Canada
It’s no surprise that there’s plenty to see in the world’s second-largest nation
North America > Canada
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Canada is vast—so vast that you could fit the UK into it over 40 times and still have room left over. This means that any trip here requires planning, because hopping from one city to another isn't just a quick train ride away. If you're thinking of seeing the Rockies, exploring French-speaking Quebec, and then squeezing in a trip to the Maritimes, you're going to need time. Lots of it. Unless, of course, you’re happy to spend half your holiday on a plane or driving endless highways flanked by pine trees and the occasional moose.
The best way to tackle Canada is to pick a region and stick to it. If nature’s your thing, the west is where you’ll want to be. British Columbia and Alberta are a playground of mountains, glacial lakes, and wildlife that looks like it belongs on a postcard. Banff and Jasper National Parks are highlights, but don’t just skim through. Stay a few nights, get up early, and hike to spots where the tour buses don’t go. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the northern lights flickering over a frozen lake or a bear casually strolling across the road in search of berries. In the summer, renting a car and driving the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper is about as scenic as it gets, with towering peaks and waterfalls right on the roadside.
If you’re drawn to cities, Toronto is a buzzing, multicultural sprawl with a proper skyline, great food, and a ferry ride that gets you the best views of it all. Montreal, meanwhile, offers a European feel, where café culture thrives, and you can find the best bagels outside of New York. Quebec City is even more old-world, with cobblestone streets, a towering chateau, and enough charm to make you forget you're still in North America. And then there's Vancouver, a city where you can ski in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon, with sushi that rivals Tokyo’s.
Weather is no joke here. Winter is brutal in most places, unless you're in Vancouver, which is more rain than snow. If you’re visiting between December and March, bring layers—proper ones. Summers, on the other hand, are short but glorious, with long daylight hours and festivals everywhere. No matter when you visit, one thing’s for sure: Canada is big, beautiful, and best explored when you embrace the space and take your time.
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