Here are the small towns in Canada, chosen for Canadian travellers. Canada’s small towns are full of character.
Small towns in Canada
1. Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove
Lunenburg is a UNESCO-listed fishing town with colourful buildings, home of the Bluenose II, while Peggy’s Cove is Canada’s most photographed lighthouse. Read our Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove travel guide.
- Best time: June to October
- Getting there: About 1 hour from Halifax
- Don’t miss: Old Town Lunenburg, Bluenose II and Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
- Mid-range hotels: C$220–380 a night
2. Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a charming 19th-century town in Ontario wine country, home of the Shaw Festival and icewine. Read our Niagara-on-the-Lake travel guide.
- Best time: May to October; January for the Icewine Festival
- Getting there: About 1.5 hours from Toronto; 20 minutes from Niagara Falls
- Don’t miss: Queen Street, Wineries and Shaw Festival
- Mid-range hotels: C$320–550 a night
3. Mont-Tremblant
Mont-Tremblant is a colourful pedestrian ski village in the Laurentians, popular year-round for skiing, lakes and fall colours. Read our Mont-Tremblant travel guide.
- Best time: December to March; late September to early October for colours
- Getting there: About 1.5–2 hours from Montreal
- Don’t miss: Tremblant ski resort, Pedestrian village and Mont-Tremblant National Park
- Mid-range hotels: C$320–550 a night
4. Tofino
Tofino sits on Vancouver Island’s wild west coast, famous for surfing, storm watching and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Read our Tofino travel guide.
- Best time: May to September; November to February for storms
- Getting there: About 3 hours from Nanaimo; 4.5–5 hours from Victoria
- Don’t miss: Long Beach, Storm watching and Hot Springs Cove
- Mid-range hotels: C$320–550 a night
Hit the road prepared
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Record scenic drives and protect yourself if something happens on the highway. - Best budget 12V portable fridges VerdictFox
Keep drinks and picnic food cold on long road trips without buying ice every day. - Best portable power stations VerdictFox
Run a cooler, charge cameras and power a CPAP at campsites without hookups.
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5. Drumheller
Drumheller, in Alberta’s Badlands, is the dinosaur capital of the world, home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Read our Drumheller travel guide.
- Best time: May to September
- Getting there: About 1.5 hours from Calgary
- Don’t miss: Royal Tyrrell Museum, Hoodoos and Horseshoe Canyon
- Mid-range hotels: C$170–280 a night
6. Baie-Saint-Paul
Art town.
7. Canmore
Mountain town.
8. St. Andrews by-the-Sea
Seaside resort.
9. Dawson City
Gold rush.
10. Stratford
Theatre.
Tips
Stay overnight to enjoy evenings.
How to choose
Start with when you can travel and how you like to spend your days. Some destinations on this list shine in summer, others in shoulder season; some suit active travellers, others are made for slow days and good food. Pick one or two that match your style rather than trying to see everything, and read the linked guides for timing, costs and where to stay.
How we chose
We picked destinations that consistently impress first-time and returning visitors, balanced famous names with lesser-known gems, and considered access, value, seasonality and the quality of the experience on the ground. Prices, opening dates and reservation rules change, so confirm the details before booking.
Plan a trip around it
Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove
Lunenburg is a UNESCO-listed fishing town with colourful buildings, home of the Bluenose II, while Peggy’s Cove is Canada’s most photographed lighthouse. Read our Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove travel guide.
- Best time: June to October
- Getting there: About 1 hour from Halifax
- Don’t miss: Old Town Lunenburg, Bluenose II and Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
- Mid-range hotels: C$220–380 a night
Charlevoix
Charlevoix is a UNESCO biosphere region of rolling hills along the St. Lawrence, known for food, art and the Train de Charlevoix. Read our Charlevoix travel guide.
- Best time: June to October
- Getting there: About 1–1.5 hours from Quebec City
- Don’t miss: Baie-Saint-Paul, Le Massif and Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie
- Mid-range hotels: C$220–380 a night
Planning tips for your trip
- ID for flights: Domestic flights require government-issued photo ID; carry a passport if you might cross into the US.
- Money: GST or HST is added to most prices at the till, so budget 5–15% more than the shelf price; tipping 15–20% at restaurants is standard.
- Insurance: Provincial health plans may not pay the full cost of care in another province, and ambulance and air-ambulance costs can be high, so check whether an out-of-province travel insurance policy makes sense for you. Read our guide to out-of-province travel insurance.
- Driving: Most Canadians road-trip in their own car; rentals are widely available, and winter tyres are required on many BC highways and in Quebec in winter. Fuel is usually cheapest in Alberta and most expensive in BC and the North.
- Saving money: see our Canada budget travel and cheapest places to travel in Canada guides.
What a trip costs
Typical spending per person per day, excluding flights:
| Travel style | Per person per day | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | C$150–C$220 | motel, hostel or campsite, casual meals, self-drive |
| Mid-range | C$300–C$480 | good hotel, restaurant meals, some tours |
| Luxury | C$700–C$1,400 | resort or historic hotel, fine dining, guided experiences |
Prices rise in peak season and on holiday weekends, and fall sharply in the shoulder seasons.
Travelling responsibly
Follow Leave No Trace principles: stay on marked trails, pack out everything you bring in, and never feed wildlife. Support locally owned restaurants, guides and shops, and visit popular places early or late to spread out the crowds. In busy parks, use shuttles where they exist to cut traffic and parking pressure.
Safety basics
Carry water and layers on outdoor outings, check weather and road conditions before long drives, and tell someone your plans in remote areas, where mobile coverage can be patchy. In cities, use normal precautions with valuables at night. The emergency number is 911.
Travel in style
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Gifts for the traveller in your life. - Best weekender bags Opulique
A refined weekender is perfect for two-night escapes.
Partner links: these go to our sister review sites, which may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best choice on this list?
It depends on your travel style, but Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove is a standout for most travellers.
When should I go?
Most of these destinations are best in spring and fall, when crowds are lighter and prices lower.
How many days do I need?
Plan at least two to three days per destination.
Are these good for families?
Most are; check each guide for family tips.
How much should I budget?
Mid-range travellers typically spend C$300–C$480 per person per day.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Lunenburg Travel Guide: UNESCO Town and Iconic Lighthouse
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Travel Guide: Wineries, Theatre and Historic Charm
- Mont-Tremblant Travel Guide: Skiing, Fall Colours and Spas
- Tofino Travel Guide: Surfing, Beaches and Storm Watching
- How to Travel Canada on a Budget: 25 Money-Saving Tips