15 Best Places To Visit In Canada In Winter 2024 For Experiencing The True Beauty Of Snow

23 Mar 2023

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Popular as the Great White North, Canada looks no less than a beautiful picture taken right out from a fairy tale book. And the country turns into a magical land when the snow starts settling down. There are fun-festivals, world-class ski resort, beautiful snowy cities to enjoy across this mesmerizing country. From ice hockey to skating on the frozen lakes, there is something for everyone on their winter vacation in Canada.

If you love skiing, the winter slopes in Canada poses many excellent opportunities to dash through the snow and also watch rare and exotic wildlife in winters. It is definitely colder, cheaper, and prettier. Don’t believe us? Scroll through these best places to visit in Canada in winter, which will convince your heart completely!

15 Best Places To Visit In Canada In Winter

Are you wondering about places to go in Canada in winter? Here is the perfectly curated list of the places one must explore in Canada to have an amazing winter trip. Take a quick look and pick the best to have a memorable holiday!

Rideau Canal: Skate Away
Plaster Rock: Indulge In Ice Hockey
Churchill: Enjoy The Beauty Of A Winter Wilderness
Vancouver: Explore Local Seafood
Ontario: The Dazzling Niagara Falls
Charlottetown: The Winter Wonderland
Halifax: For Maple Treats
Newfoundland: Labrador For Unique Experiences
Toronto: For One-Of-Its-Kind Experiences
Grouse Mountain: For An Incredible Winter
Calgary: To Experience The Mystical Winters
Quebec City: Stay In An Igloo
Winnipeg: Enjoy Skating At The Forks
Ottawa: Indulge In Winter Camping
Whistler: Go Ice Climbing And Skating

1. Rideau Canal: Skate Away

Canadian winter experience is incomplete if you haven’t skated on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal’s skateway, one of the best places to visit in Canada in winter. There are many places to visit in Ottawa, but this one is not be missed. Every year over 1 million people gather here during winters and skate away on this world’s largest skateway; equivalent to 90 olympic size skating rinks. This skateway stretches in front of the Parliament Building and Chateau Laurier hotel. You can enjoy skating here from January to mid-March, and enjoy hot delicious food from the standing stalls nearby.

Tourist Attractions: Skating Experience
Best Place To Stay: Novotel Ottawa City Center Hotel
Things To Do:

Enjoy skating
Witness Winterlude; annual seasonal celebration

Must Read: Go Glacier Kayaking In Canada & Live Your Craziest Fantasy Ever!

2. Plaster Rock: Indulge In Ice Hockey

Winter and Ice Hockey are synonymous with Canada; and the small town of Plaster Rock is the perfect example of it. Plaster Rock town hosts the World Pond Hockey Championship. People from Canada, the United States, and Great Britain come here to this beautiful town and compete against each other amidst the beautiful backdrop of forests and snowfall. This is easily the best places to visit in Canada in winter if you are looking for some icy fun!

Tourist Attractions: Ice Hockey championship
Best Place To Stay: Settler’s Inn & Motel
Things To Do:

Witness the snowfall, and beautiful forests
Take part in Ice Hockey

3. Churchill: Enjoy The Beauty Of A Winter Wilderness

Churchill is one of the best places to visit in Canada places to visit in Canada during winter for those who enjoy the peace of winters. The highlight of this small town located on the shores of Hudson Bay is polar bears and Northern Lights. Get a chance to see the powerful polar bears in the wild.

Tourist Attractions: Polar bears, seasonal bird watching and chance for wintertime Northern Lights visibility
Best Place To Stay: Iceberg Inn
Things To Do:

Play with curious Beluga Whales
Watch the Northern Lights dance
View polar bears in the wild

4. Vancouver: Explore Local Seafood

Popularly known for its physical beauty, Vancouver is one of the best winter places to visit in Canada. The gorgeous city is famous for being one of the world’s most liveable cities. It is a great place to get away if you’re looking for a break from the snow right here in Canada. Have the best shopping and dining experience as well as visit renowned museums.

Tourist Attractions: Local seafood, shopping experience, outdoor sport and adventure
Best Place To Stay: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Things To Do In Vancouver:

Try local seafood
Indulge in outdoor recreational sports
Build an igloo

5. Ontario: The Dazzling Niagara Falls

Image Credit: 70154 by Pixabay

While the humongous falls are an absolute delight in summers, the frozen falls in Canada winter look equally bewitching. The sheer beauty of the frozen falls is difficult to express in the words. A spectacular dazzler is as close as you can come to describe the mystical falls in the winter. You can see the chilling mist rising above the falls looks so mystical. It is definitely one of the best places to visit in Canada in winter. But, Niagara fall is not the only attraction that the city has to offer, you can explore one of the gorgeous places to visit in Ontario in winter at Algonquin Provincial Park, a sightseeing attraction of hazy mountains with a background of dense forest.

