Before You Go
- Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
- Check whether a tourist visa is required.
- Keep digital copies of important documents.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance.
Ottawa
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
English, French
Jun–Sep
Multiple TZ (UTC−8 to UTC−3:30)
Welcome to Canada, the second-largest country in the world, where vast wilderness, stunning coastlines, and vibrant cities coexist in remarkable harmony. The turquoise lakes and jagged peaks of Banff and Lake Louise showcase the breathtaking grandeur of the Canadian Rockies. Toronto and Montreal offer dynamic, multicultural city life, blending world-class dining, art, and architecture with distinct regional character. Along the east coast, the rugged shores of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia reveal dramatic cliffs, charming fishing villages, and encounters with whales and icebergs. Canada's north stretches into vast Arctic wilderness, offering rare opportunities to witness the northern lights dance across the sky. Niagara Falls thunders along the border, one of the most powerful and iconic waterfalls on Earth. Countless national parks protect pristine forests, lakes, and wildlife, including bears, moose, and bald eagles. Canada welcomes travelers to explore a vast, naturally spectacular country defined by both wilderness and warmth.
No API URL found for post ID 140461.
Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.
Discover some of Canada's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.
Poutine is a signature Canada specialty known for its distinctive local ingredients, seasoning and traditional preparation.
This popular Canada dish brings together familiar regional flavors and is commonly enjoyed in homes, markets or local restaurants.
A well-loved part of Canada cuisine, Butter Tarts reflects the country's culinary traditions and locally available ingredients.
Nanaimo Bars is a comforting regional favorite, prepared in styles that may vary between families, cities and different parts of Canada.
Visitors often seek out Montreal Smoked Meat for an authentic taste of Canada's everyday cooking and food culture.
This traditional favorite highlights the bold, savory or gently spiced flavors associated with cooking in Canada.
Peameal Bacon Sandwich is widely recognized in Canada and is often served at casual meals, celebrations or community gatherings.
A memorable choice for travelers, Split Pea Soup offers a flavorful introduction to the ingredients and techniques used across Canada.
This classic food is an important part of Canada's culinary identity and is best sampled freshly prepared.
Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world, stretching along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. It also contains more lakes than any other nation, including vast freshwater systems shaped by ancient glaciers. Some estimates suggest Canada holds roughly one-fifth of the world’s surface freshwater. Its enormous territory spans six time zones and includes temperate rainforests, prairie grasslands, rugged mountains, boreal forest, and polar desert.
One of Canada’s strangest natural features is Hudson Bay’s lower-than-expected gravity. Scientists believe the difference is partly connected to the immense Laurentide Ice Sheet, which once pressed down on the region and displaced mass from the Earth’s crust. Canada is also home to the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited places, where residents experience weeks of continuous daylight in summer and extended darkness in winter.
The country’s name likely comes from kanata, an Indigenous St. Lawrence Iroquoian word meaning “village” or “settlement.” Canada has two official languages, English and French, but more than 70 Indigenous languages are also spoken. In the Bay of Fundy, tides can rise and fall by more than 50 feet, among the highest tidal ranges on Earth. Canada even shares a small island border with Denmark in the Arctic, settled peacefully after decades of good-natured territorial disagreement sometimes called the “Whisky War.”
Another little-known fact is that Albanians have a unique cultural tradition called "Besa," meaning "to keep one's promise." This centuries-old code of honor became internationally recognized during World War II when Albania was one of the few European countries where the Jewish population actually increased because local families risked their lives to shelter refugees. Albania also boasts the stunning Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), a natural spring with crystal-clear turquoise water whose exact depth remains unknown despite multiple explorations.
Finally, Albania enjoys more than 300 sunny days each year, rivaling many Mediterranean destinations. The country is also famous for its "sworn virgins"—a centuries-old tradition in remote mountain villages where women could legally assume male social roles by taking a lifelong vow of celibacy, preserving family inheritance and leadership in the absence of male heirs.
