Canada

Welcoming immigration policies, stunning nature, and consistently high quality-of-life rankings.

North America

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Traveler Snapshot: Canada

A quick reference for planning your trip: visas, weather, health, and the essentials.

Visa & Entry

For US passport holders

eTA (electronic travel authorization) required for air travel for UK, EU, Australia; US citizens exempt. Visa-free stays up to 6 months.

Weather & Climate

Mostly cold winters well below 32°F (0°C) and warm summers 68-86°F (20-30°C). Coastal BC is milder and wetter.

Best Time to Visit

June–September for warm weather; December–March for winter sports.

Health & Vaccinations

No special vaccines required. Keep routine vaccinations current.

Safety

Very safe with low crime. Prepare for extreme winter weather and wildlife in rural areas.

Fast Facts

Capital: Ottawa
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
Languages: English, French
Time zone: UTC−3.5 (Newfoundland) to UTC−8 (Pacific)
Power: Type A/B plugs, 120V
Emergency: 911

Visa and entry notes here are written for US passport holders on typical short-stay tourism. Requirements vary by nationality, so if you hold a different passport your rules may differ. Guidance can change frequently. Always confirm current requirements with the official embassy, consulate, or a licensed travel-health provider before you travel.

Top Destinations in Canada

5 featured cities to explore

Calgary

Alberta's gateway to the Rockies, blending prairie energy with mountain access and a growing tech scene.

1-bed rent from $1350/mo

Calgary has a semi-arid continental climate with cold, dry winters and warm summers. Chinook winds can raise winter temperatures by 15 to 20 degrees Celsius in hours. Summer highs average around 23 C, and winter lows can drop below minus 20 C.

Safety: Very Safe

Explore Calgary

Montreal

A bilingual island city where French Canadian heritage, creative energy, and affordable urban living come together.

1-bed rent from $1250/mo

Montreal has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Winter temperatures regularly drop below minus 15 C, and summers reach 28 to 32 C. Spring and fall are pleasant but short.

Safety: Very Safe

Explore Montreal

Quebec City

North America's only walled city, fiercely French and beautifully preserved

1-bed rent from $880/mo

Humid continental with very cold snowy winters and warm pleasant summers

Safety: Very Safe

Explore Quebec City

Toronto

Skyline, streetcars, and the world on one waterfront

1-bed rent from $1850/mo

Toronto has four real seasons. Summers are warm to hot and humid, while winters are cold with snow, though generally milder than cities deeper inland like Ottawa or Winnipeg.

Safety: Generally Safe

Explore Toronto

Vancouver

Mountains, ocean, and rainforest around a dense Pacific city with Canada's mildest weather and strongest Asian connections.

1-bed rent from $1950/mo

Vancouver has an oceanic climate with mild, very wet winters that rarely freeze and warm, dry, comfortable summers. Expect long grey stretches from November to March and near-perfect weather in July and August.

Safety: Very Safe

Explore Vancouver

Scenic Routes

Iconic drives in Canada

Legendary road trips worth building a trip around, with tolls, timing, and the stops that make them special.

All scenic routes

North America

Moderate

Cabot Trail

A loop around the highlands of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, climbing coastal headlands above the Atlantic and Gulf of St. Lawrence, unforgettable in autumn.

185 mi3 daysToll-free

View route guide

North America

Easy

Icefields Parkway

A 232-km highway through the heart of the Canadian Rockies connecting Lake Louise and Jasper, passing glaciers, turquoise lakes, waterfalls and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on Earth.

144 mi2 daysTolls apply

View route guide

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