Tourist Attractions: An ice-wine festival is organized every year in Niagara town which you ought to attend if you like sweet dessert-style wine.
Best Places To Stay: The Inn At Cobble Beach
Things To Do:

- See the Capital

- Drink the wine

- Hike a trail

6. Charlottetown: The Winter Wonderland

Despite being the smallest province in the country, this city situated in the Prince Edward Island is one of the best places to visit in Canada in winter. From cozy places for staying to fun things to do in Canada in winter, this place lets you make the most of the colder months.

Tourist Attractions: Enjoy tobogganing and snowshoeing in Brookvale Winter Activity Park, a fun destination for families.
Best Place To Stay: The Holman Grand Hotel
Things To Do:

Ice skating
Snowshoeing
Downhill skiing
Sledding
Building a snow fort
Attending the music week

7. Halifax: For Maple Treats

Situated in Nova Scotia, this city is another top place to visit for enjoying the Canada winter. Be it indulging in a sleigh ride at Hatfield Farm or tobogganing on the Citadel Hill, there’s a lot to do and see in the city irrespective of how low the temperature drops. Nova Scotia is also a place that offers mountaineering in Canada.

Tourist Attractions: Halifax is famous for maple syrup and other treats. Enjoy a delicious brunch made of sweet Maple syrup and taa hikeike in the woods afterwards.
Best Place To Stay: The Prince George Hotel
Things To Do:

Eat at the Brooklyn Warehouse
Indulge in downhill skiing at Ski Martock
Explore the Point Pleasant Park

8. Newfoundland: Labrador For Unique Experiences

The Marble Mountain is what makes Newfoundland a perfect place to visit for your winter vacations in Canada. From offering the best of Canada winter sports in the eastern region to spectacular views, every day here is packed with unique experiences. This is amongst the best places to visit in Canada in winter.

Tourist Attractions: Spend a week at Gros Morne National Park which has more than 50 km of skiing trails and is considered to be one of the best all year round park in Canada.
Best Place To Stay: Fogo Island Inn
Things To Do:

Indulge in snowmobiling
Skiing
Cross country skiing
Snowboarding

9. Toronto: For One-Of-Its-Kind Experiences

If you embrace the winter season as much as the country does, then Toronto is the best to visit in Canada in winter. The long, cold days and nights can be best enjoyed here by indulging in one-of-its-kind experiences like fat biking, taking a tour of the trails in the Don Valley, or witnessing the icebreaker installations at the waterfront. You can visit Casa Loma, one of the famous places to visit in winter in Toronto that offers a castle-structured mansion in the heart of the city.

Tourist Attractions: Toronto hosts a food festival called Winterlicious where you can treat yourself with winter gourmet delights, definitely one of the best things to do in Canada in winter.
Best Place To Stay: The Ritz Carlton
Things To Do In Toronto:

Be a part of Winterlicious – the best food festival
Attend a game of hockey
Indulge in skiing and ice skating

10. Grouse Mountain: For An Incredible Winter

best places to visit in canada in december

Of all the places to visit in Canada in December, Grouse Mountain in British Columbia is absolutely worth visiting. Winter in Canada not only takes you away from the crowd but also lets you have an incredible time in the snow with your loved ones!

Tourist Attractions: Watch movies at Peak’s Chalet Theatre in the Sky after you have experienced the exhilarating winter activities.

Best Place To Stay: Grouse Mountain Lodge
Things To Do:

Snowshoeing
Mountain ziplining
Mountain-top skating
Sky riding

11. Calgary: To Experience The Mystical Winters

To see what magic looks like, you need to visit Calgary in Alberta during the winter months. Being one of the best places to visit in Canada during winter, it makes your holiday a little less of a cliche by offering fun experiences like ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Irrespective of whom you visit here with, you’re sure in for a great time at one of the best places to visit in Canada in winter.

Tourist Attractions: Visit the Fish Creek National Park, a free winter destination in Calgary, and track and guess the foot prints in the snow.
Best Place To Stay: Hyatt Regency Calgary
Things To Do In Calgary:

Dog sledding around the city
Visit the Banff National Park
Cross-country skiing
Hiking
Ice fishing

12. Quebec City: Stay In An Igloo

Are you still confused where to visit in Canada during winter to enjoy the snow activities? Then, visit the Quebec City to take part in the snow baths, ice canoe races, have a luxurious stay in an igloo, and the famous Quebec Winter Festival which makes this city a prime choice for experiencing the Canada winter at its best. If not with family or friends, you must definitely consider visiting here with your partner!

Tourist Attractions: Celebrate the ‘Quebec Winter Carnival’ and make massive snow sculptures. Also, check out the Ice Hotel carved entirely out of ice and decorated with neon lights.
Best Place To Stay: Hotel de Glace
Things To Do:

Attend the Quebec Winter Carnival
Indulge in snowsliding
Ice fishing
Stay in the ice hotel

13. Winnipeg: Enjoy Skating At The Forks

Image Credit: 12019 by Pixabay

From letting you party outside like a Voyageur, and skating on the longest naturally frozen trail to warming up indoors, Winnipeg is the best place for enjoying your Canada winter holidays . When here, make sure you also visit attractions like FortWhyte Alive and The Forks!

