to take an Uber or a Metro ride as it’s a little farther outside of town. The Montreal Botanical Gardens is a wonderful and peaceful place to visit, whether you’re roaming the gardens by day or visiting a special exhibit by night. I recommend adding the Botanical Gardens to your Montreal 3 day itinerary, whether you are admiring the gardens by day or attending the lantern festival in the fall.

It’s 75 hectares of gardens and greenhouses with a remarkable selection of plants and themed gardens. There are 10 greenhouses and numerous gardens, like the Chinese Garden, the First Nations Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, the Toxic Plants Garden, and more. Depending on the time of year that you visit, different plants and flowers will be in bloom, so your experience can vary from one time to the next.

Montreal’s Lantern Festival at the Botanical Gardens

If you’re visiting Montreal in the fall, I highly recommend that you check out the Gardens of Light Festival ( Jardins de Lumière ). It’s an annual tradition at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Hundreds of lanterns flood the Chinese and Japanese Gardens with light, illuminating the landscape with bursts of bright colors. The lights transport you to another place for the evening. I felt as though I was in China rather than Montreal.

Though Chinese lanterns typically celebrate Chinese New Year, they’re on display here for the fall harvest, or Moon Festival. The lanterns are handmade in Shanghai, and it takes a full year of preparations to organize and display the lights. Every small detail contributes to the magical atmosphere of the festival.

Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium

If you’re a fan of outer space, science, or planetariums, you’ve got to pay a visit to the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium at Montreal’s Olympic Park. It’s a must for any Montreal itinerary if you love museums and attractions. There are a number of French and English language shows, although there are fewer English ones. It’s best to plan accordingly ahead of time so you don’t miss out. They have their programming schedule posted online (as well as some virtual programming at the moment, until the planetarium reopens).

Coffee Break at Caffe in Gamba

Want a little pick-me-up before dinner? Venture over to Caffe in Gamba for a delicious cup of coffee or espresso beverage. It’s back in the Mile End neighborhood where you’re invited to do more exploring before dinner. I ordered a simple black coffee here and it hit the spot. I’m all about finding great coffee shops on the go, so be sure to add Caffe in Gamba to your list of Montreal cafes.

Dinner at Aux Vivres

Aux Vivres continues to be one of our favorite restaurants in Montreal, ever since we first traveled to the city together back in 2013. Back then, we actually ate dinner at Aux Vivres and went there for brunch one morning, too! You know the restaurant is good if you choose to dine there twice.

It’s a 100% vegan restaurant and one of the original vegan restaurants in Montreal. They have a huge menu with lots of favorites, from sandwiches and wraps to bowls and burgers. We also adored the blueberry pancakes that they serve for weekend brunch.

Pints at Le Sainte-Elizabeth’s Patio Garden

End your trip to Montreal with a pint or two at Le Sainte-Elizabeth pub. They have a gorgeous back patio that’s the closest thing I could find to a beer garden in Montreal. You’re surrounded by tall, brick walls covered in vines and greenery. There are tall trees in the middle of the patio garden. Plus, there are tons of heat lamps, meaning that this patio is open all year long.

More Than 3 Days in Montreal?

If you find yourself with more time, there are still many more things to do in Montreal. For instance, you could stay within the city and check out some more museums . You can book a relaxing Nordic spa experience just a few minutes away from downtown Montreal. Or if you’re looking for what to do in Montreal and you’re thinking about taking a day or two away from the city, I suggest a trip to nearby Mont Tremblant.

Visiting Mont Tremblant From Montreal

If you have an extra couple of days, I recommend making the short drive from Montreal to Mont Tremblant. Tremblant resort is a fantastic experience any time of the year, whether you’re visiting Tremblant in the summer or partaking in outdoor activities in the winter . In the summer, Mont Tremblant hosts their sensational International Blues Festival , and there are also lots of great vegan restaurants at Tremblant , too.

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Where to Stay in Montreal

Justin and I spent three nights at the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal . It was our second time staying here. We enjoyed our first stay so much that we didn’t hesitate to make it our temporary home again in Montreal. It’s right downtown in the perfect location, right in the middle of all the action. We’re able to walk almost everywhere from this hotel.

The hotel has all the modern amenities you need for a comfortable stay, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure. There’s complimentary Wi-Fi and we found the speeds were lightning fast. We stayed in one of their newly renovated rooms, which was super comfortable and spacious. There’s a rooftop pool, a terrace garden with ducks, a fitness center, and restaurants on site.

Everything you could possibly want or need is right here at the Hotel Bonaventure. Click here to book your stay  at the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal. There are also many more  reviews of Hotel Bonaventure Montreal  online, and I encourage you to check them out when you’re reviewing hotels in Montreal for your holiday.

Montreal Frequently Asked Questions

Thinking about planning a trip to Montreal? You might have a few questions about Montreal that I haven’t answered already. Here’s some basic info about Montreal that you should know before you go.

Of course, yes! I have visited Montreal on multiple occasions. Even though it’s not too far away (about 5 hours by car), I think Montreal is a great city to visit even if you are coming from abroad. There are many things to see and do, and it’s such a vibrant and awesome city.

Yes! Most people in Montreal speak both French and English. While you may be initially greeted in French, don’t worry if you cannot speak French. I’m sure many people would appreciate if you tried. But, if you start speaking in English, pretty much everyone will flip over to English and communicate that way.

Montreal is a very walkable city. You can walk most places, especially if you stay in a centrally located downtown hotel. However, there’s also the fabulous and easy to navigate Montreal Metro if you’d rather travel by the subway or public transportation.

3 days is the perfect amount of time to visit Montreal. You’ll be able to see many attractions and places of interest. Of course, you can visit for 2 days or 4 days (or even longer), but you should be able to tackle most of the best things to do in Montreal in 3 days.

Please use Canadian currency in Montreal. We do not use US dollars here. I am sure many places will accept US dollars, but they won’t do any currency exchange for you. As the US dollar is valued much higher than the Canadian dollar, it makes more sense to convert your money into Canadian dollars.

Montreal is a great city to visit all year long. However, it does get quite cold and snowy in the winter, so you’ll need to dress appropriately. I love the spring and the fall the most in Montreal. September is a great time of year (after Labour Day weekend) because there are fewer crowds and the weather is still warm. The prices for hotels are more affordable during the shoulder seasons (March to May and September to November).

Map of Montreal

Navigate your way around the city with this handy map. See everything that I mentioned for this Montreal 3 day itinerary visually represented on a map.

Do you want to save this map for future reference? If you click the star beside the map title, it will be saved to your Google Maps account. Then, you can access it while hiking from your own Google Maps app (it will be listed under “your places” and then “maps”).

More Things to Do in Quebec

For more Quebec travel guides and itineraries, please check out these popular travel blog posts:

• 20 Best Things to Do in Laval
• Mont Tremblant in Summer
• Mont Tremblant in Winter
• Montreal 3 Day Itinerary
• Terrebonne and Ile-des-Moulins, Quebec
• Quebec City 3 Day Itinerary
• Quebec City in Winter
• Quebec Winter Carnival
• Snow Tubing in Quebec at the Ultimate Winter Playground
• Quebec City Christmas Market
• Ice Hotel Quebec: A Survival Guide to Staying Overnight
• Le Monastere des Augustines: Quebec Monastery Turned Wellness Centre
• 7 Day Itinerary for a Gaspe Peninsula Road Trip
• Whale Watching in Tadoussac
• 3 Days In Lanaudière Mauricie Itinerary

Is there anything else that you’d add to your Montreal itinerary?

Let’s stay in touch.

Click here to join our newsletter for exclusive travel tips, advice, and all the latest content at Justin Plus Lauren!

Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world. Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers. She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel, eco and sustainable travel, and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns.

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The ultimate Canada Travel Guide

by Kira | Sep 23, 2022 | Canada , Destinations

Get ready for a fantastic adventure with the Canada Travel Guide.

Canada is a vast country filled with experiences and adventures, and it can be hard to decide where to start and what to see. That’s what we’re here for! This comprehensive Canada Travel Guide will provide you with essential tips and tricks, lists of what to see and do, and a fabulous two-week itinerary. Let’s get this trip started…

Travel Tips for Canada

We’ve collected some tips from avid travelers and locals to ensure your trip will go perfectly.

Be prepared for the weather: Canada isn’t always cold; summer can get quite hot with temperatures up to 30°C (86°F), so pack accordingly and check the weather when packing.

Check Visa & Entry requirements: Especially entry requirements can quickly change. Prepare by checking official pages, such as government pages, for your visa and COVID-19 entry requirements .

Check Alcohol Age limits : Even though the restrictions aren’t as strict as in the US, restrictions still vary by province. Usually, it is either 18 (Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta) or 19 (British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, the Maritime Provinces, and the Territories).

Tipping: Don’t forget to tip when you’re eating out. The tip ranges from 15-20%, depending on the service.

Sales Tax: Price tags don’t necessarily include a sales tax. Depending on the province, it will be between 10-15%.

Stick to one or two areas: Canada is large, and even though you would like to see it all, that might not be possible. Stick to one or two areas on your road and come back in the future to see more.

Book accommodation in advance : to get a reasonable price, plan your trip all the way through and book hotels (and rental cars) in advance.

What does it cost to travel to Canada?

When planning a trip to Canada, you should plan a daily budget of about $173.

Accommodation: Plan for an average spending of$80 per night. Hotel rooms in bigger cities might set you back $100-200, while staying in smaller towns and booking in advance will be slightly cheaper. You can also camp on designated campsites for about $20 per tent or vehicle.

Transportation: If you’re renting a rental car, plan for about $70 a day. A two-week trip with a rental car will set you back between $900-1000. Also, remember that you need to be at least 25 to rent a car in Canada.

Food: It depends on where you eat and what type of food you prefer. If you like eating out in restaurants or your accommodation does not have a kitchen plan for about $50 for daily sustenance. You can reduce this cost significantly by shopping in supermarkets and cooking whenever possible.

Activities: Many activities in Canada can be enjoyed for free. Some National Parks might require an entry fee, but most outdoor activities will be free. If you’re planning to go whale watching or on a polar bear safari, be aware of the costs and try to book in advance.

To learn more about how to travel to Canada on a budget and for more tips and tricks, check out the blog Canada on a budget by our colleague Hamzah !

10 Must-See Places in Canada

No Canada Travel Guide would be complete without a list of must-see places. We promise there’s something for everyone.

1. Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan

Every outdoor activity you ever dreamed of is possible here. When here, you want to head out on a hike, go riding or spend your time on a boat somewhere in nature. The Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park has it all. Even if you want to go camping, there are several options for you to choose one. When her you like to pitch a tent or sleep in a log hut – every outdoor lover’s dreams will come true here.

2. Wolf Lake, Yukon

Wolf Lake is a beautiful nature reserve in Yukon. Her, you can get in touch with nature. Vis t the Wolf Lake lodge to have a fantastic time at the lake and learn how to fly fish. You can stay here overnight and rent boats.

3. Fernie, British Columbia

This small town South of Calgary and just North of the US Border is a natural paradise all year round. In summer, you can hike several wilderness trails or swim in Fairy Creek Falls. There’s an Alpine resort in winter, or you can head out into nature on a snowmobile. Whenever you choose to come here. You will always find something to do.

4. Fraser River, British Columbia

The Fraser River is the longest in British Columbia, and especially Fraser Valley is popular among locals and Tourists. The e are caves you can explore, such as the Chipmunk Caves, and several beautiful walks and hikes around the area. Head to the Community forest on the Eastern Hillside or the Cheam Wetlands, which are great for bird watching.

5. Old Québec, Québec

This UNESCO world heritage site is part of the original colonial settlements and is over 400 years old. Wh n visiting, you might feel like you’re in European cities such as Edinburgh or Paris’s streets. Highlights when visiting Old Québec:

• Petit-Champlain The area is known for its European charm, cobblestone streets, and great shopping opportunities.
• Parliament Hill & Plains of Abraham A beautiful and elegant area of the city, dominated by the parliament building.
• Inside Québec City’s Walls Visit Châteu Frontenac and the Citadelle inside the fortified city walls.

6. Niagara Falls, Ontario

Take it from us; the view of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada, is just better than from the US side. There are plenty of things to do here; if you’re interested in getting up close to the falls, book a voyage on the Maiden of the Mist. You can hike around the area on the Niagara Falls Recreation Trail or to Niagara Glen.

7. Toronto, Ontario

Toronto isn’t far from Niagara Falls and couldn’t be more different. High towering skyscrapers and modern architecture await visitors eagerly. The best things to do in Toronto:

• Royal Ontario Museum
• Art Gallery of Toronto
• St. Lawrence Market
• The Hockey Hall of Fame
• Queen Street West
• Yonge-Dundas Square

8. Sable Island, Nova Scotia

How about a trip to an island in the middle of the ocean? Sable Island is a nature reserve that is only accessible by air or sea. You can travel here only with the weather in perfect condition and from June to October. Keep in mi d that there might be delays and cancellations going to the island or on your return trip. Once you h ve arrived here, you’ll find amazing wildlife, such as horses, walruses, and grey seals, as well as stunning landscapes and vistas. This is an absolutely unique adventure.

9. Churchill, Manitoba

The North awaits you with a town that cannot be missed in any Canada Travel Guide. The area is known for polar bears in the fall and other amazing wildlife, such as Beluga Whales. One of the main reasons why people travel here is the Polar Bear safaris.

10. Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

As you might’ve seen by now, Canada is all about nature, and Canadians love spending time out in the wilderness of their beautiful country. Algonquin Provincial Park combines everything a nature lover needs. You can g camping, moose watching, fishing, hiking, and spend some cozy time at a lodge or in a log cabin. You’ll definitely find something to do here.

Top 5 Activities in Canada

Next to all the beautiful places you can see, there are also quite some things you can only do in Canada or that perfectly fit into your adventure. This Cana a Travel Guide will hit you up with the coolest things to do in Canada!

1. Polar Bear Safari in Churchill

Heading to Churchill. there are several tour operators and options to choose from. You can decide to go on day trips or stay for up to two weeks exploring the wildlife close to the North Pole. Best Time to visit: September to October

Where to start: Some tour operators offer transportation from Winnipeg, while others expect you to come to Churchill before your trip. Check with the tour guide before booking anything.

• Day Trip: $2,000. This includes the tour in a Tundra buggy, three meals, and a round trip airfare from Calgary or Edmonton. These tours sell out fast, so make sure to book ahead and find out more here !
• 8-Days-Trip : The prices vary depending on what kind of tour you’re booking, starting at $10,000. All of the tours include transportation, accommodations, meals, and excursion gear (rain gear, wellies, marine gear). Click here to find out more about the Birds, Bears & Belugas tour or other available tours .

2. Canadian canoeing in Nahanni Canyon

Canoeing means fully immersing yourself in nature and becoming one with the water. We recommend going on a guided tour when canoeing Nahanni Canyon; however, this is a commitment. You will end up to 14 days in nature, camping and paddling through remote wilderness. Best Time to visit: June to September

Where to start: Many expeditions start at Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. You can fly there from Yellowknife or drive up from Edmonton, which will take you approximately 18 hours.

