Things to Do in Canada
Steal a page from our guided tours to find the best things to do in Canada
July 17, 2026
8 minute read
Key Takeaways
Memorable outdoor experiences include a train tour through the Rockies, standing on a glacier, and Niagara Falls.
Include experiences that connect you with local culture like Indigenous experiences, maple syrup traditions, and local businesses and meals.
Plan your trip (or choose a tour) that combines big experiences with smaller local moments.
Experience Canada Beyond the Highlights
Canada is a great destination for the curious traveller. There are plenty of iconic things to do whether you want to explore mountain peaks, cities, or coastlines, but there are also experiences that invite you to lean in and learn more about Canada’s history and people.
One day you might stand on a glacier in the Rockies and the next you’re learning about local history from an Indigenous guide or getting to know a local artisan.
Drawing on insights from Collette’s tour designers, we’ve created this guide of things to do in Canada that includes top attractions and those lesser-known activities that make Collette tours memorable.
Read on to be inspired or leave the planning to us and explore our guided Canada tours.
1. Take a Train Tour Through the Canadian Rockies
If you’re considering a Canada train tour, the Rockies are a fantastic choice — peaks, lakes, and long mountain valleys are all waiting to be discovered. Watching forests, rivers, waterfalls, and mountain passes unfold outside your train window means you won’t miss a minute of the view trying to keep your eyes on the road.
“The scenery on our tour was some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the area and had a great sense of humour.” — Susan W., traveller on Collette’s Canadian Rockies by Train tour
Canadian Rockies featuring Rocky Mountaineer tour includes so much more than a train ride.
2. Stand on a Glacier
Along the Icefields Parkway, you’ll find the Athabasca Glacier where you can ride an Ice Explorer directly onto the glacier and step out onto the ice or walk on a glass platform suspended over the valley below.
The Icefields Parkway is considered one of the most scenic roads in North America, with mountain overlooks, waterfalls, turquoise lakes, and wildlife sightings along the route between Banff and Jasper.
3. Stay in Historic Places
Turn your accommodations into part of the experience by choosing historic properties. On some of Collette’s Canada tours we stay in places like:
Fairmont Banff Springs — Opened in 1888 and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, this landmark hotel in Banff, Alberta is known as “Canada’s Castle in the Rockies.”
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise — Also developed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 19th century, this historic lakeside hotel helped establish Lake Louise in Alberta as one of Canada’s signature mountain destinations.
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu — This 19th-century manor in La Malbaie, Québec looks like a castle sitting above the St. Lawrence River.
4. Take a Scenic Drive on the Atlantic Coast
Canada’s Atlantic coast includes Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Here you can take routes like Cabot Trail and Fundy Trail where curving coastal roads, lookout points, and harbour towns are filled with places to explore. You can stop in small coastal communities, browse local shops, or enjoy fresh seafood overlooking the water.
Don’t like driving? That’s what guided tours are for. See if our Canadian Maritimes and Coastal Wonders tour is for you.
5. Visit the Gaelic College
Visit the Colaisde na Gàidhlig in Nova Scotia to connect with the region’s culture and history. Here you’ll meet local experts, learn some phrases, and see demonstrations of local traditions. meet local experts, learn some phrases, and see demonstrations of local traditions.
Experiences like this help travellers better understand the deep Scottish and Gaelic influences that still shape parts of Atlantic Canada today. Music, storytelling, language, and craftsmanship all remain important parts of the region’s cultural identity.
6. Visit Niagara Falls
For many travellers, Niagara Falls is the headline moment and one of the main reasons they book a Canada tour. The impact comes from getting close enough to feel the spray and experience the scale of the falls in person, not just seeing them from a distance.
Boat cruises, observation areas, and walking paths all offer different perspectives of the falls, and each experience helps you appreciate the power of the water in a different way.
To round out your day, visit Niagara-on-the-Lake and have lunch at a winery.
7. Take a Thousand Islands Boat Cruise
A Thousand Islands boat cruise is a laid-back sightseeing boat tour where you travel through the islands and take in the scenery from the water. It gives you time to relax down while still seeing one of the many sides of Canada.
The region is known for its small, wooded islands, waterfront homes, historic castles, and peaceful scenery along the St. Lawrence River.
8. Go Whale-Watching
Head out by Zodiac in Charlevoix to search for whales in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Depending on the season, sightings may include humpback whales, belugas, minke whales, and other marine wildlife.
Being on a smaller boat changes the experience from your typical whale watching cruise into more of an adventure.
9. Taste Your Way Through Île d’Orléans
This island just outside Québec City is known for its agricultural traditions. On Collette’s Charms of Quebec small group tour, travellers taste their way through local shops offering cheese, jams, wine, and other seasonal specialties. You meet the producers along the way and get to know the island’s farming culture.
Learn more about the Charms of Quebec small group tour through Montreal, Charlevoix, and Québec City.
10. Connect with Canada’s Indigenous People
Learn directly from the people and communities who have shaped this land for generations. Some of the cultural moments included on select Collette tours include:
At traditional Indigenous lunch at the Huron-Wendat Museum in Wendake, Québec.
Breakfast on the Kahnawake First Nations Reserve in Québec where you can learn about maple traditions.
A visit to the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre in Nova Scotia to learn about Mi’kmaq history, traditions, and legends.
Hearing stories directly from Indigenous communities adds important historical and cultural context to the places travellers visit throughout the country.
Learn more about Collette’s guided tours to Canada and the unique experiences our local designers find and arrange.
11. Visit Local Artisans
Visiting local artisans adds texture to your trip and meaning to your souvenirs. In Canada you can find artists and makers who handcraft paper using traditional methods, emboss copper by hand, or run a lavender farm.
“I appreciated the cultural aspects of visiting with small business owners throughout the region. The small group size was enjoyable.” — Maryellen F., traveller on Collette’s Charms of Quebec small group tour.
12. Chase the Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights is one of those once-in-a-lifetime Canada experiences worth staying up for. On Collette’s Aurora Adventure tour, travellers head to Whitehorse for multiple nights of aurora viewing in the Yukon.
Beyond the Aurora, the Yukon offers experiences like dog mushing, hot springs, and opportunities to learn about Indigenous culture.
FAQs About Things to Do in Canada
What are the most popular things to do in Canada?
The most popular things to do in Canada are experiencing the Canadian Rockies, visiting Niagara Falls, exploring scenic coastal routes, and spending time in historic cities like Québec City and Montréal.
When is the best time to visit Canada?
Late Spring through early fall is ideal for most visits to Canada, but you’ll want to brave that winter weather if Christmas markets or Northern Lights are on your wish list. Read more about how to choose the best time to visit Canada.
Is Canada a good destination for cultural experiences?
Yes — especially if you focus on experiences beyond major landmarks. Opportunities include Indigenous-led tours and heritage experiences, regional food traditions like lobster suppers and maple syrup production, and meeting local artisans. These are the moments that make Collette tours stand out.
Why Choose a Guided Tour to Canada?
Canada is huge, which means lots of things to do, but also some serious logistics to consider. Knowing which experiences will fit on a single trip and how to coordinate them takes experience. And that's where Collette comes in.
With more than 100 years of experience crafting guided tours, we’ve learned a lot about making travel stress free. Our tour designers are travellers like you. They think about pacing, find those hidden gems you’ll wish someone told you about, and use traveller feedback to keep making their tours better and better.
These are the people you want to travel with, and they’ve designed Canada tours that bring you the experiences you want without the stress of figuring out how to get there, where to stay, or if you need to speak French. Explore Collette’s Canada Tours.
