Canada stretches from Pacific rainforest to prairie and shield to the Atlantic—home to First Nations whose cultures shaped these lands for millennia, and to French and British colonies that stitched together a confederation in 1867. Today, it’s a mosaic of neighborhoods and languages where nature is never far from the city limits.

On this 13-day itinerary, you’ll glide by seaplane over Vancouver’s harbors, ride a gondola to a mountain summit in Banff National Park, and toast Toronto’s skyline before mist-soaked moments at Niagara Falls. Expect wildlife, inventive cuisine, and neighborhoods worth lingering in.

Practical notes: Canada uses CAD; tipping is typically 15–20% at restaurants. Pack layers—coastal Vancouver is mild, the Rockies are alpine, and Toronto’s weather can swing. If you’re visa-exempt, you may need an eTA to fly into Canada; check current entry rules. Reserve popular activities (Lake Louise/Moraine Lake, seaplane tours, Niagara boat cruises) well in advance.

Vancouver

Ringed by mountains and the Pacific, Vancouver pairs Indigenous heritage and Asian influences with a world-class outdoor scene. Mornings on the seawall, afternoons in old-brick Gastown, evenings in glow-lit izakayas—it’s a city that moves easily from forest to food.

Getting in: Fly into YVR. Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. From the airport, the Canada Line SkyTrain reaches downtown in ~25 minutes.

Where to stay: Search a wide range of stays on VRBO Vancouver or Hotels.com Vancouver. Standouts include the harbor-view Fairmont Pacific Rim (spa and rooftop pool), resort-style The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver on the seawall, all-suite comfort at Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown, and social digs at Samesun Vancouver Hostel.

Days 1–4: Stanley Park, Seaplanes, Capilano & Victoria

Walk or bike the 10-km Stanley Park Seawall, pausing at totem poles and Prospect Point. Explore Granville Island’s Public Market—grab Lee’s Donuts and watch glassblowers—then wander Gastown’s brick lanes and the Steam Clock.

• Vancouver City + Capilano — Skip the car and cover the icons on the Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout. Cross a rainforest canyon and take in 360° views from the Lookout.

  

• Take to the sky — A postcard flight on the Vancouver Panorama Scenic Seaplane Tour showcases Coal Harbour, Stanley Park, and English Bay in 20 unforgettable minutes.

  

• Whales & orcas — From spring through fall, join the Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure aboard fast, stable catamarans with indoor/outdoor viewing and naturalist guides.

  

• Day trip to Victoria — Cruise the Salish Sea and stroll the famed botanicals on the Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour with Ferry, combining a scenic ferry, city tour, and ample garden time.

  

Coffee & breakfast: Nemesis (artful pour-overs, inventive pastries), Revolver (single-origin flights), and Medina Café (spiced waffles with salted caramel, plus Mediterranean brunch).

Lunch ideas: Granville Island picks like The Lobster Man (bisque, rolls), Go Fish by Fisherman’s Wharf (tacones, fish & chips), or Phnom Penh in Chinatown (legendary chicken wings, butter beef).

Dinner & drinks: Miku (aburi sushi with waterfront views), Savio Volpe (wood-fired Italian, housemade pastas), Vij’s (modern Indian—no reservations, worth the wait). For cocktails, The Keefer Bar mixes apothecary-inspired drinks in Chinatown; Brassneck Brewery pours small-batch ales on Main Street.

Banff & Lake Louise (via Calgary)

In Banff National Park, peaks vault from turquoise lakes, wildlife grazes meadows at dusk, and glaciers carve the Icefields Parkway. The town of Banff hums with hiking stores and patios; Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the poster children of the Rockies.

Travel day (morning, Day 5): Vancouver → Calgary → Banff. Fly YVR→YYC (~1h25; often $60–180 one-way when booked early on Trip.com or Kiwi.com). From YYC, shuttle or bus to Banff (~1h45; ~$45–75) along the Trans-Canada.

Where to stay: Browse VRBO Banff chalets and condos or compare hotels on Hotels.com Banff. Staying in-town is walkable; Lake Louise offers lakeside serenity; nearby Canmore can be better value.

Days 5–8: Gondolas, Glacial Lakes & the Icefields Parkway

Start with a stroll along the Bow River and Cascade Gardens, then ride to the roof of Banff on Sulphur Mountain for a boardwalk above six mountain ranges. Evenings, keep an eye out for elk near Vermilion Lakes.

• Sulphur Mountain views — Take in sweeping panoramas on the Banff Gondola Ride Admission; the summit boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak is a must.

  

• Lake Louise & Moraine Lake — Secure coveted lake time with the Banff: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Shuttle; photograph sunrise-blue waters under the Ten Peaks.

  

• Glaciers up close — Drive the Icefields Parkway and step onto ancient ice on the Columbia Icefield Tour with Glacier Skywalk. It’s a bucket-list combo of snowcoach, skywalk, and mountain geology.