8-Day Flatwater Canoeing: This tour is perfect for beginners and takes you along stunning landscapes to Virginia Falls. You will start and end the tour with a stunning flight over the mountains and canyons of the area. The price of about $7000 includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as the canoe equipment and the flights to and from the river. Find out more here .

Two-Week Whitewater Adventure: This adventure is perfect for intermediary paddlers and people who are comfortable around whitewater. This 350k trip along the river will take you 13 days and costs about $8500, which again includes three meals a day and transport from and to Fort Simpson. Find out more here.

3. Bungee Jumping in Ottawa

Are you fancying an adrenalin-filled adventure? Head to the small town of Chelsea, just outside of Ottawa, and jump from the highest platform in Canada. Great Canadian Bungee has been in operation for 31 years now and are pros at what they do.

Bungee Jumping: The first jump of the day will set you back around $150; additional jumps on the same day are around $75.

Packages: You can also book combo deals, including a bungee jump, rafting, and/or a stay at B&B close by. Prices here start at around $300.

4. Whale Watching in Vancouver

Western Canada’s coastlines, especially Vancouver Isla, are perfect for Whale Watching. Several companies offer tours ranging from 1 hour to 5 hours.

You can always choose whether you want to head out to sea on a regular boat or on a more adventurous zodiac-style boat. The latter is a little more expensive, and you might get wet, but you’ll definitely have an up-close experience with the whales.

Vancouver Whale Watch: This company offers a tour on a more sheltered zodiac and an open-sea experience on a small zodiac with a small intimate group. Tours run from April to September and start from $155. Tours usually take 3-5 hours, depending on where the whales are.

Prince of Whales: A tour on the sheltered catamaran starts at $149 (per person) and will take around 3 or more hours. If you want to ride on the zodiac, it will take 3-3.5 hours and cost you around $139. Tours usually run from April to September/October. You can find more info here .

5. Skiing in Whistler

Every Canada Travel Guide will include a trip to Whistler, and going here is worth it. Even if you hate skiing. You can hike the area in summer and enjoy stunning vistas and beautiful landscapes. In Winter, the small town is almost overrun with ski tourists. Day Passes for Ski Resorts will cost around $360 for adults and $180 for kids.

Are you ready for your next adventure?

Travel to Canada and North America with JoinMyTrip and discover the great outdoors on this beautiful continent.

The best 2-Week Itinerary for Canada

If you don’t know how to start planning your Canada Adventure, look no further! In your ultimate Canada Travel Guide, we have gathered the best itinerary for your next trip here!

Day 1-2: Calgary

Start your journey in Calgary; it is just north of the US-American border and the largest metropolitan area in Alberta. Pick up your rental car on the second day when leaving the city.

What to do in Calgary

• Calgary Zoo Calgary Zoo can easily be reached by train and has a wonderful selection of animals, such as pandas and meerkats.
• Heritage Park This historical park will give a better understanding of the life of people in Colonial times. Actors will act out small bits of local history. The park includes a small museum, a historic village, and a lot of beautiful nature.
• Calgary Tower This almost 200m tall observation tower offers beautiful and unique city views. It also features a revolving restaurant.
• Glenbow Museum The Glenbow museum offers a selection of West Canadian historical artifacts as well as national artists.

Day 2-4: Banff Nationalpark

Pick up your rental car on the second day and head west to Banff Nationalpark. The drive will take you about 1,5 hours and features beautiful views along the way. You will have to pay an admission fee to enter the park. Adults cost about $11, and camping has to be paid separately. Here’s a more detailed price overview .

What to do in Banff Nationalpark

• Hike more than 1.600 km of beautiful trails Here’s a more detailed view of all those beautiful trails and what to remember when hiking the park.
• Ditch the car Park your car at the visitor center and take one of the shuttles taking you to locations and on tours around the national park. Find more info here .
• Do what makes you happy. There’s something to do for everyone at Banff Nationalpark. Whether you like spending time at a lodge enjoying some quiet time or would like to go hiking, horseback riding, or kayaking – Banff has something for you! You can find an overview here .

Day 4-6: Jasper Nationalpark

Jasper Nationalpark is the second-largest Dark Sky Reserve in the world! This is the place if you’ve ever wanted to go star gazing. You should definitely take the car here to get around and discover nature. The same fees apply to Jasper Nationalpark as to Banff Nationalpark. You can find a detailed overview here .

What to do in Jasper Nationalpark

• Star Gazing The Dark Sky Reserve is definitely worth enjoying. Grab your camping gear and head to a campground to enjoy a fantastic view of the stars and our universe.
• Wildlife Watching Depending on which season you’ll be traveling here, there are different animals just roaming around the park, such as deer, bears, and mountain lions. If you see animals, do not feed them human food and stay in your car. For more information, please consult the national park service website .
• Hiking & Exploring This is a given for every national park anywhere in the world. Pick one of the many trails according to what you’re comfortable with, and head out to see some vistas.

Day 6-7: Sun Peaks

After spending so much time in nature, you’re slowly heading back to civilization. From Jasper, you’re going to drive for 450km (roughly 4-5h) to Sun Peaks in British Colombia. This small mountain town is famous for skiing and its resorts. Outside of winter, you can hike and explore the area, golf, or take mountain bikes through the woods.

Day 7-11: Vancouver

We just can’t write a Canada Travel Guide without mentioning the beautiful city of Vancouver. From Sun Peaks, it will take you about 5 hours to reach the city center of Vancouver. The city has something to offer for everyone so you can spend your days here without worrying about what to do.

What to do in Vancouver

• Stanley Park A beautiful park right on the water with beautiful views to enjoy while walking.
• Whale Watching This is a must-do in Canada. Scroll up a little, and you’ll find our tips and tricks for the perfect Whale Watching tour.
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Museum of Anthropology
• Science World
• Museum of Vancouver
• Van Dusen Botanical Garden This beautiful garden features some extraordinary plants and a beautiful lake.
• Richmond Night Market This market runs on weekends during the summer months and is a collection of street food and local vendors.

Day 11-14: Victoria

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and can be found in the south of Vancouver Island. Heading here means heading into nature and getting close up with the great outdoors yet again. If you want to explore British Colombia a little more, check out the Must Visit Spots in British Columbia .

What to do in Victoria

• Royal BC Museum
• Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
• Miniature World
• Maritime Museum of British Colombia
• National Toy Museum of Canada
• Fishermen’s Wharf Park
• Discover Nature on Vancouver Island You can discover the whole island just by hiking or from the water with a boat. We recommend heading out to Tofino for some eerie moods and maybe some surfing.

Travel to North America with JoinMyTrip

Start your next adventure today by simply booking a trip to North America right now!

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Toronto blog — the ultimate toronto travel guide blog for first-timers.

Referring to Canada, people think of a multi-ethnic culture. There you can see the cultural diversity of many different regions of the world. Therefore, this place is an ideal destination for many visitors. And if you are a travel lover, don’t miss Canada! Especially the beautiful, vibrant city of Toronto. Toronto is not only a bustling, economically dynamic city, this is also one of the most beloved tourist destinations in North America that many tourists want to visit once. Today, in this article we will share with you everything related to Toronto tourism to help you planning a wonderful trip to explore this city. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Toronto for the first-time? Let’s check out our Toronto blog (Toronto travel blog, Toronto travel guide blog) with the fullest Toronto Canada travel guide (Toronto guide, Toronto tourist guide, Toronto visitor guide, Toronto travel guide, Toronto city guide) from how to get there, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer!

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Toronto blog: Overview of Toronto

The city of Toronto is considered the financial center of Canada with a developed and dynamic economy in many fields from finance, corporate services, aviation to the arts, health, education, tourism and engineering. Toronto is also home to the Toronto Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the Canada’s five largest banks.

