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Canada travel guide

A country of 6 time zones: pick one region and go in May or September

Best: May, Sep

Photo: jameswheeler / Pixabay

Capital
Ottawa
Languages
English, French
Currency
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Time zone
UTC-08:00, UTC-07:00 +4
Plugs
Type A, B · 120 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
911

Why visit Canada

Canada suits travellers who like city breaks and long road trips, and who are happy to focus on one region rather than see it all. In the east you can link Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa and Quebec City. In the west, Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary. The best months to go are May and September. The honest limit is size. Canada covers 9,984,670 km² across 6 time zones, so moving between regions takes real time.

  • September and May are best

    September and May are the best months to visit Canada. This also holds for the capital, Ottawa. If you have a choice of dates, plan around these 2 months. They are the clearest timing advice we can give for this country.

  • Two languages, one country

    English and French are both spoken in Canada. You can move between the two within one trip. For example, you can combine Toronto, a city of 2,794,356 people, with Quebec City, which has 574,482.

  • Cities on the Pacific coast

    Vancouver and Victoria are both coastal cities in the west. Vancouver has 662,248 people and Victoria has 91,867, so you can pair a mid-sized city with a much smaller one. Most other major cities, including Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa, are inland.

  • Large inland cities

    Toronto has 2,794,356 people and Calgary has 1,306,784. These cities are a practical base, and you can reach smaller places like Niagara Falls, a city of 88,071. Canada drives on the right, so the roads may feel familiar to North American and European drivers.

  • Huge distances, so plan carefully

    Canada covers 9,984,670 km², and its time zones run from UTC-08:00 to UTC-03:30. Do not try to see the whole country on one short trip. Choose 1 region, such as the Pacific coast or the Toronto–Ottawa–Quebec City area.

Is Canada right for you?

Great for

  • Shoulder-season travellers: Ottawa highs average 19.5°C in May and 21.9°C in September, the best months.
  • Multi-city trips linking Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, Vancouver and Victoria.
  • Travellers who speak English or French, the country's 2 main languages.
  • US visitors: same plug types A and B, 120 V power and right-side driving.
  • Cold-weather fans: Ottawa's January lows average -12.7°C, with highs of -3.5°C.

Less ideal for

  • Winter visitors who dislike cold and dark: Ottawa averages -3.5°C highs and 4.9 sun hours in January.
  • Short trips trying to cover the whole country: it spans 9,984,670 km² and 6 time zones.
  • Anyone wanting a dry summer: Ottawa gets 108–121 mm of rain monthly from June to August.
  • Beach-focused trips: of the main cities listed, only Vancouver and Victoria are on the coast.

Canada right now: October

5.3/10
Avg high
14°C
Avg low
7°C
Rain days
12

Averages for Ottawa.

Weather by month

In Ottawa, the best months are May and September: May reaches highs of 19.5°C with 10.4 hours of sun a day, and September has highs of 21.9°C and the fewest rain days, at 9.3. Avoid November to March, when highs range from -3.5°C to 6.2°C and January nights drop to -12.7°C.

Average highs and lows in Ottawa by month January: high -4°C, low -13°C , 11 rain days . February: high -2°C, low -12°C , 12 rain days . March: high 3°C, low -7°C , 12 rain days . April: high 11°C, low 0°C , 13 rain days . May: high 20°C, low 8°C , 11 rain days . June: high 24°C, low 13°C , 13 rain days . July: high 27°C, low 17°C , 13 rain days . August: high 25°C, low 17°C , 13 rain days . September: high 22°C, low 13°C , 9 rain days . October: high 14°C, low 7°C , 12 rain days . November: high 6°C, low -0°C , 12 rain days . December: high 0°C, low -6°C , 13 rain days . -4°C -13°C JAN 11d -2°C -12°C FEB 12d 3°C -7°C MAR 12d 11°C 0°C APR 13d 20°C 8°C MAY 11d 24°C 13°C JUN 13d 27°C 17°C JUL 13d 25°C 17°C AUG 13d 22°C 13°C SEP 9d 14°C 7°C OCT 12d 6°C 0°C NOV 12d 0°C -6°C DEC 13d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Ottawa · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Canada: month-by-month weather →

Where to go in Canada

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Eastern Canada: Toronto to Quebec City

  1. Day 1–2

    Toronto

    Start in Toronto, the largest city on this route. Spend your time walking different neighbourhoods, trying the food and seeing the sights at your own pace.

  2. Day 3

    Niagara Falls

    Spend a day in Niagara Falls to see the waterfalls up close. The town is small, so most visitors find one day is enough.

  3. Day 4–5

    Ottawa

    Explore Ottawa, the capital of Canada. May and September are the best months to visit, so plan this trip for one of them if you can.

