All Articles 12 beautiful places to visit in Canada

12 beautiful places to visit in Canada

Colorful historic fishing villages, remote islands, snow-capped mountains, and more.

By Alyssa Brown12 Sept 2022 5 minutes read
A couple rides a canoe in Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada
Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada
Image: Mitch Diamond/Getty Images

From popular ski towns to secluded islands accessible only by boat, Canada is home to a range of stunning landscapes and destinations. On Fogo Island on the country’s eastern edge, you'll find meadows filled with wildflowers and berries. In the Yukon, witness the magic of the Northern Lights without any light pollution to mar the views. And in the Canadian Rockies, explore glacial lakes in brilliant shades of turquoise and emerald.

Throughout the year, each landscape changes with the seasons, making those moments of fleeting beauty feel all the more special to experience. Whether you’re looking for a luxury retreat in an alpine village or a food-focused road trip route, these gorgeous Canadian destinations deliver. Below, you'll find our favorites—plus the hotels and accomadations to book so you can see them for yourself.

Banff National Park

Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Canada
Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Canada
Image: Deb Snelson/Getty Images

You can’t mention Canada’s natural splendor without conjuring up images of Banff National Park. From the clear blue waters of Lake Louise to Johnston Canyon’s towering caves and waterfalls, the scenery in Banff National Park offers a stunning backdrop for hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, backcountry skiing, and so much more.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is an iconic Banff hotel with incredible views of its namesake waterway. Nearby Moraine Lake Lodge is another cozy yet luxurious option in the Canadian Rockies, where guests receive a complimentary outdoor activities package.

Vancouver Island

Elevated coastal landscape in Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island
Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, Canada
Image: Manuel Sulzer/Getty Images

On Vancouver Island’s remote west coast, you’ll find temperate rainforests, dramatic cliffs, and sheltered inlets. Clayoquot Sound, Mount Arrowsmith, and Pacific Rim National Park are a few of the island’s renowned wildlife habitats where you can see the area’s remarkable geodiversity. While discovering the region’s many beaches, keep your eyes peeled for orcas out at sea and black bears on the water’s edge.

Take a seaplane into Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge to sleep in decked-out safari tents and bathe in cedar tubs. Or opt for a stay in the quaint fishing village of Tofino, where you’ll find the rustic-chic Wickaninnish Inn perched on the edge of the Pacific.

Thousand Islands National Park

Thousand Islands National Park, Canada
Thousand Islands National Park, Canada
Image: Benedek/Getty Images

An archipelago of 1,864 islands in the St. Lawrence River, Thousand Islands National Park is easiest to explore by boat. Whether you access the islands via speedboat or sea kayak, expect to see old castles, lofty pine trees, and plenty of scuba diving spots. For a taste of your own private paradise, rent a home on a private island like Little Ninette Island.

Whistler

Couple skiing on a sunny powder day in Whistler, Candaa
Whistler, Canada
Image: StockstudioX/Getty Images

The quintessential ski resort town, Whistler is nestled between the 2,000-foot-tall mountain of the same name and the nearly 8,000-foot-tall Blackcomb Peak. While the alpine village is packed with snow sport enthusiasts in winter, the glacier-fed lakes, 1,000-year-old cedar forests, and plentiful wildflowers keep the region beautiful throughout the year. The elegant suites at Nita Lake Lodge in Creekside provide spectacular lake views, while the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is a popular ski-in, ski-out lodge that sees its fair share of returning guests every year.

The Cape Breton Highlands

Aerial view of Scotch Head during Autumn, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Scotch Head, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
Image: Curtis Watson/EyeEm/Getty Images

Rolling hills and dramatic cliffs meet the sea at Cape Breton Highlands National Park, which is home to a third of the historic Cabot Trail, along with numerous waterfalls and beaches. Time your visit to lobster season (usually May through late July) to enjoy the local spoils at their freshest. You’ll find a selection of modern motels like the Iona Heights Inn on the 110-mile-long Cape Breton Island, or head to the 83-year-old Keltic Lodge for a leisurely waterfront stay.

