If you don’t get winters often and want to experience the cold and snow, visiting the Great White North is an easy option as we have plenty of beautiful winter destinations to visit in Canada. Not only is it a different climate than you may be used to, but you can also stay warm and cuddled up by the fire with hot chocolate or visit Christmas Markets for that authentic winter feeling. I highly recommend being prepared for the cold as it is not friendly! Even though I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, I still don’t know how I survive the cold every year. The most important thing is to have the right attire so here are some Winter Vacation Packing Tips To Stay Warm. Don’t forget your skin too, since it can drastically change in only a couple of days in cold weather – use this Winter Skincare Routine For Dry Skin That Works.
All the locations listed below are great all year round, but they’re also especially beautiful during the winter. For the best times to visit these winter destinations in Canada,
1 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Of course, I have to mention my hometown! I think Toronto has a great blend of city and winter activities. There’s plenty to do both indoors and outdoors so you can have the best of both worlds if you can’t stand the cold too much. Especially during Christmastime, there are plenty of festivals and events almost every week that you’ll want to try at least once. Some of these include Winterlicious, Icefest, Distillery Winter Village(formerly known as the Christmas Market), Toronto Light Festival, Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest, and much more. You can also go tobogganing, ice skating, and embark on winter hikes in the Toronto area. Plus, it’s a great hub to travel to nearby cities for skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing, winter hiking and snowshoeing, and ice fishing.
2 – Blue Mountains, Ontario, Canada
Blue Mountain is a ski town about 2 hours north of Toronto and it is both a very popular tourist destination in summer and winter. Almost everything you do in the summer here can also be done during the winter. However, in the wintertime, in addition to the epic Ride Runner Mountain Coaster, you can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, Hike N’ Tube, and more. It’s also a unique experience to visit the Scenic Caves Nature Adventures. But the best activity that the Blue Mountains offer which makes it one of the best winter destinations to visit in Canada is the amazing Scandinave Spa to enjoy their outdoor thermal baths.
3 – Muskoka Beer Spa, Ontario, Canada
Muskoka is Ontario’s most popular cottage country destination, but what’s even more special is the Muskoka Beer Spa. It’s the first beer spa in Canada and is one of the best winter destinations to visit in Ontario since they are fully equipped with spa facilities that include hot tubs, saunas, and other spa services. Not to mention an ice rink! Plus, you can order kegs for your cabin. For other winter activities nearby, you can go on snowmobile tours, dog sledding, ice fishing, ice climbing, and even visit the Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve.
4 – Niagara Falls and Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada
Niagara Falls transforms into a different kind of natural wonder in the world during the wintertime when it gets cold enough for the magnificent waterfalls to freeze over (at least parts of it). This is really a sight to see and it really is beautiful. For photos and an itinerary that may help your trip, check out the details in my How To Plan Your Trip To Niagara Falls blog post. Don’t forget that there is still a lot to do in Clifton Hill where you can visit different restaurants, shops, and many different attractions to stay warm as well.
Not too far away from Niagara Falls is the wine country Niagara-On-The-Lake. There are dozens of wineries, distilleries, and breweries. And there are many great restaurants in the area that go perfectly with all the wine you may drink! For a full list of all the wineries and things to do, here’s an Itinerary For A 1 Night Wine Country Getaway in Niagara-On-The-Lake. And if you’re there in the month of January, you can even attend the Niagara Wine Festival with many different experiences to choose from including an icewine tour, a winter wine garden, a firepit experience, and more.
5 – Quebec City, Quebec
I love road trips to Quebec – it really is such a beautiful, historic province, especially in Quebec City. It has a lot of European vibes and French culture and it feels like you’re in a different country which makes for an amazing getaway and one of the best winter destinations to visit in Canada. It is especially pretty in the winter with the snow falling and transports you back in time – it is one of North America’s oldest cities after all! To see the best of Quebec City, here is an Itinerary For A 2 Night 3 Day Stay In Quebec City.
