Here are the romantic getaways in Canada, chosen for Canadian travellers. From château hotels to storm-watching lodges, these are Canada’s most romantic escapes.
Romantic getaways in Canada
1. Quebec City
Quebec City is the only walled city north of Mexico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with French charm, the Château Frontenac and a famous winter carnival. Read our Quebec City travel guide.
- Best time: June to October; February for Carnival; December for Christmas
- Getting there: About 3 hours from Montreal
- Don’t miss: Old Quebec, Château Frontenac and Petit-Champlain
- 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. 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
4. Banff
Banff is Canada’s first national park (1885) and its most famous mountain town, surrounded by turquoise lakes, hot springs, wildlife and the peaks of the Rockies. Read our Banff travel guide.
- Best time: June to September for lakes and hiking; December to March for skiing
- Getting there: About 1.5 hours from Calgary; 3.5–4 hours from Jasper via the Icefields Parkway
- Don’t miss: Moraine Lake, Banff Gondola and Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Mid-range hotels: C$320–550 a night
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5. Victoria
Victoria, BC’s capital on Vancouver Island, has a mild climate, a historic Inner Harbour, gardens and whale watching. Read our Victoria travel guide.
- Best time: May to September
- Getting there: About 1.5 hours by ferry from Vancouver (plus terminal drives); 35 minutes by floatplane
- Don’t miss: Butchart Gardens, Inner Harbour and Royal BC Museum
- Mid-range hotels: C$220–380 a night
6. 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
7. Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a glacier-fed turquoise lake beneath Victoria Glacier, framed by the Fairmont Chateau, and the gateway to Moraine Lake. Read our Lake Louise travel guide.
- Best time: June to September; December to March
- Getting there: About 2 hours from Calgary; 45 minutes from Banff
- Don’t miss: Lake Louise shoreline, Lake Agnes Tea House and Plain of Six Glaciers
- Mid-range hotels: C$320–550 a night
8. 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
9. Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County is a wine-and-beach island on Lake Ontario, known for Sandbanks Provincial Park and farm-to-table food. Read our Prince Edward County travel guide.
- Best time: June to October
- Getting there: About 2.5 hours from Toronto
- Don’t miss: Sandbanks Provincial Park, Wineries and Picton
- Mid-range hotels: C$220–380 a night
10. Whistler
Whistler is North America’s largest ski resort and a summer playground for mountain biking, hiking and lakes, about two hours from Vancouver on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Read our Whistler travel guide.
- Best time: December to April for skiing; July to September for summer
- Getting there: About 2 hours from Vancouver
- Don’t miss: Whistler Blackcomb, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and Whistler Village
- Mid-range hotels: C$320–550 a night
Tips
Book views and one special dinner.
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.
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.
Responsible travel tips
Popular places are under pressure from crowds. Visit on weekdays or in shoulder seasons, carpool or use shuttles, refill a reusable water bottle, and buy from local businesses. Respect Indigenous lands and cultural sites, follow posted closures, and keep a safe distance from wildlife.
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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best choice on this list?
It depends on your travel style, but Quebec City 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
- Quebec City Travel Guide: Old Quebec, Winter Carnival and Tips
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Travel Guide: Wineries, Theatre and Historic Charm
- Tofino Travel Guide: Surfing, Beaches and Storm Watching
- Banff Travel Guide: Lakes, Hikes and Where to Stay
- How to Travel Canada on a Budget: 25 Money-Saving Tips