The world's second-largest country by area — Rocky Mountain national parks, the French culture of Quebec, Toronto's world-class multiculturalism, and the Northern Lights over the Yukon.
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Population
- 41,548,787
- Area
- 9,984,670 km²
- Languages
- English, French
- Currency
- Canadian Dollar (CA$)
- GDP
- $2,225,341M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Kraft Dinner
Annual visitors
32,430,000 (2019)
Safety
Low (1.98/100k)
Big Mac
$5.54
Avg temp
-4.0°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911
Travel guide
Canada is the world's second largest country by area, behind only Russia. Nicknamed the Great White North, Canada is renowned for its vast landscapes of outstanding natural beauty and its multicultural heritage. While there are cosmopolitan cities, much of Canada consists of forests, it has more lakes than any other country and it features the Rocky Mountains, the Prairies, three oceanic coasts and a sparsely populated archipelago extending into the Arctic.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Canada
Best time to visit
Banff and Rocky Mountains: June–September for hiking, December–March for skiing. Toronto and Montreal: May–October. Quebec City winter carnival (January–February) is magical. Northern Lights best September–March in Yukon/NWT.
Visa
US citizens enter visa-free. EU, UK, Australia, and most nationalities need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) — easy online application. Some nationalities require a full tourist visa.
Highlights
Moraine Lake, in Banff National Park is one of the most photographed places in western Canada. This glacier-fed lake is a gorgeous blue-green surrounded by mountains in Alberta. It’s located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks at an elevation of 1,885 meters (6,183 feet). The Rockpile Trail is popular with tourists who snap their photos at its end.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (24)
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Major cities
Toronto
Canada's largest city — a multicultural metropolis with world-class dining, the CN Tower, and vibrant neighborhoods.
Vancouver
Canada's Pacific gateway, combining urban sophistication with mountains, ocean, and Stanley Park.
Montreal
A bilingual city with North America's finest food scene, legendary nightlife, and a distinct Franco-Canadian character.
Quebec City
North America's only walled city north of Mexico — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of cobblestone streets and French culture.