1182 Best Sights in Canada

The first science center built in Canada in 25 years is now a city jewel. It houses a giant dome theater and a 6,500-square-foot digital immersion gallery that allows visitors to follow a storyline as they walk through a digital dream world. There’s also a sensory-rich area for younger children, where they can make music on a bubble piano (among other things).

Known for his gouda, Dragon's Breath blue and other delicious cheeses that are found on menus across Nova Scotia, you can visit the Dutch-style farmhouse of "That Dutchman" to sample his cheeses or buy Dutch candy and clogs, and wander the beautiful gardens that double as a petting zoo. There's also a large duck pond, baby goats to feed, Angus cows, donkeys, and miniature potbellied pigs along the trail through gardens. 

Early writing artifacts such as a Babylonian cuneiform tablet, a 2,000-year-old Egyptian papyrus, and books dating to the beginning of European printing in the 15th century are shown here in exhibits changing three times annually. Subjects of these shows might include William Shakespeare, Galileo Galilei, Italian opera, or contemporary typesetting. Registration is required to use the collections, so bring government-issued ID with you, but there's no admission fee to view the exhibition area.

With four migratory seabird sanctuaries nearby, this 1,600-acre park is a great spot for birding, and it has some good hiking trails. Or you could just stretch out on one of the white-sand beaches. Occasional organized activities include family fun days, a sand sculpture contest in September, and stargazing.

Built in 1883, this beautiful house was the home of an Intercolonial Railway executive and gives more than just an idea of how a prosperous Victorian family would have lived. It also hosts exhibitions and events. After touring certain rooms of the house, you can get refreshments in the Verandah Tearoom, but check the closing time—you might need to take your afternoon tea first, before your tour.

When the world's highest tides come in on the Bay of Fundy, the surge of water pushes far upstream on the Petitcodiac River, reversing the flow with a wall of water up to a meter high and raising the overall river level. It is an incredible sight when tides are at their highest. With its terraced seating and positioning, Bore Park on Main Street is the best vantage point; viewing times are posted. In summer, there's an introductory talk about the tides. The park is part of the larger Riverfront Park, with 5 km (3 miles) of multiuse trails along the banks of the river.

Entering the water is extremely dangerous because of the deep, soft mud that lines the river.

This park comprises a peninsula that juts 5 km (3 miles) into Lake Ontario. Created from rubble from construction sites around the city and sand dredged for a new port, the peninsula has become one of the best areas in the city for bird-watching, photography, cycling (a Bike Share Toronto stand is located at the mouth of the trail), walking, and jogging. At least 334 bird species have been sighted at the park, and the peninsula is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of double-crested cormorants in North America. At the end of the spit of land, you'll find a red-and-white lighthouse, in addition to amazing views of downtown and an awesome sense of isolation in nature. Bird-watching is best from May to mid-October. To get here, head east along Queen Street to Leslie Street, then south to the lake. Dogs and private vehicles are not permitted.

This 43.1 km (27 miles) horseshoe-shaped trail provides access to the Tonquin Valley, one of the premiere backpacking destinations in the Canadian Rockies with spectacular scenery and an abundance of wildlife including caribou, black bears and grizzly bears. From early spring to mid-summer, the trail is notoriously muddy and mosquitos are abundant. Late summer and early fall are the best times to hike here. There are two trailheads. Starting at the Portal trailhead is generally considered more scenic, but starting at the Astoria trailhead has less elevation gain. There are seven campgrounds and an Alpine Club of Canada hut in Tonquin Valley. Advance reservations are essential. This trail is closed from November 1 through May 15 to protect the Tonquin caribou herd. Difficult.

These beautiful themed botanical gardens and adjacent estate garden (once owned by industrialist Rupert Edwards) flow into one of the city's most visited ravines. Paths wind along colorful floral displays and exquisite rock gardens, which are incredibly popular with wedding photographers. There's also a signposted "teaching garden" for kids to touch and learn about nature. You can join a 90-minute tour ($) between early May and late October; go online for times and to reserve your spot. Refreshments and snacks are available on-site at the Dandelion Café. The paid parking lot can get very busy on weekends in spring and autumn. For a long nature walk, head south through Wilket Creek Park and the winding Don Valley. After hours of walking (or biking or jogging) through almost uninterrupted parkland, you reach the southern tip of Taylor Creek Park on Victoria Park Avenue, just north of the Danforth—here you can catch the subway at Victoria Park Station.