  4. Day 6–7

    Quebec City

    End in Quebec City. Walk the old streets and try the local food. English and French are both spoken in Canada, so a few French words can help here.

10 days

Western Canada: Coast to Calgary

  1. Day 1–4

    Vancouver

    Begin in Vancouver, a coastal city. Use the extra days to walk by the water, explore different neighbourhoods and get over jet lag before you move on.

  2. Day 5–7

    Victoria

    Continue to Victoria, a much smaller coastal city. Its small size suits slow days of walking, eating out and spending time by the sea.

  3. Day 8–10

    Calgary

    Finish inland in Calgary, a large city away from the coast. Use your last days to explore the city, and check the weather before planning time outdoors.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

ByWard Market

Ottawa

Good for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers

This old market district sits just east of Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, with food stalls, restaurants and bars on its streets. You can walk to most major sights and museums from here. It gets loud late at night, especially at weekends, so light sleepers should ask for a quiet room.

Food to try in Canada

Poutine

French fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy. It comes from Quebec, and you can now find it across Canada, from roadside snack bars to city pubs.

Montreal-style bagels

Smaller, denser and sweeter than New York bagels. They are boiled in honey-sweetened water, then baked in a wood-fired oven. Bakeries in Montreal sell them fresh all day.

Maple taffy on snow

Hot maple syrup is poured onto clean snow, then rolled onto a stick as it sets. Try it at a sugar shack in Quebec during the maple syrup season in early spring.

Tourtière

A savoury pie filled with spiced minced meat, often pork. It is a Quebec tradition, eaten mostly around Christmas and on New Year's Eve, but some bakeries sell it all year.

Butter tarts

Small pastry shells filled with butter, sugar and egg, sometimes with raisins or nuts. They are closely linked to Ontario, where bakeries and farm stands sell them.

Caesar cocktail

Canada's best-known cocktail, created in Calgary. It mixes vodka with Clamato (tomato and clam juice) and spices, and is served in a celery-salt-rimmed glass. Most bars across the country make one.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Canada uses plug types A and B at 120 V. If your devices are made for a higher voltage, check the label before plugging in. You may need a converter as well as a plug adapter.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts, especially on your first days.
  • Emergency number: Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance anywhere in Canada. Save it in your phone before you travel.
  • Currency: The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD). Do not confuse it with the US dollar. Prices in Canada are in CAD unless clearly marked otherwise.
  • Language: English and French are both official languages. Many signs and services use both. In some areas French is the main language, so a few basic French phrases can help.
  • Time zones: Canada spans several time zones, from UTC-08:00 in the west to UTC-03:30 in the east. Check the local time when you book flights, trains or tours across regions.
  • Phone calls: The country calling code is +1, the same as the United States. Check with your mobile provider how calls and data are charged in Canada before you go.
  • Tipping: Tipping is customary in Canada, especially for table service in restaurants, bars and taxis. Staff often expect it, so plan for it in your daily budget.

Canada: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Canada?

September and May are the best months. In Ottawa, September scores 8.1, the highest of the year, with highs of 21.9°C, lows of 13.2°C and only 9.3 days with rain. May scores 7.8, with highs of 19.5°C and 10.4 hours of sun a day. This climate data is for Ottawa only. Canada covers 9984670 km², so the weather in other regions may be quite different.

Is Canada good in August?

Yes, August is a good month, with a score of 7.4. Ottawa reaches highs of 25.2°C and gets 10.9 hours of sun a day. The downside is rain: August has 121 mm, the most of any month. July is a little warmer at 26.7°C and has the most sun, with 12.1 hours a day.

Should I avoid visiting Canada in winter?

Yes, for Ottawa-type weather, November to March are months to avoid. January highs are only -3.5°C and lows fall to -12.7°C. December has the lowest score of the year, 1.4, and just 3.8 hours of sun a day. Only go in winter if cold weather is the reason for your trip.

Is Canada worth visiting in April or October?

Both months are OK but not ideal. October scores 5.3 and is the better choice. It has highs of 14.3°C and 104 mm of rain. April scores 4. It is colder, with highs of 11.1°C and lows of 0.4°C, and it has 105 mm of rain. Pack warm, waterproof layers for either month.

What plugs and voltage does Canada use?

Canada uses plug types A and B at 120 V. If your devices only work at a higher voltage, you will need a converter as well as a plug adapter. Other basics: cars drive on the right, the emergency number is 911, and the country calling code is +1.

What currency and languages are used in Canada?

The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD). The official languages are English and French. Canada spans 6 time zones, from UTC-08:00 to UTC-03:30. Check the local time when you plan travel between regions.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Canada.