15 Days in Canada - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Road Trip Across Ontario & Québec: Toronto, Niagara Falls, Gananoque, Montréal, Québec City & Ottawa

This classic road trip across Ontario and Québec takes you on a grand tour from Toronto to as far as Québec City. You'll enjoy dinner at the top of the CN Tower and fly in a helicopter over Niagara Falls. Other highlights include whale watching in Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, an amphibious bus tour of Ottawa's Rideau Canal, and a guided tour of a maple sugar shack outside of Montréal. Along the way, you'll also have the chance to visit smaller towns like Gananoque and Niagara-on-the-Lake and spend time in charming Québec City.

Begin in Toronto, Ontario, to explore the buzzy Kensington neighborhood and the Distillery District and enjoy dinner atop the CN Tower. You'll tour Niagara Falls next and take a helicopter flight over the famous cascade. Then, after a full-day wine tour in Niagara on Day 4, cruise past landmarks like Boldt Castle around Thousand Islands in Gananoque. Next, head to Montréal, Québec, for a guided walk of the Old Port area and an evening river cruise before visiting the Atwater Market and riding on Canada's largest observation wheel. The following day, indulge your sweet tooth on a sugar shack tour and wander Québec's La Ronde theme park.

Day 9 has you driving to Québec City for three nights as a base to day trip to Montmorency Falls, whale watch on the St. Lawrence, tour the Huron-Wendat Museum, showcasing ancient artifacts of this First Nations community, visit Île d'Orléans, an island of charming villages and bountiful farmland. Following this, you'll hop back and forth between the provincial borders, first to wander along Ottawa's Rideau Canal, spotting landmarks like Parliament Hill, and cruise the Ottawa River on an amphibious bus, then seek out wildlife in Parc Oméga and visit Canada's most famous museum, the Canadian Museum of History before finally returning to Toronto. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Cross-Canada Train Journey: From Vancouver to Montréal

You'll cover a lot of ground (literally) from Canada's two western provinces to two of its eastern on this cross-country train journey from Vancouver to Montréal. Ideal for first-time visitors interested in exploring Canada's diverse landscapes and comfortable with train travel, you'll fly over Vancouver by helicopter, soak in steaming Miette Hot Springs, and take in the sweeping vistas on Jasper's SkyTram. On the other side of the Rockies and prairies, you'll have two nights in Toronto and one in Niagara Falls to cover the highlights before venturing to Ottawa, Québec City, and Montréal. 

In the coastal city of Vancouver, you'll dive into the food scene on a foodie tour of Granville Island and sample street eats in the Shipyards Night Market before getting a bird's-eye view of the coastal city on a helicopter tour. From there, head to Jasper, Alberta, a charming alpine town in the Canadian Rockies. There, you'll relax in Miette Hot Springs, ride the Jasper SkyTram up The Whistlers for panoramic views, and cruise across Maligne Lake on your tour of Jasper National Park. After trekking Jasper's trails, hop on your three-day train across Saskatchewan and Manitoba to arrive in Toronto for a city tour, a Lake Ontario cruise, and a day to discover Niagara Falls.

Catch your third train to Canada's capital, Ottawa, and enjoy a cruise on the Rideau Canal before boarding another train to Québec City. Wander through the historic district of Old Québec and down Dufferin Terrace to take a closer look at the iconic Fairmont Château Frontenac. The following day, admire the 272-foot-tall (83 m) Montmorency Falls before your train west to Montréal, where you'll take an evening cruise on the St. Lawrence River, passing landmarks like Jacques-Cartier Bridge and Notre-Dame Basilica. You can stroll along the cobblestone streets of Old Montréal on a guided tour before your departure. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Road Trip Across British Columbia & Alberta: Vancouver, Whistler, Kamloops, Jasper, Banff & Kelowna

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this road trip across British Columbia and Alberta. As you're hitting the natural wonders and alpine cities of western Canada, you'll experience highlights like walking the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, hiking an easy trail to check out Kamloops' hoodoos, stepping onto the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper, and unwinding at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. You'll spot wildlife on a Maligne Lake cruise, hike around iconic Lake Louise, and taste some of Canada's finest wines in the verdant Okanagan Valley.

