- Vancouver and Banff pair well on a western trip; Toronto and Niagara Falls on an eastern one
- Direct flights from London take about 8h to Toronto and under 10h to Vancouver or Calgary
- British visitors flying in need an eTA, applied for online before travel
- Distances are huge, so pick one region rather than trying to see it all
- Airports
- Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC), Montréal-Trudeau (YUL)
- Flight time
- about 8h direct from London to Toronto, 9h45 to Vancouver
- Best time to go
- June-September for the Rockies and cities; December-March for skiing; late September-October for autumn colour
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CA$)
Canada is the second-largest country in the world, and the scale is the point. You can spend a morning in a cosmopolitan city and be walking beside a glacier-fed lake by the afternoon, see bears and whales on the same trip, or ski powder in the Rockies a long flight from home but with no language barrier and a familiar feel. For UK travellers it is one of the easiest long-haul destinations, with direct flights and English widely spoken.
The catch is distance. Vancouver to Toronto is a four-and-a-half-hour flight, so most first trips focus on one side of the country. This guide, one of our North America guides, covers where to go, when to travel, how to get there and what it costs in 2026. If you are combining Canada with a trip south of the border, see our USA guide.
Where to go in Canada
Vancouver and British Columbia
Vancouver is a city with mountains on one side and the Pacific on the other. Cycle the seawall around Stanley Park, eat your way round Granville Island and take the ferry to Vancouver Island for whale watching and the pretty capital, Victoria. The Sea to Sky Highway north to Whistler is one of the great short drives.
Banff and the Rockies
Banff National Park is the Canada of postcards: turquoise lakes, jagged peaks and elk wandering through town. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the headline sights, and the Icefields Parkway to Jasper is one of the world's best road trips. Fly into Calgary, about 90 minutes' drive away. Banff, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village also make a serious winter ski destination.
Toronto and Niagara Falls
Toronto is Canada's biggest city, with a lively food scene, the CN Tower and good galleries. Most visitors add a day trip to Niagara Falls, around 90 minutes away by road, where the Canadian side gives the best view of the Horseshoe Falls. New York is about an hour's flight away for a two-centre trip.
Montréal and Québec City
French-speaking Québec feels like a different country. Montréal has a buzzing café and festival culture, while walled Québec City is the most European-looking place in North America and especially atmospheric at its winter carnival.
Wilderness and the Maritimes
For autumn colour, Ontario's Algonquin Park and the eastern townships are spectacular in late September and early October. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland offer lobster suppers, lighthouses and icebergs in late spring, while Churchill in Manitoba is famous for polar bears in October and November.
Best time to visit Canada
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (April-May) | Thawing out; some mountain roads and trails still snowbound, lower prices |
| Summer (June-August) | Warm, long days, everything open; peak prices and busy national parks |
| Autumn (September-October) | Spectacular colour in the east, quieter parks, cooler nights |
| Winter (November-March) | Very cold away from the west coast; excellent skiing and winter festivals |
June to September is the best all-round window for the Rockies and cities. Late September is a sweet spot: fewer crowds, golden larches in Banff and red maples in the east.
Hotels in Banff and Lake Louise fill months ahead for July and August. Book accommodation first, then flights.
Getting to Canada from the UK
Direct flights run from London Heathrow and Gatwick to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montréal and several other cities, with Air Canada, British Airways, WestJet and Air Transat among the carriers. Expect about 8 hours to Toronto, about 7 hours to Montréal, around 9 hours to Calgary and about 9h45 to Vancouver. Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh also have direct routes to Toronto, some seasonal.
Entry requirements
British passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to six months, but if you are flying to or transiting through Canada you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before you board. Apply on the official Government of Canada website, where it costs a few Canadian dollars; ignore third-party sites charging far more. Rules change, so check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Canada before you book.
Getting around
Domestic flights are the only practical way to cross the country. Within a region, a hire car gives the most freedom, especially in the Rockies, and driving is on the right. VIA Rail links Toronto, Montréal and Québec City, and the scenic Rocky Mountaineer and VIA's long-distance trains are experiences in themselves rather than cheap transport. Cities have good public transport, and Vancouver's SkyTrain runs straight from the airport.
Money and costs
Canada uses the Canadian dollar. Prices are broadly similar to the UK, with Vancouver and Banff at the expensive end, particularly for summer hotels. A mid-range couple should budget about CA$300-450 a day including accommodation. Sales tax is added at the till rather than shown on the price tag, and tipping is expected: around 15-20% in restaurants and bars, and a couple of dollars per drink. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. National parks charge a daily entry fee, or buy a Parks Canada Discovery Pass if you are visiting several.
Top attractions in Canada
Canada on the map
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Canada from the UK?
No visa is needed for tourism, but you need an eTA if you are flying in. Most applications are approved within minutes, though some take longer, so apply as soon as you book your flights.
How long is the flight from the UK to Canada?
About 8 hours direct from London to Toronto, around 7 hours to Montréal and just under 10 hours to Vancouver. The return is usually an hour or so quicker.
Can I see Vancouver and Banff on one trip?
Yes, and it is a classic itinerary. Fly into Vancouver and out of Calgary, or link them with a scenic train or a two-day drive through British Columbia. Allow at least ten days.
When is the cheapest time to visit Canada?
Spring and late autumn, outside school holidays, usually bring the lowest flight and hotel prices. Winter is cheap in the cities but peak season in ski resorts.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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