Canada

From the traveltalk.dk family – started in Denmark in 2018

Read in: Dansk (original)

Canada is a country bigger than most people imagine. As the world’s second-largest country, it covers nearly 10 million square kilometres, yet it is surprisingly easy to reach, relaxed and well suited to road trips, wilderness experiences and city breaks.

Here you will find an overview of the country’s regions, from the mountains of Vancouver and the Rocky Mountains to the urban life of Toronto, the French charm of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Read on if you want to know where to start and what you can experience along the way.

Canada: Your Complete Travel Guide to the World’s Second-Largest Country

Canada is enormous – the world’s second-largest country (after Russia), spanning nearly 10 million square kilometres across six time zones. Yet despite its size, Canada is surprisingly easy to reach, remarkably safe and ideal for road trips, nature experiences and city breaks. From the rainforests of Vancouver Island to the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, from Toronto’s cosmopolitan buzz to Quebec’s French charm, from the Northern Lights in the Yukon to the thunder of Niagara Falls – Canada combines wild nature with some of North America’s most liveable cities.

Canadians are famous for their friendliness (“Sorry!” is something you’ll hear constantly), and the country is a mosaic of cultures – Indigenous peoples (First Nations), French-speaking Québécois, British heritage and immigration from all over the world. With direct flights from Copenhagen to Toronto and Vancouver, you can be in Canada’s wilderness in under 10 hours.

Top Regions:

Why Travel to Canada?

Nature on a Grand Scale

Canada has 47 national parks, thousands of lakes, the longest coastline in the world (243,042 km!), icebergs, mountains, rainforests, prairies, tundra and some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. If you love nature, Canada is paradise. And crowds? Forget about it – Canada has only 38 million people across its enormous area (about 4 people per km²!).

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories in the world’s second-largest country

Wilderness Experiences

Bears, muskoxen, moose, whales, eagles, beavers – Canada’s wildlife is extraordinary. You can watch grizzly bears catch salmon in British Columbia, go whale watching in Newfoundland, see polar bears in Churchill (Manitoba), or simply enjoy the silence of endless landscapes.

Swimming with polar bears in Ontario, Canada

Cosmopolitan Cities

Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City are all on the list of the world’s most liveable cities. Multiculturalism, low crime, clean air, fantastic food (from around the world), culture and safety make Canadian cities unique.

Vancouver is a sweet spot between the Pacific, the Gulf Stream and the Rockies

Road Trip Paradise

Canada is MADE for road trips. Excellent infrastructure, car rental everywhere, campgrounds, motels and scenic routes such as the Icefields Parkway (between Jasper and Banff) – one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

Safety

Canada is one of the safest countries in the world. Low crime, stable politics, an outstanding healthcare system and a high standard of living make travel feel secure.

Western Canada – British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains

Vancouver – The City Between Mountains and Sea

Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities – and once you arrive, you understand why. Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver combines big-city energy with incredible nature. On the same day you can surf, ski in the mountains and eat world-class sushi. The population is remarkably diverse (52% born outside Canada), and Asian influence is strong.

Sights in Vancouver

• Stanley Park – 400-hectare park on a peninsula, Seawall (9 km cycling and walking path), totem poles, beaches
• Granville Island – Public Market, arts and crafts, microbrewed beers, street performers
• Gastown – Historic district, Steam Clock, restaurants, boutiques
• Canada Place – Iconic sail-shaped building, cruise terminal, FlyOver Canada (simulator ride over Canada)
• Capilano Suspension Bridge – 137 m suspension bridge over a gorge, treetop walkways, claustrophobic but spectacular!
• Grouse Mountain – Gondola up (Skyride), hiking, grizzly bears, views over the city
• English Bay & Kitsilano Beach – City beaches, sunsets over the water

Vancouver Island

A short ferry ride from Vancouver lies Vancouver Island, with charming Victoria (the provincial capital), Tofino (a surfers’ paradise with rainforest) and Pacific Rim National Park. Whale watching, rainforests, beach walks – Vancouver Island is a destination in its own right.

Whistler – Skiing and Outdoor Paradise

Two hours’ drive north of Vancouver lies Whistler – North America’s best ski resort (host of the 2010 Winter Olympics). In summer: world-class mountain biking, hiking, zip-lining and alpine lakes. In winter: some of the world’s best powder snow, two mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb) and over 200 runs.

Sea-to-Sky Highway: The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is spectacular – fjords, waterfalls, mountains.

The ultimate ski holiday in Canada

Rocky Mountains – Banff and Jasper

The Canadian Rockies are spectacular – sharp peaks, turquoise glacier lakes, endless forests and wildlife everywhere. Two main destinations:

Banff National Park

Canada’s oldest and most visited national park. Banff Town is the base – a charming mountain town with hotels, restaurants and shops.

