Travelling to Canada in three weeks is a tight but manageable schedule.
Depending on where you’re flying to, starting on either the east or west coast is recommended. Of course, you won’t see it all, but keep reading for the best way to travel to Canada in three weeks.
Flying into Vancouver is a perfect way to start as it is a central international hub. Venture about half an hour out of the city, and you’ll come across Capilano Suspension Bridge, complete with a Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Take a scheduled bus or rent a car and hop the ferry across to beautiful Victoria on Vancouver Island and you’ll find a more relaxed and laid back experience. At a price, you can also rent a seaplane to cross over to Victoria. Spend a night and visit the British Columbia Legislature Building and stroll along the scenic waterfront of the Inner Harbour.
Once back on the mainland, you can take a VIA Rail train heading to Kamloops or rented car east into inner British Columbia and make a stop in Kelowna. I would recommend the vehicle, as it gives you more freedom to explore the breathtaking scenery of BC and onwards to the Rocky Mountains at your leisure.
Kelowna is home to the famous Ogopogo and outstanding Canadian wine. Take a wine tour, or pick and choose wineries at your leisure. Summerhill Winery is a unique vineyard and is renowned for its pyramid-shaped wine cellar.
The drive from here and into the Rocky Mountains is a memorable one. There are several small towns on the way you may wish to stop at or drive right through to Banff National Park.
Banff is a stunning small town within the park wedged between the mountains. While here, walk the main street and browse the many unique shops. Dine at the famous Grizzly House – known for its exotic fondue choices – and spend the evening in the comforting Banff hot springs marvelling at the view. The outdoor enthusiasts can find any activity – hiking, mountain biking, skiing, cave exploring, and even dog sledding (season-dependent options). It is certainly worth taking a couple of days in the mountains.
Mountain beauty in Banff National Park
The prairies of Alberta are next on your journey through Canada. The Heart of the New West features the world-class Calgary Zoo that both children and family will enjoy. Next, explore the small downtown core on foot and see a mixture of museums, buildings old and new, then view it all from the top of the Calgary Tower.
Downtown Calgary in spring
If you are lucky enough to be travelling through during the ten days each year that the Calgary Stampede is on, make sure you spend a day enjoying the wild food, wild rides, expansive exhibitions, and the exciting chuckwagon races.
The Transit system in Toronto is extensive and easy to navigate.
Take a VIA Rail train or your car east towards Toronto, Ontario. This buzzing metropolis is known as the unofficial capital of Canada, thanks in part to its many famous sports teams.
Toronto has many cultural finds such as museums, beaches, parks, and more that can be experienced for free. You can also purchase the highly recommended CityPass for $64CAD. This pass allows you access to the best attractions like the CN Tower, Casa Loma, the Toronto Zoo and more, all for free!
You can settle in here at a hotel and take day trips out as there is much to see in this area.
Next on your list should be Niagara Falls. Known for the magnificent waterfalls, Niagara on the Lake is also a beautiful town. In the summer, many outdoor festivals are held here. The small streets are filled with beautiful old buildings that are architectural gems. Take a thrilling ride into the mist and power of the falls on one of the cruise ships and see the falls up close; it is an experience like no other.
While there, you can stop and taste the top icewine in the world at Niagara’s wineries. Niagara can be a day trip or a place spent overnight, depending on your time constraints.
On your way back from Niagara Falls, you can check out the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at the Hamilton Airport. It hosts many military jets and propeller planes, and a walkthrough would take about 2 hours.
Stunning Niagara Falls
As your trip continues eastward, take some time and see Montreal. Part of the French-speaking province of Quebec, it has a very different feel than the rest of the country. One of the first areas to be settled, the city looks very European, based on its architecture and older buildings. Walk around the streets and visit Notre-Dame Basilica and Old Montreal, which has a lot of French charm. The city is pedestrian and bike-friendly and is filled with museums.
Notre Dame Basilica tour Canada in three weeks
Almost as far east as you can travel in Canada, Saint John on the Bay of Fundy offers both urban attractions along with the coast’s natural beauty. Eat stunning Atlantic lobster in almost any restaurant as you stroll the historic streets with stunning urban architecture.
The Bay of Fundy has a lot to offer for nature lovers – cave exploring at low tide, zip-lining and a majestic nature park. The natural attraction is the hundred billion tons of water that pour in and out of the bay and is a twice-daily phenomenon that shouldn’t be missed.
Hopewell Rocks at the Bay of Fundy
However, you travel to Canada, know that there is so much to be seen. Excited and prepared travellers can certainly see all of Canada in three weeks, spending time on one coast or the other. It is a country where the beauty, people, food, and culture will stay with you for a lifetime.
Hiring a car will enable you to see much more of Canada in three weeks.
Use our car hire search facility, and then you can explore Canada in three weeks.