Along with the development of the economy, the quality of life in Toronto is highly appreciated and is one of the most livable cities in the world. However, the cost of living in Toronto is quite affordable. It only takes you about 3,000-5,000 CAD/month to pay for living expenses such as housing fees, shopping fees, food costs, transportation fees, etc. This is the reason why many people choose Toronto as a place to study, work and settle for a long time.

Toronto travel blog: What is the best season to visit Toronto?

Toronto’s weather is generally quite nice regardless of the season of the year. So no matter when you travel to Toronto, you will be feel comfortable at anytime. You can travel to Toronto all year round, each season has its own beauty. However, the time of visit will depend on your preference and travel style.

Spring: The spring lasts from March to May. The average temperature is about 12 degrees Celsius, but it is quite cold in the early morning and night and it rains a lot. The lowest temperature is around 3 degrees Celsius, May is warmer, from 11 to 21 degrees Celsius. Most Toronto tours start in mid-late April, when the weather is warmer. If you go in May you will have the opportunity to participate in the tulip festival.

Summer: From June to August with an average temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius, with golden sunshine, quite ideal for you to take a scenic walk, sightseeing. Temperatures in summer months sometimes reach up to 27 to 28 degrees Celsius. Golden sunshine covering the city buildings in the central area, this is an opportunity to sunbathing after cold winter days.

In Toronto in particular and in Canada in general, the summer days are usually much longer than the nights, it has already begun to dawn at 4 am and it’s only get dark at 9 pm. Not only for Asians, but almost everyone in this country loves the summer of Toronto, when the weather warms up, it is an opportunity for the locals to have fun, travel, and participate in festivals. There are many festivals held in the summer in Canada such as coconut festival, street food festival, outdoor art exhibition, VELD music festival, Caribbean Carnival, etc.

Autumn: From September to November. In the fall, visitors will experience the changing of nature, the carpet of maple leaves in all colors of yellow, orange, burgundy,… covered the streets and parks.

Fall is the most beautiful season in Toronto and also the best time to visit Toronto with a bit cold, brilliant fall foliage. A note for visitors when traveling to Toroto this season is to only take photos, not break branches or pick leaves or throw rubbish indiscriminately because if caught, you can be fined up to 200 Canadian dollars.

Winter: From the last month of November to February next year, the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius from mid-late November and can drop to -10 degrees Celsius in December, January and February. Although, it’s very cold but this is the ideal time for tourists who love snow activities. Toronto was once voted as the ideal destination for those who love skiing.

Toronto Canada travel guide: Getting to Toronto

The best way to get to Toronto is by air. Toronto Pearson International Airport is about 25km from the downtown (Union Station) which takes about 25 minutes by UP Express with the first trip at 5:40 am, the last trip at 10:40 pm ever day, costs about $2-$10/way and 45 minutes by bus which costs about $5-$14/way. Find out more on how to get from the airport to the city center here .

To find the suitable flights, cheap tickets as well as convenient departure points and routes you can go to Google Flights or SkyScanner to searching.

Toronto travel guide: Getting around Toronto

Toronto is one of the largest cities in Canada, so the transportation system here is also very modern and considered quite convenient, you can travel by many public transport.

Subway: This is a popular means of transport, you can easily go to visit Toronto city. However, a note when traveling by Toronto subway is that the main lines of the subway do not usually go to all of the attractions and sometimes there are sections of the subway rail that are repaired so you will have to find another alternative.

Bus: This vehicle makes it easy for you to traveling because it can pick you up on all routes in the city. With more than 300 bus routes and operating from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the next day, this is a suitable means of transport that you should use.

In addition, you can also use Hop-On Hop-Off bus service which takes you to the almost main tourist attractions of the city. Refer to here .

Streetcar: A tram system running along the track in the middle of the streets, with about 11 lines running to all points of the city. But you should pay attention when catching a streetcar, because it does not stop on the side of the road.

Toronto blog: Where to go, what to do?

Niagara Falls

One of the tourist attractions in Toronto that attracts tourists most to visit is Niagara Falls. This is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world with majestic beauty, located on the border between the US and Canada. Coming here in any season of the year, you will also be fascinated with the majestic scenery mixed with charm, creating a wonderful picture of nature. Coming here is sure to make visitors feel like they are lost in the wonderland when admiring the spectacular, overwhelming scenery of the falls both day and night.

The waterfall will release white foam in the sunlight, creating rainbow colors sometimes hidden, sometimes appear, creating extremely beautiful scenes. When night falls, the high-pressure light system with vivid colors projecting into the falls, making the scene of the waterfall become shimmering and fanciful like a rainbow appearing at night. You also can take a boat tour to get closer to the falls or take a helicopter scenic flight tour to watching the falls from above.

Canada’s National Tower (CN Tower)

Inaugurated in 1976, with a height of 553.33m, the Canadian National Tower, also known as CN Tower for short, was the tallest tower in the world at that time and maintained this title for 31 years in a row. This is the most ideal spot to see the panoramic view of the city of Toronto. Especially at its 360 ​​restaurant, you will see a very luxurious and romantic scene.

CN Tower is considered a symbol of the city of Toronto in particular and one of the symbols of Canada in general. In 1995, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) voted CN Tower as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.

A 3-min walk from the Rogers Centre Address: 290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9, Canada Hours: 10AM–9PM Opened: June 26, 1976 Floors: 147

This High Park is one of the largest parks in Toronto, spanning 161 hectares, fully converging as a natural amusement park with sports, cultural, educational facilities, 18 campsites, playground and zoo. The special thing here is that one third of the park is still in its natural state, with the rare old black oak savannah, eco-tourism areas, unique forests and lakes full of romantic. Here you can camping, hiking, entertain with family and friends or take a walk along Grenadier Pond in the western part of the park that will make you forget you are in Canada’s largest city.

Address: 1873 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3, Canada Hours: Open 24 hours Created: 1876

This is a romantic hilltop mansion designed in Gothic Revival and Scottish baronial architecture styles, was built in 1914. The mansion with 3 floors, has a total of 98 rooms, modern and luxurious interior with many fountains, statues and secret tunnels is one of the top Toronto’s tourist attractions that attract any visitor. In addition, you can also enjoy delicious food in aristocratic style, dance with Summer Music Series, or enjoy relaxing moments at Ghost Tracking.

Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8, Canada Hours: 9:30AM–5PM Founded: 1914

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Located in British Columbia, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a great destination for visitors from March to October. The reserve covers an area of ​​​​about 197 square miles including land and sea. Coming here, visitors will be able to participate in many exciting outdoor activities such as climbing, camping, fishing, kayaking and interacting with animals. For those who love bird watching, Pacific Rim Reserve is an ideal place with more than 250 species of birds inhabited here.

Address: British Columbia, Canada Hours: 8AM–11PM Established: 1970

Distillery District

For those who love history and want to explore the classic beauty of Canada, Distillery District is the ideal attraction in Toronto which was designated as world heritage site on November 11, 1988. This district owns 40 historic buildings located on 10 streets for visitors to explore and visit. The Distillery is considered a huge collection of North American post-Victorian architecture.

Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG)

Also known as “Big Ideas for Small Gardens”, TBG covers nearly four acres and has 17 “city gardens”. TBG is a horticulture and education nonprofit whose mission is to connect people, plants, and the natural world through education, inspiration, and leadership.

The botanical garden is a sanctuary for rare plant species, mainly focusing on the art of floriculture, fruit and vegetable cultivation and horticulture. The botanical garden has 17 different garden themes covering an area of ​​4 acres. There are also indoor and outdoor activities, including garden tours, camping, walking in the grasslands, etc. to bring interesting experiences for all ages. The garden with beautiful scenery is a favorite place for couples to take pictures. In addition, visitors can also shopping at shops near the botanical garden, stop by at the 4-season cafe or visit farmers’ markets.