Located on the first floor of Toronto Police Service Headquarters, this museum is a replica of a 19th-century police station. Its collection explores the history of policing in Toronto, with exhibits on infamous crimes. Quirky but engaging, the museum offers an offbeat look at law enforcement history. All visitors must pass through a security screening upon entry.  You must call ahead to book a guided tour.

Designed by one of Canada's most admired architects, Raymond Moriyama, who also created the Ontario Science Centre, this five-story library is arranged around a large atrium, which gives a wonderful sense of open space. One-third of the more than 6.2 million items—spread across 82 km (51 miles) of shelves—are open to the public. Audio carrels are available for listening to nearly 40,000 music and spoken-word recordings. There's an impressively large performing arts collection, and, lest you think libraries have to be quiet, listening stations and piano rooms are on the fifth floor—as is the Arthur Conan Doyle Room, which is of special interest to Baker Street fans. It houses the world's finest public collection of Holmesiana, including records, films, photos, books, manuscripts, letters, and even cartoon books starring Sherlock Hemlock of Sesame Street. The fourth-floor Jack Rabinovitch Reading Room opened in 2022, with collections from the man who founded Canada's most prestigious literary award, the Giller Prize.

With terrain ranging from river valley to dense forest, the Rouge Valley was an inspired choice of site for this 710-acre zoo in which over 5,000 different mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish are grouped according to their natural habitats, in both indoor and outdoor enclosures. Daily activities might include chats with zookeepers and animal demonstrations. A visit takes at least three hours and includes the Africa, Americas, Australasia, Indo-Malaya, and Canadian Domain pavilions. In the spring and summer, the Zoomobile can take you through the outdoor exhibit area. The African Savanna is a fantastic walking safari: a dynamic reproduction that brings rare and beautiful animals and distinctive geological landscapes to the city's doorstep. Reserve ahead for a VIP behind-the-scenes tour or to camp overnight in the Serengeti Bush Camp.

This small, functioning post office dates back to 1833 and still operates with quill pens, ink pots, and sealing wax. For C$5 plus the postage stamp, you can use the old-fashioned equipment to send a letter. Exhibits feature reproductions of letters from the 1830s, and all outgoing mail is stamped with distinctive cancellation marks.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a virtuoso of modern architecture, designed a significant portion of this six-building office complex, though he died before its completion in 1992. As with his acclaimed Seagram Building in New York, Mies stripped the TD Centre's buildings to their skin and bones of bronze-color glass and black-metal I-beams. The tallest building, the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, is 56 stories high. The only architectural decoration consists of geometric repetition. Inside the low-rise square banking pavilion at King and Bay Streets is a virtually intact Mies interior.

Totem poles are an important art form among native peoples along British Columbia's coast. These nine poles—eight carved in the latter half of the 20th century and one created in 2009—include replicas of poles originally brought to the park from the north coast in the 1920s, as well as poles carved specifically for the park by First Nations artists. The several styles of poles represent a cross section of BC Native groups, including the Kwakwaka'wakw, Haida, and Nisga'a. The combination of carved animals, fish, birds, and mythological creatures represents clan history. An information center near the site has a snack bar, a gift shop, and information about BC's First Nations. 

Located next to the Heritage Fire Hall, staff at the visitor center can provide advice about tours, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also contains a vast amount of information about the park and the businesses and amenities within it. Experiences and accommodations can also be booked on the website. Email to get information and support in advance of your visit.

Of the 16 Martello towers in Canada, four were built in Québec City because the British government feared an invasion after the American Revolution. In summer, visitors can tour Martello Tower No. 1, and watch a presentation on the history of the four structures. A haunted maze is held for youngsters on Halloween at Martello Tower No. 2, at avenues Taché and Laurier, and a mystery dinner show is available by reservation. Martello Tower No. 4, on rue Lavigueur overlooking the St. Charles River, houses an escape room game, The Tormentor, in the summer months.