Highlights:

• Lake Louise – Iconic turquoise lake surrounded by mountains, Fairmont Chateau, hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers
• Moraine Lake – Smaller but more beautiful than Lake Louise (some say!), Valley of the Ten Peaks
• Banff Gondola – Up Sulphur Mountain (2,285 m), panoramic views
• Banff Upper Hot Springs – Outdoor thermal pools with mountain views
• Johnston Canyon – Hike through a gorge to waterfalls, walkways over the canyon

Jasper National Park

Larger, wilder and less touristy than Banff. Jasper Town is smaller and more laid-back.

Highlights:

• Columbia Icefield & Athabasca Glacier – Ride out onto the glacier in a special vehicle and walk on the ice!
• Glacier Skywalk – Glass platform suspended over the Sunwapta Valley
• Maligne Lake – Canada’s second-largest glacier lake, Spirit Island (the postcard view!)
• Dark Sky Preserve – Jasper is the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve, fantastic for stargazing
• Athabasca Falls – Powerful waterfall

Icefields Parkway

232 km between Jasper and Lake Louise – one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Glaciers, waterfalls, turquoise lakes, mountain peaks. Take your TIME (the whole day), and stop constantly for photos!

Ontario – Toronto and Niagara Falls

Toronto – Canada’s Largest City

Toronto is Canada’s economic heart and its most diverse city (over 200 nationalities!). Cosmopolitan, multicultural, safe and lively. Less spectacular than Vancouver in terms of nature, but with a fantastic restaurant scene, culture and city life.

Sights

• CN Tower – Iconic tower (553 m), EdgeWalk (walk around the outside of the top!), glass-floor observation deck
• Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) – Canada’s largest museum, everything from dinosaurs to Egyptian artefacts, crystalline extension
• Distillery District – Historic distillery turned arts quarter, bars, restaurants, cobbled streets
• Kensington Market & Chinatown – Hipster area, vintage shops, street food, multicultural
• St. Lawrence Market – Food market since 1803, peameal bacon sandwiches are famous
• Toronto Islands – Ferry ride (15 minutes), beaches, cycling, views back to the skyline
• Casa Loma – “Castle” built by millionaire Henry Pellatt in 1914, Gothic Revival

Sporting Events

Canadians LOVE sport! Experience:

• Ice hockey – Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), winter
• Basketball – Toronto Raptors (NBA), winter/spring
• Baseball – Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), summer

Niagara Falls

A 1.5-hour drive from Toronto lies Niagara Falls – three waterfalls spanning the border between the USA and Canada. The Canadian side has the best views!

Experiences:

• Maid of the Mist – Boat trip RIGHT up to the falls (you will get wet!)
• Journey Behind the Falls – Tunnels behind the waterfalls
• Niagara City Cruises – New boat tour (replacing Maid of the Mist on the Canadian side)
• Skylon Tower – Observation deck 236 m above the falls
• Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory – 2,000 tropical butterflies
• Niagara-on-the-Lake – Charming historic town 20 minutes away, vineyards, Shaw Festival

Niagara Wine Region: The area produces excellent wines (especially Icewine!). Over 100 vineyards, many offering tastings and tours.

Ottawa – The Capital

Canada’s capital is smaller and more European than Toronto. Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal (UNESCO, skated on in winter – the world’s largest skating rink!), and excellent museums (the Canadian War Museum, the National Gallery).

Quebec – French Canada

Montreal – North America’s European City

Montreal feels European – French is spoken everywhere, there is a café culture, cobbled streets and a fantastic food scene. Canada’s second-largest city (1.8 million) with a perfect blend of history and modernity.

Sights

• Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) – Cobbled streets, Notre-Dame Basilica (spectacular blue interior!), Place Jacques-Cartier
• Mount Royal (Mont-Royal) – Hill in the city centre, park designed by Olmsted, fantastic views over the city
• Plateau Mont-Royal – Hipster neighbourhood, murals, cafés, vintage shops
• Jean-Talon Market – Food market, perfect for picnic shopping
• St. Joseph’s Oratory – Massive basilica on the slope of Mount Royal
• Underground City – 33 km of underground connections linking metro stations, shops and offices (clever in winter!)

Food

Montreal has some of North America‘s best restaurants:

• Poutine – Quebec’s national dish: chips, gravy, cheese curds. Try La Banquise (open 24/7!)
• Smoked meat – Montreal-style smoked meat sandwich, Schwartz’s Deli is legendary (since 1928)
• Bagels – Montreal bagels > New York bagels (fight me!). St-Viateur or Fairmount Bagel (both in Mile End)

Quebec City – North America’s Most European City

Quebec City is pure magic – the ONLY walled city north of Mexico with complete city walls. Old Quebec (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) feels like a French medieval town transplanted to North America. 95% French-speaking, cobbled streets, Château Frontenac (iconic castle hotel), and a European atmosphere.

