1182 Best Sights in Canada

Architect Arthur Erickson designed this plaza to be the gathering place for Downtown Vancouver, although it's not accessible at street level, which makes it a bit of a secret. Landscaped walkways connect the Vancouver Art Gallery, government offices, and law courts at street level, while the lower level houses a University of British Columbia satellite campus and bookstore. In winter, there's also a covered, outdoor, public ice skating rink. In summer, the rink becomes a dance floor for weekly (free) salsa sessions, usually on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Political protests and impromptu demonstrations take place on the grandiose gallery plaza facing Georgia Street, a tradition that dates from the days when the building was a courthouse.

Running from the Terry Fox Plaza outside BC Place Stadium down to the West End, Robson is Vancouver's busiest shopping street, where fashionistas hang out at see-and-be-seen sidewalk cafés, high-end boutiques, and chain stores. Most of the designer action takes place between Jervis and Burrard Streets, and that's also where you can find buskers and other entertainers in the evening. Alberni Street, that runs parallel to Robson from Burrard Street, is the other hot spot for uber high-end brands.

Stand anywhere in the town of Percé and its main attraction, the Rocher-Percé, will supply an amazing view. The gigantic sheer rock formation sits offshore on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is part of L'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park, in the care of Sépaq. Its reddish limestone and shale host dozens of fossil species, some of which date back more than 300 million years. Marvel at the massive wonder from shore or take a boat tour to get up close and pass through the huge natural archway that pierces the giant rock—hence the name. Private tours needn't be booked in advance and leave the Percé wharf on the hour and half hour from the end of May to mid-October. Admission is C$9. Car parking is an additional C$9.

This short 0.8-km (½-mile) trail leads up stairs that have been built into rocks and takes you to the top of a rock pile to enjoy an incredible view of Moraine Lake. There are a variety of lookout points from the top of the rock pile, but it's important to stay on the trail, as walking over rocks and logs off-trail can be dangerous. Easy.

Traversing three alpine passes through subalpine meadows and past hanging glaciers, this 55 km (34 miles) trail with 2,600 meter (8,530 feet) is hands-down Kootenay National Park's most epic hike. The trail derives its name from a massive limestone cliff running more than 900 meters (2,953 feet) at points. Recommended hiking dates are mid-July to October as often higher sections are snowy outside of those dates. Note that backcountry camping reservations must be booked before you go, and these spots get booked quickly. Difficult 

It takes 3--5 days to complete this stunning 54-km (34-mile) hike that winds through subalpine meadows and past hanging glaciers while traversing three alpine passes and requires overnighting in backcountry campgrounds. The namesake "Rockwall" is a massive limestone cliff that towers above the trail in several locations. Reservations are necessary and are open for booking at the end of January each year through the Parks Canada website or via phone; book early to ensure a spot. Difficult.

Encompassing 2,200 acres, this is one of the largest urban parks in Canada and is also one of the dozen or so highlighted elements of the Stonehammer Geopark, designated as such by UNESCO for its global geological importance. There are more than 55 hiking trails and paths through the forest, 13 lakes, several sandy beaches, a campground, and a golf course with an aquatic driving range. There are art and yoga sessions and many summer and winter activities available. Equipment rentals are at the Inside Out Nature Centre, and the Interpretation Centre organizes guided nature walks; it also has trail maps and information on events, which include open-air movie screenings and concerts.

On a pretty residential street, the Roedde (pronounced roh-dee) House Museum is an 1893 home in the Queen Anne Revival style, set among Victoriana gardens. It was the first Francis Rattenbury–designed house in Canada—he went on to design the Legislative Buildings and Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria. Tours of the restored, antiques-furnished interior take about an hour. On Sunday, tours are followed by tea and cookies. Museum hours are usually 1–4 pm, but can vary, so it's a good idea to phone before visiting. The gardens (free) can be visited anytime. The museum also hosts a concert series (classical music on the second Sunday of the month at 3 pm, and jazz on the second Thursday at 7 pm).

