Canada: main airports
Canada has seventeen airports with active connections. The main international hubs are Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montréal and Calgary; followed by regional and city airports across every province, from the Atlantic (Halifax, St. John's) to the Pacific (Victoria, Kelowna, Abbotsford) to the Northwest Territories (Yellowknife).
Canada: recommended activities
Canada: visa and entry requirements
Citizens of visa-exempt countries (European Union, United Kingdom, Australia and many others) must apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which costs 7 CAD, is digitally linked to the passport and is valid for 5 years or until the passport expires: mandatory for those arriving by air (not by land or sea). US citizens do not need an eTA but must have a valid passport. For nationalities not exempt from a visa, the tourist visa (single or multiple entry) costs 100 CAD.
Canada: safety
Canada is generally very safe for tourists, with violent crime rare even in large cities: the usual precautions are more than sufficient. In natural areas (national parks, remote areas) always find out about the presence of wildlife (bears, in particular) and weather conditions, which can change quickly, especially in the mountains and in the north of the country.
Canada: health situation
No vaccination is mandatory for entry. The Canadian healthcare system is of an excellent standard but free care is reserved for residents: visitors must pay out of pocket or through insurance, with potentially very high costs even for minor procedures. Travel insurance with adequate medical coverage is strongly advised, not merely recommended.
Canada: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD); credit cards and contactless payments are widely accepted everywhere, even for small amounts. Uber and Lyft operate in the main cities. For connectivity, the operators Rogers, Bell and Telus sell prepaid SIM cards, generally more expensive than European standards: also check eSIM options if your device supports it. For driving (on the right, as in Italy), the national licence is generally accepted for a short tourist stay; for longer stays an International Driving Permit (IDP) is also advisable. Remember tipping, generally expected at 15-20% in restaurants and for services.
Canada: travel guides
Ottawa: the capital on the frozen canal
London: where insulin was discovered
Calgary: rodeo, tower and historic village
St. John's: the colourful houses of Jellybean Row
Yellowknife: the world's aurora borealis capital
Fort McMurray: the oil sands of the north
Victoria: Victorian gardens on the Pacific
Edmonton: the mall with its own water park
Abbotsford: the tulips of the Fraser Valley
Winnipeg: where two rivers have met for six thousand years
One day in Toronto: itinerary and highlights
Halifax: the port that received the Titanic victims
Quebec City: the only fortified city left north of Mexico
Montreal between Old Port and Mount Royal
One day in Vancouver: itinerary and highlights