Highlights:

• Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) – UNESCO World Heritage Site, walk along the city walls, Terrasse Dufferin promenade
• Château Frontenac – The most photographed hotel in the world!, dominating the skyline
• Petit Champlain – North America’s oldest commercial street, charming shops
• Plains of Abraham – Historic battlefield (1759), now a park with fantastic views
• Montmorency Falls – 15 minutes outside the city, 83 m high (taller than Niagara!), cable car, zip-line

Winter: Quebec City’s Winter Carnival (February) is the world’s third-largest carnival, with ice hotels, snow sculptures and events.

Atlantic Canada – Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, PEI

Nova Scotia – Maritime Charm

Halifax

Nova Scotia’s capital, a maritime city with a historic harbour (Titanic connection), a lively waterfront, the Halifax Citadel (a star fort) and excellent seafood.

Peggy’s Cove

Iconic fishing village with a red-and-white lighthouse on granite rocks. The postcard image of Nova Scotia!

Cabot Trail

Cape Breton Island – one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. A 298 km scenic drive through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, cliffs, whale watching and Celtic music.

Newfoundland – The Far East

Newfoundland is different – rawer, wilder, with its own culture (the Newfie accent!), its own time zone (30 minutes ahead!), icebergs, whales, puffins and colourful fishing villages.

St. John’s

North America’s oldest city (1497!), colourful row houses on Jellybean Row, Signal Hill (where Marconi’s first transatlantic radio signal was received in 1901), and George Street (the most bars per capita in North America!).

Icebergs and Whales

May-June: Icebergs from Greenland drift past (“Iceberg Alley”)
June-August: Whale watching (humpback, fin and blue whales!)
Gros Morne National Park – UNESCO, dramatic fjords, tablelands

Prince Edward Island (PEI)

Canada’s smallest province, known for red sand beaches, potatoes, lobsters and “Anne of Green Gables”. Charming, rural and relaxed.

See also: A yoga retreat in Nova Scotia in untouched eastern Canada

National Parks and Wild Nature

Canada has 47 national parks – here are the highlights:

Banff and Jasper National Parks (Alberta)

The crown jewels of the Rocky Mountains. See the details in the Western Canada section above.

Yoho National Park (BC)

Next to Banff, less well known but fantastic. Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls (Canada’s second-highest waterfall, 373 m), Natural Bridge.

Pacific Rim National Park (Vancouver Island)

Rainforests meet the Pacific. Long Beach (16 km of sand), the West Coast Trail (75 km of trekking, legendarily tough!), surfing.

Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland)

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fjords, tablelands (a rare geological formation), and a Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows.

Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario)

2.5 hours’ drive from Toronto. Canadian wilderness – lakes, canoeing, moose, bears, autumn colours (September-October are spectacular!).

Nahanni National Park (Northwest Territories)

Extreme wilderness. Virginia Falls (twice the height of Niagara!), accessible only by small plane or canoe. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wildlife

Canada is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts:

• Bears – Grizzlies (Banff, Jasper, BC), black bears (everywhere), polar bears (Churchill, Manitoba, October-November)
• Whales – Humpback whales, blue whales, orcas (Vancouver Island, Newfoundland, Bay of Fundy)
• Moose – Algonquin, Newfoundland (enormous!)
• Muskoxen, caribou, beavers, eagles, puffins

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

Best places: Yukon (Whitehorse), the Northwest Territories (Yellowknife – the “Aurora Capital”), Churchill (Manitoba).
Best time: September to April, especially around the equinoxes (March, September)

Related Destinations

• USA – Canada’s Big Neighbour
• Norway – Scandinavian Nature
• Iceland – Nordic Adventureland

📄Quick Overview

Best time to travel: May–September (cities & nature), December–March (winter sports & Northern Lights)

Languages: English and French

Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)

Transport: Domestic flights over long distances, trains and car ideal within regions

Price level: Mid to high

Ideal for: Nature trips, road trips, city breaks, wildlife, national parks, winter sports

Top regions: Vancouver • Rocky Mountains • Banff & Lake Louise • Toronto • Quebec • Vancouver Island • Niagara Falls

💡Traveltalk Tip

Canada is vast – plan to visit fewer areas, but explore them thoroughly.

Insider tip

Rent a car in the national parks (e.g. Banff/Jasper) for maximum freedom and access to the most beautiful routes.

Hidden gems / must-sees

• Icefields Parkway (Alberta)
• Tofino (Vancouver Island)
• Charlevoix (Quebec)

When is the best time to travel to Canada?

