The best cities to visit in Canada, according to travellers

A leading authority on global travel has unveiled its list of best cities in Canada in 2025, ranked by its readers.

Travel + Leisure, a global publication, publishes its World’s Best Awards survey annually, based on criteria such as sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and value.

Canadian city	T+L Ranking in Canada 2025	Reader Score
Quebec City, Quebec	1	86.79
Montreal, Quebec	2	82.93
Vancouver, British Columbia	3	82.79
Halifax, Nova Scotia	4	82.26
Victoria, British Columbia	5	80.70

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Its list of “Favourite Cities in Canada of 2025” is similar to the 2024 list, with no Ontario city having been included.

What are the best cities to visit in Canada in 2025?

This year’s list names three provincial capitals among the best cities in Canada.

Quebec City, Quebec

Quebec City topped the list once more – making this the 10th time in a row that it was named in the annual list of reader-favourite cities in Canada.

According to readers, it was the French architecture, winding streets, food and shopping, the “historic atmosphere of Vieux-Quebec", and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town that earned it this spot.

Some recommended visiting Quebec city in lieu of a trip to Paris, while others said it was a city that really needed to be experienced in winter.

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal also consistently ranks among best cities in Canada. It was named among the top ten global cities for international students in 2025.

For those planning a trip, Montreal offers a blend of European charm with North American energy. The city is known for its top notch music festivals, galleries, restaurants, and historic downtown area.

Vancouver, British Columbia

This West Coast hub regularly ranks among Canada’s top cities – be it for livability or for offering a great quality of life.

For those planning a visit, Vancouver is known for its world-class restaurants, natural beauty, and hiking spots.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

One respondent in T+L’s survey described the capital of Nova Scotia as “the up and coming city in Canada.”

Halifax is known for its natural beauty, forests, and vibrant waterfront.

Victoria, British Columbia

According to the readers at Travel + Leisure, the capital city of British Columbia is a favourite on the West Coast due to its “stately British architecture and green spaces.”

Many also highly recommended Butchart Gardens, located just outside the city, as a must-visit.

Methodology for T+L’s World’s Best Awards survey

Cities were rated based on six factors: sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and value.

For each category, respondents could rate their experience as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. Final scores reflect the average of these responses across all criteria.

In 2025, over 657,000 votes were cast across more than 8,700 entries, including hotels, cruise lines, and cities.

Do you need a visitor visa to travel to Canada?

Whether you need a visitor visa to travel to Canada depends on your country of citizenship.

Visitor Visa: Foreign nationals require a visitor visa (also known as a Temporary Resident Visa) to enter Canada unless they are visa exempt. It is important to check processing times in advance.

Electronic travel authorization (eTA): Foreign nationals from some countries are exempt from needing a Canadian visa but must apply for an eTA beforehand to enter Canada by air. They do not need an eTA if travelling by land or sea.

Visa and eTA-exempt: US nationals and green card holders are both visa and ETA exempt. French nationals who live in Saint Pierre and Miquelon and are flying directly to Canada from St. Pierre and Miquelon also do not require an eTA.

You can check if you need a visa or are visa-exempt here.

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