List of places of interest in Canada

Canada's topography

Canada's provinces and major cities

Canada offers numerous tourist and cultural attractions. Sports enthusiasts also have the opportunity to practice various activities such as hiking, sailing, fishing, skiing and mountain biking. Most of the tourist centers are located in the vicinity of Toronto , Montreal , Vancouver , Ottawa or Québec City , which as metropolises all have a long historical past, traditions and many sights.

In 2009 there were around 15.6 million visits by overseas tourists. This corresponds to a decrease of 22% compared to 2002, which can mainly be attributed to the economic crisis from 2007 onwards. These tourists spent around $ 11.5 billion, an average of $ 785 per person per stay. Tourists from the USA recorded around 11.6 million visits, a decrease of 6.7%. These have spent around $ 6.1 billion in Canada. Tourism generates 29 billion dollars which corresponds to 2% of Canada's gross domestic product. In 2009 around 649,900 people were employed in the tourism sector.

British Columbia

Mount Robson , Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia

British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province and borders the Pacific Ocean. The winters in the coastal region are relatively warm there compared to other provinces. It is divided into six regions:

Alpine skiing is very popular in the mountainous regions. The province has 33 large winter sports areas (English ski resorts ), which are spread from Vancouver Island to the provincial border of Alberta. The small town of Whistler was voted the best ski resort in North America. Several competitions for the 2010 Winter Olympics were also held in the city .

Vancouver is British Columbia's largest city. The city is considered cosmopolitan and is surrounded by mountains on the one hand and the Pacific Ocean on the other in a breathtaking landscape. Victoria is the capital of the province and the second largest city in the province. She is considered very "English".

Attractions in Vancouver (selection)

Vancouver skyline

Capilano Suspension Bridge, view from the east side of the canyon

Stanley Park is a large park near downtown. It is the largest urban park in Canada and the third largest in North America. Eight million tourists come every year.
Granville Island is a peninsula formerly used as an industrial area, now one of the shopping and cultural districts in Vancouver.
The Robson Street is a shopping district with many upscale restaurants.
Gastown is a historic district in downtown Vancouver. There are many restaurants and night clubs in the area.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is an art museum opened in 1931 and the fifth largest of its kind in North America.
The Vancouver Maritime Museum is a maritime museum.
The Museum of Anthropology is one of the premier museums of First Nations culture in the Pacific Northwest.
Museum of Vancouver
Science World is a science museum.
Capilano Suspension Bridge , a 136 m long suspension bridge, 70 m above the Capilano River .
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge , a 48 m long suspension bridge 50 m above Lynn Creek .

Celebrations and events in Vancouver (small excerpt) :

Vancouver Pride Parade / Festival
Bard on the Beach - Shakespeare Festival
Christmas events in Vancouver
HSBC Celebration of Light in Vancouver
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Vancouver
The Annual Vancouver International Film Festival
MusicFest Vancouver

Attractions in Victoria (selection)

Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway

The Royal British Columbia Museum , a historical and ethnographic museum and one of the most important research and cultural institutions in Canada.
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia , a historical museum.
Helmcken House , the oldest surviving building in Victoria and home of John Sebastian Helmcken .
The British Columbia Provincial Parliament House , built in 1897 .
The Fairmont Empress Hotel , a historic castle hotel .

The western Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway on the edge of Beacon Hill Park .

Other attractions in British Columbia include coastal humpback whale watching . There are also tours to the Canadian wine-growing regions and orchards in the Okanagan Valley . British Columbia has numerous lakes and beaches, and includes some areas where Canada's highest summer temperatures are recorded.

Many films have been and are being produced in British Columbia, which is why the province, along with other parts of the country, is sometimes referred to as the Hollywood of the North .

Ontario

The CN Tower as seen from the Toronto Islands

Sandy beach on Lake Ontario

With a population of 12,851,821, Ontario is the most populousprovince of Canadaand with an area of 1,076,395 km² itis the second largest province in Canadaafter Québec . In eastern Ontario, Ottawa is also the country's capital and seat of government. The province is also home to Canada's largest city, Toronto , which is considered one of the world's most demographically heterogeneous metropolises. 5,509,874 people live in the greater area of this city alone; Ottawa follows as the second largest city in Ontario with 1,130,761 inhabitants in the metropolitan area. The province has a multitude of cultural and historical sights and offers many leisure and recreational opportunities as well as other attractions.

Attractions in Toronto (selection)

Celebrations and events in Toronto (small excerpt) :

Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto Raw / Vegan Festival

Village Day

St. Patrick's Day

Canada Day (July 1st of each year)

Canadian Music Week (a music festival)

Canadian International Auto Show

Santa Claus Parade (since 1905 Christmas parade )

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Skyline (2008)

Niagara Falls , Ontario, is a city on the US border with 82,184 residents in the downtown area. 390,317 people live in the metropolitan area. The driving time from Toronto is about 1 hour, is home to several sights and is a popular vacation spot for many Americans and international tourists due to its proximity to the US border. The Americans discovered the city as a vacation and recreation destination due to the favorable US dollar / Canadian dollar ratio; For young people from the United States, it offers the opportunity to get alcohol legally, as you can buy alcohol in Canada at the age of 19 - in the USA only at age 21. Another reason for its popularity is a better view of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.