The home of baseball's Blue Jays was the world's first stadium with a fully retractable roof. Rogers Communications, the owner of the Blue Jays, bought the stadium, formerly known as the SkyDome, in February 2005 for a mere C$25 million. One way to see the 52,000-seat stadium is to buy tickets for a Blue Jays game or one of many other events and concerts. You can also take a one-hour guided walking tour: the route depends on what's going on at the stadium, so you may find yourself in the middle of the field, in a press box, in the dressing rooms, or, if a roof tour is available, 36 stories above home plate on a catwalk.

This National Historic Site, about 2 km (1 mile) outside Georgetown, commemorates the trading post that French merchant Jean Pierre Roma established here in 1732. Costumed staffers offer interpretive programs and guided tours daily (there are trails with informational panels if you'd prefer to explore independently). Heritage lunches with sustaining soup and brick-oven-baked bread are also served on-site.

The 34-room rustic summer cottage of the family of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is now part of a nature preserve, Roosevelt Campobello International Park, a joint project of the Canadian and U.S. governments. The miles of trails here make for pleasant strolling, many incorporating observation decks with stunning views and marine life sightings. Roosevelt's boyhood summer home was also the setting for the 1960 movie Sunrise at Campobello. Twice-daily Tea with Eleanor events include a talk about her life on the island. As an alternative to the ferry from Deer Island, Canada-based visitors can drive across the border into Maine from St. Stephen, go down Route 1, and take Route 189 to Lubec, Maine, then cross the bridge to the island.

A restored 19th-century farm illustrates the evolution of agriculture from 1600 to 1925. The animals are those found on an 1800s farm—draft horses, oxen, and other heritage breeds—and traditional activities such as blacksmithing and spinning are demonstrated. Hands-on programs are regularly scheduled for kids who'd like to help out with the chores. The Peddler's Shop here sells items made in the community.

A U.S. couple who had a summer home in St. Andrews for 40 years established this museum. The Rosses donated the trappings of that home and an extensive collection of 19th-century New Brunswick furniture and decorative artwork to the town and purchased this 1824 Georgian mansion to house them. The Christmas Open House, held on the first weekend in December each year, is a popular event.

From Baie-St-Paul, instead of the faster Route 138 to La Malbaie, drivers can choose the open, scenic coastal drive on Route 362. This section of road has memorable views of charming villages and rolling hills—green, white, or ablaze with fiery hues, depending on the season—meeting the broad expanse of the "sea," as the locals like to call the St. Lawrence estuary.

Located two blocks north of the Churchill Light Rail Transit (LTR) station, this 400,000-square-foot museum is the largest in western Canada and one of Canada’s top museums. It offers 13 curatorial programs ranging from quaternary paleontology to western Canadian history. The highlight here is the Human History Hall, which celebrates the innovation, culture, and resilience of Indigenous people. Marvel at a 1,600-year-old roasting pit used by Blackfoot people to cook feasts, and discover the intricate floral beading techniques used by Métis people. This poignant exhibit also bears witness to the often difficult narratives resulting from the First Nations' contact with European settlers.

The road to Drumheller and the Royal Tyrell Museum is well marked and takes you through the vast flat Canadian prairie. Once a coal-mining area, Drumheller's major industry today is dinosaurs. The museum is in Midland Provincial Park and holds one of the world's largest collections of complete dinosaur skeletons with more than 40 full-size animals. The barren lunar terrain of stark badlands and eerie hoodoos that surround the area seem an ideal setting for the dinosaurs that stalked the countryside 75 million years ago; but in fact, when the dinosaurs were here, the area had a semitropical climate and marshlands not unlike those of the Florida Everglades. You can participate in hands-on museum exhibits and meet the first dinosaur discovered here: Albertosaurus, a smaller version of Tyrannosaurus Rex, or travel the 48-km (30-mi) Dinosaur Trail through the Red Deer Valley and surrounding badlands.