Fogo Island

Town of Fogo on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, Canada
Town of Fogo on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, Canada
Image: Deb Snelson/Getty Images

With caribou grazing on rolling hills and humpback whales swimming along the shore, Fogo Island feels worlds away from city life. According to locals, there are seven seasons on the island: Winter for snowmobiling and tobogganing; pack ice season for snowshoeing; spring for crabbing and foraging; cod trap berth season that anticipates the coming bounty; summer for blooming wildflowers; berry season for foraging and canning; and late fall for windy days and bonfire nights. Check out Fogo Island Inn, an architectural wonder set on stilts at the edge of Joe Batt’s Arm, where you’ll find plenty of the warm hospitality that’s associated with Newfoundlanders.

Kluane National Park

Aerial view of river veins in Kluane National Park
Kluane National Park, Canada
Image: Cavan Images/Getty Images

Often overlooked as a travel destination due to its rugged and isolated topography, Yukon is home to picturesque icefields, glaciers, and seemingly endless snow-topped mountain ranges. Kluane National Park’s Watson Lake is a prime spot for seeing the Northern Lights from November through March. Stay in glass chalets or alpine log cabins at Northern Lights Resort and Spa in Whitehorse, about 1.5 hours from the park, for the best vantage point.

Lunenburg

Town of Lunenberg in Nova Scotia, Canada
Town of Lunenberg in Nova Scotia, Canada
Image: Nancy Rose/Getty Images

Filled with colorful wooden houses and spectacular churches, the Lunenburg Historic District is a small Nova Scotian fishing village (and UNESCO World Heritage site) that dates back to 1753. While Old Town Lunenburg offers its own accommodation options, it’s also a lovely day trip from Trout Point Lodge, tucked away in the Southwest Nova Scotia Biosphere Reserve (which is a UNESCO Heritage Site as well). The wilderness resort and hotel specializes in expert-guided adventuring—think stargazing, forest bathing, and multi-course culinary experiences.

Jasper National Park

The Athabasca River and Mount Kerkeslin in Jasper National Park, Canada
The Athabasca River and Mount Kerkeslin in Jasper National Park, Canada
Image: Glowing Earth Photography/Getty Images

Situated in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park is home to a selection of natural features unique to this corner of the globe. You’ll find Medicine Lake, an alpine pool that’s known as a “disappearing lake” due to its annual natural drainage in winter, along with the cavernous limestone gorges of Maligne Canyon. While in the dramatic region, stay at Glacier View Lodge, which offers modern suites and sweeping views of Columbia Icefield from towering glass walls.

Charlevoix region

Charlevoix landscape with stonecrop flowers
Charlevoix, Canada
Image: Nicolas McComber/Getty Images

From the rolling hills of the Flavor Trail (doted with farms, bistros, bakeries, cheese shops, and other epicurean delights) to the bike- or sled-friendly slopes of Le Massif de Charlevoix, it’s impossible to pick just one beautiful spot in the Charlevoix region. Be sure to stop by the Hautes Gorges de la Rivière Malbaie and Les Grands Jardins national parks, or choose a spot along the 800-mile coast of St. Lawrence River for breathtaking hikes.

For a high-end retreat, check into the Hotel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix or Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu; for a more low-key getaway, check out more intimate cottages and cabins like Repere Boreal.

Gros Morne National Park

Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park, Canada
Western Brook Pond, Gros Morne National Park, Canada
Image: Thomas Schneider/500px/Getty Images

At Gros Morne National Park’s Tablelands, you can hike over preserved ocean avalanches and the red rocks formed by ancient tectonic plate collisions. Check out Gros Morne Adventures Day Trips for guided sea kayaking, hiking, and backpacking adventures throughout the winding fjord valleys and alpine mountain summits. After an action-packed day, tuck in for a comfortable night’s rest right on the waterfront at Gros Morne Seaside Suites.

Yoho National Park

Sunset at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, Canada
Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, Canada
Image: Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images

Another gem of the Canadian Rockies, Yoho National Park isn’t as busy as nearby Banff, yet it’s just as packed with gorgeous natural features. The glacial waters of Emerald Lake are the main draw for tourists but Lake O’Hara, Takakkaw Falls, and Paget Peak are just a few of the other jaw-dropping destinations worth visiting. Located within the national park, Cathedral Mountain Lodge offers luxury log cabins amid a forest setting, while nearby Emerald Lake Lodge has a direct view of the eponymous mountain lake.

Alyssa Brown
Alyssa Brown writes about travel, events, and design. She’s snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, visited 34 US national parks, and spotted fairy penguins in Tasmania. Though she’s spent many years traveling and living abroad, she has yet to find a city with as much soul as her beloved hometown, New Orleans.