Canada
North America · CAN
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Canada
Canada is strongest for travelers who want big-distance trips built around cities, national parks, and sharp regional contrast rather than one classic all-country route. It suits summer fly-drive itineraries, winter ski travel, and repeat visits planned one region at a time, whether that means Ottawa and the Rideau Canal, Atlantic heritage sites, or far-north landscapes.
Popular For
Things To See
- Ottawa
- Rideau Canal
- Old Town Lunenburg
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs
- Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
- Tr’ondëk-Klondike
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- June through September is the easiest broad window for general sightseeing, while December through March makes more sense when skiing is part of the trip.
- Canada is better planned one region at a time, since Ottawa, Atlantic heritage stops, and far-north sites do not belong in the same short itinerary.
- A focused gateway-plus-region trip usually lands better than trying to turn the whole country into one itinerary.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Canada.
Guidebooks
Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Canada.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Population
- 41,651,653
- Area
- 9,984,670 km²
- Region
- North America
Languages
- English
- French
Currency
Canadian dollar ($)
CAD
1 USD = 1.36 CAD
Cost of Living (World Bank)
84.0
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 69.6
- Restaurants
- 64.1
- Rent
- 31.5
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Ottawa (45.42°N, 75.70°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
87/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 64/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.939
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.004
- 10-year change
- +0.009
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.991
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.052
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.643
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (22)
- 🏛️
Tr’ondëk-Klondike
Inscribed 2023
- 🌿
Anticosti
Inscribed 2023
- 🏛️
Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi
Inscribed 2019
- 🌍
Pimachiowin Aki
Inscribed 2018
- 🌿
Mistaken Point
Inscribed 2016
- 🏛️
Red Bay Basque Whaling Station
Inscribed 2013
- 🏛️
Landscape of Grand Pré
Inscribed 2012
- 🌿
Joggins Fossil Cliffs
Inscribed 2008
- 🏛️
Rideau Canal
Inscribed 2007
- 🌿
Miguasha National Park
Inscribed 1999
- 🌿
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
Inscribed 1995
- 🏛️
Old Town Lunenburg
Inscribed 1995
- 🌿
Gros Morne National Park
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Historic District of Old Québec
Inscribed 1985
- 🌿
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
Inscribed 1984
- 🌿
Wood Buffalo National Park
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
SGang Gwaay
Inscribed 1981
- 🏛️
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Inscribed 1981
- 🌿
Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
Inscribed 1979
- 🌿
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Inscribed 1979
- 🌿
Nahanni National Park
Inscribed 1978
- 🏛️
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
Inscribed 1978
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 12.9%
- Forest cover
- 39.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 18
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 22
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
10/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
64/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
21/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise normal precautionin Canada. Canada is generally a safe destination for travelers.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data