Attractions in Niagara Falls (selection)

Niagara Falls at night - illuminated

Niagara Falls
Skylon Tower
Casino Niagara
Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
Marineland - theme park
Planet Hollywood , Rainforest Cafe and the Hard Rock Cafe
Ferris wheel, rides and other amusement facilities.

Celebrations and events in Niagara Falls (small excerpt) :

IlluminAqua
Friendship Festival
Niagara Falls Canada Day Celebrations
The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure

The House of Parliament in Ottawa

Ottawa is the federal capital of Canada and is home to many government institutions. The city has around 812,129 inhabitants and around 1.13 million inhabitants in the metropolitan region. Compared to Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary, the city has few high-rises, but many historical buildings, parks and museums.

Attractions in Ottawa (selection)

Supreme Court building in Ottawa

National Gallery of Canada
Canadian War Museum
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Dow's Lake
Lansdowne Park
Parliament Hill
Rideau Hall (official residence of the Queen of Canada (or the monarch) and the Governor General of Canada )
Supreme Court of Canada
Peacekeeping Monument
Rideau Canal

Celebrations and events in Ottawa (small excerpt) :

Westfest
Ottawa International Jazz Festival
Capital Pride
Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival
Centretown Movies Outdoor Film Festival
Ottawa International Animation Festival

Alberta

Moraine Lake , mountain ranges in Alberta

Alberta is one of the western provinces of Canada and borders British Columbia, Saskatchewan and the Rocky Mountains . In the area lie the two large cities of Calgary and Edmonton , the capital of the province. Edmonton is known for the West Edmonton Mall , the largest shopping mall in North America. Another world attraction is the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller , which houses the world's largest collection of dinosaur fossils under one roof. Furthermore, five of Canada's UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in Alberta. These include Banff National Park (1984), Jasper National Park (1984), Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (1995), Wood Buffalo National Park (1983), Dinosaur Provincial Park (1979) and the Head -Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (1981). Alberta is a popular winter sports area with skiers andhas several ski resorts, such as the Canada Olympic Park with downhill skiing and ski jumping facilities. The small town of Banff , which is located on the Rocky Mountains, isa preferred area for nature and sports enthusiasts, both in winter and in summer.

Edmonton, skyline

Attractions in Edmonton (selection)

Interior view of the largest mall in North America

West Edmonton Mall (the largest mall in North America. From 1981 to 2004 it was the largest mall in the world)
Park areas along the North Saskatchewan River
Shaw Conference Center
Sir Winston Churchill Square

Celebrations and events in Edmonton (small excerpt):

Ice on Whyte
Winter light
Silver Skate Festival and Edmonton Winter Triathlon
Edmonton International Film Festival
Edmonton International Street Performer's Festival
Rock'n August

Calgary skyline

Attractions in Calgary (selection)

The city of Banff, photo from downtown, with the Rocky Mountains in the background .

The Core Shopping Center
Bow Valley ranche
Devonian Gardens
Calgary Skywalk (a four-meter skywalk that connects several buildings)
Canada Olympic Park
China Town Calgary
Stephen Avenue (a shopping street popular with residents and tourists, with shops, restaurants and cafes)

Celebrations and events in Calgary (small excerpt) :

Calgary Fringe Festival
GlobalFest
International Festival of Animated Objects
Reggae Festival
Mountain View Music Fest
North American Championship Chuckwagon Races and Guy Weadick Pro Rodeo

Manitoba

Winnipeg skyline

Manitoba is the eastern of the Canadian Prairie Provinces and is located between Ontario, Saskatchewan and Nunavut, and the US states of North Dakota and Minnesota in the south. The capital of the province is Winnipeg with around 633,000 inhabitants and 694,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area. Manitoba has an area of 647,797 km² . In addition to the tourist center in Winnipeg, which offers plenty of cultural and historical attractions, the province has several parks and hiking trails, lakes and beaches.

