So me and my mother have been planning a trip to Canada this summer. We are both Swedes, so we are not all that familiar with what is interesting to see in Canada. We have booked tickets to Montreal with plans to visit Ottawa and Quebec City, so now I turn to you, H&A, for tips of things that are must see. The trips is planned for the 17th of July and will last a week.
Things we have considered to see include but are not limited too:
Ottawa:
Canadian museum of Civilization
Montreal:
Biosphére
Redpath Museum
Quebec City:
Montmorency Falls
There's a bunch of other things we have looked at, but I can't seem to remember them at the moment.
Wouldn't it be quite a long trip from Montreal/ Ottawa to the Niagara Falls? Nice to know that the Canadian side is the best, as we have not planned to apply for visas to visit the US (though we could of course do that)
Wouldn't it be quite a long trip from Montreal/ Ottawa to the Niagara Falls? Nice to know that the Canadian side is the best, as we have not planned to apply for visas to visit the US (though we could of course do that)
It's quite the distance. Like a 7 hour drive or so. So probably not. Unless you wanted to extend your visit to Toronto, then you're only an hour or two away by car.
Given that you only have a week though, you're probably better off sticking to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa.
Touring the parliament buildings, or the Prime Minister's residence can be interesting in Ottawa, if you're into that sort of thing.
Montreal: Botanical garden, Biodome, the underground mall (if you like shopping).
Quebec City: the old city - and just wonder around. The architecture, stores and general atmosphere is nice.
Ottawa: National Art Gallery, Parliament hill - take a tour, the Byward Market (it's our downtown area pretty much. Lots of shops and restaurants), Calypso Water Park - I believe it's the largest water park in Canada.
Yeah we had considered going to Toronto but decided to go see more cities, and Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec where closer together, so we are not going to head to Toronto.
That said, these all seem like nice suggestions so far! Will be sure to look more closely into them later. Thanks for the suggestions!
I am from Québec City, lived there most of my life. I'm not there anymore, so unfortunately I can't give you a tour. But if you need any advice at all, restaurant recommendations, etc., PM me.
I don't know if this is a thing where you're from, but in the major cities in canada they have rent-a-bike stations.
They look something like this:
So there are a bunch of stations for these bikes around the city. You can purchase a 24-hour pass ($5 + tax) or a 72-hour pass ($12 + tax) directly at the station. Provided that the bicycle is returned to a station within an allotted 30-minute trip, no additional trip fee is incurred. These are actually a GREAT way to get around the cities on nice days. Here is their website:
I don't believe they are used in Quebec City but I may be wrong.
Aside from that, I live in Ottawa and would say be sure to visit the following:
National War Museum (amazing war history museum - obviously canadian focused)
Byward Market (nice place to walk around, eat, drink, what have you)
Parliament Buildings (Canada's Central Government - they do tours)
National Arts Center (See what is playing around the time you are here, a good place for live shows)
Rideau Canal (BEAUTIFUL walkways along the Canal that go through the city)
If you are into drinking beer (legal age in Ontario is 19) - Pub Italia
Also Ottawa does haunted walks if you are so inclined
Tasteticle on
Uh-oh I accidentally deleted my signature. Uh-oh!!
Yo check out the War Museum in Ottawa, as well. It's just as good as the Civilization one in Gatineau. Also, if you can, head to the Religions exhibit at the Civilization museum, if it's still there.
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Mr FuzmsAuckland, New ZealandRegistered Userregular
I must admit I'm interested to see what people are putting here since I'm off to Montreal for the first time during Canada Day weekend (end of June/beginning of July). I've been staying/working in Toronto on a working holiday Visa thing since last August, but it's been hard to find the time/money to get properly out and about.
I know there are meant to be lots of events going on in Montreal over the summer, case in point there's some sort of massive Jazz Festival or something going on during the Canada Day weekend, so it might be worth scouting ahead and seeing if anything similar is going on for when you're over. If there's one thing I've learned during my brief stint in Canada it's that they love their free festival stuff, and that their free festival stuff is almost Universally awesome.
Though the student protests/micro-riots going on in Montreal do worry me a bit. Rather not get caught up in that!
Yo check out the War Museum in Ottawa, as well. It's just as good as the Civilization one in Gatineau. Also, if you can, head to the Religions exhibit at the Civilization museum, if it's still there.
I've never been to Ottawa, but my parents visited a few years back and said the War Museum was absolutely amazing, and they don't consider themselves "museum people". Give it a try!
