Canada’s 17 Best Sights

Canada is a country that appeals to tourists. On the one hand, like Russia, it has a vast territory with a wide variety of nature – mountains, forests, seashores, rivers and lakes, places with warm and cold climates. On the other hand, in terms of economic and technological development, Canada can rival the nearby United States. Here developed tourism infrastructure, there are many museums, exhibitions and historical sites. The following will tell you what sights are worth seeing first.

Ranking of Canada’s Best Sights

Niagara Falls

Sight rating: 5.0

One of the recognized wonders of the world, Niagara Falls is the first thing to draw a tourist to Canada. This natural landmark lies right near the U.S. border, next to New York State, so it’s easy to get to for those coming from the U.S.

Niagara Falls is one of the widest waterfalls in the world, with a wall of water stretching for almost a kilometer. A huge stream rushes down from a height of 53 meters, creating a noise and rumble audible from afar – not for nothing is the river called Niagara, which means “rumbling water”.

Besides the main one of the Niagara Falls, also called the Canadian or “Horseshoe,” there are two other water streams, the American Falls and the Fates of the Bride. It is already owned by the United States, not Canada. Every second they spurt more than 5,700 cubic meters of water, making it the most powerful complex in North America.

Parliament Buildings in Canada

Rating of the attraction: 4.9

In the heart of Canada’s capital, Ottawa, is a building that resembles an ancient, long-abandoned castle. But it cannot be a medieval legacy, for the knights of those times never set foot on the American mainland. In fact, the structure is not that old – its central block was built in 1860. The architects tried to reproduce the stylistics peculiar to the British Parliament building – partly because Canada was a colony of the United Kingdom until the first half of the 20th century. The building is still teeming with activity, with members of the Canadian government meeting there.

The structure has its own precise and exact composition. From the central pillar with a big clock, pointed towers bend symmetrically. The Peace Tower at the front came into being after World War I and is dedicated to the memory of fallen Canadian soldiers. An eternal flame surrounds Parliament Square and the coats of arms of the Canadian provinces, symbolizing the country’s unity.

Frontenac Castle

Rating of the attraction: 4.8

Another building with a similar architecture to that of the Middle Ages (Châteauneuf style) can be found in Québec City. Frontenac Castle was built in 1893 and designed by American architect Bruce Price. Somewhat later, an imposing rectangular central tower emerged, towering above the other structures. The entire structure was completed by 1926.

The castle stands on the high bank of the St. Lawrence River. Inside is a hotel. Thanks to the fact that Cape Diamant, on which the building is placed, rises noticeably above the city, the occupants of the rooms can admire a magnificent panorama of Quebec City. In 1943, the Quebec Conference was held here and the hotel housed, among others, Roosevelt and Churchill.

The Chateau Frontenac hotel, housed in the chateau, is considered one of the most photographed hotels in the world.

Casa Loma Castle

Rating of the attraction: 4.8

Tourists who find themselves in Toronto should visit the neo-Gothic Casa Loma Castle. This landmark was built in the early 20th century, before World War I. The owner of the structure at the time was businessman Sir Henry Pellat, who built the castle as his dream dwelling. The name Casa Loma simply means “house on the hill.

The construction was never completed because of the war, although the structure still looks grand in its unfinished state. In the post-war years, Henry Pellat became noticeably poorer, and in 1923 he had to sell the castle and return to his farm. It was then used as an inn and then as a playground. But due to the high cost of maintenance, no “business” has ever been able to make Casa Loma at least a break-even asset. In 1933, the castle passed into the ownership of the city government, and since then Casa Loma has been open to tourists as a Toronto landmark.

National Gallery of Canada

Rating of the attraction: 4.7

Another Ottawa attraction – National Gallery of Canada. Founded in 1880, this is the country’s largest art museum, housing Canadian and European works of art – paintings, sculptures, and photographs. The gallery changed locations several times over the years until they put it up in its own building, where it is today.

The museum contains more than 93 thousand different works. Here you can find both paintings and sculptures of historical value – dating back to the XV century and earlier – and works of modern art. You’ll also find artwork by indigenous people from across the continent, as well as by smaller peoples from around the world. After visiting the gallery you can relax in the restaurant located there. Overlooking the Ottawa River and Parliament House.

National Gallery of Canada should definitely not be recommended for arachnophobes. In front of the entrance is the sculpture “Mama” by Louise Bourgeois, which resembles a huge spider.

Wood Buffalo National Park

Landmark Rating: 4.7

This natural attraction is located in Alberta province and is a protected area with coniferous and mixed forests. In the northern part is a tundra sparse forest. The main purpose of the park is to protect the bison population. Now their number is about 5,000. In addition to them, the park is home to caribou deer, wolves, hares and other forest dwellers, as well as pelicans and cranes.