6 – Mont Tremblant, Quebec
Like Blue Mountain, Mont Tremblant is a beautiful ski town in Quebec. And if you love winter sports, the mountains here are much higher than those in Ontario. It is a quaint little town and the Rue de Saint-Jovite, which is the main street in the area has many historic homes, antique shops, and restaurants. My favorite part of Mont Tremblant during the winter is definitely the Scandinave Spa! The difference between this one and the one in Blue Mountain is that the one in Mont Tremblant is actually by the Devil’s River, so during the winter, it gets iced over and you can do a polar bear plunge here. Here’s How To Plan Your Winter Getaway In Mont Tremblant, Quebec!
7 – Vancouver, British Columbia
Similar to Toronto, Vancouver also has a great combination of city and outdoor activities for the wintertime. Since it is on the West Coast of Canada, the winters are usually milder here and can have more rain than snow. But it is the perfect place if you are a foodie since they have hundreds of restaurants, including fresh seafood, and is central to other areas in British Columbia that you’ll want to visit while on this trip. Aside from your main winter activities, you can actually do snow camping and winter ziplining. They also light up places like Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and other popular areas with gorgeous light decorations. Here is an Itinerary For 3 Days In Vancouver, British Columbia – feel free to pick and choose what you feel comfortable with doing since not every location may be feasible for winter.
8 – Whistler, British Columbia
Just north of Vancouver is the ski town of Whistler, British Columbia. Known for its skiing and snowboarding, it is the largest ski resort in North America with 200 runs which makes it one of the best winter destinations to visit in Canada. They also have Whistler Village where you can relax and get some delicious food before your next run on the slopes. You can experience the winter outdoors, indulge in spa activities to pamper your possibly sore muscles, and even take in the local culture and scenery. For more on what you can do, here’s an Itinerary For 3 Days In Whistler, British Columbia.
9 – Banff, Alberta
Just as stunning in the winter as it is in summer, Banff, famous for Lake Louise (and Moraine Lake), offers almost a Narnia-like vibe. In the winter, you can ice skate on this frozen lake surrounded by fresh white snow and have hot chocolates to keep you warm – it really is a perfect winter getaway. What makes Banff one of the best winter destinations to visit in Canada is that you can also see the Northern Lights here. It’s also nice that this time of the year, it is quieter with much fewer people than in the summer and you can enjoy Downtown Banff with its shops and museums and can guarantee a spot at one of the busiest restaurants. What’s great about Banff is that you can also soak in the hot springs where you can unwind and enjoy the winter while staying warm. Here is an Itinerary For 5 Days In Canmore And Banff, Alberta.
10 – Jasper, Alberta
You can easily spend 5 days in Jasper, Alberta during the winter. It is home to Alberta’s tallest mountain, Mount Columbia, and Maligne Lake – the second-largest glacial lake in the world. Jasper also hosts the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve. You can ski and snowboard at Marmot Basin on their 91 runs, go dog sledding, ice climbing on waterfalls, and even do the Maligne Canyon Icewalk where you can venture through the frozen canyon.
11 – Charlottetown, PEI
The capital city of Prince Edward Island is Charlottetown and it is a great city to visit during the winter since you can attend hockey games, go winter mount winter mountain biking (also known as winter fat biking), enjoy a sleigh ride, and eat delectable food at the annual Winter Dine Festival. In addition, you can go cross-country or alpine skiing at Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park, see the best views of the sandstone cliffs at Orby Head, and visit the Cape Bear Lighthouse for those picturesque winter views.
12 – St. John’s, Newfoundland
If you really like a lot of snow, St. John’s is Canada’s snowiest large city which can make for one of the best winter destinations to visit in Canada if that’s what you’re looking for. In the winter, there’s less traffic and tourists overall and you can basically have everything to yourself, which is a plus in my books! You can skate at The Loop, go tobogganing or snowmobiling, go winter ziplining and ice fishing, and even visit the Lester Farm Chalet and go to White Hills Resort which is 2 hours away from St. John’s for snowboarding and skiing. There’s even a yearly Snowbike Festival you can attend. And, don’t forget to have a Newfoundland boil-up where you have a winter picnic by cooking your food and making tea over an open fire.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with any of these winter destinations to visit when you’re in Canada! You’ll really be able to experience winter in all its glory across the country and do all those activities you may have only dreamed about, especially if you don’t get winter where you’re from!