Currency
The country’s currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAN).
Canada—the land of maple syrup, moose, nature, and supposedly very nice
people—lies in the northernmost part of North America. Despite being the second-largest country in the world by total area, the majority of its landmass is dominated by wilderness. The end result is a perfect balance between civilization and some of the most beautiful nature in the world.
Canada is one of my most visited countries. The cities are incredible (they’re some of the highest-ranked cities in the world for quality of life) and the nature is some of the most beautiful and easily accessible in the world. I simply cannot overstate how wonderful and diverse this place is. Welcome to the land that’s so chill they put a damn maple leaf on their flag and have a beaver as a mascot.
Click for some interesting facts about Canada
- Canada’s official international phone number is 1-800-O-CANADA.
- The North American beaver is the national animal of Canada.
- Sir William Stephenson—a Canadian soldier, inventor, businessman, and spymaster—is one of the main inspirations for James Bond.
- Canada has a strategic maple syrup supply to ensure global supply in case of an emergency.
- Canada has 10 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) and 3 territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut).
- French is widely spoken within and eastward of the Banff region.
- Canada has the largest coastline in the world.
- The Mall of America in Minnesota, United States is actually owned by Canadians.
- Canada is the most educated country in the world. Over half of its residents have college degrees.
- Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world’s lakes combined.
- Canada has a very clever way to deal with prostitution. Prostitution is legal. Buying the services of a prostitute is not. This way, prostitutes are still protected by the law.
- There are braille markings on Canadian money.
- Canada and Denmark have been fighting over an uninhabited island by leaving each other bottles of alcohol and switching the flags for decades.
- Canada is derived from an Iroquoian language word Kanata, meaning “village.”
- Canada is the second-largest country by landmass. However, most of the geography (mostly towards the north) is inhospitable.
Destination Overview: Quick Summary
Top Attractions
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Banff National Park
- Niagara Falls
- Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
Adventurous Activities
- Hiking
- Aquatic Activities
- Horseback Riding
- CN Tower Edgewalk
| Cost | Food | Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| $$$$$ | ★★★★★ | ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ |
| Unique Considerations | ||
| Canada can be hella cold in the winter. | ||
Note: The quick summary lists the top or major attractions/activities. Click on the respective city to see even more attractions specific to that city. The “Related Content” section at the very bottom of the page provides additional information as well.
Reasons to Go
- You love all sorts of nature (especially lakes[1], mountains, and forests).
- You love outdoor activities.
- Canada has options all year round (winters = winter sports, summers = always good)
Reasons NOT to Go
- The cold makes you want to die[2].
- Canadians are too nice for you.
- Maple syrup makes you sick to your stomach.
- You hate hockey.
[1] Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined.
[2] You can manage it with the appropriate winter attire.
Destination Overview: Detailed Information
Cost ($$$) — Almost 80% of Canada’s population lives in cities, and most of the nature destinations are very popular. When deciding between scenic destinations and metropolitan areas, you do not have much leeway when it comes to costs. However, most of Canada’s nature—one of its defining traits—is free or very inexpensive to visit. Therefore, it will be only moderately expensive to visit this country. This is to be expected, of course. It is a first world country right next to the United States.
Country’s currency: Canadian Dollars (CAD).
Currency Converter
Food (★★★★) — The justification for a four-star rating is dependent on the following main criteria:
Quality/Cost – The food is great, but they can cost quite a bit, too (because you’ll mostly be in wonderful but touristy nature or big cities). The quality/cost for Canada is, therefore, average. This warrants a 3-star rating—average.
Diversity – The diversity of the food is excellent. Many of Canada’s cities are very cosmopolitan, especially in Vancouver (where the Asian food is exceptional). You are guaranteed to find a meal to your liking. This criterion gives the rating 1 extra star—for a total of four stars.
Food Safety – There is no concern regarding food safety. Since safe to eat food is obviously expected anywhere, a star is not awarded and can only be deducted.
Popularity (♥♥) — Canada is not a very popular tourist destination despite having some of the best in cities and nature in the world. It receives about 20 million visitors annually—a fraction of the 70+ million the United States receives. For a country of this size and quality, it certainly deserves more attention.
Attractions
For many of the attractions, reservations and/or tours can be booked at getyourguide.com. However, the buttons (within the Quick Summary section above) will direct you to specific destination guides where you will obtain comprehensive and more specific information.
Banff National ParkVariableBanff, Canada’s first national park and place whose name sounds like a Canadian catchphrase (BANFF!), is a region where people, nature, and wildlife coexist. It is, above all else, a place of wonder and beauty.
