The Most Beautiful Places in Canada

Canada, also known as “the Great White North” is a vast and beautiful country with thousands of attractions to offer both tourists and locals. Canada is a massive land encompassing majestic mountains, spectacular coastlines, tranquil forests, spacious prairies and the Arctic tundra.

While much of the nation is of British and French descent, Canada is home to a mosaic of multicultural communities. This is reflected in its food, art, architecture and points of attraction.

Whether you enjoy walking the streets of a large, bustling city, exploring forests and lakes, camping, or going skiing, Canada has something for you.

Cities

Canada boasts some of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the world.

Calgary

The largest city in Alberta, Calgary is situated between the Canadian Prairies and the hills of the Canadian Rockies. After oil was discovered nearby in the early 1900s, Calgary boomed into what is now one of Canada’s largest metropolitan areas, attracting thousands every year to its world-famous rodeo event, the Calgary Stampede.

Ottawa

Located at the confluence of the Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau rivers in south-eastern Ontario, Ottawa is the capital of Canada. As the nation’s capital, Ottawa is home to many financial, commercial and federal establishments including Parliament Hill, the government seat where the ceremonial Changing of the Guard takes place daily during the summer.

Whistler

The spectacular mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, offer the backdrop for the Whistler resort which serves as the largest and most famous alpine ski destination in North America. Located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Whistler is less than a two-hour trip from Vancouver along Canada’s most scenic drive, the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Vancouver

Vancouver, British Columbia's bustling west coast seaport, is one of Canada's densest and most ethnically diverse cities. It is a popular filming location because it is surrounded by mountains and has thriving art, theatre, and music scenes.

Quebec City

Quebec City may be the capital of the Quebec province in eastern Canada, but its French heritage, architecture, and language make it appear more like a charming European village. Balanced on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River is Vieux Quebec, the city’s historic district.

Wildlife Destinations

Canada is home to 70% of the world's last wilderness and the wildlife population is among the most diverse in the world - with its 46 national parks and 2 million lakes you won’t run out of places to see them when you travel to Canada.

Canada’s diverse landscape that ranges from the Rocky Mountains, dense forest, and glaziers to prairie fields is the natural habitat of the incredible wildlife that you can only see when you travel to Canada or nearby regions. Canadian wildlife ranges in size from the tiny pika to the largest deer, wild dog, and goose in the world!

Canada’s top 5 animal attractions

  • Moose
  • Gray Wolf
  • Giant Canadian Goose
  • Bison
  • Beaver

Expect to find these incredible animals at one of the parks below

National Parks

Canada quite literally has hundreds of national parks, thousands of hiking trails, and hundreds of thousands of lakes to explore and enjoy. What makes Canada’s lakes truly special is their sheer volume and diversity. Lake Superior, bordering Ontario, is the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, spanning around 82,100 km².

Lake Louise in Alberta is another famous tourist spot known for its crystal-clear waters. The Spotted Lake in British Columbia is a strange site featuring deposits of water filled with minerals that give the lake a range of different colours.

Banff National Park

Banff National Park is one of the largest parks in the country and it can easily take you up to 5 days to do and see everything the park has to offer. Nature lovers travel to Canada especially to visit Banff and see the natural wonders like the Rocky Mountains and Louise Lake with its crystal clear water, and of course, the incredible wildlife that inhabits the area; grizzly bear, cougar, wolverine, elk, bighorn sheep, and moose, along with hundreds of bird species. There are plenty of activities to do in Banff, like hiking, canoeing, mountain climbing, picking, and horseback riding.

Jasper National Park

Next is Jasper! Jasper is only 290km north of Banff. Be sure to also stop by Yoho National park as you escape Banff and check out the turquoise river and enjoy some outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, kayaking, and much more. Head north to Jasper and if possible spend a night camping under the stars, wake up to a sunset you will never forget and spend a few days exploring the glacier fields, rocky mountains and spotting wildlife.

Wapusk National Park

Wapusk means ‘white bear’ and as you may have guessed by now, it’s home to the majestic polar bear. What makes this park so special is that it’s truly untouched wilderness and can not be accessed by car. To visit the park, you must travel to the closest towns, which are Churchill or Gilliam, and from there licensed operators will take you by boat, snowmobile, aircraft, or dog team on a guided tour through the park. You will be able to spot wild polar bears in their natural habitat and even glimpse the stunning Aurora lights at sunset.

Vancouver Island

Surprised to see this on the list? If you’d prefer to end your trip a little closer to civilization, make sure you make your way south through beautiful green British Columbia you will eventually find yourself in Vancouver. Take the ferry across to Vancouver Island and enjoy your pick of thousands of campsites in national parks all over the beautiful island. Visit MacMillan Provincial Park to see thousand-year-old trees, then go hiking in the unforgettable Strathcona Provincial Park. The island quite literally has thousands of sights and places to explore and is dotted with quaint small towns and larger ones that have all the amenities anyone could need.