The highlight of the garden is the LEED Silver Certified building with a green roof and designed according to biotechnology. Toronto is known as a green city with many green parks designed sustainably in terms of materials and technology to improve drainage.

Address: 777 Lawrence Ave E, North York, ON M3C 1P2, Canada Hours: 7AM–9PM Opened: 1958 Building hours: 9am to 5pm daily

Canada’s Wonderland

What to play in Toronto? About 40km from downtown Toronto, opened in 1981 until today. Canada’s Wonderland amusement park attracts more than 3 million visitors to visit, explore and have fun every year. With an area of ​​more than 134 hectares, this amusement park is divided into 8 small amusement parks for you to choose from such as Action Zone, International Street, International Festival, KidZville, Medieval Faire, Planet Snoopy, Splash Works and White Water Canyon.

Address: 1 Canada’s Wonderland Drive, Vaughan, ON L6A 1S6, Canada Roller coasters: 17

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Referring to the famous tourist attractions in Toronto, it cannot help but mention to Ripley’s Aquarium. With over 20,000 rare marine animals and a capacity of up to 5.7 million liters of water and spreading on an area of 12,500 m2 (135,000 sq ft), Ripley’s Aquarium officially becomes the largest aquarium with the most North America’s underwater tunnels.

A 1-min walk from the CN Tower Address: 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9, Canada Hours: 10AM–8PM Opened: October 16, 2013

Harbourfront Centre

Harbourfront is very attractive place to visit because it is an entertainment complex with many cascade programs such as music and dance performances, food festivals, art exhibitions, fun family activities… This center is run by a non-profit organization, with an area of ​​​​about 4 hectares, events take place continuously throughout the year.

Coming to the art center, you will start from York Quay, where there are unique artworks from various art exhibitions, from visual art to architecture, experimentation. Then you will be seated next to the lakeside to admire the beautiful view of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands.

Address: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8, Canada Founded: January 1, 1991

Kensington Market

Kensington Market is a tourist place with a quaint feature, capturing much of the city’s historical evidence, the most vibrant and diverse neighbourhood of Toronto. In 2006, this place was recognized as a national historic site of Canada. The reason makes Kensington Market has become an attractive tourist attracion in Toronto is because it marks a unique historical event. In the early years of the twentieth century, the first people to come to this area to live were Jews from Europe who immigrated here, then many other people from other countries also came here to settle. A large part of American soldiers opposed the Vietnam War, so they came here to settle. It is because of the ethnic diversity that has made a colorful Kensington culture, from styles to lifestyles from all over the world converge here.

Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome)

Every year at the Rogers sports complex, many sports competitions with the largest scale in Canada take place, with unique and impressive art and singing performances that attract a large number of visitors.

A 3-min walk from the CN Tower Address: 1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON M5V 1J1, Canada Capacity: 53,506 Opened: June 3, 1989 Height: 86 m

Rideau Canal

Built between 1827 and 1832, with a length of up to 202km, the Rideau Canal extends from the capital of Ottawa to the port of Kingston, Ontario. This canal was applied the most advanced construction technology of the Europeans at that time.

In the past, the British built this canal with the original purpose of military service, to protect the Canadian colony against the threat of the United States. It was recognized as a UNECSO World Heritage Site in 2007.

Today, the Rideau Canal is a popular tourist attraction in Canada. With many parks, gardens, museums and romantic walkways along both sides of the canal, in the summer months, this place is bustling with pedestrians and boats back and forth. In winter, the Rideau Canal freezes into the longest natural ice rink in the world.

Toronto blog: What to eat?

Smoky pea soup.

This dish originated in France, brought with it by expeditors when they came to this new land. The process of making this dish is very simple, which is that the dried peas will be crushed, combined with chopped bacon, and added vegetables and cream to make the dish more delicious, attractive and lively.

Canadian Butter Tarts

This is a favorite cake of many people in the “Land of Maple Leaf”, with a crispy crust combined with a sweet and fragrant filling made from a mixture of sugar, eggs and butter mixed to create an extremely attractive tart. This is considered a traditional dish of the indigenous people, this dish is often enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee. You can taste butter tarts anywhere in Toronto, at cafes or pastry shops.

Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo bar is a typical, tremendously sweet bar dessert of Canada. The cake is named after a city in British Columbia called Nanaimo and bars. The cake is formed from three overlapping layers including a layer of chocolate and coconut biscuits, a layer of vanilla butter and a thick layer of chocolate. Currently, the chefs also process some more flavors to serve diners such as mint, green tea, peanut butter…

Canadian Pizza (Canadian-style pizza)

Pizza is famous as a typical Italian dish, but in Canada this dish is also very popular and is re-processed in a unique Canadian style and flavor. The two most popular varieties of Canadian Pizza are Wayne Gretzky, which includes cheeses like mozzarella, curd, and cheddar with Italian sausage, chili slices, onions and bacon, spicy sauce, and Cronenberg Crash, which includes spicy tofu and bell peppers, cilantro pesto, mango, peanut.

Beaver Tails (Canadian Donuts)

Beaver Tails donuts has a unique shape like the tail of a beaver. This fried cake is kneaded into a shape from flour, then poured on top of fresh cream, jam and strawberries. Currently, to serve the needs of diners, chefs also create Beaver Tails fried cakes with chocolate filling, topped with candy or different fruits.

Fish and brewis

This is also a Canadian bold-style dish that visitors must try when coming to Toronto. This dish is made from salted cod and bread. Before processing, salted fish will be soaked in water to reduce the salinity and soak slices of hard bread in water to soften. Then boil them until tender and soft. Another indispensable ingredient in this dish is cracklings (scratchings). Pork lard diced and deep fried and mixed all three together. The greasy taste of the cracklings mixes with the salty taste of the fish and the slightly sweet taste of the bread, creating an unforgettable attractive taste.

Bloody Caesar Cocktail

Caesar is a very popular drink in Canada. It was created by a restaurant manager named Calgary Walter Chell in 1969 and gradually became a popular drink in this country. Ingredients to make Calgary Walter Chell include vodka, clamato water, a little worchester and a little salt on the rim of the glass.

There is also a restaurant that also created a special food attached to Bloody Caesar glass, which is the Checkmate Caesar. With a huge selection of foods including whole roast chicken, cheese hot dog, chocolate cake, burger, pork and stewed vegetable, make sure you will be hooked and want to eat it as soon as you see it.

Tourtiere (French Canadian Meat Pie)

The intersection of two cuisines of France and Canada, each French Canadian Meat Pie is meticulously prepared. Accordingly, the filling of the pie is made of minced beef, pork, and goat meat. After that, it will be marinated with typical cooking spices, herbs and crispy baked. When enjoying this dish, it is best to add a little ketchup to increase the deliciousness and attractiveness.

Canadian bacon (Back bacon)

This is a popular dish of many Canadians that is prepared in a unique way with meat taken from lean back meat, so less fat, and salted and then rolled over a layer of peameal before being smoked, creating a more distinctive flavor to the dish. Visitors when enjoying Back bacon will feel the flavor is stronger than other types of meat and the tender meat seems to melt on the tip of the tongue.

Toronto travel blog: What and where to buy?

Path underground shopping mall.

Path underground is the busiest shopping place in Toronto in particular and Canada in general. Path Street is located just below downtown Toronto, including 48 high-rise office buildings, 6 large hotels and 1,200 large and small shops. The Path neighborhood has been included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest underground shopping mall in the world with a total retail floor area of 371,600 m2 (4,000,000 sq ft). Here visitors will enjoy exploring and shopping.

