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Canada Travel Guides

We lived in Canada for almost 6 years and spent weekends and holidays travelling around it. There is still so much more I want to see but we did manage to visit some of the biggest places on my Canada bucket list.

If you’re planning a trip to Canada (especially western Canada) then check out my Canada travel guides below.

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Canada Travel tips and guides


black tusk hike
The view from Black Tusk

British Columbia Travel Guides

Beautiful BC is the province’s tagline and it really couldn’t be more accurate. From the coast to the mountains, I loved every part of the province I’ve seen.

We spent 6 years living in Vancouver and enjoyed hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and mountain biking at every opportunity we got.

17 Unforgettable romantic BC getaways

Kamloops to Whistler road trip itinerary

Kamloops to Vancouver road trip itinerary

9 of the Best BC Mountain Towns

Sea to Sky Highway: Driving to Whistler from Vancouver

The Best Hot Springs in BC

All Beautiful British Columbia’s National Parks and what to do there

7 Day road trip to Banff and Jasper from Vancouver

How to get from Vancouver to Tofino & the must-do road trip stops!

Vancouver Travel Guides

Where to stay in Vancouver & an area guide by a local!

Local’s Guide: Do you need to own a car in Vancouver? 5 reasons to own a car and 7 reasons not to

Hiking the Jug Island trail in Vancouver BC

Is Capilano Suspension Bridge worth it?

Pros and Cons of Seattle vs Vancouver BC (living & visiting)

19 nicknames for Vancouver BC used by locals

Where to find the best croissant, Vancouver BC

21 of the best rooftop bar Vancouver options & best Vancouver patios

Living in Victoria vs Vancouver

Living in Vancouver Pros and Cons

The Best Bars & Restaurants on Main Street Vancouver

16 Best Things to do on Main Street Vancouver BC

Best Restaurants in the West End Vancouver BC

The Best Restaurants in Kitsilano Vancouver BC

The Best Granville Island Restaurants and Place to Eat

24 Best Things to do in Granville Island Vancouver BC

The Best Restaurants in Yaletown Vancouver BC

21 Best Things to do in Yaletown Vancouver

The Best Restaurants in Gastown

What to pack for a trip to Vancouver in autumn

Vancouver’s best independent shops and where to find them

The best things to do in Gastown, Vancouver according to a local

Things to do to in Vancouver’s West End by someone who lives there

Adventures & what to do in Stanley Park, Vancouver

43 most instagrammable places in Vancouver

My incredibly relaxing weekend on Bowen Island

What to do on Bowen Island, BC

The best places to kayak in Vancouver

37 Things to do in Kitsilano, Vancouver

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

A guide to the Tulips of the Valley tulip festival in Chilliwack, BC

Sunday spring road trip in BC’s Fraser Valley

What to do on the Sunshine Coast BC

Local’s guide: The best one day in Vancouver itinerary

7 Awesome things to do on the water in Vancouver

How to spend a long weekend in Harrison Hot Springs, BC

Visiting Grouse Mountain Vancouver – is it worth it?

The best trestles in British Columbia

The best pumpkin patches near Vancouver this fall!

12 of the best Vancouver weekend getaway ideas

The best things to do in Vancouver in winter

The BEST things to do in Vancouver at Christmas time!

What to do in Vancouver when it rains

20+ Cute date ideas and romantic things to do in Vancouver, BC

45 Things to do in Vancouver in the summer

Port Moody Breweries along the BC Ale Trail

52 Best cabins near Vancouver, BC

The best Bowen Island accommodation

Camping on Bowen Island: Is it Allowed?

17 Hidden gems in Vancouver, BC

The best cozy coffee shops in Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Murals: Self guided tour of Vancouver street art

The best vegetarian and vegan breakfast in Vancouver

Horseshoe Bay Sunset Platform

19 Best views in Vancouver and how to find them

The best things to do in Deep Cove, North Vancouver

Hikes near Vancouver

50+ Transit accessible hikes Vancouver has to offer!

7 Best hiking tours Vancouver BC has to offer

The best hikes for spring in Vancouver BC

26 Best winter hikes in Vancouver BC

Cycling into the sea at Iona Beach

Lake O’Hara Hike Guide (with/without Lake O’Hara reservations!)