  

• All-in-one lake circuit (optional) — Prefer a guided day with transport? See the icons on the Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Banff Tour from Calgary/Canmore/Banff.

  

Hikes & local gems: Johnston Canyon (catwalks to waterfalls), Lake Agnes Tea House (moderate climb to a historic teahouse), Bow Valley Parkway (wildlife at first/last light), and the Banff Upper Hot Springs for a soak.

Coffee & breakfast: Whitebark Cafe (espresso, maple scones), Wild Flour Bakery (sourdough, granola bowls). In Lake Louise, Bill Peyto’s Café serves hearty breakfasts for hikers.

Lunch & dinner: The Maple Leaf (Albertan beef, bison tartare), Nourish Bistro (inventive vegetarian), Park Distillery (campfire-inspired plates, on-site spirits), and fondue at The Grizzly House (retro, fun). For a view, the Lakeview Lounge at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise pairs cocktails with glacier scenery.

Toronto (with a Niagara Falls Day Trip)

Canada’s largest city is a patchwork of neighborhoods—Little Portugal and Greektown, Koreatown and Little India—stitched together by streetcars and a skyline crowned by the CN Tower. Artsy, sports-mad, and always hungry, Toronto rewards curious wanderers.

Travel day (morning, Day 9): Calgary → Toronto. Fly YYC→YYZ (~3h45 nonstop; typically $120–300 on Trip.com or Kiwi.com). UP Express train connects YYZ to downtown Union Station in ~25 minutes.

Where to stay: Compare options on VRBO Toronto and Hotels.com Toronto. For splurge-worthy service and spa, book The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto. For music lovers on Queen Street, The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar doubles as a nightly jazz venue. Families value the central, budget-friendly Chelsea Hotel, Toronto.

Days 9–13: CN Tower, St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District & Niagara Falls

Start at the CN Tower and Harbourfront promenade, then explore the Distillery Historic District’s cobblestones and galleries. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and Kensington Market’s vintage shops make an easy pairing.

• St. Lawrence Market lunch — Snack your way through icons: Buster’s Sea Cove (lobster rolls, grilled halibut), Uno Mustachio (towering veal or eggplant parm), St. Urbain Bagel (Montreal-style). Pick up mustards at Kozlik’s as edible souvenirs.
• Niagara Falls day trip — From Toronto, join the Niagara Falls Day Tour (Includes Boat, Winery Stop & Lunch) for a full sweep: wine tasting in the Niagara benchlands, a three-course view lunch, and a Hornblower boat ride to the Horseshoe Falls.

  

• Want more Niagara time? — Elevate the experience on the Best of Niagara Falls Canada Premium Tour with Skylon Tower views, Journey Behind the Falls, and a boat cruise.

  

Optional overnight at the Falls: Stay steps from the mist at Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa. Families love the waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls; budget-minded travelers can pick Days Inn by Wyndham Niagara Falls Near The Falls.

Coffee & breakfast: Dineen Coffee Co. (gilded-ceiling café, downtown), Sam James Coffee Bar (tiny shops, big espresso), and Lady Marmalade (eggs bennies, breakfast poutine) on the east side.

Lunch & dinner: Pai (Northern Thai by chef Nuit Regular; order the Khao Soi), Richmond Station (seasonal Canadian tasting menus—co-owned by a Top Chef Canada winner), Bar Raval (Gaudí-esque tapas and sherry), and Gusto 101 (housemade mafalde ai funghi, wood grill). For dessert, Bang Bang Ice Cream doubles as your cookie sandwich stop.

Evenings: Catch live jazz at The Rex Hotel (see above), sip molecular cocktails at BarChef, or tour craft breweries in the Junction or east-end Leslieville.

Suggested 13-Day Flow

• Days 1–4: Vancouver highlights (Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano, seaplane, optional Victoria/Butchart Gardens, whale watching).
• Day 5 (AM): Fly to Calgary; transfer to Banff; sunset at Vermilion Lakes.
• Days 6–8: Banff Gondola, Lake Louise & Moraine Lake, Icefields Parkway/Glacier Skywalk; Johnston Canyon or hot springs.
• Day 9 (AM): Fly to Toronto; CN Tower and Harbourfront.
• Days 10–12: Distillery District, St. Lawrence Market, Kensington/AGO; Niagara Falls day trip.
• Day 13: Neighborhoods strolls (Queen West, Little Italy) and departure.

Getting around: Vancouver’s SkyTrain and buses are tap-on friendly; water taxis link downtown and Granville Island. Banff uses Roam Transit to reach trailheads and lakes (reserve in peak season). Toronto’s TTC subway/streetcar network uses PRESTO cards; rideshare fills gaps late at night.

This coast-to-coast loop packs Canada’s greatest hits into 13 days—Pacific harbors, alpine lakes, and a world city crowned by Niagara’s roar. With smart travel days and reserved highlights, you’ll maximize vistas and meals—and come home with stories that smell faintly of cedar, glacier air, and espresso.