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence is Toronto’s old market with more than 200 years old. This place has become a familiar shopping stop for many domestic and foreign tourists when traveling to Toronto. The market has more than 100 shops selling wholesale and retail everything from fashion to food. St. Lawrence Market is open from Tuesday to Saturday.

Address: 93 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3, Canada Hours: 9AM–5PM/Saturday: 5AM–4PM/Monday, Sunday: Closed Floor area: 111,458 square feet (10,354.8 m2)

Toronto travel blog: Where to stay?

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• One King West Hotel & Residence ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Hyatt Regency Toronto ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• InterContinental Toronto Centre ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• The Omni King Edward Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )

Check out more top and best hotels in Toronto via Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Toronto blog: Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Toronto you can refer to

• CN Tower Admission Ticket in Toronto
• Toronto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• Niagara Falls Small Group Day Tour from Toronto
• Niagara Falls Day Tour from Toronto
• Scenic Toronto Night Small Group Tour
• Niagara Parks Adventure Pass in Niagara Falls Canada

Read more Canada travel guide here .

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Nova Scotia Travel Guide

Last Updated: November 10, 2023

That welcoming atmosphere — combined with over 100 beaches, picturesque lighthouses, fresh seafood, and endless rugged coastline — makes visiting Nova Scotia an exciting (and underrated) destination in Eastern Canada.

Outside the capital city of Halifax, Nova Scotia is dotted with tiny fishing villages and coastal towns. Drive further north, and you’ll hit scenic Cape Breton Island which comes alive with vivid fall foliage each year along its Cabot Trail. In short, Nova Scotia is a province perfect for road trips.

Another bonus: Nova Scotia doesn’t see nearly as many tourists as the country’s larger cities, making it a somewhat off-the-beaten-trail destination that’s much more affordable than many of the more popular cities in Canada.

This travel guide to Nova Scotia can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this beautiful east coast province!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Nova Scotia

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Nova Scotia

1. Hike the Skyline Trail

The Skyline Trail is easily the most popular hike in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It stretches 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) through thick forest and then along the coast to reach a viewing platform overlooking the ocean. It’s a breathtaking walk on which you might even encounter moose. The hike is suitable for all levels and takes between 1.5-3 hours. Make sure to bring your own water, good shoes, and clothing layers as the weather can change quickly. The most popular time to visit is July, August, and September but many people come to see the autumn leaves change in October. Park admission is 8.50 CAD.

2. Tour the Alexander Keith’s Brewery

Alexander Keith is a legend in Nova Scotia. He opened his brewery in 1820, became mayor of Halifax, and was so wildly popular that Halifax throws a massive birthday party for him on the waterfront every October. Today, the 200-year-old brewery is one of the oldest in North America. Take a tour of the Halifax brewery to learn more and sample some of the limited edition beers at “Stag’s Head” pub at the end of the tour. Tours are 29.95 CAD.

3. Hang out in Halifax

Halifax is Nova Scotia’s cool capital city. It’s home to half a dozen universities so it has a lively nightlife, a thriving music scene, and countless trendy restaurants and craft breweries. Stroll the waterfront boardwalk, grab a lobster roll, and spend the evening at a local pub. Take the ferry over to Dartmouth across the harbor, known as ‘Halifax’s Brooklyn’ and check out the live music at New Scotland Brewing Company. The city has a youthful, arty vibe and is worth visiting for a couple of days.

4. Visit Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse

There are some 170 lighthouses in Nova Scotia, but Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is the most famous. Once you see it, you’ll understand why it’s one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. It’s a quintessential red-topped lighthouse standing on a rocky shore overlooking the Atlantic. Walk around and enjoy the ocean views and snap some photos. Beware: rogue waves are common, even on calm days. It’s possible to reach the lighthouse via bus and taxi but it is much easier by car.

5. Drive the Cabot Trail

Other things to see and do in nova scotia, 1. go tidal bore rafting in shubenacadie.

The Shubenacadie River’s rapids in the Bay of Fundy are powered by the highest tides in the world. One minute you’re floating down a peaceful river keeping an eye out for bald eagles and other wildlife and the next minute the river turns into a raging, foaming mass of rapids. When the tide changes twice a day, the tidal bore temporarily reverses the flow of the river, resulting in this wild river ride. A four-hour tour includes the guided rafting excursion, safety flotation gear, extra mud sliding on request (yes!), and post-rafting showers for when you need to clean up. Make sure to bring an extra clean change of clothes as well as a towel. A four-hour rafting trip starts at 95 CAD.

2. Go whale watching

In the summer and fall, 12 species of whales visit the waters around Nova Scotia, including pilot whales, minke whales, giant humpbacks, and the endangered North Atlantic right whale. There are tons of whale-watching tours to choose from in the area, with most operating outside of Halifax. Mariner Cruises takes you out for a 2.5-hour boating tour for 50 CAD departing from Westport on Brier Island, while larger groups like Lunenburg Whale Watching Tours start at 70 CAD.

3. Enjoy summer on the water

Summer is short in Nova Scotia, so when the weather is nice and the sun comes out, Nova Scotians hit the water to go sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. Surfing is also big here, with Lawrencetown Beach being one of the more popular areas to find the biggest waves. Go swimming at Melmerby Beach or take a kayak around Kejimkujik National Park. Kayak rentals cost around 25 CAD for two hours or 32 CAD for the entire day.

4. Wander the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens

Spanning 17 acres of greenery, these historical gardens overlook a tidal river valley and include an enormous rose collection (best seen in July) as well as an 18th-century Governor’s Garden and a 19th-century Victorian Garden. You can check out the reconstructed 1671 Acadian House or grab a coffee and light lunch at The Elm Tree Café (seasonal). It’s 16 CAD to visit except November to April when there is only a suggested donation of 5 CAD as the Gardens are not maintained during the winter months.

5. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site

This museum in Cape Breton is host to a rich collection of artifacts and documents chronicling the life and career of Bell, the inventor of the telephone. The collection was accumulated by his family during their time here in Baddeck, Cape Breton. In the parlor, you can see Bell’s personal effects, like his favorite jacket, notebook, and walking stick. You can also take a behind-the-scenes “White Glove Tour” of the artifact storage facilities. The site is open May-October and admission is 8.50 CAD (13 CAD for the white glove tour).

6. Explore the Highland Village Museum

Over the centuries, the Canadian Maritimes have been heavily influenced by Scottish and Irish immigration. This outdoor pioneer museum and Gaelic culture experience highlights that history. The 43-acre site overlooking Bras d’Or Lake includes historic buildings like three frame houses, a mill, and a forge. You can take part in a traditional céilidh dance, hear Gaelic singing, and even practice a little of the language yourself. It’s open from June to October and costs 11 CAD.

7. Tour the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

This museum depicts Nova Scotia’s maritime history with exhibits on boatbuilding, World War II convoys, the Titanic, and the Halifax Explosion (a huge disaster that happened in 1917, when two ships carrying ammunition ran into each other and destroyed much of the city). It’s a very comprehensive overview of the region’s history. Admission is 5.15 CAD from November-April and 9.55 CAD from May-October.

8. Visit nearby New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island

These two provinces are close to Nova Scotia and can be visited as day trips (or multi-day trips) if you have your own vehicle. Don’t miss New Brunswick’s Fundy National Park to see the world’s highest tides. In P.E.I., you can soak up some tranquility on the sea (and eat lots of seafood) and visit the Anne of Green Gables house.