The best time to travel is May to September, when the weather is mild and nature is easily accessible. Winter (December–March) is ideal for skiing and the Northern Lights, especially in the Rocky Mountains and northern Canada.

Is Canada an expensive country to travel in?

Canada sits in the mid-to-high price range. Accommodation and food are generally more expensive in major cities such as Vancouver and Toronto, while road trips and national parks offer good value for money.

Do Danish citizens need a visa for Canada?

No, Danish citizens do not need a visa, but they must apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before flying in.

What is the best way to get around Canada?

Over long distances, domestic flights are the most practical. In regions such as British Columbia and Alberta, a car is the best way to experience the scenery.

Is Canada suitable for a family holiday?

Yes, Canada is very family-friendly, with safe cities, good infrastructure, national parks and experiences for all ages.

More Articles About Canada

Practical Information

Best Time to Travel

Summer (June-August):
Peak season! Perfect weather (20-30°C depending on region), all facilities open, fantastic for hiking, camping and the outdoors. But: most expensive, most crowded, book ahead!

Autumn (September-October):
A FANTASTIC time! Fall foliage is spectacular, especially in eastern Canada. Fewer tourists, lower prices, still pleasant weather (10-20°C). The Rocky Mountains can be cold at night.

Winter (December-March):
BITTERLY COLD! (-10 to -30°C, and possibly -40°C on the prairies). But: northern lights, skiing and snowboarding, the Quebec Winter Carnival, ice hotels. Dress warmly!

Spring (April-May):
Shoulder season. Mixed weather, some facilities still closed. Cheaper. In May: icebergs off Newfoundland!

Getting Around

Flights: Direct flights from Copenhagen to Toronto (Air Canada) and Copenhagen to Vancouver. Domestic: Air Canada and WestJet offer good-value fares.

Car: STRONGLY RECOMMENDED! Canada is made for road trips. Rental conditions are good and the roads excellent. Remember: distances are ENORMOUS (Toronto to Vancouver = 4,400 km!).

Train: VIA Rail operates services, including “The Canadian” (Toronto to Vancouver, four days!). Scenic but slow and expensive.

Bus: Greyhound closed in 2021. Regional operators exist, but a car is better.

Visa

Danish citizens: Visa-free entry with an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). Costs CAD 7, applied for online, valid for five years. Easy!

Currency and Prices

Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD, C$). 1 DKK ≈ 0.19 CAD.

Price levels (expensive!):
– Budget meal: 80-120 DKK.
– Mid-range restaurant: 150-300 DKK.
– Budget hotel/motel: 500-800 DKK per night
– Mid-range hotel: 800-1,500 DKK per night
– Petrol: 10-12 DKK per litre
– National park entry: 70-140 DKK per day
– Campsite: 200-400 DKK per night

Tipping: 15-20% is standard in restaurants, bars and taxis.

Language

Official languages: English AND French (both official). Quebec is primarily French-speaking, the rest mainly English-speaking.

Safety

Canada is extremely safe! Low crime, stable. Watch out for:

• Wildlife: Keep your distance from bears and moose! Bear spray in the Rockies. Store food away from tents when camping.
• Weather: Summer thunderstorms can be violent, winter blizzards dangerous. Check weather warnings.
• Wilderness: Tell someone where you are going (especially when hiking alone), carry a map, GPS and emergency equipment.

Internet and Phones

WiFi is available almost everywhere in towns. Mobile coverage is good in populated areas, poor or non-existent in the wilderness. Roaming packages from Danish providers or a Canadian SIM (Rogers, Bell, Telus).

Health

Canada has an excellent healthcare system, but it is EXPENSIVE for visitors. GET TRAVEL INSURANCE! A hospital visit can cost thousands of dollars.

Practical Travel Information for Canada

🛂 Visa and Entry

• eTA: Danish citizens need an electronic travel authorisation to fly to or transit through Canada. It costs CAD 7, is valid for up to five years and is applied for at canada.ca.
• Exception: An eTA is not required when entering by land or by sea.
• Passport: must be valid for the entire stay.

💰 Currency and Money

• Currency: Canadian dollars (CAD).
• Cards: contactless payment is accepted almost everywhere.
• Tipping is expected — 15–20% in restaurants, bars and taxis. Sales tax is often added at the till.

🚗 Transport, Time and Health

• Flight time from Denmark: about 8–9 hours direct to Toronto.
• Getting around: domestic flights between provinces, rental cars for road trips and national parks.
• Best time to travel: summer (June–September) for nature and cities; winter for skiing and the northern lights.
• Time zone: Toronto −6 hours, Vancouver −9 hours compared with Denmark.
• Language: English and French.
• Health: no compulsory vaccinations; tap water is safe to drink.
• Safety: very safe — follow the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel advice.