Yo check out the War Museum in Ottawa, as well. It's just as good as the Civilization one in Gatineau. Also, if you can, head to the Religions exhibit at the Civilization museum, if it's still there.
I've never been to Ottawa, but my parents visited a few years back and said the War Museum was absolutely amazing, and they don't consider themselves "museum people". Give it a try!
I've had a lot of recommendations for that museum, so will certainly be sure to check it out. Had a similar experience with a war museum over here in Sweden some years ago.
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LoL EU West nickname: Irridan
Given that you only have a week though, you're probably better off sticking to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa.
Touring the parliament buildings, or the Prime Minister's residence can be interesting in Ottawa, if you're into that sort of thing.
Quebec City: the old city - and just wonder around. The architecture, stores and general atmosphere is nice.
Ottawa: National Art Gallery, Parliament hill - take a tour, the Byward Market (it's our downtown area pretty much. Lots of shops and restaurants), Calypso Water Park - I believe it's the largest water park in Canada.
That said, these all seem like nice suggestions so far! Will be sure to look more closely into them later. Thanks for the suggestions!
LoL EU West nickname: Irridan
Old Québec (MUST SEE, there are English tours)
Musée de la civilisation
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (if you're into art)
Plains of Abraham
Université Laval (if you're like me and you like walking through foreign campuses)
Promenade Samuel-de-Champlein (couldn't find a Wiki page, but it's a beautiful walk by the St-Laurence)
Near Québec City:
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Île d'Orléans (although given the limited time you expressed, I might skip that one)
I am from Québec City, lived there most of my life. I'm not there anymore, so unfortunately I can't give you a tour. But if you need any advice at all, restaurant recommendations, etc., PM me.
LoL EU West nickname: Irridan
The Basilica is worth the trip. You can stop by the falls on your way to/from as well.
You should find some info here about what's going on in Quebec City during your stay.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
Seconded. Really great Museum. Definitely check out Byward Market in Ottawa as well.
I am quite interested in war history myself, so will try to work that in!
LoL EU West nickname: Irridan
They look something like this:
So there are a bunch of stations for these bikes around the city. You can purchase a 24-hour pass ($5 + tax) or a 72-hour pass ($12 + tax) directly at the station. Provided that the bicycle is returned to a station within an allotted 30-minute trip, no additional trip fee is incurred. These are actually a GREAT way to get around the cities on nice days. Here is their website:
https://capital.bixi.com/ (ottawa)
https://montreal.bixi.com/ (montreal)
They have detailed station maps there
I don't believe they are used in Quebec City but I may be wrong.
Aside from that, I live in Ottawa and would say be sure to visit the following:
National War Museum (amazing war history museum - obviously canadian focused)
Byward Market (nice place to walk around, eat, drink, what have you)
Parliament Buildings (Canada's Central Government - they do tours)
National Arts Center (See what is playing around the time you are here, a good place for live shows)
Rideau Canal (BEAUTIFUL walkways along the Canal that go through the city)
If you are into drinking beer (legal age in Ontario is 19) - Pub Italia
Also Ottawa does haunted walks if you are so inclined
Uh-oh I accidentally deleted my signature. Uh-oh!!
I know there are meant to be lots of events going on in Montreal over the summer, case in point there's some sort of massive Jazz Festival or something going on during the Canada Day weekend, so it might be worth scouting ahead and seeing if anything similar is going on for when you're over. If there's one thing I've learned during my brief stint in Canada it's that they love their free festival stuff, and that their free festival stuff is almost Universally awesome.
Though the student protests/micro-riots going on in Montreal do worry me a bit. Rather not get caught up in that!
LoL EU West nickname: Irridan
I don't recommend GIS'ing it.
it just results in making me really hungry, mmmmm poutine.
it is delicious
Also, when you are in Ottawa, eat shawarma
You can't walk a block without passing like 18 shawarma places
Personally I prefer shawarma deluxe
Shawarma is the food the gods eat
Uh-oh I accidentally deleted my signature. Uh-oh!!
I've never been to Ottawa, but my parents visited a few years back and said the War Museum was absolutely amazing, and they don't consider themselves "museum people". Give it a try!
I've had a lot of recommendations for that museum, so will certainly be sure to check it out. Had a similar experience with a war museum over here in Sweden some years ago.
LoL EU West nickname: Irridan