Best Places To Visit In Canada 2025

Canada in 2025 offers an unbeatable mix of natural wonders, charming cities, and unique cultural experiences. Here are the top places you absolutely shouldn’t miss this year:

1. Calgary’s Barclay Mall

Long Barclay Mall features a lot of interesting sights along it and runs through Calgary. For instance, Eau Claire Market offers a large selection of stores and eateries on regular days and holds events on certain occasions.

Fresh fruit is also sold at the market during fruit harvesting seasons. The central retail area, known as the Core, comprises 160 shops across four floors and covers three city blocks. The Devonian Gardens are one of the center’s distinctive features.

The length of this botanical garden, which is located on the top level of the structure, spans one whole city block. Numerous trees, a koi pond, and lovely foliage are all in an enclosed area. When traveling to Canada, you must stop at Barclay Mall.

2. Ottawa’s Rideau Canal

When the Rideau Canal freezes over, typically between January and February, tourists may experience the biggest naturally frozen skating rink in the world.

Depending on the weather, the precise dates change every year. The 4.8-mile skate route connects Dows Lake to the city center. If you possess your skates, entry is free; otherwise, skate rentals are available at both doors.

Due to the sometimes chilly weather, additional huts along the canal serve food and warm beverages (dropping down to -40 Celcius is not unheard of or even uncommon). The channel is a lovely spot to wander in the summer.

3. Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada

Across the border from Niagara Falls, New York, is the city of Niagara Falls. The American and Canadian sides of the waterfall have—however, the Canadian side carries nine times as much water.

To protect the passengers from the continual mist that rises from the falls, the boat trip beneath the falls is a fantastic method to get a close-up glimpse of this natural marvel.

There are other weekly fireworks shows on weekends to draw more people in the evenings throughout the summer. People of all ages will find Niagara Falls an enjoyable vacation because of the casino and other attractions like the waterpark and aviary.

4. British Columbia’s Cowichan Valley Vineyards

On Vancouver Island, the Cowichan Valley is tucked between the Salish Sea and a range of mountains. As a result, the ideal conditions are produced for Pinot Gris, Ortega, and Pinot Noir brewing.

Although the dry white wines are the most well-known in the area, the vineyards provide its patrons with a wide selection of wines.

Many visitors go on bicycle tours to visit a few wineries near one another since the picturesque countryside also draws a lot of bikers.

The port-style blackberry wine is a Cowichan specialty, and there are many upscale eateries where you may have dinner after visiting the vineyards.

There are a lot of outdoor markets where you can purchase your food, although Chemainus and Cowichan Bay have the most significant number of eateries. Unsworth Vineyards and Cherry Point Estate Wines are a few well-known wineries.

5. Blackcomb Mountain

A well-known skiing resort, Whistler, is just two hours from Vancouver. Whistler is designed with individuals who are prepared to face the mountains at their doorstep in mind.

Hikers may peak in the summer on paths ranging from one hour to all-day expeditions. The Decker Loop, a 7.1 km trek that takes three to four hours, is the most well-liked path.

The Overlord Glacier and a glacial alpine lake are visible from the Decker Loop. There are more than 200 routes spread throughout the two mountains, and the ski and snowboard season lasts from November to May.

In addition, a gondola transports guests from Blackcomb Peak to Whistler Peak. Tourists may enjoy a stunning view of the natural area below while riding this ride.

6. Quebec City’s Battlefields Park

In 1908, Battlefields Park was created to memorialize the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The forces of France and Great Britain engaged in combat in the Plains of Abraham in 1759, then again at the Battle of Sainte-Foy the following year.

Des Braves Park is a portion of the park dedicated to remembering the second battle. The park has several walking pathways and old artillery pieces and often hosts outdoor activities.

The park, for instance, often holds festivals and concerts during the summer. The four Martello Towers, constructed in 1812 by James Craig, are among the historical landmarks.

One of the towers was destroyed in the 1900s, although they were never used in combat. The other three, however, are still intact, and one of the towers is accessible to tourists in the summer.

7. The Toronto Islands

South of Toronto’s city center, the Toronto Islands are easily accessible through a quick boat journey. A network of roads and bridges links the five-kilometer-long islands.

The Centreville Amusement Park has rides and a small zoo for more minor children. The distance from the mainland to this theme park’s location on Centre Island is around ten to fifteen minutes via boat. Along with a beach, this Island also has picnic and grilling spots.

Hanlan’s Point, which lies to the west, contains a beach, tennis courts, and a sizable green space. Ward’s Island, a residential neighborhood, is located east of Centre Island. This area of the Island also has a beach for visitors.

8. Banff’s Sunshine Village

Sunshine Village is a hiking retreat in the summer and a ski and snowboard resort in the winter. It can be reached by car from Calgary in approximately an hour and a half and is situated within Banff National Park in the Rockies.

There are nine chair lifts and more than 120 routes on the resort’s three summits, Mount Sandish, Goat’s Eye Mountains, and Lookout Mountain. The season runs from November through May and receives up to thirty feet of snow annually.

9. Old Montreal

In the year 1642, the first French immigrants arrived in what is now Montreal. By the time of the industrial revolution, the town, formerly known as Ville-Marie, had developed into a thriving metropolis.

Some structures were constructed as early as the 17th century, and the area was designated a historic district in 1964.

The neighborhood offers a wide variety of eateries and cafés in addition to events like street performers in the summer and a Christmas Village in the winter. The St. Lawrence River borders Vieux-Montreal, and the port may be reached on foot.

10. Stanley Park

A tranquil haven away from Vancouver’s bustling downtown is Stanley Park. There are about 27 kilometers of forest paths and 400 hectares of west coast rainforests, and numerous other attractions.

The Vancouver Aquarium, the giant aquarium in Canada with over 70,000 marine animals, is located in the park. There are also several beaches, although only the Third Beach is suitable for swimming.

Brockton Point is home to a well-known totem pole installation for an intriguing cultural experience. Visitors may enjoy a unique way to see parts of the park on the Stanley Park Miniature Railway.

It winds through more than two kilometers of the beautiful natural landscape and is open every day of the summer and on holidays like Halloween.

Tips for 2025 Travel

• New Canada Strong Pass offers free visits to parks & museums—ideal for summer trips
• Best seasons vary:
  • Summer for Rockies, Okanagan wineries, Atlantic coast, and wildlife.
  • Winter for Québec Carnaval, Whistler/Whiskey sports, northern lights.
• Travel smart with combo: fly into Vancouver or Calgary, then drive the scenic Icefields Parkway or Pacific Rim journeys.

At-a-Glance Travel Map