North America

Canada

My Canada so far is Ontario: a packed 48 hours in Toronto and a few days on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. It's a good fit if you want a city weekend with an easy add-on of waterfalls and wine country.

In Toronto I'd start at Casa Loma, walk over to the Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square, stop at the Hockey Hall of Fame and save the evening for dinner at the 360 Restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. Then I'd drive to Niagara for Journey Behind the Falls, the boat ride from the Canadian side and a slower last day in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

June to September is the easy window for weather. If you're coming from the U.S., bring your passport: you need it to cross into Canada, even for a day trip to the falls.

Know before you go

Best time & quick facts

Best time: June to September offers the best weather for sightseeing and national parks, while December to March is ideal for skiing, winter sports, and viewing the northern lights.
Currency
Language: English, French
Time zones: Multiple time zones across six standard zones: UTC-03:30 to UTC-08:00 (standard) and UTC-02:30 to UTC-07:00 (DST), with regional exceptions in Saskatchewan and Yukon.
Power plugs: Type A / B, 120V
Tap water: Safe to drink
Budget: $120–$260 USD/day
Getting around: Fly between provinces, VIA Rail for the scenic routes, and a rental car for the Rockies; Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver have good transit.
Visa (US citizens): Not required for tourist stays up to 6 months.
Entry requirements on travel.state.gov
Safety: Level 1Exercise normal precautions
US State Dept advisoryUpdated Jun 5, 2026