9. Explore Lunenburg

Lunenburg is one of the most colorful towns you’ll ever come across. With its narrow streets and colonial 18th- and 19th-century buildings painted in bright hues of pinks, oranges, and greens, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into the past. There are still tall ships in the harbor and even an operational blacksmith hammering away on the waterfront. The harbor is home to the famous Bluenose II, a replica schooner of the original Bluenose boat that’s featured on the Canadian dime (ten-cent coin). The Bluenose was a famous fishing/racing schooner that went undefeated in her 18-year run and is an iconic part of Canadian history.

10. Tour the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

If there’s just one museum you visit in Halifax, make it this one . Pier 21 was the immigration point for one million newcomers to Canada between 1928 and 1971. You’ll learn about 400 years of Canadian immigration history through first-person stories, archival photos, artifacts (including trunks and personal treasures), and digital documentation. Exhibits are incredibly interactive and you can even research your family’s pre-1935 immigration records from all ports of entry in North America. Admission is 15.50 CAD.

11. Relax in Kejimkujik National Park

For a taste of Maritime nature, come to this national park to paddle, hike, camp, and relax. Here you’ll find ancient rock carvings (petroglyphs), canoe routes, and coastal wilderness punctuated with sandy beaches and wildlife. To learn more about the Mi’kmaq people who traditionally have called the region home, join a storytelling session, take a guided petroglyph tour, or participate in a canoe-building workshop. Admission to the park is 6.25 CAD.

For more information on other destinations in Canada, check out these guides:

• Calgary Travel Guide
• Montreal Travel Guide
• Ottawa Travel Guide
• Quebec City Travel Guide
• Toronto Travel Guide
• Vancouver Travel Guide
• Vancouver Island Travel Guide

Nova Scotia Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Hostels are virtually non-existent in Nova Scotia. The only exception is Halifax. A bed in a 4-6-person dorm costs 30-35 CAD per night. A private room costs about 78-90 CAD per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi and self-catering facilities.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available around the province starting at 27 CAD per night. This gets you a basic plot without electricity for two people.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels start around 105 CAD per night for a place outside of Halifax. Within Halifax, most budget hotels start at around 130 CAD per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, AC, and a coffee/tea maker. Prices are lower during the off-season.

Airbnb is available all around Nova Scotia. Private rooms start around 50-75 CAD per night, though they average double (or even triple) that price. An entire home/apartment costs around 100 CAD per night, though they average closer to 160 CAD (200 CAD in Halifax). Book early to find the best deals.

Food -In Nova Scotia, seafood is king. Be sure to try scallops and oysters, wild blueberries, lobster, and donair (thinly sliced beef in a pita with a sauce that’s similar to kebab; it’s the official food of Halifax). Also, be sure to sample more general Canadian staples like poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds), beaver tails (fried dough with maple syrup), Canadian bacon, and the oddly tasty ketchup chips.

You can find cheap street food eats like donair for around 7 CAD (go to Johnny K’s), or a small pizza on Halifax’s “Pizza Corner” (an intersection at Blowers Street and Grafton Street full of pizza places) for less than 10 CAD.

A fast food combo meal (think McDonald’s) costs around 12 CAD. A lobster roll at an inexpensive restaurant is about 20 CAD, while lobster poutine is closer to 18 CAD. A bowl of pasta (such as scallop carbonara) costs around 20 CAD. A beer to go with it is about 7 CAD while a glass of wine starts at 9 CAD.

A meal at a higher-end restaurant costs about 40 CAD for a steak or duck entree without a drink, while lobster is closer to 55 CAD.

If you cook for yourself, expect to spend 50-65 CAD on groceries per week. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat or fish.

Some recommended places to eat include No. 9 Coffee Bar (Lunenburg), The Barn Coffee & Social House (Mahone Bay), The Economy Shoe Shop (Halifax), McKelvie’s Restaurant (Halifax), and The Wooden Monkey (Halifax).

Backpacking Nova Scotia Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Nova Scotia, expect to spend about 70 CAD per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel, cooking all your meals, limiting your drinking, taking public transit to get around, and doing mostly free activities like swimming and hiking. If you plan on drinking, add another 10-15 CAD to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 180 CAD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for a few meals, enjoy a couple of drinks, rent a car to get around, and do more paid activities like rent a kayak, visit museums, and day trips to a nearby province.

On a “luxury” budget of 280 CAD per day or more, you can stay in a hotel, rent a car, drink more, eat out for most meals, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in CAD.

Nova Scotia Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Nova Scotia can be an affordable destination if you budget properly. It gets more expensive during peak summer season and early fall (everyone comes to see the leaves change color). Here are some of my ways to save money in Nova Scotia during your visit:

• Stay with a local – If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host in Halifax. This way, you not only have a free place to stay, but you’ll have a local host that can share their insider tips and advice.
• Take a free walking tour – Walking tours are a great way to get familiar with a city and its culture. Halifax Free Walking Tours offers daily informative walking tours in the summer. In the off-season, tours are available by request. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Look for free events – Many of Nova Scotia’s events and festivals are free, including Halifax’s Busker Festival in July. Many towns (like Pictou) also have free summer concerts in public spaces. Check the Tourism Nova Scotia website for more info!
• Go camping – If you want to camp, use novascotia.goingtocamp.com to find available campsites around the province. A two-person site costs around 27-35 CAD.
• Look for the happy hours – The Ultimate Happy Hours website lists all the happy hour drink and food specials around Halifax. They update with new info frequently!
• Get the Museum Pass – If you plan on visiting lots of museums, the Nova Scotia Museum Pass lets you pay one price to access any of the province’s museum sites. It’s valid for 12 months and costs 47 CAD.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia doesn’t have many hostels and most of the existing ones are in Halifax. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• HI Halifax Heritage House Hostel
• Halifax Backpacker
• Bear on the Lake Guesthouse

How to Get Around Nova Scotia

Public transportation – Halifax is the only major urban center in Nova Scotia and locals depend on a public bus system to get around. Halifax’s public buses can take you all around the inner city and into the suburbs, but the downtown area is very walkable. Fares are 2.75 CAD.

You can take the MetroX bus from the airport to downtown St. John’s for 4.25 CAD (exact change required). There’s also a ferry connecting downtown Halifax to Dartmouth for 2.75 CAD.

Bus – Taking the bus is the best way to get around Nova Scotia if you don’t have a car. Maritime Bus connects most towns in the province. A two-hour trip from Halifax to Lunenburg is 26 CAD, while Halifax to Mahone Bay takes an hour and costs 20.25 CAD. Halifax to Sydney (Cape Breton) costs 72 CAD and takes 6 hours.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Taxi – Taxis are not cheap here. Their base rate is 3.75 CAD, and it’s an additional 1.70 CAD per kilometer afterward. Prices add up fast so I’d avoid them if you can.

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Halifax, but the city is easily walkable so I’d skip the ridesharing if you can.

Car Rental – Car rentals can be found for as little as 30 CAD per day for a multi-day rental. If you want to take advantage of all that Nova Scotia has to offer, this is your best option. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is at its busiest in the summer, with the best weather occurring between June and August. Temperatures often exceed 25°C (78°F). Keep in mind that accommodation prices are higher during this time, but tourist attractions are never overly crowded compared to elsewhere in Canada.

Both early fall and late spring are also excellent times to visit. The weather is warm, you can do all the outdoor exploration you want, and the tourist season isn’t in full swing. This is the best time to drive Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail. The fall colors are particularly pretty.

Winters in Nova Scotia are cold and wet, with temperatures ranging between from -17-0°C (0-32°F) from December to March. If you come during this time, be prepared for all weather types and dress in layers because it is cold. Keep in mind that many businesses shut down for the winter (mostly outside of Halifax). In short, I’d avoid a winter visit unless you’re here for winter sports and activities.

