Canada Holidays

Canada holidays come in two very different flavours: Toronto, a cosmopolitan lakeside city, with Niagara Falls down the road and a food scene built by half the world, and the more laid back Vancouver, where the mountains run straight down to the Pacific.

Canada Holiday Highlights 2026 and 2027

• Two very different cities: Toronto is big-city Canada on the shore of Lake Ontario, with the CN Tower, the Distillery District and Niagara Falls 90 minutes away. Vancouver is the Pacific side, where the mountains, the beaches and the city all fit in one view.

• Niagara Falls: an easy day out from Toronto, with boat trips right into the spray and the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake 20 minutes further on.

• Mountains from the city: Grouse Mountain is about 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver, and Whistler is two hours up the Sea-to-Sky Highway, for skiing in winter and mountain biking in summer.

• Whales on the doorstep: orcas and humpbacks off the coast from April to October, with the boats leaving from Granville Island in Vancouver.

• Food worth the flight: poutine and maple syrup, yes, but also Pacific seafood in Vancouver and a Toronto food scene built by its Chinatown, Little Italy, Greektown and Koreatown.

• Direct flights: non-stop from Heathrow to Toronto in about eight hours and to Vancouver in about nine and a half, and from Dublin to Toronto all year, with Dublin to Vancouver in summer.

☀️ Good to Know - Holidays to Canada

• ☀️ Canada’s climate varies BIG time. Summers can hit 25–30°C in cities like Toronto, while winters drop well below freezing. Pack for the season (and then some!)

• 💶 Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD). Expect around £4–6 for a beer, £10–20 for a meal, and good-value transport in major cities

• 🍁 Canada has a strategic reserve of maple syrup: like an oil reserve, but for syrup. The Quebec Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve genuinely exists, sets world prices, and was famously robbed in 2011-12 when thieves siphoned millions of pounds' worth out of warehouse barrels and replaced it with water. Nine people went to prison. Canada produces 71% of the world's maple syrup; Quebec alone makes 90% of that.

Making the most of your Canadian holiday

"Everyone tells you to do Stanley Park in Vancouver, and it's lovely, but the best morning we had was in Deep Cove, a little village on the water about forty minutes out of town. We hired a double kayak from the rental hut on the beach and paddled out into Indian Arm, a long inlet with mountains coming straight down into the water. Within twenty minutes a seal popped up next to us and just stared. Magic. Two hours later we were back on the beach and straight into the queue at Honey's Doughnuts. Go early, because the wind picks up after lunch, and the kayaks only run from April to October. Two more tips. In Toronto, have a peameal bacon sandwich at St Lawrence Market. And catch a Blue Jays game with the stadium roof open."

-Rob Brooks, OtB Holiday Expert

A holiday in Canada is perfect for you if...

• You want a city holiday where the big outdoors is within easy reach.

• You'd happily get soaked on a boat at the bottom of Niagara Falls.

• You like your seafood straight off the boat and your pancakes drowned in maple syrup.

• You've got kids who'd rate a glass floor 342 metres up the CN Tower as the best thing that's ever happened to them.

• You want holidays that work in any season, from summer patios to autumn colour and winter skiing at Whistler.

🗣️ Local Lingo – Talk Like a Canadian 🇨🇦

In Canada, English is widely spoken (with French in places like Quebec), and the slang is friendly, polite, and easy to pick up 😉

• Hey (hay) - hello, said to everyone from the bus driver to the barista

• Sorry (SOR-ee) - you'll hear it a lot, often from the person you just bumped into

• Double-double (DUB-ul DUB-ul) - a coffee with two creams and two sugars

• Toque (tewk) - a woolly hat, and in a Toronto January you'll want one

• Washroom (WOSH-room) - the toilet

• Poutine (poo-TEEN) - chips, gravy and squeaky cheese curds. Trust us

• Eh? (ay) - added to the end of a sentence, like "nice day, eh?"

Best Day Trips on your Canada holidays

Canada’s all about exploring beyond the city – and there’s plenty to see.

• Niagara Falls: a 90-minute drive or about two hours by bus from Toronto. Niagara City Cruises take you right into the spray, the Skylon Tower gives you the view from above, and the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake are 20 minutes further on.

• Whistler: a two-hour drive from Vancouver up the Sea-to-Sky Highway, with one of North America's biggest ski areas in winter and mountain biking in summer. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola crosses between the two mountains and is genuinely unforgettable.

• Grouse Mountain: about 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver, with the Skyride cable car to the top for views over the whole city. Snowshoeing in winter and the resident grizzly bears in summer; the mountain closes for a few weeks of maintenance each autumn, usually mid-October to early November.

• Sea to Sky Gondola: about an hour north of Vancouver at Squamish, riding up above Howe Sound to a suspension bridge and walking trails at the top.

• Victoria, on Vancouver Island: a ferry crossing or a short seaplane hop from Vancouver, with the gardens, the harbour and whale-watching boats of the island's capital.

🏨 Where to Stay on your Canada holidays

💑 Couples

Downtown Vancouver is the romantic Canada base. Stanley Park on the doorstep, the Sea Wall promenade running along the harbour, Granville Island ferries leaving from the south end, and Yaletown / Coal Harbour's marina-and-restaurants strip a short walk away. Sunset views back across to North Vancouver's mountains. The choice for couples after the West Coast vibe.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

Downtown Toronto is the family default. Walking distance to the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, the Eaton Centre and the waterfront ferries to the Toronto Islands. Subway access to High Park, the zoo and the science centre. Billy Bishop airport for Niagara Falls day trips. Properly walkable for younger kids and well-served by family-friendly hotels.

