Choose the right cities for your trip.

Known for

• · Lake Louise
• · Moraine Lake
• · Banff Upper Hot Springs
• · Sulphur Mountain Gondola

Top highlights

• Lake Louise— Turquoise glacial water beneath Victoria Glacier.
• Moraine Lake— The valley of the Ten Peaks at first light.
• Sulphur Mountain— Gondola ride to a six-summit panorama.
• Banff Avenue— Galleries, alpine bistros, and the Fairmont silhouette.

Seasonal vibe

Spring:

Wildlife emerges — elk in the valleys, bears on south-facing slopes.

Summer:

Long days, alpine wildflowers, and lake paddles until 10 p.m.

Autumn:

Golden larches blanket Larch Valley for two electric weeks in September.

Winter:

Three ski resorts, ice walks in Johnston Canyon, and snow-quiet streets.

Insider tip

Buy your Parks Canada pass online before you arrive — it skips a 30-minute queue at the gate.

Known for

• · Stanley Park
• · Granville Island
• · Capilano Suspension Bridge
• · Grouse Mountain

Top highlights

• Stanley Park— A 1,000-acre rainforest wrapped by a 9 km seawall.
• Granville Island— Public market, artisan studios, and False Creek ferries.
• Capilano Bridge— A 137 m cedar-plank suspension bridge over a canyon.
• Grouse Mountain— Skyride to alpine views over the city and Salish Sea.

Seasonal vibe

Spring:

Cherry blossoms peak in early April — over 40,000 trees across the city.

Summer:

Beach culture, Bard on the Beach, and 9 p.m. sunsets over English Bay.

Autumn:

Crisp air, mountain larches above the city, and storm-watching season begins.

Winter:

Three local ski hills 30 minutes from downtown — Cypress, Grouse, Seymour.

Insider tip

Rent a bike for the seawall — it's faster, flatter, and quieter on the dedicated lane.

Known for

• · Old Quebec
• · Château Frontenac
• · Plains of Abraham
• · Île d'Orléans

Top highlights

• Château Frontenac— The most photographed hotel on Earth and the city's silhouette.
• Petit-Champlain— The continent's oldest commercial street — boutiques in 17th-century stone.
• Place Royale— The birthplace of French America, restored block by block.
• Plains of Abraham— 98 hectares of urban park above the St. Lawrence.

Seasonal vibe

Spring:

Sugar shacks, sap runs, and the first patios opening in late April.

Summer:

Festival d'été, terraces on Grande Allée, and 10 p.m. sunsets.

Autumn:

Maple-fired colour across Île d'Orléans — peak is the second week of October.

Winter:

Carnaval, the Hôtel de Glace, and tobogganing past the Château Frontenac.

Insider tip

Stay inside the walls — the old city is best experienced before the morning tour buses arrive.