Hiking Quarry Rock in Deep Cove

Everything to know about the Joffre Lakes hike in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, BC

Whistler Travel Guides

The 5 Best Whistler ATV Tours

Best Whistler Cross Country Skiing Trails

Whistler in December: 27+ things to do

21 of the best Whistler indoor activities

The best Whistler snowmobile tours and rentals

Guide to the best ice skating Whistler BC

Ultimate guide to snowshoeing Whistler BC

Best dog sledding Whistler tours

What to do on an adventurous weekend in Whistler

47+ best Whistler winter activities (by a local!)

43+ VERY Best Whistler Summer Activities (by a local!)

13 Best Whistler Coffee Shops: Local Favourites Revealed

9 of the best Whistler waterfalls

15 of the Best Lakes in Whistler BC

The best easy hikes in Whistler BC

How to find the Whistler Ice Cave on Blackcomb Glacier

The Best Camping in Whistler

Staying at Kees and Claire Hut – Backcountry Camping

Things to do in Whistler in winter for non skiers

3 Days on the Spearhead Traverse, Whistler

Ultimate Guide to Lillooet Lake Lillooet BC

Squamish Travel Guides

37+ very best things to do in Squamish BC

Biking the Sea to Sky Trail: Squamish

British Columbia Interior Travel Guides

The best Revelstoke beaches for those hot, sunny days

10 of the best waterfalls near Revelstoke BC

23 of the best Revelstoke hiking trails

The best Kelowna wineries to visit on a long weekend

24 of the best Okanagan rental cabins

Best Things to do in Sun Peaks, BC

The 12+ Best Things to do in Revelstoke in Summer

15+ Best things to do in Sun Peaks in Summer

Jones Lake Chilliwack BC Camping / Wahleach Lake

Ultimate Guide to Visiting Johnson Lake BC

Kentucky Alleyne Lake BC

Vancouver Island Travel Guides

15 of the best easy hikes in Victoria BC

17 best hikes in Tofino, BC you absolutely need to try!

Ultimate Victoria day trip [tours, attractions & more]

The best and most unique stays Victoria BC has to offer

Best grizzly bear tours on Vancouver Island BC

How to hike the Cox Bay Lookout Tofino trail in BC

34 Best places to visit in Victoria in winter

How to spend a weekend in Tofino and Ucluelet

The best things to do in Campbell River, Vancouver Island, BC

The Sunshine Coast BC

17 Best Things to do in Powell River BC

How to Plan a Desolation Sound Kayak Trip

Camping in Powell River BC

The Best Restaurants Powell River Sunshine Coast BC

Hiking up Soames Hill on the Sunshine Coast, BC

The incredible Skookumchuck Narrows on the Sunshine Coast BC!

Explore Smuggler Cove Marine Park on BC’s Sunshine Coast

A Guide to Savary Island & Savary Island Camping

The Gulf Islands

Gulf Islands Travel Guides

28 Best things to do on Gabriola Island BC

25+ best restaurants on Salt Spring Island

Best places for Hornby Island camping

37 Best things to do on Hornby Island BC

8 of the best accommodation on Galiano Island BC

Best Galiano Island restaurants you need to try

The best accommodation in Salt Spring Island BC

The best camping on Galiano Island

8 of the best restaurants on Pender Island BC

Best Pender Island Camping

31 Best things to do on Pender Island BC

17 Best things to do on Salt Spring Island, BC

Galiano Island Guide & 12 Things to do on Galiano Island

Southeastern BC Travel Guides

13 Best Things to do in Kootenay National Park

The Ultimate 10 Day Kootenay Hot Springs Road Trip

13 Best Things to do in Creston BC

19 Best Things to do in Radium Hot Springs, BC

15 Best Things to do in Fairmont Hot Springs BC

Fairmont Natural Hot Springs BC: How to Find Them

18 Best Things to do in Kimberley BC

24 Best Things to do in Nelson BC

14 Best Things to do in Kaslo BC

30+ Best Things to do in Fernie BC

34 Best things to do in Invermere BC

26 of the best things to do in Golden BC

Things to do in Yoho National Park


skoki lakes alberta

Alberta Travel Guides

Rocky Mountain Travel Guides

Ultimate guide on how to canoe on Lake Louise

Ultimate guide to the Lake Louise to Jasper road trip

29 of the best lakes in Banff National Park

Canmore vs Banff: Where should you stay in the Rockies?

