Choose from 290 Fun Things to Do in Canada
St Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal
- Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a must for planners and history buffs.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and prepare to climb 280 steps to reach the main basilica.
- The oratory is wheelchair accessible; wheelchairs are available for free at the votive chapel.
- Guided tours are available for $5 from June through September.
- Mass is typically held in French, though there’s also the occasional mass held in English.
Vancouver Maritime Museum
- The Vancouver Maritime Museum is a must for maritime enthusiasts and families.
- There is no café or food vendor inside the museum, but the gift shop sells model ship kits, souvenirs, and books.
- All exhibits are wheelchair accessible, with the exception of the St. Roch.
Robson Street
- Robson Street is good for those who like big-city bustle.
- Several paid parking lots are available along Robson Street.
- City tours typically last from two to four hours with limited time on Robson Street; consider taking a tour at the beginning of your trip to get oriented before going back to Robson on your own.
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center
The Squamish and Lil’wat people invite you to learn about the cultures of BC First Nations at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, ‘where rivers, mountains and people meet’.
Celebrating nature’s bounty and beauty in this stunning part of the world, a visit to this fascinating cultural center reveals the history, stories and crafts of the region’s inhabitants.
Take a guided or self-guided tour of the exhibits on display in the museum, experience a song and dance session, hear stories from over the eons, and learn about the important cultural role of wool and cedar weaving.
Practical Info
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is just a short walk from Whistler Village.
St Lawrence River
- Wear warm layers. It gets very cold here during winter and parts of the river regularly freeze. Even in summer, it can be cold out on the water.
- The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is among the best whale-watching spots in Canada.
Vancouver Cruise Port
- Most shore excursions include round-trip transport to and from the cruise port. Pre- or post-cruise tours include pickup and drop-off at downtown hotels.
- Full-day tours to out-of-town destinations usually require more travel time, though many North Vancouver attractions, such as Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge, are less than 30 minutes from the city.
- Though you can use taxis or public transit to tour downtown Vancouver and the North Shore, a shore excursion with round-trip transport is the best way to maximize your time.
Rogers Centre
The Rogers Centre is the home of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, World Series Champions in 1992 and 1993, and the Toronto Argonauts Football Team, who last won the Grey Cup in 2004. It is known as having the world’s first fully retractable roof. The roof opens and closes in 20 minutes and is a fun feature while being at a game or event.
The Rogers Centre is the ideal venue for a big stadium concert; some of the biggest names in the business have entertained the masses from The Rolling Stones to Bon Jovi.
To learn more about the Rogers Centre, you can experience a one hour fully guided behind-the-scenes tour. Highlights include a visit to different levels, a press box and a luxury suite among other stops.
Practical Info
Vancouver Lookout
- Vancouver Lookout is a must for first-time visitors to Vancouver.
- Bring a camera to capture the far-reaching views.
- Vancouver Lookout is wheelchair accessible.
Squamish
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Vancouver Chinatown
- Vancouver Chinatown is a must for foodies and history buffs.
- Arrive hungry; there are myriad excellent bakeries, restaurants, and cafés in Chinatown.
- Some attractions, such as the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens, are wheelchair accessible.
Royal British Columbia Museum
Even if you normally give museums a miss, you won’t want to leave Victoria without dropping into the highly acclaimed Royal British Columbia Museum.
From big-screen IMAX movies to the re-created First Peoples village, this imaginative and creatively curated museum will have you thinking and engaging with the past.
The First Peoples Gallery provides insights into life before the arrival of Europeans, while the Modern History Gallery vividly re-creates colonial life. In the Natural History Gallery, seals, grizzly bears and seabirds fill dioramas re-creating the region’s ecosystems.
Big-screen films are screened in the on-site IMAX cinema.The Royal British Columbia Museum is in downtown Victoria, on the inner harbor waterfront opposite the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
Vancouver Aquarium
- The aquarium is particularly well-suited for families, with engaging and informative kid-friendly displays.
- Allow 2.5 to three hours to properly explore the facility.
- Bottled water is not sold at the aquarium. Bring along a reusable water bottle to fill at stations around the site.
- The aquarium facilities are accessible to wheelchair-users.
Royal Ontario Museum
- The ROM is a must-visit for culture vultures and architecture enthusiasts.
- Free Wi-Fi is available.
- Eat at the on-site café or bring a packed lunch which can be eaten at the Brown Bag lunch room.
- Turn your phone to silent or vibrate mode to avoid disturbing other museumgoers.
- The ROM is entirely wheelchair accessible.
Vancouver Art Gallery
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Squamish Adventure Centre
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Royal Canadian Mint
- The Royal Mint is a must-see for history buffs.
- Guided tours are given in English and French.
- The mint facility is accessible to wheelchair users.
- Browse the gift shop, where you can purchase collectible coins.
St Paul Street (Rue St-Paul)
- Saint Paul Street is a must for boutique shoppers and history buffs.
- Don’t forget comfortable, flat walking shoes, as the best way to explore the neighborhood—which is partially paved with cobblestones—is on foot.
- Street signs, including parking and traffic signs, are written in French.
- Visit popular restaurants after the lunch rush to avoid notoriously long lines.
Upper Town (Haute-Ville)
- Upper Town is a must for all first-time visitors to Quebec.
- Wear comfortable shoes. While Upper Town is relatively compact, it’s also got lots of steep streets and uneven cobblestone surfaces.
- Some key sights in Upper Town, including the Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Québec and the Citadel of Quebec, are wheelchair accessible, though many shops and restaurants offer only stepped access.
St Paul's Church
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Rocky Mountains
Alberta’s stunning Rocky Mountains are one of the biggest attractions in the province. Protected by Banff and Jasper National Parks, the Canadian Rockies run along the border of British Columbia and Alberta through a landscape of glaciers, snow-capped mountain peaks, hot springs, and turquoise lakes.
The Basics
Outdoor adventure is the name of the game in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The menu of activities is extensive; you can take a bus tour along the Icefields Parkway to tour the Columbia Icefield, go whitewater rafting on the Fraser River, embark on a guided hike through the alpine wilderness of Banff National Park, walk above the Athabasca Glacier on the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk, or sit back and enjoy the twists and turns of the roads from the seat of a sidecar.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Rocky Mountains are a must-visit for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers.
- Wear comfortable hiking shoes suitable for traversing uneven surfaces.
- Dress in layers; the weather in the Rockies can be unpredictable.
- Cellphone reception outside of towns can be unreliable.
- Rocky Mountains tours typically include pickup and drop-off in Banff or Jasper.
How to Get There
The commercial airport closest to the Canadian Rockies is Edmonton International Airport, about four hours from Jasper. The easiest way to explore the region is by renting a car and driving, but you can also opt for day tours from Banff or Jasper.
When to Get There
While the Canadian Rockies are a four-season destination, winters are long and chilly (perfect for winter adventures), with snow covering the ground well into April and even May. Late June to mid September is the best season for hiking, and crowds begin to thin out in September and October. Expect crowds during the Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival (January) and the Calgary Stampede (July).
Visiting Canadian National Parks
Like their U.S. counterparts, national parks in Canada require an entrance fee paid at the park gate or visitor center. If you’re planning to visit multiple parks in the Rockies, like Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Kootenay National Park, or Yoho National Park, consider a Parks Canada Discovery Pass, an annual pass that gets you into any of Canada’s national parks, marine conservation areas, and historic sites.