Canada
North America · Ottawa · CA
Canada occupies the northern half of North America, stretching from the Atlantic's rocky maritime provinces to the Pacific's ancient rainforests and up into the Arctic archipelago where polar bears outnumber people. It is the second-largest country on earth by area, yet its population clusters along a narrow southern band, leaving vast wilderness regions almost entirely undisturbed. The landscape shifts dramatically between regions: Maritime provinces offer lobster-lined harbours and red sandstone cliffs, the Prairies roll in golden wheat fields beneath enormous skies, and the Rocky Mountains rise in jagged, glacier-capped peaks along the western spine. Indigenous cultures have shaped the land for millennia, and their art, language, and stewardship remain deeply embedded in Canadian identity. From the French patois of Quebec's cobblestone streets to the Inuit communities of Nunavut, Canada's strength lies in its regional diversity rather than any single national narrative.
Overview
Canada is a country in North America. Its capital is Ottawa and the international dialling code is +1. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English and French. Local currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). Our guide covers 4 airports, including Calgary International Airport, Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport. We also list 5 cities in Canada: Ottawa, Calgary and Montreal and more.
The Canadian Rockies and Their Glacial Lakes
The Canadian Rockies stretch through Alberta and British Columbia as a wall of limestone and shale peaks, many exceeding eleven thousand feet and crowned with receding glaciers that feed rivers flowing to three different oceans. Lake Louise, framed by the Victoria Glacier, reflects a shade of turquoise so vivid it appears artificially coloured, yet the colour comes naturally from suspended rock flour deposited by glacial melt. Nearby Moraine Lake sits in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, its surface mirroring jagged summits that have attracted landscape painters since the nineteenth century. The Icefields Parkway, a 145-mile highway between Jasper and Lake Louise, is regularly cited as one of the most scenic drives on the planet, passing the Columbia Icefield where visitors can walk on a glacier that is over ten thousand years old.
Quebec City's European Character
Quebec City is the only walled city north of Mexico, and stepping through its gates feels like arriving in a small French provincial town transplanted to the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The cobblestone streets of the Upper Town wind past the Chateau Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world, whose copper turrets rise above the river like a fairy tale illustration. In the Lower Town, artisan workshops produce maple products, hand-thrown pottery, and traditional ice cider pressed from apples frozen on the branch. The winter Carnival, held annually since 1955, transforms the city into a playground of ice sculptures, night parades, and outdoor revelry despite temperatures that regularly plunge well below freezing. French remains the dominant language, and the city's café culture, boulangeries, and patisseries reinforce an atmosphere that feels genuinely distinct from the rest of North America.
Maritime Provinces and Coastal Heritage
Canada's Maritime provinces — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island — share a deep connection to the Atlantic Ocean that defines every aspect of daily life. Nova Scotia's Cabot Trail winds along dramatic sea cliffs where humpback whales breach within sight of the road, while Peggy's Cove attracts photographers to its iconic lighthouse perched on enormous granite boulders. Prince Edward Island's red sandstone shores and rolling farmland inspired the setting of Anne of Green Gables, and visitors can still trace the landscapes Lucy Maud Montgomery described. In New Brunswick, the Bay of Fundy experiences the highest tidal range on earth, with water levels rising and falling as much as fifty-three feet twice daily. Lobster suppers, fiddle music, and the lingering rhythms of fishing communities give these provinces a warmth and rootedness that feels increasingly rare in a fast-moving world.
Vancouver Island's Wild West Coast
Vancouver Island stretches 300 miles off the coast of British Columbia, and its western shore remains one of the wildest coastal landscapes in North America. Tofino, a small surf town at the island's far end, draws wave riders year-round to its cold-water breaks, while the surrounding Pacific Rim National Park Reserve protects ancient temperate rainforest where Sitka spruce and western red cedar grow to staggering proportions. The island's north is home to orca populations that gather in the summer months to feed on salmon runs, and kayak tours from Johnstone Strait offer intimate encounters with pods of residents and transients alike. Barkerville, a restored gold rush town in the Cariboo Mountains, recalls the eighteen-sixties rush that drew fortune seekers from around the world. The island's mild climate, lush gardens, and slower pace make it a world apart from the mainland.
Indigenous Art and Cultural Traditions
Indigenous peoples have lived in what is now Canada for over fifteen thousand years, and their artistic and cultural traditions remain a living, evolving presence rather than a historical curiosity. Northwest Coast nations such as the Haida, Tlingit, and Kwakwaka'wakw produced monumental cedar carvings — totem poles, masks, and house screens — that rank among the most sophisticated artistic achievements of any culture on earth. The totem poles of Haida Gwaii, an archipelago off British Columbia's north coast, stand in weathered forest groves telling clan histories through stylized animal forms. In the Prairies and Arctic, beadwork, quillwork, and sinew-sewn clothing reflect traditions adapted to radically different environments. Contemporary Indigenous artists across Canada have built a thriving modern art scene, using photography, glass, bronze, and mixed media to explore identity, land, and history with unflinching honesty.
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- Capital
- Ottawa
- Currency
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Languages
- English, French
- Calling code
- +1
- Internet TLD
- ca
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Canada.
Which nationalities can enter Canada?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (4)
All airports →Cities (5)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Canada?
For the origins we track, Canada requires a visa for tourism (Australia: e-visa, France: e-visa, Germany: e-visa, India: visa required and Italy: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Canada?
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and the country sits in North America.
What currency is used in Canada?
You pay with Canadian Dollar (CAD) in Canada. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Canada?
The languages we list for Canada are English and French. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Canada?
The dialling code for Canada is +1 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Canada?
We cover 4 airports for Canada, including Calgary International Airport (YYC), Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) — and 1 more.
Which cities in Canada do you cover?
Our guide lists 5 cities for Canada: Ottawa (capital), Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.