Toronto & Eastern Canada

Home to nearly 40% of Canada’s population, Ontario is the country’s most populous province. It’s where you’ll find two major cities, Ottawa and Toronto, as well as the thundering waters of Niagara Falls – a must-see on any holiday to Eastern Canada.

Multicultural Toronto offers all sorts of things to do. You can browse the stalls of St Lawrence Market, cheer on the Toronto Blue Jays at a baseball game, and admire the impressive street art which adorns Graffiti Alley. Make sure you go up the CN Tower for panoramic city views, or take the ferry to the Toronto Islands to admire the skyline from afar. And, when you fancy a daytrip, Niagara Falls is just a 90-minute drive away, around the shores of Lake Ontario.

Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, should also be on your hit list. Right on the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec, this charming city has plenty to see. You can tour the striking Canadian government buildings at Parliament Hill, wander along the Rideau Canal, and visit a number of museums and galleries, such as the National Gallery of Canada. In summer, you can look forward to a variety of festivals, too.

Quebec is Canada’s largest province in terms of area. Predominantly French-speaking, this unique province is home to the bustling hubs of Quebec City and Montreal, as well as the ski resort of Mont Tremblant.

In the southwest of Quebec, Montreal is actually built on an island, in the middle of the St Lawrence River. Here, you can see Canada’s largest church, Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, and admire the Botanical Gardens. Or take a leisurely stroll around the Plateau neighbourhood, where the streets are crammed with bars, cafés and galleries. Elsewhere, Quebec City is the only walled city north of Mexico. UNESCO-listed Old Quebec is particularly special, with charming streets, delicious food and a grand castle-like hotel called Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. 

Keen skiers, meanwhile, should make tracks for Mont Tremblant. Oozing European charm, this year-round ski resort feels like a little slice of France, from the croissant-filled bakeries to the top-notch restaurants. It’s the biggest ski resort in Eastern Canada, with more than 100 runs to keep skiers and snowboards busy. But there are lots of other activities on offer, too, ranging from golf, hiking and watersports, to relaxing spa days.

Eastern Canada is often associated with cold weather, so you might be surprised by how pleasant the climate is. Between May and September, you can look forward to warm, sunny days and bright blue skies. In the height of summer, temperatures generally hover between 24°C and 27°C. But some inland cities, like Toronto, can be very humid and get as hot as 35°C. If you need convincing further, you might also like to know that May to October is the best season for whale-watching.

But Eastern Canada is very different between November and February. At this time of year, you can usually expect rain, snow and temperatures as low as -15°C. So, if your planning on skiing the weather is perfect, with Mont Tremblant being the most popular resort to head to. The cities also offer some amazing activities which you can enjoy in the colder months from ice skating and Christmas markets to winter festivals in both Ottawa and Montreal.