Canada’s Amazing Beaches

Did you know?

Many people don’t associate Canada with pearly beaches, instead, their thoughts are filled with snow and freezing temperatures.

Skaha in British Columbia is a gorgeous, family-friendly beach. Here you will see crowds of people of all ages enjoying the summer sun playing volleyball, sunbathing, swimming and indulging in other summertime activities.

Canada even has a singing beach in Prince Edward Island. The Singing Sands is made up of silica and quartz and when the wind blows over it a soft soothing sound fills your ears.

A visit to Canada’s maritime provinces is not to be missed. Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador are all famous for their world-class seafood and their colourful, picture-perfect towns.

Exploring Canada

Wherever you travel to in Canada, you’re bound to experience the beautiful Canadian natural and man-made attractions that will ensure you never want to leave this beautiful country. Canada is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, offering natural resources and high quality of life. It is no wonder that Canada is one of the best places to immigrate to.

After reading this amazing list, we’re sure you’re ready to pack your bags, but how do you get to Canada?

Canadian Tourist Visa

Before you start applying for a Canadian tourist visa, you should be aware that every traveller needs to be in possession of a valid passport (or unabridged birth certificate in the case of children from particular countries) in order to travel across the Canadian border, no matter their country of origin.

The passport needs to have an open page for immigration and passport control officers to stamp as you move across the borders or airport control points.

A number of countries are exempt from applying for a visitor visa to Canada Visitor Visa, such as EU countries and the USA, and need only apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) 72 hours prior to travelling to Canada.

Those that are not exempt need to appear in person at the Canadian embassy in their country of residence. A biometric screening is done by an embassy consultant and the travel documents that you must collect and present are checked for approval.

Working Holiday Visa

The Working Holiday visa provides an incredible opportunity for young people from over 30 countries to work temporarily for up to 12 or 24 months depending on their country of origin. The work permit allows them to earn money while they travel across Canada, or while they work in a resort or holiday destination. It also provides invaluable Canadian work experience which can later be used to stay in Canada on a more permanent basis.

To apply for a Working Holiday Visa, you must meet the following requirements

  • Be a citizen of one of the participating countries in the International Experience Canada (IEC) programs
  • Be under the age of 35;
  • Be admissible to Canada;
  • Create an online profile on the IEC government webpage;
  • Have a minimum of $2,500 to cover your initial expenses;
  • Have health insurance for the duration of your stay;
  • Give biometrics at your local Canadian consulate; and
  • Hold a valid passport or travel document.

Once your profile is complete, you will be entered into a pool of applicants. If you are awarded a Canadian Working Holiday Visa, you will also apply for an open work permit. An open work permit will allow you to work for any designated employer in Canada (excluding Quebec). If you have dependents they, unfortunately, cannot accompany you on an IEC Working Holiday Visa.

FAQs

Would I need travel insurance to travel to Canada?

Travel Insurance is an absolute must if you're travelling to Canada on a Canada working holiday visa and highly recommended if you're coming to Canada as a tourist. It ensures you've covered in the event of health issues, natural disasters, trip cancellation and terrorism, amongst many others. For more information on Canadian Travel Insurance and which insurance is best for you, look at these FAQs.

How much money do I need to be allowed to travel to Canada?

To be eligible for a Canada Visitor visa or a Canada Working Holiday Visa, you need a minimum of CA$2500 in your bank account upon arrival in Canada. To check if you measure up to the other visa eligibility requirements, be sure to contact an RCIC to ensure you're on the right track.

How does RCICS determine eligibility for immigration programs?

According to the holistic profile of the prospective immigrant. An RCIC needs to know a lot of information about the candidate according to the requirements of the different immigration programs.

Getting Help To Travel Canada

If you want to have the chance to experience all these beautiful parks have to offer while still working in Canada, a Canada Working Holiday Visa may be the way for you. While it's only open to specific nations, a Canada Working Holiday visa presents successful applicants with an open work permit, meaning they can live and work anywhere in Canada for up to two years.

If you're unsure if you're eligible for this program, click the button below to talk to an RCIC who can help determine your eligibility and represent you through your entire application process.

If you can’t wait to see the incredible wildlife of Canada in person, let us help make your dream of travelling to Canada easier, faster. migrantzone.com is a leading Canadian visa and immigration agency with Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) who are authorized to take care of your paperwork, and visa application process to help you get your visa quicker, and without any bumps in the road.