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Canada's Top 5 Destinations in 2025

Our Canadian Insiders are local travel experts who love helping visitors explore Canada. Since 1996, our team has planned more than 25,000 personalized itineraries. Using our extensive knowledge from our own travels, we're sharing our favourite places to experience the unique wonders of Canada in 2025.

Wondering about the best hotels, activities and hidden gems? From March 12 to April 16, check back each week as we share our Insider Guides to the Top 5 destinations in Canada for 2025. From charming mountain towns to vibrant big cities, we’ll show you what we love about Canada and get you inspired for your Canadian train vacation.

April 9: our Insider Guide to Halifax in 2025
April 2: our Insider Guide to Toronto in 2025
March 26: our Insider Guide to Jasper in 2025
March 19: our Insider Guide to Vancouver in 2025
March 12: our Insider Guide to Banff in 2025

Beautiful sunny sunset with a magnificent landscape view of the trees, ocean and the Seawall coast.

See Our Top 5 Destinations in Canada for 2025

Discover the best of Canada

Banff

The heart of the Canadian Rockies

See trips to Banff

Killer whale leaping out of sea with foggy background of mountains and trees.

Vancouver

Where the mountains meet the ocean

See trips to Vancouver

A very large bull elk walking across a small ridge in a brownish-green meadow with snow covered mountains filling the background

Jasper

Untamed wilderness in the Canadian Rockies

See trips to Jasper

Toronto

One of the world's most diverse cities

See trips to Toronto

Lighthouse on top of a rocky cove with seagulls sitting and the waves splashing against the shoreline.

Halifax

A charming coastal city

See trips to Halifax

Featured Trips to Canada's Top Destinations

Taking the train across Canada is the best way to see the country's highlights — incredible wildlife, breathtaking scenery, historic landmarks, and more.

Aerial view of Halifax towards the ocean on a sunny day

Halifax, a charming coastal city

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, sits on the East Coast of Canada near the Atlantic Ocean. This charming city has a rich nautical history, mixed cultural heritage, and vibrant culinary scene. Taste fresh lobster, listen to fiddle music, sip local beer, and embrace the laid-back seaside atmosphere.

Best for: Coastal views, history and culture, seafood

Did you know? The Halifax boardwalk stretches for four kilometres (2.5 miles) along the waterfront. It's one of the world's longest urban boardwalks!

A must-visit province: Travel and Leisure included Nova Scotia in their list of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2025.

Explore Halifax in 2025

VIA Rail train traveling on coast away from the city.

How to get there

Halifax Stanfield International Airport is the main airport for Nova Scotia. Many airlines fly direct or non-direct to Halifax from Boston, Chicago, New York, Fort Lauderdale, and other cities in the US, Canada and Europe.

Want to combine your visit to Halifax with a trip to Quebec? Take VIA Rail’s Ocean train, a sleeper train that stops at various destinations in Quebec and the Maritime provinces.

A king room with bespoke furnishings at the Muir Halifax hotel

Where to stay

Located in the heart of downtown, Muir Hotel is a deluxe property with sweeping waterfront views and a luxury wellness facility, private art gallery, speakeasy bar, and upscale dining options.

With floor-to-ceiling windows and an elegant nautical theme, The Sutton Place Hotel is another brilliant accommodation option in Halifax.

People walking on the Halifax Waterfront near Cable Wharf

When to go

The best time to visit Halifax is from May to October, with the warmest months being July and August. Enjoy waterfront walks, drinks on patios, day trips to beaches and lighthouses, whale watching, and more.

Amazing festivals take place during these months, including the Halifax Jazz Festival, Halifax Busker Festival, and the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.

People sharing shellfish like calms, crab and shrimp around a wooden table that showcase hands serving the meal

Where to eat and drink

With a city so close to the ocean, you'd expect seafood to play a starring role here when it comes to dining. And guess what — you'd be right! In addition to excellent seafood, dining options in Halifax feature a wide range of cuisines.

For the best seafood in town, we recommend dinner at The 5 Fishermen Restaurant. Craving craft beer and stellar sandwiches? Head to Stillwell. While Matadora Tapas Bar offers Spanish flavours, The Bicycle Thief is a top spot for waterfront views and Italian cuisine.

Recommended experiences in Halifax

Lighthouse on rocky shoreline at sunset with an orange-blue sky in the background..

Peggy's Cove - picture-perfect fishing village

Discover the picturesque fishing village of Peggy’s Cove and see the famous Peggy's Point Lighthouse, one of the most photographed spots in Canada. Watch surging waves crash against the rocks and take in the spectacular views.

Tall Ship Silva in front of Downtown Halifax

Tall Ship Sailing Cruise - coastline views

Cruise Halifax Harbour on the Tall Ship Silva, a 130’ schooner. Departing from downtown Halifax, set sail for a mariner’s view of Halifax’s biggest attractions. Get involved and hoist the sails, a truly unique experience aboard this ship.

Le Caveau at Domaine de Grand Pre Vineyard in Nova Scotia

Annapolis Valley Tour - incredible wineries

Explore the highlights of the Annapolis Valley, one of Nova Scotia's wine regions, on a guided tour from Halifax. Learn about aromatic whites, cool-climate reds and award-winning traditional-method sparkling wines. No visit to Nova Scotia would be complete without tasting a Tidal Bay wine, the province's signature blend.

Couple walking through the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Small Group Walking Tour - best of the city

Discover one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian garden in North America, explore the Citadel National Historic Site and Citadel Hill, where Halifax’s first settlers built their homes, and meander along the waterfront to visit the Maritime Museum.

Birdwatching in Halifax
If you're in Halifax between June and October, make sure you walk through the Halifax Public Gardens — an underrated birdwatching spot. See great blue herons, belted kingfishers, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and more!

Hannah Poaros-McDermott
Travel Writer and Senior Content Coordinator

A small group of people watch the sunset over the Toronto Skyline

Toronto, one of the world's most diverse cities

Toronto, Canada's largest city and one of the country's most multicultural places, buzzes with lively energy. From iconic landmarks and waterfront views to world-class entertainment and historic neighbourhoods, there's so much to explore.

Best for: Fine dining, museums, entertainment, shopping

Good to know: Toronto is perfect for sports fans! There are professional teams playing ice hockey, basketball, baseball, and more.

"Toronto is Canada’s city of superlatives: the most populous, the most diverse, the most complex."
Condé Nast Traveller, 30 Best Things to do in Toronto