With a range of entertainment options as vast and diverse as its landscape, Banff offers a complete and immersive nature experience. Its most famous attraction is Moraine Lake (shown in the photo).
Niagara FallsVariableNiagara Falls is a group of 3 magnificent waterfalls and the namesake for the neighboring city, Niagara Falls. The waterfalls—consisting of the Horseshoe (Canadian) Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls—are world-renowned for their beauty and splendor.
I love Niagara Falls because there are so many ways to entertain yourself. You can look over them, walk behind them, and even boat right into the middle of them. You can even visit the touristy town built entirely around them. The fun also begins well before you even reach the falls.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park54 CAD
The Capilano Suspension Bridge, one of the defining and most famous attractions in the Vancouver region, is 460 feet (140 meters) long and hovers 230 feet (70 meters) over the Capilano River.
Surprisingly, the best attraction is on the other side as you enter the luxuriant park and are given the opportunity to walk among the treetops.
Attractions
For many of the attractions, reservations and/or tours can be booked at getyourguide.com. However, the buttons (within the Quick Summary section above) will direct you to specific destination guides where you will obtain comprehensive and more specific information.
Banff National Park
Banff, Canada’s first national park and place whose name sounds like a Canadian catchphrase (BANFF!), is a region where people, nature, and wildlife coexist. It is, above all else, a place of wonder and beauty.
With a range of entertainment options as vast and diverse as its landscape, Banff offers a complete and immersive nature experience. Its most famous attraction is Moraine Lake (shown in the photo).
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a group of 3 magnificent waterfalls and the namesake for the neighboring city, Niagara Falls. The waterfalls—consisting of the Horseshoe (Canadian) Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls—are world-renowned for their beauty and splendor.
I love Niagara Falls because there are so many ways to entertain yourself. You can look over them, walk behind them, and even boat right into the middle of them. You can even visit the touristy town built entirely around them. The fun also begins well before you even reach the falls.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Capilano Suspension Bridge, one of the defining and most famous attractions in the Vancouver region, is 460 feet (140 meters) long and hovers 230 feet (70 meters) over the Capilano River.
Surprisingly, the best attraction is on the other side as you enter the luxuriant park and are given the opportunity to walk among the treetops.
Adventurous Activities
For many of the attractions, reservations and/or tours can be booked at getyourguide.com. However, the buttons (within the Quick Summary section above) will direct you to specific destination guides where you will obtain comprehensive and more specific information.
HikingFree
The best activity in Canada to take advantage of all the nature that it has to offer. Many places (i.e. Vancouver, Banff, and Victoria) have nature right in their backyard, so a hike is almost always a short distance away.
Aquatic ActivitiesVariable
Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined, so aquatic activities such as canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing, are extremely common here. And Canada is arguably one of the best places in the world to participate in these activities.
Horseback Riding100-125 CAD per 2 hours
Team up with an energetic equine and blaze the trails. This is a very popular method of transportation when you are visiting the forests, mountains, and lakes. You can tell how popular this activity is when you consider the fact that there is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police force.
Adventurous Activities
For many of the attractions, reservations and/or tours can be booked at getyourguide.com. However, the buttons (within the Quick Summary section above) will direct you to specific destination guides where you will obtain comprehensive and more specific information.
Hiking
The best activity in Canada to take advantage of all the nature that it has to offer. Many places (i.e. Vancouver, Banff, and Victoria) have nature right in their backyard, so a hike is almost always a short distance away.
Aquatic Activities
Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined, so aquatic activities such as canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing, are extremely common here. And Canada is arguably one of the best places in the world to participate in these activities.
Horseback Riding
Team up with an energetic equine and blaze the trails. This is a very popular method of transportation when you are visiting the forests, mountains, and lakes. You can tell how popular this activity is when you consider the fact that there is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police force.
Final Comments
Canada is easily one of my favorite countries in the world. Despite living in the United States, Canada was actually the 13th country I traveled to. I simply didn’t think much of it at the time.
But I was thoroughly surprised by the beautifully photogenic assortment of nature and remarkable cosmopolitan metropolises.
The sheer size of the country can be an issue for some people. For instance, some of the best places to visit are scattered throughout the massive country, with some of the most popular destinations on literally the opposite edges of the continent (namely Vancouver and Montreal). So, if you want to experience most of what Canada has to offer, it’s going to take numerous trips and several weeks. In my honest opinion, it’s completely worth it.
Out of all other countries, this is the one that I have visited the most. And if you do not have that kind of time, then feel free to look at any of the specific destination guides and narrow down your favorites.
On a final note, make sure to share this page so others will know about the incredible country of Canada!
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