Tourist Attractions: Enjoy Thermea, an open-air Scandinavian spa in the forests of Fort Garry, just 10-minutes drive away from the city.
Best Place To Stay: Delta Hotels by Marriott Winnipeg
Things To Do:

Attend the Festival du Voyageur
Go for skating at The Forks
Enjoy a bonfire at FortWhyte Alive
Visit the Assiniboine Park Zoo

14. Ottawa: Indulge In Winter Camping

Boasting the largest outdoor skating rink in the world, Ottawa is amongst the best places to visit in Canada in December, and a paradise for people who love Canada winter. After skating for long hours on the Rideau Canal, you can explore the city and end the day on a warm note by dining at any of its gorgeous restaurants. There are a lot of guest houses in Ottawa wherein you can enjoy your stay; comfortably and affordably.

Tourist Attractions: Enjoy gorging on ‘beavertails’, a local delectable treat which has become an addiction for Canadians, even President Obama couldn’t resist.
Best Place To Stay: Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Things To Do In Ottawa:

Go for skating on the Rideau Canal
Visit the Gatineau Park for cross country skiing
Indulge in winter camping

15. Whistler: Go Ice Climbing And Skating

Image Credit: ArtTower by Pixabay

This winter wonderland is the ideal place to visit, especially with your family if you wish to experience the best winter vacations in Canada. Situated in British Columbia, this ski capital of the country offers more fun adventures than just skiing, and cuts down the confusion of ‘where to go in Canada in December‘.

Tourist Attractions: Embark on the Peak 2 Peak Experience where you will get to witness numerous famous peaks from a prime spot.
Best Place To Stay: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler
Things To Do:

Dog sledding
Ice climbing, and Ice-skating
Snowmobiling, and snowshoeing
Sleigh rides, and Ice fishing

Tips For Visiting Canada In Winter

Pack a pair of gloves, jackets, a warm cap, a woolen scarf, and sturdy shoes
Make sure you pack clothes, keeping your trip itinerary or activities in mind
Pack a good moisturizer, lip balm, and sunscreen to keep your skin hydrated
Keep a regular check on the weather forecast while leaving for Canada, and even when you’re traveling in the country from one place to another
Wear multiple layers of clothing so that it’s easy to adjust to the change in temperature
Make sure you don’t skip your meals, especially your breakfast

Further Read: 12 Honeymoon Places In December In India: Top Mountains, Beaches

Excited to have fun in the snow already? Unfortunately, you will have to wait for a few months more. Until then, have a look at the best places to visit in Canada in winter for an absolutely thrilling international holiday. Plan a trip to Canada and have the best time of your life.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Canada In Winter

How long are winters in Canada?

Usually winter weather in Canada begins from November and goes all the way through to late March or early April. Usually, winter seasons can last between 3-6 months with December and January being the coldest months.

Where should I go for a Christmas vacation in Canada?

Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, and Vancouver are some of the best places to spend Christmas in Canada.

Which cities in Canada are not too cold?

Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, Abbotsford, and Halifax are some of the cities in Canada that have fewest frozen days and are relatively less cold than the other cities.

What you need to survive a winter in Canada?

Here are a few survival tips for winters in Canada:
1. Dress in layers- Start with a base layer like thermal leggings and wear snow pants on top of them
2. Cover your entire body including your face
3. Don’t stay outside for too long
4. Check the weather forecast
5. Make proper arrangements for staying warm indoors

Which city in Canada is the coldest?

Winnipeg is the coldest Canada’s city where most often temperature drops to -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) or below and it is least likely to have a day above freezing during winter.

What is the best time of year to go to Canada?

In many ways, the fall months, particularly September and October, are the best time to travel, as the weather is frequently very pleasant, the crowds have dispersed, and accommodation prices are lower than summer. If you are looking for value, spring is another good time to visit Canada.

Which are some fun places to visit near Toronto this winter?

Harrison Park for ice skating, Atelier Arboreal for winter camping in a tipi, and Georgian Hills Vineyards for a snowshoe tour are some of the fun places to visit in and around the city this winter.

Which are the best places to visit in Canada in winter with family?

Whistler and Quebec City are the best places to holiday in Canada in winter with family. Both these places offer adventure-packed experiences that are enough to make it the most memorable vacation.

Which Canadian cities worth visiting in winter?

In Canada, Victoria, British Columbia is the best city to explore during winters where the average temperature is around 10 degrees Celcius.

Which province is best to visit in Canada in winter?

Toronto is one of the best city to visit in Canada in winter that offers loads of snow activities along with prominent landmarks.

What is the warmest province in Canada in winter?

Victoria, British Columbia is the warmest city in Canada that usually have 10-degree celsius temperature on an average and goes lowest to 4 degree celsius.