Nestled between the historic Château Frontenac and the majestic Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec, Rue du Trésor exudes an undeniable allure. During the French Regime, settlers flocked to this very street to pay their taxes at the royal treasury, which is how Rue du Trésor ("Treasury Street") earned its name. Today, this charming cobblestoned lane, affectionately known as "Artists' Street," transforms into a vibrant open-air art gallery particularly in summer and on long weekends, During the quieter shoulder seasons, the street takes on a more tranquil, yet equally enchanting, ambiance.

Art fans might want to explore this tiny street off chemin Royal, named after the early-19th-century painter known for his landscapes of the island. Horatio Walker lived on this street from 1904 until his death in 1938. At nos. 11 and 13 rue Horatio-Walker are his home and workshop, but neither are open to the public.

On the waterfront, this restored fish merchant's property depicts the history of the commercial cod fishery that prospered here between 1869 and the 1950s.

Across the road from the preserve is Saamis Tepee, the world's largest tepee built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics in recognition of Alberta's First Nations people.

Home to some 160 species of birds and 200 species of plants, this park has more than 3½ km (2 miles) of boardwalk and trails through 55 acres of wetlands. Throughout the marsh, viewing areas and interpretive signs reveal the rare waterfowl species that nest here. There's an interpretive center, and guided tours (C$6, including info kit and a snack at the end) are available in French and English mid-May through late August. A self-guided tour is also available at the visitor center and some stores in downtown Sackville.

The burial place of many of the earliest English settlers in Canada was established in 1771 and is the oldest cemetery remaining in Québec City. Also buried here is Robert Wood, the disavowed half brother of Queen Victoria. Closed in 1860, the cemetery has been turned into a park. Next door is St. Matthew's Anglican Church, now a recently renovated public library. It has a book listing most of the original tombstone inscriptions, including those on tombstones removed to make way for the city's modern convention center.

This 1,640-foot sandy beach offers a pleasant day for families. With a river nearby, you have a choice of swimming in the very cold ocean water or in the more inviting fresh water. For nonswimmers, there's a 2-km (1.2-mile) hiking trail and beautiful views of surrounding rock cliffs. An on-site kiosk sells refreshments and snacks. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

Many indigenous animal species—including caribou, lynx, owls, and otters—along with moose, which were introduced from New Brunswick a little more than a century ago, can be seen at this 437-acre wilderness area. An enclosed 3 km (1½ mile) boardwalk that is stroller and wheelchair accessible allows up-close viewing.

Salt Spring Vineyards produces a dozen wines, including Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and blackberry port, almost entirely from island-grown fruit. Be sure to try one of the Evolution series, made with a grape variety developed right on Salt Spring Island, and the Charme de L'Ile bubbly. Tastings are paired with local, seasonal food. Wine by the glass, bread, cheese, smoked fish, and other fixings are available for summer picnics on the vineyard-view patio. Live bands entertain on Friday evenings in summer; events, from food fests to outdoor theater, happen regularly, too.

Opened on the Stampede Grounds in 2024, the Sam Centre offers interactive exhibits (both permanent and changing) exploring the history of the Stampede and the people that have defined it. For the first time, Calgary has an attraction that tells the Stampede story year-round, and not just in July. Maisie Eatery sells pastries, sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch, coffee, and drinks every day.

Built in 1955, on the site of earlier churches dating back to 1659, this is Canada's national shrine to Notre Dame (Our Blessed Mother) and an important pilgrimage site. As impressive as the great European cathedrals, this white granite, octagonal building hosts up to 1,660 people, and its lofty dome is topped by a pyramid and cross 258 feet above the ground. Reinforced concrete arches outline the building. Five bells ring A, Bb, D, F, and G notes, and the sanctuary's organ has 5,425 pipes. Inside, the altar is a single block of marble, and nary a pillar blocks views of magnificent architecture and stained-glass masterpieces.

The largest amusement park on PEI kicks things up a notch with midway rides and go-kart tracks that appeal to tots and tweens alike. Thrill rides include the Cyclone roller coaster, the longest in Atlantic Canada, and the Cliffhanger, with a 52-foot drop. Single-ride coupons, park passes, and multiattraction passes are available.