Everything to know about visiting Lake Louise in winter

Best places to stay in Jasper National Park, Alberta

27 Awesome waterfalls in Alberta you need to visit

20 Best day trip from Calgary itineraries

34 Best things to do in Canmore in winter

The Best 4 Day Banff Itinerary

The best things to do in Jasper National Park

Where to camp in Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks

Where to stop on the Icefields Parkway

Best things to do in Banff National Park & Lake Louise


things to do in toronto in winter

Ontario Travel Guides

Ontario is home to Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, as well as Toronto and Niagara Falls. I’ve taken trips to places in Ontario in winter as well as the summer and both seasons have something to offer.

24 of the best romantic getaways in Ontario for couples

24 Best Places to visit in Ontario in winter

The best things to do in Toronto in winter

14 Things to do in Toronto for first time visitors

10 Things to do in Ottawa in winter


outdoor activities montreal
Visiting Montreal

Quebec Travel Guides

The French-speaking province of Quebec feels very different to the other provinces listed above. If you’re looking for a change in culture without leaving Canada, you can find that in Quebec.

11 Best experiences for dog sledding in Quebec

Poo-what?! What is poutine and where to find the best ones!

8 photos which prove Quebec City is a winter wonderland

Best Outdoor Activities Montreal

Montreal Winter Activities: The best things to do in Montreal in Winter

Canada Travel Planning Guide

Should I buy Canada travel insurance?

100% YES! — You should have travel insurance for all your trips. Though Canada has “free” healthcare, it’s only for residents. If you’re just visiting, you’ll need travel insurance should you need medical care. It also helps you claim for delayed flights or lost/stolen baggage. We use SafetyWing for our travel insurance!

Is it safe to rent a car in Canada?

Yes — Renting a car is a good idea in most of Canada as public transit isn’t the best!

Car hire is usually quite reasonable, especially compared to some other countries and they’ll all be automatic so you shouldn’t have a problem driving it if you’re used to manual transmission.

I personally use a mix of DiscoverCars and RentalCars to find the best deal that works for me when I rent a car. I used them in Norway, Italy, and Canada when we first moved, and have never had an issue. For RV rental I recommend Outdoorsy.

What’s the best way to pay/exchange money for Canada?

Wise (formerly Transferwise!) — I use my Wise card everywhere these days. I fill it with a certain currency and then I can spend it in countries across the world, online and even for direct debits. Wise has the best currency exchange rates (and they’ll even tell you when you can get it cheaper elsewhere!). When you pay in another currency through chip and pin or tap/wireless, they’ll automatically convert it for you – it’s easy! This link gets you a fee-free transfer.

Do I need a visa for Canada?

Many countries do not need a visa to travel to Canada — However, you may need an ETA which costs $7 (you need this if you’re from the UK). You can buy them online and they usually take a few hours to come through though it can take longer. Only ever buy from this official website otherwise you’ll end up paying more money necessarily. If you want to move to Canada, check out my guide to the Working Holiday Visa which is how we first moved there! Always check the official Canadian Immigration website to see whether you need a visa to travel there.

Will my phone work in Canada?

It depends — Some American and European companies work in Canada for a certain amount of data or time but many will not work at all. Getting a Canadian SIM card will help you get around with Google Maps and stay in touch with people back home. There isn’t much free WIFI in Canada so you can’t really rely on that, especially if you’re heading outside of major cities.

Where can I book my Canada accommodation?

I always check Booking.com for hotels or Hostel World for hostels. If I’m looking for something for a bigger group of people, or a bit more unique (cosy cabins, luxury beach houses) then I use VRBO.

When we first moved to Canada we used Trusted Housesitters to get free accommodation!

What’s the best site to buy Canada flights?

I only ever use Skyscanner to find cheap flights no matter where I’m travelling!