The Ultimate Travel Guide to Canada: History & Attractions

The world's second-largest country — Banff's turquoise lakes, Niagara Falls, vibrant Toronto, cosmopolitan Montreal and the raw wilderness of the Yukon.

A Glimpse into History

Canada's human history begins at least 15,000 years ago when Paleo-Indians crossed from Siberia over the Bering Land Bridge, eventually developing into the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who inhabited every region from Pacific rainforests to Arctic tundra. Norse explorer Leif Erikson reached Newfoundland around 1000 AD — the L'Anse aux Meadows settlement is the only confirmed Norse site in North America. European colonisation accelerated after John Cabot's 1497 landing, with France claiming New France along the St. Lawrence and Britain establishing Atlantic colonies. The 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham — where General Wolfe defeated French commander Montcalm outside Québec City — secured British dominance, but the French heritage survived and thrives today in Québec's distinct language and culture. Canada was confederated in 1867 from four provinces, expanding westward through the construction of the transcontinental railway (1885), which also facilitated the suppression of the Métis Red River Rebellion. The 20th century transformed Canada into a multicultural nation through mass immigration from Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, while the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) entrenched civil liberties and official bilingualism. Canada has been wrestling genuinely and imperfectly with its legacy of residential schools for indigenous children, 150,000 of whom were forcibly removed from their families between 1831 and 1998. Modern Canada is consistently ranked among the world's most liveable and welcoming nations.

Top Attractions in Canada

Banff National Park

Canada's first national park (1885) in the heart of the Canadian Rockies contains Lake Louise — an impossibly turquoise glacier-fed lake beneath Victoria Glacier — Moraine Lake with its ten peaks reflection, and the Icefields Parkway, rated one of the world's most scenic drives at 230 km of glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife through the Rockies.

Niagara Falls

The three waterfalls forming Niagara — Horseshoe Falls (53 metres high, 675 metres wide), American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls — collectively carry more water over their crests than any other waterfall in North America. The Hornblower boat tour into the falls' mist and the illuminated night view from the Canadian side are the essential Niagara experiences.

Quebec City — Historic Walled City

The only fortified city north of Mexico in North America — Québec City's UNESCO-listed Old Town is a perfectly preserved slice of 17th-century New France, with the Château Frontenac hotel dominating the cliff above the St. Lawrence River. The Dufferin Terrace boardwalk, the narrow lanes of Petit-Champlain, and the Winter Carnival (February) make Québec City one of North America's most unique and charming cities.

Vancouver & Whistler

Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world's most liveable cities — mountains rising above a Pacific harbour, Stanley Park's ancient Douglas firs, Granville Island's food market, and the multicultural energy of a city where 40% of residents speak English as a second language. Two hours north, Whistler-Blackcomb is North America's largest ski resort.