Bellwoods is the top destination for west-enders to kick back on a sunny day. The tree-lined park runs between Dundas West and Queen West, which makes for a scenic stroll if you're heading between neighborhoods. It's a great spot for picnicking and people-watching---or dog-watching, if you take a bench next to the dog bowl. It's especially attractive in mid-May, when the cherry trees bloom pink, or when the leaves turn in the fall.

The present church dates from 1880, when it was rebuilt after the Great Fire. Inside, over the west door, is a coat of arms—a symbol of the monarchy—rescued from the council chamber in Boston by a British colonel during the American Revolution. It was deemed a worthy refugee and given a place of honor in the church. Guided tours are available during July and August, and there's a self-guided tour at other times.

With more than 300 wine awards, this winery—one of Niagara's first and largest—produces many excellent varieties. Its reds (especially Trius Red and Trius Cabernet Franc) are some of the best in Niagara, consistently taking top prizes at competitions; the Trius Brut is another gold medalist. The half-hour cellar and vineyard tour are set to the tune of bubbly Insta-worthy installations complete with generous complimentary samplings. Another dozen themed tours and regular events include a seminar where you can blend your own wine and an evening of chef-hosted meals at their terrific 5-star restaurant where every main is symphony in several movements.  Book in advance for tours.

This short, family-friendly trail goes through an aspen forest and leads to a lovely waterfall. It's popular in both summer and winter and can be reached by hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, or skiing. It's 1.7 km (1.1 mile) one-way with very little elevation gain. Easy.

The only freshwater lake in the center of Vancouver, Trout Lake, in John Hendry Park, has a sandy beach and a swimming raft. Community festivals and family picnics are popular here, and there's an attractive farmers' market on summer Saturdays. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); toilets. Best for: swimming, walking.

On the east side of Banff, Tunnel Mountain Drive makes a scenic 5-km (3-mile) loop. It's closed in winter, but just off the drive, the hoodoos—fingerlike rock formations created by erosion—are accessible year-round (signs on Banff's main street direct you there).

If you want to summit a mountain in the Canadian Rockies, this 4.8-km (3-mile) round-trip hike is a good bet. The trailhead is a short walk from downtown Banff and the hike leads to a low summit with incredible views of the town, the Bow Valley, and surrounding mountains. Moderate.

This 7.4-km (4.6-mile) round-trip hike follows along the ridge of Turtle Mountain to the false and true summits. It's a steep and challenging trail, but the views of Frank Slide and the Crowsnest Valley are worth it. Scrambling is required to reach the second peak known as the south peak. This hike has 936 meters (3071 feet) of elevation gain and hiking poles are recommended.

Accessible only by foot, this historical log chalet previously provided lodging for guests and food and tea for day guests in the summer months; it's no longer accessible to the public. Built in a clearing across from the Twin Falls Creek in three phases between 1908–1928, the teahouse provides phenomenal views of the double falls (keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats that are often spotted hanging out above the falls). The 16.4-km (10-mile) mostly forested out-and-back trail will take you three hours to reach the teahouse. Access to the trailhead is from the Takakkaw Falls parking lot.

When Jasper National Park was established in 1907, the Indigenous people who had inhabited the land since time immemorial were forced to leave. Soon after that, a totem pole featuring a Raven was created by Haida carvers and erected for park tourists to enjoy. It stood for 94 years until it was removed and returned to the Haida people who live in an archipelago off British Columbia’s west coast. In 2011, a new totem pole that had been carved by brothers Gwaii and Jaalen Edenshaw replaced the original one. The new totem pole uses imagery of wildlife commonly found in Jasper to tell the story of two brothers who travel from Haidi Gwaii to the Rockies. One of them stays while the other returns home. The totem pole is meant to suggest a connection between the Haida and the Indigenous Peoples of Jasper National Park. It is also intended to be viewed as a gift between Indigenous nations.