How to Stay Safe in Nova Scotia

You don’t have to worry much about crime in Nova Scotia — it’s incredibly safe to visit. Your greatest risk is petty crime like pickpocketing, but even that is super rare. Overall, I really wouldn’t worry about crime here. Getting hurt hiking is more likely to happen than any crime!

Like much of rural Canada, Nova Scotia has ticks that carry Lyme Disease. If you’re hiking, try to wear long sleeves or pants, or stick to well-trodden trails. Check yourself for ticks after spending time in nature.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here. However, the standard precautions you take anywhere apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). For more information, check out one of the many solo female travel blogs in the city.

If you’re visiting in the winter, make sure you keep an eye on the weather — especially if you’re driving a car. Road conditions can change rapidly.

Hurricanes can occasionally make it up to the Maritimes, so keep an eye on them if you’re visiting during hurricane season (June-November).

If you experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

When in doubt, always trust your instincts. If a taxi driver seems shady, get out. If your hotel or accommodation is seedier than you thought, go somewhere else. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID, in case of an emergency.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Nova Scotia Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Nova Scotia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Canada and continue planning your trip:

Where to Stay in Quebec City: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Vancouver: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Toronto: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Canada Road Trip: A One Month Suggested Itinerary

How to Road Trip the Yukon on a Budget

How to See Alberta: A 10-Day Suggested Driving Itinerary

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Helpless Air Canada passenger spots her bag on the tarmac during take-off

Latest Videos

An Air Canada passenger has gone viral after she shared the stressful moment she noticed her suitcase was left behind on the tarmac just as her flight was about to take off.

Hannah McCormick, a travel nurse based in BC, posted a now-viral TikTok that shows her plane getting ready to depart as it drives past her bag.

"When your plane is literally taking off and you see JUST your suitcase left behind," says the caption on the video.

@nothannahmargie cmon aircanada #travelnurse #yvr #vancouver ♬ dźwięk oryginalny - Marcin

McCormick told us that she was on a flight travelling from Vancouver to Nanaimo on April 9 when she looked out the window and panic set in.

"I literally was looking out the window going 'Oh my gosh that's my bag,'" she said.

"I was so unsure of what to do because I knew the plane was already on its way to take off so I felt like there was nothing I could do."

Once she landed in Nanaimo, she went to the Air Canada desk and "started crying."

The situation was extra stressful for McCormick because she was leaving a nursing placement in Kelowna to start a new contract in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island. She explained that "all [her] work things" were in the bag.

McCormick spoke to the Air Canada attendant about the situation and they made an urgent request to put the suitcase on the next flight.

Luckily, it all worked out for McCormick and she got her luggage back the same day.

She posted a follow-up TikTok explaining that she was in contact with an Air Canada employee who helped arrange its safe arrival.

@nothannahmargie Replying to @NBG #greenscreen ♬ original sound - hannnn

As for her now-viral video, McCormick says she's "genuinely surprised" to see how it blew up.

The video currently has five million views and is flooded with comments.

"I'd be so frustrated and sobbing bad," said one sympathetic commenter.

"This would destroy me," added another.

"I would've gotten up and yelled STOP THE PLANE," stated someone else.

McCormick explained that she initially sent the video to a few friends.

"I thought the situation was funny looking back and only recorded it as proof to show to Air Canada," she said.

Air Canada said in a statement that although its "baggage delivery rate is in the high 90 per cent range, unfortunately, it does occur that bags are sometimes delayed."

"In this case, we regret the customer's baggage was delayed but it was delivered after her flight."

Air Canada advises all customers to attach a name tag with contact information to their baggage and insert their contact information inside the bag in case the outer tag detaches.

nothannahmargie/TikTok

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Explore Canada & New England: 2024 Cruises from Boston

Boston, Massachusetts, with a history stretching back to the 1600s, is one of the oldest cities in the United States, offering plenty to see and do . It's also a tremendous port of call from which Norwegian Cruise Line provides numerous opportunities to embark. So, if you're looking into cruises in 2024, let us guide you through all the itineraries and ports you could incorporate into your family vacation when departing from Boston .

Ready to start planning? Explore all Boston cruises .

2024 Bermuda Cruises from Boston

Around 770 miles south of Boston and 900 miles north of The Caribbean, Bermuda is home to a wealth of beautiful pink-sand beaches, green spaces, and opportunities for golfing, diving, caving, and historical sightseeing.

Check out these exciting cruise vacations that Norwegian has to offer in 2024:

Explore Bermuda & Maine on Norwegian Gem

Norwegian Gem will take you from Boston to Bermuda before looping around to Maine and back to Boston during a seven-day cruise . Embark on a late Friday afternoon and cruise the stunning Atlantic Ocean on Saturday. On Sunday, around noon, disembark at the Royal Naval Dockyard on the West End, the marine hub of the island.

This marks the start of three days and two nights on this breathtaking island. You can start your exploration by sticking around the West End and taking advantage of the azure waters with many water sports around the harbor. Or, simply enjoy the crystalline environment as a backdrop while checking out the market and shops.

RELATED CRUISES: 7-Day Bermuda Cruise from Boston 7-Day Canada & New England Cruise: Boston to Quebec City 7-Day Canada & New England Cruise: Nova Scotia & Saint John

On day two, you have plenty of time to explore the pleasures of Bermuda, and Norwegian's shore excursions can ensure the experience is hassle-free. Feeling adventuresome? Check out the island's caves and explore a shipwreck. More the easygoing type? Enjoy a traditional English tea service, hear fascinating stories about Bermuda's history, and visit the many museums with centuries of tales to tell. With a free morning and early afternoon on the third day, you can easily fill in any gaps in your itinerary.

After another day at sea, you'll land in Bar Harbor, Maine, a coastal Northeast wonder. With its charming, tranquil scenery and fresh seafood, this port is the perfect setting to wind down from the thrills of the previous six days. Then Norwegian Gem will return to Boston that evening, capping a luxurious week in the North Atlantic.

Visit Bermuda on Norwegian Gem

If you want more time in Bermuda, Norwegian offers a seven-day, two-port-of-call cruise from Boston to the Royal Naval Dockyard and back again. Leaving on Friday, you'll reach Bermuda on Sunday morning to enjoy the first of four days and three nights on the island. With a relaxed itinerary, you'll have ample time to take in the sun, water, and luxurious surroundings at your own pace.

2024 Canada & New England Cruises

In the heat of summer and the dragging humidity of early fall, many people choose to escape the heat for cooler climates. If you're one of them, a Norwegian cruise vacation to Canada and New England could be your perfect family getaway.

Explore Canada & New England on Norwegian Gem

Seven ports in seven days — are you up for it? After leaving Boston, spend a pleasant day among the natural opulence of Bar Harbor, Maine, before heading into Canadian waters, where the first stop is Halifax, Nova Scotia, remarkable for its thunderous rugged coastline as well as an affluence of wine, cider, and fresh seafood. From there, it's Sydney on the Nova Scotian island of Cape Breton and then Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, both spectacular destinations for scenic tours.

After a day at sea, you enter Québec, beginning in Saguenay and culminating in Québec City. From there, you'll board a coach for the grand city of Montreal, where you can traverse the historic metropolis at your leisure.

Discover Halifax & Portland on Norwegian Jade

On this seven-day cruise , Norwegian Jade embarks from Boston and disembarks at Portland, Maine, providing a morning and early afternoon to explore the city's stellar waterfront, arts districts, museums, and shops. This journey includes three days in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, followed by a visit to the rugged beauty of Newfoundland. You'll find a wealth of historic sites, museums, and charming villages here, as well as opportunities to spot whales and icebergs.

As you can see, Boston is the perfect port to embark on an exciting adventure. Which cruise vacation will it be for you?

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