What is the best time to visit Canada?

The best time to visit Canada depends on your priorities. Many travellers visit year-round, though spring and autumn typically offer pleasant weather and smaller crowds at popular attractions like Niagara Falls. Check weather patterns for Americas before booking.

What currency does Canada use?

Canada uses the Canadian dollar ($). Exchange at banks or airports, and withdraw from ATMs with your debit card. Credit cards are accepted in most tourist areas.

What food should I try in Canada?

Poutine is one of Canada's most iconic dishes. Other must-try foods include Lobster Roll and Tourtière. Eat where locals eat for the best experience.

How many countries can visit Canada visa-free?

1 countries can enter Canada without a visa, typically for up to 180 days. Check the full list and your specific requirements above.

Is Canada safe for tourists?

Canada is generally safe for tourists with normal precautions. As in any country, stay aware of your surroundings, avoid displaying expensive items, and use registered transport. Check current government travel advisories before your trip.

Canada

Canada is a country in North America.

Capital

Ottawa

Language

English, French

Currency

Canadian dollar ($)

Population

41.7M

Timezone

UTC-08:00

Visa-free access

1 countries

Travelling to Canada

Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic.

Canada is located in North America, Americas. The capital is Ottawa, and the official languages are English and French. The local currency is the Canadian dollar ($). With a population of 41.7M, Canada is a mid-sized country in Americas.

Canada requires advance visa applications from the majority of travellers. Just 1 passport holders can enter without a visa for stays up to 180 days. 53 nationalities can apply online through an eVisa portal. Everyone else — 143 countries — must apply at a Canada embassy or consulate.

Top places to visit in Canada

Niagara Falls

Thundering with a flow rate of 2,400 cubic metres per second; the Horseshoe Falls is a colossal arc of jade-coloured water plunging into a limestone abyss; the mist creates a permanent localized rain that drenches the basalt walkways; stand at Table Rock at 7 am when the morning sun ignites a prismatic rainbow against the roar of the cataract before the day-trippers descend.

Vieux-Québec

North America's only fortified city north of Mexico; these 17th-century ramparts enclose a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and the copper-roofed Château Frontenac; the stone walls of the Place Royale retain the soot and scars of the 1759 siege; walk the Petit Champlain at dawn when the yellow streetlamps reflect off the damp granite while the scent of woodsmoke hangs in the cold St. Lawrence air.

Lake Louise

A glacial basin of opaque turquoise water at 1,731 metres elevation; framed by the sheer vertical faces of Mount Victoria and the cracking blue ice of the Lefroy Glacier; the Victoria Glacier sends rhythmic cracks through the mountain silence; arrive at the shoreline at 5 am when the water is a flat sheet of lapis lazuli reflecting the sawtooth peaks in perfect; unmoving symmetry.

CN Tower

A 553-metre concrete needle that redefined the skyline in 1976; the SkyPod offers a view from 447 metres where the grid of Toronto meets the infinite horizon of Lake Ontario; the glass floor panels reveal a vertigo-inducing drop to the city streets below; visit during a summer thunderstorm when lightning strikes the steel mast and the clouds turn a bruised; electric purple over the harbour.

Parliament Hill

The Gothic Revival heart of Canadian democracy; built from Nepean sandstone and crowned with the 92-metre Peace Tower; the Victorian High Gothic library survived the 1916 fire with its ornate hand-carved white oak interior intact; attend the changing of the guard at 10 am; the sound of the carillon bells vibrates through the flagstones while the green-copper roofs oxidise under the intense midday sun.

Stanley Park

A 405-hectare rainforest peninsula where thousand-year-old western red cedars meet the salt spray of the Pacific; the Seawall is a nine-kilometre loop of hand-laid stone protecting the forest from the Burrard Inlet; walk the western edge at dusk when the silhouettes of the totem poles at Brockton Point stand against a slate-grey sky; the air smells of brine and damp cedar mulch.

See all 20 places in Canada →

What to eat in Canada

Explore all Canada dishes →

Canada visa requirements

Visa-free

eVisa / eTA

143

Visa required

Countries that can visit Canada visa-free

1 country can enter without a visa, usually for up to 180 days.

Americas

United States180d

eVisa and eTA for Canada

53 countries can apply online before travelling. Processing typically takes 1–7 business days.

Europe

Asia

Americas

Oceania

Before you go to Canada

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Passport validity

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. Canada immigration may refuse entry otherwise.

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Proof of onward travel

Carry a return or onward flight ticket. Airlines and border officers may ask to see it before allowing you to board or enter.

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Currency: Canadian dollar

The local currency is $. Exchange major currencies at the airport or city banks. ATMs are widely available in urban areas.

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Language: English

English is the primary language. English is spoken in tourist areas and major cities.

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Power & connectivity

Check Canada's plug type and voltage before packing. Buy a local SIM card at the airport for affordable data.

Power plug guide →SIM card guide →

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Check your visa for Canada

Select your passport for an instant result.

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Canada 7-day itinerary

AI-generated day-by-day travel plan.

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Explore Canada

20 places, 6 dishes, and more.

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FAQ · Canada

Canada — your questions

It depends on your passport. 1 countries can enter Canada visa-free. 53 can apply for an eVisa online. Everyone else needs an embassy visa. Use the WorldCurio visa checker for your specific passport.