Despite the fact that the area is a nature reserve, the park has a well-developed tourist infrastructure, 36 sites for stopping tourists with tents. To accommodate on any of them, you need a permission obtained in advance. There are automobile and hiking trails that can be visited at any time of the year. Among the places worth seeing in the park is the longest beaver dam in the world, 850 meters long.

Great Lakes

Rating of the attraction: 4.7

On the border between the United States and Canada lies a large lake system which rivals in volume of fresh water Lake Baikal or the Great Lakes of Africa. The five main bodies of water are the Upper, Guron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario. These are usually the only ones called the Great Lakes proper. There are smaller bodies of water. All the lakes are connected by rivers and straits; that’s why the water in them is kept at the same level, following the communicating vessel principle.

The lakes appeared about 100 thousand years ago, after the end of the ice age. The glacier melted, and the water rushed into the indentations in the Earth’s crust that it had pressed through. Now the reverse process is happening-the Earth’s surface is rising, returning to its pre-glacial form. This happens more rapidly in the northern part of the lake system, because the southern lakes lie lower than the northern ones and the surrounding areas in the south are gradually flooded.

All lakes are open to navigation and visited by many tourists. Diving, swimming, sailing, and water-skiing activities take place here. There are also protected areas, closed to the public. Erie and Ontario are connected by the Niagara River, which is where the famous waterfall belongs.

Royal Ontario Museum

Rating of the attraction: 4.6

Located in Toronto, the museum immediately catches the eye because of its unusual “crystal” shape. Inside, visitors can find collections of dinosaurs, art from Africa and the Middle East, and historical exhibits from Canada and Europe. More than 6 million objects are housed in the building.

The museum was founded in 1857. Until 1968, it belonged to the University of Toronto; it later became an independent entity, but it retains ties to the school. University staff members often help with guided tours, and they also use the museum’s resources for research.

Next to the museum is a scenic trail called the Philosopher’s Path. You can walk to Trinity College, several University of Toronto faculties and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Underground City

Rating of the sight: 4.5

The Underground City is a pedestrian zone in Montreal. It’s under the earth’s surface and stretches for 30 kilometers. From here you can get to any of the subway stations. The Underground City has over a thousand stores, as well as many restaurants and cinemas. Its layout is an example of modern engineering.

In addition to the subway, there are buses and coaches, just like above ground. Many go down into the underground city just to avoid the traffic jams that are more common on the surface. There are offices where people go to work and hotels to stay in. With so many underground roads and so few landmarks it is easy to get lost, so tourists had better memorize their routes.

About half a million people visit the Underground City every day. But it doesn’t look crowded – there are quiet nooks and crannies.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Rating of the attraction: 4.5

Tourists visiting Vancouver should walk over the bridge suspended over the Capilano River. It was built back in 1899, designed by Scottish engineer George Grand McCain. The bridge had a utilitarian function at the time, connecting villages on opposite sides of the river. Now there is no longer a need for it, and the bridge exists only as a tourist attraction.

The bridge is more than 130 metres long and overlooks the water at a height of 70 metres. From this height it looks as if the full-flowing Capilano River is just a thin stream. The unusual feeling comes not only from the height, but also from the forest around, which surrounds the traveler walking across the bridge. For the safety of the crossing there are railings and metal fence on both sides.

After the passage you can have a lunch in a small restaurant on one of the banks, or you can admire the view from one of the several fenced observation decks, located near the bridge.

Gastown

Rating of the attraction: 4.5

Gastown is a small historic district in downtown Vancouver. The town still bears a resemblance to how it looked in Victorian times. The main attraction of this place is a steam clock, the deafening sound of which is heard every 15 minutes, and every hour they emit a cloud of steam. Gastown is bustling with visitors and bustling with hotels and restaurants in the narrow streets.

The history of the origin of the name of this place is interesting. The neighborhood’s first resident, Jack Dayton, had the nickname “Gassy,” meaning “chatterbox.”. He was famous for the long monologues that happened to be heard by those who happened to be near where he lived. Soon the area around his home became known as “Gastown.”. Now a Daytona article has been installed in the area, which, like the steam clock, attracts tourists.

Another place worth visiting in Gastown is the Police Museum. There are samples of old counterfeit coins, firearms and other weapons, long unsolved cases. You can see what police work was like in bygone centuries.

Habitat 67

Rating of the attraction: 4.4

Habitat 67 is a residential complex in Montreal built in 1967. The appearance of the structure is unusual and peculiar – it is made up of individual cubes-apartments, intricately connected in such a way that most of them hang in the air. There are 146 apartments in all, and many have roof gardens belonging to the neighbors above.

Originally Habitat 67 was the thesis project of a young architect, Moshe Sadfi. The project was presented at a world exhibition and was unexpectedly a huge success. By design, the building was intended to be not only original-looking, but comfortable to live in and affordable. The latter could not be achieved – because of the enormous popularity of the house the price of apartments here is quite high.

