Things to do in Canada

Canada spans six time zones, so things to do in Canada start with choosing a part. Most cities hug the southern border. The Rockies and the Pacific coast are a separate trip from the eastern cities.

How the country divides

• British Columbia. Vancouver, with Gastown as its old town, and Victoria, a walkable harbour city across the water on Vancouver Island.
• The Rockies. Banff, Jasper and Yoho national parks. Banff lies 126 kilometres west of Calgary, and the Icefields Parkway links Lake Louise and Jasper over 232 kilometres.
• The Prairies. Calgary, and Winnipeg on the Red River, with a Métis and prohibition-era past.
• Ontario. Toronto, with the old Distillery District, and the capital, Ottawa.
• Québec. Montréal and Québec City, two French-speaking cities with old quarters built for walking.

Crossing between them

Toronto to Montréal is about 544 kilometres by road. Montréal to Québec City is about 251, and Ottawa is about 198 from Montréal. The Rockies and the Pacific coast are a flight west.

What the days are made of

Tours in Canada are mostly self-guided. You use a phone app and a route, with no guide, and start whenever you like. Old-town scavenger hunts run about two hours, and mystery quests 60 to 90 minutes.

Audio-guide apps cover the Rockies and other parks, including car routes. Groups can play three-hour team quests in Montréal, Toronto and Calgary. A private guided day covers Vancouver around a cruise.

Practical

• Weather. Montréal runs from -5C by day in January to 27C in July, with over two metres of snow a year. Banff's January nights fall to -13C. Vancouver is mild and rainy from October to March.
• Daylight. In midwinter the sun sets before half past four in Montréal and Calgary.
• Tipping. Restaurant tips of 15 to 20 per cent are usual, and prices on shelves and menus exclude tax.
• Language. Québec works in French, and many people in Montréal also speak English. Signs in Québec are French first.
• Park fees. National parks such as Banff charge an entry fee, so check before you drive in.