Begin in Vancouver and thrill to a seaplane tour, looking for landmarks like Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge before exploring Gastown and setting your watch to the Gastown Steam Clock. Walk above the treetops at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park the next day, then drive to Whistler for a helicopter ride to land on a snowcapped mountain and a lift up Whistler or Blackcomb mountains on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. In Kamloops, hike the Cinnamon Ridge Hoodoos Trail and drive to Jasper, Alberta, for a ride on the Jasper SkyTram and soak in the Miette Hot Springs. On Day 7, cruise Maligne Lake on a wildlife and waterfalls tour and visit the Jasper Planetarium.

Next, you'll circumnavigate the gem-colored glacial waters of Lake Louise, opting for a teahouse hike following either the Lake Agnes or Plain of Six Glacier options before exploring Moraine Lake. Then, drive to Banff for a free day to explore the town, ride the Banff Gondola, relax in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, and take an evening walking tour of the park. Take a day trip to nearby Yoho National Park, which features hikes and views of Emerald Lake, Wapta Falls, and Takkakaw Falls. Finally, board the Ice Explorer and traverse the Columbia Icefield to get to the Athabasca Glacier before driving to Kelowna, where you'll tour the local wineries. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Self-Drive Eastern Canada Highlights: Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix

This alternative self-drive itinerary of Eastern Canada takes you from the bustling streets of Toronto to the charming French Canadian region of Charlevoix. With just three nights in Ontario, you'll spend most of your time in Québec. After covering the Toronto and Niagara highlights, you'll sample poutine in Montreal, zip down the mountain in Mont-Tremblant, cruise down the St. Lawrence River in Québec City, pick up a trail in a national park in Charlevoix, and ferry to charming L'Isle-aux-Coudres for a scenic bike ride.

Check out key attractions in Toronto, Canada's largest city, such as the Royal Ontario Museum, to learn about the country's culture, history, art, and natural wonders. From there, drive to Niagara Falls to board a boat to ride past the American and Bridal Veil Falls toward Horseshoe. You'll have one more night in Toronto before you're off to begin the French Canada portion of your trip, starting in Montréal with a wander of the Old Port, a ride of La Grande Roue de Montréal, and a food tour in Mile End (try a classic smoked meat sandwich). Then, drive to Mont-Tremblant to shop, eat, and ride the panoramic gondola over the colorful ski resort. 

Continue to Parc National du Mont-Tremblant on Day 7 to hike, swim, fish, or kayak amid stunning nature, followed by a drive farther west to Québec City. Join a walking tour of Old Québec and browse First Nations artifacts at the Huron-Wendat Museum, followed by kayaking and wildlife spotting in Jacques-Cartier National Park. Then, continue to Charlevoix for scenic drives through rolling hills, lush forests, and picturesque valleys as you follow the Route des Montagnes. You'll end back in Montréal, where you can visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, cruise down the St. Lawrence River, and browse the Jean-Talon Market. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Winter Adventures in Canada's Yukon & Alberta: Whitehorse, Calgary, Banff & Jasper

On this winter adventure in Canada's Yukon and Alberta, you'll experience the thrill of winter in Whitehorse, Calgary, Banff, and Jasper. Travelers who like winter sports will enjoy snowshoeing, ice fishing, and skiing, while culture vultures and history fans can visit Calgary's Glenbow Museum and the Yukon's Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. Additional highlights include venturing into icy canyons to marvel at frozen waterfalls, snow tubing, and snowboarding in Banff National Park, and chasing the northern lights and soaking in Takhini Hot Springs in Whitehorse.

Your winter adventure begins in northern Canada's Yukon with a wander down Whitehorse's main street, stopping at the MacBride Museum of Yukon History. Learn the art of mushing on a dogsledding adventure the next day and seek out the aurora borealis on an evening tour complimented with snacks and drinks. On Day 3, spend a day at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve looking for moose, caribou, and lynx as your guide shares insights about their conservation efforts. After learning about the Yukon's First Nations community at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, you'll soak in the mineral-rich waters at Takhini Hot Springs before a snowshoe and ice-fishing tour.

Fly to Calgary on Day 6 to visit the Glenbow Museum and dine at the top of Calgary Tower. The following day, drive west to Banff for four days of helicopter rides, sunset walking tours, trekking to frozen waterfalls of Johnston Canyon, riding a gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, night snow tubing, and relishing a horse-drawn sleigh ride. You'll have a day dedicated to skiing or snowboarding one of three ski resorts before you're off to Jasper to strap on your crampons to walk atop the lower Athabasca Glacier and take in the views from the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. The trip ends with a night in Canada's "Cowboy Capital" before it's time for your departure. Learn more

More Great 15-Day Canada Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Canada? Check out these other 15-day Canada itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.