Best Places in Canada To Visit This Summer?

From the Canadian Rockies to the Westcoast, including Vancouver Island, North to the Yukon, and all the way East to the Atlantic provinces, there are so many amazing places to visit during Canada’s summer. The hard part is choosing which ones to prioritize on your trip to Canada. Hopefully we can make planning a summertime vacation to Canada a little easier with this list of the best places to visit during summer in Canada!

Some Of the top places in canada to visit during summer for every type of traveler

Vancouver Island

Best for Beach Lovers!
Vancouver Island is an absolute must-see destination in Canada and for too many reasons to list. There are many opportunities to spot marine life, like whales, sea lions and more, along with incredible beaches, some of which stretch for almost 20 kilometers long! Visit Victoria and Tofino to get out whale watching, and Tofino to stroll or lay on endless sand beaches along the pacific coast. You can join our guided tour on Vancouver Island to see all the best places with a fun and easy 7 day guided tour of Vancouver Island!

Whistler

Best for Adrenaline Junkies
Whistler has been one of the top destinations in Canada for decades, though mostly known as a winter resort town. While Whistler may be an epic ski destination, it has matured into a world class place to visit during the Canadian summer season too! There are limitless activities in Whistler, though mountain biking is one of the most popular, along with rafting, ziplining and more! Spend a week in Whistler and find the inner child in yourself this summer!

Banff

Best for Hikers and Landscape Photographers
Banff is one of the most beautiful mountain destinations on the planet and the summer season is when you can really enjoy it at its fullest, with the snow gone and trails wide open for hikers to enjoy. Photographers love summer in the Rockies, where countless iconic Canadian landscape photos have been taken. Head to Moraine Lake for sunrise to capture the golden glow on the Valley of Ten Peaks, then head up into the alpine for a hike to Eifel Lake and beyond! You can explore the Rockies in style on our 7 day Rockies hotel based hiking tour or our 7 day Rockies camping and hiking tour!

Read our guide to the best experiences in the Rocky Mountains!

Dawson City

Best For People Who Like Weird Drinks and Being Up All Night With The Arctic Sun!
Dawson City is one of the coolest places to visit during the summer in Canada, with a surprising amount of history in such a small town. The Klondike Goldrush took place in Dawson City, transforming it into the “Paris of the North”, as it was once known. Nowadays you can catch can-can shows, take the “sour toe cocktail” with a real human toe in it, and don’t worry about a curfew because the sun stays up almost 24 hours this far north! You can easily explore the best the Yukon has to offer with our 7 day hotel based Yukon hiking tour!

Kelowna

Best for Wine Lovers
The Okanagan Valley has been home to some of Canada’s best wines for some time now, and there seems to be no signs of slowing. If you love sun and love wine, this may be the ultimate Canadian summer destination for you! You can stay in town along the lake and access different wineries every day. The lake makes a great option to cool off in the afternoons too!

Collinwgood

Best for Sailors and Cyclists
Collingwood has a ton to do, including visiting Blue Mountain, though one thing that truly stands out is sailing on the Great Lakes from Collingwood and surrounding areas. From here you can access virtually everywhere on the Great Lakes and sailing on the lakes is simple, contained and beginner friendly. The hilly roads almost make an incredible place to go cycling during the Canadian summers too!

Halifax

Best for Motorcyclists
Halifax has a lot of reasons to be one of the best summer travel destinations in Canada, though the winding roads that travel the entire Nova Scotian coast is heaven on two wheels! You can set out from Halifax for several different motorbike trips, including the Cabot Trail, South Shore, Digby Neck and beyond! Halifax is also an emerging hotspot for foodies, and the nightlife is nothing short of exhilarating.

Saguenay and Tadoussac

Best for Whale Lovers
Saguenay and the surrounding fjord are one of the best places in Canada to come up close and personal with whales, which migrate through the area each summer. You can camp along the shores to see the whales as they feed nearby and pass right by your campsite, so close you can hear their every breath. This area in Quebec is one of the best places to visit in Canada during the summer season!

Lake Superior to Sault Ste Marie

Best for Camping
Lake Superior’s coastline is a hidden gem right out in the open for people who love camping and don’t mind seeing some of the best sunsets in Canada! The provincial park has a campground right along the shore, which is the perfect basecamp to head out for local hikes and to explore pocket beaches and canyons in the area. A road trip between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie adds a fun way to experience some of the best places for a Canadian summer vacation.

Saint John’s, Newfoundland

Best for a Party
George Street Festival is one of the rowdiest and most fun summer parties in Canada, and happens every July in Saint John’s, Newfoundland. This is the perfect time to visit, with the best weather (which isn’t to be understood as perfect, by the way), and some really fun shenanigans with the friendly and boisterous Newfies. From the city you can head out to explore Signal Hill for a day hike, and drive to numerous nearby fishing towns to experience the bustling fishing wharves, friendly locals and beautiful coastal views. Watch out for moose on the roads!

Information About visiting Canada during summer

When Is the summer season in Canada?

Summer in Canada last from May until the end of September with some slight variations by destination in Canada. Some places near the ocean, like Halifax and Victoria get an early spring and summer, plus a late fall, while other destinations like Banff and Jasper are higher up and get an early winter and late spring. In general you are safe planning a summer vacation in Canada anytime from May to the end of September.

Where is the most beautiful destination in canada?

This is a very subjective question, but the first thing that comes to mind is Banff, Alberta, which is known for the iconic mountain landscapes of the Rockies. Of course there are other equally amazing places to plan your summer vacation in Canada, like the West Coast, Great Lakes, East Coast, and Whistler.

Where should I plan a summer vacation in Canada?

This depends on what sort of summer holiday you desire! Are you looking for an active trip, a relaxing vacation, a cultural experience, or a sporting trip? Active vacations are best planned in the mountains, while relaxing holidays are typically really great on the coast where there are beaches to hang out at. We recommend a trip to Banff for an active hiking/ biking themed trip or Tofino/ Halifax for a more relaxing themed summer vacation.

About the author

Alex Ross - Founder and Adventure Guru

Alex moved to British Columbia over 10 years ago, right after graduating university in Halifax. When he came he planned on working as a dishwasher in the Rockies, but after 24 hours he threw in the towel and moved back to the coast to drive boats, walk dogs, guide adventures and surf. After moving around a bit over the past ten years he now lives on Vancouver Island and loves it.