Tourism in Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world! Well-known for its untouched nature, friendly population and unique mix of cultures, Canada is a popular tourist destination : Quebec and Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver or even Calgary and the Rockies… enough to see the country !
Visiting Canada is quite a huge undertaking. More than 5,000 km separate Newfoundland from Victoria, so driving across the country could take 7 to 10 days or more. To get a little idea of the composition of Canada’s territory here is a brief description of its regions and the cities that make it up. :
Quebec is the culturally French-Canadian region (English is not the dominant language), it includes the fascinating cities of Québec City (well-known for its picturesque Old Town and the Château Frontenac) and Montréal, which is the heart of francophone culture in North America as well as the home of some of the most beautiful museums, galleries and festivals. It is the second largest French-speaking city in the world.
The Atlantic Provinces : New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia with Halifax and its port rich in history and architecture in the English colonial style, not to mention the Citadel and Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and Prince Edward Island, a region well known for its Acadian culture and exceptional beauty that lies in the north of Nova Scotia.
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, home to Toronto, Canada’s largest and most multicultural city, as well as Ottawa, Canada’s capital and home to national monuments such as Parliament and many major museums such as the Museum of civilization. Not to be missed : Niagara Falls and the Great Lakes.
British Columbia and its largest city, Vancouver, perhaps one of the most liberal and multicultural cities in North America, is a steel and glass City surrounded by exceptional nature. Don’t forget to visit the gardens of Victoria, the capital of this province, if you have the opportunity.
The Prairies (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan), this region is partly made up of rocky terrain and agricultural plains, then moving westward it becomes mountainous. This region is well known for its ski resorts, especially in the Rocky Mountains. The major cities are Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary.
The North (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon) is probably one of the most remote regions on earth.
Planning your trip to Canada : Transportation and budget
Canada has become an increasingly accessible destination : the price of flights has become relatively affordable and fast, in just seven hours of travel you are in Montreal ! Of course, Canada is huge and if you aim for Vancouver on the Pacific coast it will be a little bit longer. The major cities of the country are connected from Europe, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Vancouver, etc.
If you have enough time, you can consider travelling across Canada’s great open spaces by train: the Trans-Canadian connects Montreal to Vancouver.
There are railways but also roads: the automobile is the Queen in Canada, renting a car is very common in the country. It is an affordable transport solution, knowing that in addition to the price of the rental, gas is also much cheaper than in France.
Another common mode of Transportation: buses, comfortable and punctual, on the other hand they are rather slow and not always donated.
Security in Canada is generally not a problem, even in large cities, violent crime is rare and does not generally affect visitors. Canada’s crime rate is significantly lower than that of the United States and France.
On a daily basis, the budget is quite variable depending on the mode of travel, but overall, Canada is not a particularly cheap destination.
In Canada, there is no difficulty in eating on a small budget, while classic restaurants are about as expensive as in France.
Note however the practice of tips is obligatory, and you’ll be frowned upon if you don’t let the amount proper ! Count about 10 to 15% of the bill in the restaurant, and a dollar per glass in the bars ! Similarly, all Canadian prices are displayed without tax, and it is not always easy to know the final amount of the bill !