It’s hard to sum up a country in a paragraph, and even harder when that country is Canada. It’s just really, really, really, really big. Honestly, it’s just so big (it has six time zones) and so varied within that bigness. And there are just so many different reasons to want to come to Canada that it makes it especially difficult for us to recommend just a few of the best places to stay in Canada up front. Do you want to ski in a vast wilderness of rocky peaks, or explore genuinely uncharted wilderness? or catch up with the live music scene? or eat really well? Your tastes could be just as varied as Canada is, but we will have your perfect Canadian match somewhere here on our list of the best places to say in Canada, you just have to work out which regions draw you in first…
Ontario has some of Canada's biggest areas of wilderness yet is also the country's most cosmopolitan province. How can this be? Because it's huge. Larger than France and Spain combined, it has acres of forests, miles of empty hiking trails, dozens of towering waterfalls and over 250,000 lakes. Yet over a third of Canadians also live here, most in either Toronto, or in Ottawa, the country's capital; both vibrant cities packed with a great range of accommodation.
Quebec is Canada’s largest province and, because of its heritage it offers a really unique mix of North American and European culture, plus both vast wildernesses and vibrant cities and a passion for outdoor adventure and gourmet cuisine. In Quebec we favour some beautifully aged, very French properties in exceptionally beautiful townhouses.
Alberta has got both Banff and Jasper National Park, and the surrounding ridges of the Canadian Rockies, serene Lake Louise and the glittering Columbia Icefield, great swathes of open grasslands to the north, home to bison, and in the south there are wonderfully ancient rocky deserts of Red Deer Valley and the badlands, a prime spot for dinosaur hunters. It’s also got some truly stunning ski resorts. While British Columbia has the skiing and the fishing. And the trekking in summer. And Nova Scotia is wind whipped and buffeted dramatically by the Atlantic, a province of bright green fields and beautiful cliffs, offering plenty of peace and isolation if you want it, and a warm welcome if you’d prefer that. Here we recommend you stay in a lighthouse — and we know of a couple to choose from.
New Brunswick is one of Canada's unspoiled wildernesses; a playground of rivers, coastal islands, pine forests, mountains, beaches and pretty-as-a-picture villages. And Saskatchewan is the place to come for tranquillity, relaxation and a slower pace of life, all set against a gentle, uncrowded terrain. It’s a place for simple pursuits of walking and horseback-riding, world-class freshwater fishing and wildlife-watching.
The Yukon is the westernmost of Canada’s territories and remains one of the world’s great wildernesses. And Newfoundland is a landscape unto itself, its rocky bays may be filled with icebergs, puffins may swoop in the sunshine, or whales may breach and bask. We like the lighthouse conversions here too, and a modern architectural wonder balanced right on the cliffs.
Some of our Canadian Collections
Where to stay - which city/region?
- Global Toronto buzzes with different languages on its efficient public transport system and in its world class restaurants. Toronto’s grid layout makes it an easy place to get around, and there’s plenty to do of a chilly evening, from great music venues to late night gallery openings, and cosy cafes and bars. In the warmer months this city makes the most of its lakeside location.
- Quite unlike Toronto, Montréal is a real marriage of the Old World and the New World, a city with great charm to her age and architecture and a more careful pace of life. There’s a great foodie culture here, and a vibrant arts scene. And Old Montréal’s cobbled streets are populated with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and plenty of vintage bohemia.
- Vancouver has incredible panoramic views. Turn one way and you have the snowcapped peaks reflecting in the mirrored glass of a skyscraper, turn the other way and you’ve the crystal waters of the bay with its beautiful beaches, a third way and you’ll see the city’s green spaces, that make this small city a real pleasure to walk though. Vancouver is a lot more than just a pretty face, though. The magnificent terrain surrounding the city is ripe for skiing, biking, walking, sailing, kayaking etc.. And all over the food is sensational - definitely try the Asian dining scene.
- Sitting on the St Lawrence River, Québec City is the oldest settlement in North America and the province’s capital city. It retains its historic core (a UNESCO World Heritage site) around Place Royale, quaint narrow streets and old harbour.
- Banff National Park is one of the world’s oldest national parks, and And Banff Town exists solely as a gateway and comfort stop for exploring the park. Its got some great restaurants, boutique shops and even a nightclub, but for most people, it’s all about the spectacular mountain scenery and the opportunity to get seriously active in amongst it. The mountains and hills range high and low, crafting a dramatic course for skiers and mountain bikers, while the serene, unsullied mountain lakes are ripe for canoeing and kayaking.
- Jasper National Park also boasts a stunning setting and is home to wolves, mountain lions, bears, caribou and beavers. There are hot springs, incredible canyons and more of those rocky peaks.
- Just below the Rockies is Waterton Lakes National Park, a peaceful place of surprisingly flat prairies, a sparkling lake and even a surprise castle! This is a much quieter national park than Banff or Jasper, and a great place to see elk, deer, cougar and grizzly bears, as well as an amazing array of wildflowers.
- Lake Louise is another great base for enjoying the mountains, known for its teahouses, hiking and skiing. And of course, for its perfect setting, surrounded by the snow-and-glacier topped peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
- But Whistler is the largest ski area in North America, nestled into the fold of the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.
- Other good bases for outdoors adventurers include Wellington on Lake Ontario,
- Kemble on Lake Huron
- and Port Carling on Lake Joseph.
- To the north of Québec City, Forêt Montmorency offers plenty of hiking opportunities and the chance to spot moose, wolves, bears, beavers, otters and birds.
- Parc de la Chute Montmorency has hiking trails, a via ferrata and thunderous waterfalls.
- The Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier is a mountainous plateau of forests and glacial valleys, attractive to cross-country skiers and canoeists as well as hikers and cyclists.
- Or try Parc National de la Gaspésie where moose and caribou can be spotted amongst the Appalachian peaks.
- The Gros Morne National Park, an extraordinarily beautiful, Heritage Listed region of flat-topped mountains and spectacular tablelands, of fjord like waterways scattered with colourful fishing villages and of incredible geological significance.
- North Hatley is the jewel in what is known as the Eastern Townships region - a lakeside beauty that's been a haven for holiday makers since the 1880s.
- The Magdalen Islands are a little archipelago in the Gulf of St Lawrence, well worth a visit for some off the beaten track beach and wildlife, plus awesome views.
- Halifax isn't especially high on anyone's sightseeing priority list but it should be: offering numerous outdoor activities like whale-watching and boat tours to uninhabited islands, it is the ideal destination for an adventurous family holiday.