🎉 Groups

Entertainment District, Toronto is the late-night Canada base. Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, theatres, restaurants and bars all open late, and most things are walkable from anywhere central. Easiest place to assemble eight or ten people at the end of a night without splitting taxis.

🏨 Best Hotels in Canada

From big-city luxury to great-value stays, Canada’s hotel scene has something for everyone. See all hotels in Canada or browse our picks below.

💑 What are the best hotels for a couples' holiday in Canada?

• Four Seasons Hotel Toronto - Five-star in Yorkville, Toronto's smartest neighbourhood, with Daniel Boulud's Café Boulud downstairs and a spa with an indoor pool.

• The St Regis Toronto - Downtown luxury with LOUIX LOUIS, the restaurant and bar on the 31st floor, and the theatres and the CN Tower within walking distance.

• Fairmont Pacific Rim - On the Vancouver waterfront with floor-to-ceiling harbour views, a full-service spa and the Botanist Bar. Stanley Park and Gastown are both walkable.

• Executive Le Soleil Vancouver - A boutique hotel in downtown Vancouver with Copper Chimney, its own Indian restaurant, and a quieter feel than the big chains nearby. One of the best-reviewed Vancouver hotels.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Which hotels are best for a Canada family holiday?

• Chelsea Hotel Toronto - Toronto's big family hotel, with the Corkscrew (the only indoor waterslide downtown), a kids' centre and a teen lounge, a short walk from the Eaton Centre.

• Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown - Suites with full kitchens, which helps when small people don't run on restaurant hours, plus an indoor pool and breakfast. Stanley Park and Granville Island are both about 17 minutes' walk.

• Novotel Toronto Centre - Four-star by St Lawrence Market, with an indoor pool and a kids' play area, and the Hockey Hall of Fame six minutes' walk away.

🎉 What are the best hotels in Canada for a group holiday?

• DoubleTree by Hilton Toronto Downtown - A heated indoor pool, sauna and hot tub, a few minutes from the Eaton Centre, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the theatre district.

• Hotel Belmont Vancouver MGallery - Boutique stay in Vancouver's Entertainment District with The Basement, a neon games bar with arcade machines and a bowling lane, and Yaletown's restaurants a short walk away.

• The Drake Hotel - The creative hub of Toronto's Queen Street West, with a rooftop terrace, two restaurants, three bars and individually designed rooms.

💰 Which hotels are best for a cheap Canada holiday?

• The Anndore House - A boutique four-star with its own café, bar and restaurant, ten minutes' walk from the Eaton Centre and for a lot less than the downtown luxury names.

• One King West Hotel & Residence - Four-star at the corner of King and Yonge, with kitchenettes in the rooms, a sauna and a spa tub, and the Eaton Centre ten minutes away.

• Georgian Court Hotel - Four-star in downtown Vancouver next to BC Place and Rogers Arena, with free bike hire, a sauna and a steam room, and Robson Street around the corner.

👉 All hotels in Canada

🗺️ Canada Holidays 2026 and 2027 Travel Guide

💑 What are the best things to do on a couples' holiday in Canada?

• Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver: the waterfront path loops right round the park's headland, about 9km, with views across to the North Shore mountains and bikes to hire if you'd rather ride it. Free, and best at sunset.

• Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tasting: about 20 minutes on from Niagara Falls, with dozens of wineries open for tastings and ice wine the local speciality.

• Capilano Suspension Bridge or Lynn Canyon: rainforest bridges above North Vancouver. Capilano is the bigger, busier one with a ticket; Lynn Canyon is free and far quieter.

• Distillery District dinner in Toronto: cobbled lanes of Victorian industrial buildings, now full of restaurants and bars. El Catrin (Mexican), Cluny Bistro (French) and Pure Spirits (oysters) are all worth booking.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Canada family holiday?

• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Toronto: at the foot of the CN Tower, with a moving walkway through the shark tunnel and touch tanks for younger kids. Brilliant for a rainy afternoon.

• Whale watching from Vancouver: half-day boat trips from Granville Island between April and October, looking for orcas, humpbacks and grey whales.

• CN Tower: 553 metres tall, with a glass floor 342 metres up. The EdgeWalk, a harnessed walk around the outside, is for ages 13 and over and runs from roughly May to October.

• Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park: sea otters, sea lions, jellyfish and a new axolotl exhibit. Pair it with a walk or a bike ride round the Seawall for a full day in the park.

• Toronto Islands by ferry: about 15 minutes from downtown, with beaches, bike hire and the Centreville amusement park, which opens from May to September.

🎉 What are the best things to do in Canada with a group?

• Distillery District drinks in Toronto: Mill St Brewpub is the anchor, brewing on site in an old Victorian warehouse, with plenty of bars in between.

• Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena: the hockey season runs from October to April and the atmosphere is worth it even if you don't follow the sport. The Raptors play basketball at the same arena over the same months.

• A day in Whistler: two hours up the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver, with one of North America's biggest ski areas in winter and the mountain bike park from mid-May to mid-October.

• Granville Island food tour: walking tours of the public market, with tastings at six or eight stalls along the way.

• Niagara Falls day trip from Toronto: coach trips run from downtown, usually with a Niagara City Cruises boat into the spray and a winery stop on the way back.

🌍 More Destinations to Explore in Canada

• 🇨🇦 Toronto – skyline views, culture, and big-city energy

• 🇨🇦 Vancouver – mountains and laid-back coastal vibes

• 🇨🇦 Edmonton – festivals, river valley trails, and huge shopping spots

• 🇨🇦 Calgary – cowboy culture meets modern city living

• 🇨🇦 Kamloops – lakes, sunshine, and outdoor adventures

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Rockies – jaw-dropping scenery, glaciers, and epic road trips 🏔️