Attractions in Winnipeg (selection)

The Grand Beach Strand in Winnipeg in the fall of 2009

Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Manitoba Museum
Forks National Historic Site (historic district with many shops, restaurants, and cafes)
FortWhyte Alive (Park / Recreation Area)
Old Market Square (district with many shops, restaurants and cafes)
Grand Beach Provincial Park (recreation area with sandy beach)
McPhillips Street Station Casino
Manitoba Planetarium & Science Gallery
Air Force Heritage Park & Museum

Celebrations and events in Winnipeg (small excerpt) :

Polar bears in northern Churchill Province, Manitoba

Jazz Winnipeg Festival
Winnipeg Folk Festival
Steinbach Pioneer Days
Islendingadagurinn (Icelandic Street Festival)
International New Music Festival
Royal Manitoba Winter Fair
Dauphin Countryfest

Attractions in the province

Beluga whale

West Hawk Lake
Canadian Fossil Discovery Center
Clearwater Lake Provincial Park
Asessippi Ski Area & Resort
Churchill Northern Studies Center
Island Lake

New Brunswick

Cape Enrage Lighthouse in New Brunswick

New Brunswick is known for its large sandy beaches, especially in the Northumberland Strait area and a relatively warm climate in the summer months, as well as water temperatures that are among the warmest north of Virginia . The second largest city, Moncton, is considered a recreation area and has several attractions. Saint John is the largest city in New Brunswick. Fredericton is the third largest city and the provincial capital. The city has several cultural attractions and two larger universities with research facilities.

Attractions in Fredericton (selection)

Beaverbrook Art Gallery
New Brunswick Legislative Building
Old Government House
Historic Garrison District
York Sunbury Museum
Christ Church Cathedral (Kathredale from 1853)
Fredericton Botanic Garden
Killarney Lake Park (with many sandy beaches and picnic areas)

Celebrations and events in Fredericton (small excerpt) :

Bay in Fundy National Park in New Brunswick

Atlantic Beer Festival at Moncton Coliseum
Miramichi Culture Fest
Canada's Irish Festival on the Miramichi
Summer Music Festival

Sights in the province (selection)

Minister's Island

Newfoundland and Labrador

View over the city of St. John's in Newfoundland

Newfoundland and Labrador is very popular with many tourists due to the many natural phenomena. So you can see many icebergs and fjord glaciers . The first European settlers settled in the province in 1497. The capital of the province is St. John's , in Newfoundland. St. John's is the oldest city in North America and was founded by John Cabot . The city has around 106,000 inhabitants, and 196,900 in the wider catchment area.

Attractions in St. John's (selection)

Cabot Tower
Signal Hill
Cape Spear (the easternmost place in all of North America)
The Rooms
Bowring Park
Johnson Geo Center
Mil One Center

Sights in the province (selection)

Nova Scotia

Halifax skyline

Brier Island lighthouse

Nova Scotia is the easternmost province of Canada and is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of the province is Halifax . About 412,273 people live in Halifax and the metropolitan area. The second largest city is Cape Breton Regional Municipality with around 102,250 inhabitants. The climate is strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream. Usually no snow falls in the winter months, except at the northernmost end of the province around the Cape Breton Islands. During spring and autumn, temperatures are around a relatively pleasant 15 to 18 ° C. In autumn the Indian Summer begins, which transforms the landscape into a unique intoxication of colors. This season usually begins in the second or third week of September and lasts until around the end of October.

Sights in Halifax (selection)

Citadel Clock Tower (Halifax clock tower, landmark of the city from 1803)

Halifax City Hall ( Halifax City Hall , historic building constructed between 1887 and 1890)

Halifax Metro Center (multi-purpose hall for various events)

St. Paul's Church (Halifax) (oldest Protestant church in Canada)

Point Pleasant Park (75 acre park on the southern tip of the peninsula)

Pier 21 (museum and historic site)

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (with 30,000 exhibits)

Celebrations and events in Halifax (small excerpt) :

Atlantic Fringe Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
Celtic Colors
Canada Day
Deep Roots Music Festival

Sights in the province (selection)

NovaShores Adventures
Ironworks Distillery
Mariner cruises
Wolfville Walking Tours

Quebec

City Hall of Quebec City

Montreal skyline

Québec differs from the other Canadian provinces mainly in the language. Quebec is the only province in Canada to have French as the first official language, followed by English as a second language. The capital of the province is Québec with over 510,000 inhabitants and over 760,000 in the metropolitan area. The city is also the capital of the province. It has several sights that are even listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO . However, the largest city in the province is Montreal with over 1.5 million inhabitants.

Attractions in Québec City (selection)

Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Museum of the Civilization
Musée de l'Amérique francophone
Espace Félix Leclerc
Naval Museum of Quebec
Choco-Musée Erico
Musée des Ursulines de Québec
Musée du Royal 22e Regiment / La Citadelle de Québec
Musée de l'Abeille
Plains of Abraham Exhibition Center
Parc Aquarium du Quebec

Attractions in Montreal (selection)

Olympic Stadium
Just pour rire
Old Montreal
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Opéra de Montréal
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
McCord Museum
Crescent Street
St. Lawrence Boulevard
Canadian Grand Prix
Canadian Center for Architecture

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is the central point of the Canadian Prairie Provinces and borders Alberta to the west, Manitoba to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north and the United States to the south. Aroundone million peoplelive in the province on an area of 651,036 km² . Saskatchewan's capital is Regina with a population of 179,246 in the city and 206,700 in the metropolitan area. However, the largest city is Saskatoon with around 202,340 inhabitants. There are several national parks in the province, including Grasslands National Park and Prince Albert National Park .