Habitat 67 is a true monument to the “brutalist” architectural style that originated in postwar Britain. There aren’t many buildings left in this design, and most of them are in the U.K.

Banff National Park

Attraction Rating: 4.4

Banff is another Alberta national park, the oldest in the country – it was created back in 1885. Located in a mountainous area, the park has many glaciers, alpine meadows, and dense coniferous forest. At the center is a resort town, also bearing the name Banff, where many hotels have been built. There are on the territory of the park and the villages where the locals live.

In the park you can see many wild animals living in natural conditions – bears, cougars, deer, wolves, various birds. Tourists usually view them through binoculars. Sulfur springs gush out of the ground in some places and are believed to be therapeutic. There are golf courses, skiing trails, rafting trails. For those tourists who are tired after active rest they can take a steam in an old Canadian bath which was built in 1887.

Vancouver Aquarium

Rating of the attraction: 4.3

Vancouver’s Stanley Park is home to Canada’s oldest aquarium, opened in 1956. There are many exhibitions devoted to nature from around the globe: the North American coast, African rivers and even rainforests. The aquatic enclosures are home to dolphins, seals and sharks, and many other aquatic mammals and fish. There’s also a place where tropical butterflies fly freely.

Visitors are accompanied by guides who are ready to tell you about any kind of animal that inhabits this area. Many of the people who work in the park are naturalists who study aquatic animals and are able to share their knowledge with visitors. Not only adults but also children will find it interesting here – after observing the animals they can rest on specially equipped playgrounds. Play areas are also linked to marine life. So while having fun, the child is not “left out” of the study of fish and other aquatic creatures.

Toronto Zoo

Rating of the attraction: 4.3

Zoo, located in Toronto, is one of the three largest zoos in the world, covering an area of 300 hectares. The place where it’s located is called Red Valley. Tourists can see about 5,000 different mammals, birds and other animals in the zoo, and with fish and invertebrates there are 18,000 species.

The zoo hosts animals from all natural zones and continents – monkeys and parrots, flamingos and hummingbirds, ostriches, forest dwellers, polar bears and penguins. The animals have been provided with near-natural conditions, such as temperature, humidity and food. There is also a large aquarium that mimics part of the Great Barrier Reef. To walk around and see all this diversity, you need to walk about 10 kilometers. That’s why a small train – the petmobile – runs through the zoo, allowing you to get through all the trails faster.

In addition to the zoo itself, there is a dinosaur exhibit. It is an opportunity to learn more about the animals that inhabited the Earth in earlier geological eras.

A Thousand Islands

Attraction Rating: 4.3

The Thousand Islands Park is located in Ontario, between the towns of Brockville and Kingston. It is an area of about 2000 square kilometers of water, where a great number of green islands of different shapes and sizes pervade the surface. The total number of them no one has counted, the name was given conventionally.

The islands vary in size, with some being larger than a soccer field, and others barely big enough for one person. These areas of land have special flora and fauna. Some islands are inhabited – cottages are built on them where families live permanently. Others are visited only by tourists, who are numerous here, as there are many excursion programs on the water park.

There you can also visit the Antique Ships Museum and the Singer Corporation Castle (the one that makes sewing machines), which is now open for tourists.

Château-Laurier

Rating of the sight: 4.3

The Chateau Laurier is an old hotel in Ottawa that opened in 1912. The exterior of the building resembles a chateau. The name, which means “Chateau Laurier” in French, was chosen after Wilfrid Laurier, then-Prime Minister of Canada. It was he who provided the right plot of land to build.

The grand opening of the château-hotel was marked by another, darker event: the sinking of the Titanic, with some of its passengers rushing to Château-Laurier. It had its greatest popularity in the 1920s, when it had no competitors. But even today it is considered Ottawa’s finest hotel.

Not far from Chateau Laurier are other sights of the Canadian capital – National Gallery, Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, Bayouard Market. Representatives of the Canadian government and foreign guests often hold meetings in the hotel.

Notre Dame de Montreal Basilica

Rating of the attraction: 4.2

The building is made up of two high pointed towers connected by a lower lintel. Built in the early 19th century, replacing the small wooden church, which could no longer accommodate all the worshippers. The style of the cathedral is neo-Gothic, the towers have an austere and ascetic appearance, and have their own names – Restraint and Perseverance. They serve as bell towers. Also inside the basilica is a pipe organ, one of the largest in the world.

In 200 years of its existence, the basilica has not changed much. The gilded sculptures still decorate it. The gray stone that lined the walls of the building and the area around it is cracked and weathered, giving the cathedral an extra touch of antiquity. Inside is a vault of blue covered with stars of pure gold.

The only thing that has changed is the chapel. In 1978 a fire broke out in it. Although the flames were extinguished, the interior of the chapel was irretrievably destroyed. It has, of course, been restored – but the changes were too great compared to its historic appearance.