Canada is a beautiful country of incredible landscapes, from towering mountains and endless forests to crystal-clear lakes and vast wildness. As the second-largest country in the entire world, Canada’s land seems endless, offering some of the most breathtaking natural scenery on earth twined alongside vibrant, energetic cities giving it a unique dynamic, also alongside long-standing traditions , including a rich culture.
Community Tips For Canada
Prices shown in shops, menus and online rarely include sales tax. It varies by province, from 5% up to 15%, and only gets added at checkout, so budget for more than the sticker price.
Distances are deceptive. A drive that looks short on a map can take several hours, and services like petrol stations can be genuinely sparse once you’re outside the main city corridors. Worth checking real driving times before planning a route.
Canadian healthcare is not free for visitors. A hospital visit without travel insurance can run into thousands of dollars, so proper cover matters here more than in many countries.
So many less visited places to catch. Try Newfoundland for a truly different experience, including whale watching and a profoundly independent spirit. Direct flights from London during the summer months.
Explore Canada
Toronto
Tipping is not optional here in practice. Most card machines prompt for 15 to 20% automatically, even at takeout counters and coffee shops, so decline the prompt if you’re just grabbing something quick rather than feeling obliged.
If a taxi driver claims the meter is broken, get out and take a different one, or use Uber or Lyft instead. It is a known scam aimed at tourists arriving from the airport or major attractions.
Downtown, Yorkville and the waterfront are safe to walk day or night. Give Jane-Finch a wide berth and take a bit more care around parts of Regent Park and Scarborough if you’re exploring without local knowledge. Winters are properly cold, minus 15 to minus 20 is normal from December to March.
Downtown has an underground walkway system called the PATH connecting most office towers and subway stations, locals use it to avoid the surface streets entirely in deep winter.
Ottawa
Most visitors never leave Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market. Walk 15 minutes to Elgin Street instead where locals tend to eat and drink, especially in the evening.
During Tulip Festival week the city gets far busier than most people expect. Book accommodation early as prices rise sharply even though Ottawa rarely feels crowded the rest of the year.
The Rideau Canal paths are one of the quickest ways to get around the city on foot or by bike. Locals often use them instead of the roads, especially in summer.
If you hear both English and French being spoken in the same conversation, it is completely normal. Many locals switch between the two without thinking.
Vancouver
If the mountains disappear behind cloud in the morning, do not panic. It often clears by lunchtime and the afternoon views are dramatically better.
Granville Island is busiest between late morning and mid afternoon. Arrive before 10am or after 4pm for a much more relaxed experience.
The False Creek Ferries and AquaBus are not just tourist attractions. They are often the quickest and most enjoyable way to move between neighbourhoods.
Locals rarely spend an entire day downtown. They combine places like Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, Commercial Drive or North Vancouver, each with a completely different atmosphere.
Quebec
The streets of Old Quebec are at their quietest before 9am. It is the best time for photos and a much more authentic feel before the tour groups arrive.
Do not underestimate the hills. Walking between the Upper Town and Lower Town several times in one day is far more tiring than it looks on a map.
Many menus are written in French first. Even if you do not speak French, starting with Bonjour almost always results in a warmer welcome.
If you visit during winter, dress for the wind rather than the temperature. The breeze coming off the St Lawrence River can make it feel much colder than the forecast suggests.
