Best City Breaks in Canada

By Richard Jones

Not only is Canada home to wide-open spaces, beautiful natural scenery and incredible wildlife, the vast North American country also has some of the world’s friendliest cities.

Canadian airline Air Transat, named the World’s Best Leisure Airline by Skytrax six times, has recently released its summer 2025 schedule, offering direct flights from the UK to Toronto and Montreal, with onwards connections other Canadian cities thanks to Air Transat’s joint venture with Porter Airlines.

Here, we look at five vibrant Canadian cities that have cosmopolitan foodie scenes, massive shopping centres, award-winning architecture and iconic attractions, all of which can be easily reached from the UK.

Toronto

Parks, theatres, a zoo and the Hockey Hall of Fame are just a few of the reasons why Toronto is a chart topper when it comes to city breaks.

With almost 30 miles’ worth of Lake Ontario lapping against Toronto’s edge, ‘Hogtown’ is blessed with a shoreline to rival coastal equivalents, and ferry rides to the offshore car-free islands make a great day out.

Downtown Toronto is the city’s historic hub and includes Kensington Market, which is one of best loved districts in the whole of Canada and ideal for hanging-out and watching the world go by.

Aside from the multi-cultural feel of that market, Toronto also has plenty of other pockets of culture with Little Italy, Little India, Chinatown and Greek Town all rich with customs.

The sky-high silhouette of Toronto’s CN Tower is one of the most iconic city skyline attractions in the world. You can get an incredible view of the city from 1,136 feet in the SkyPod, while the 360 The Restaurant is another highlight, and adventure lovers can strap on a harness and brave the EdgeWalk.

Toronto is also just 80 miles from the breathtaking beauty of Niagara Falls.

Calgary

If you like sports nostalgia, head to Calgary – the host of Canada’s first-ever Winter Olympic Games in 1988, when Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards leapt from the ski jump and the Jamaican bobsleigh team, immortalised in Cool Runnings, made their debut on the ice track.

For 10 days every July, ‘Cowtown’ plays host to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, which bills itself as the ‘Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’.

The event attracts over one million cowboy-hatted visitors every year and features rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing and exhibitions.

Finally, less than two hours up the Trans-Canada highway, are three of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain destinations, Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise.

Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, each town is perfect as a base for hiking and nature spotting in the summer, as well as skiing in the winter.

Quebec City

A great option for anyone looking for a Canadian city break that’s reminiscent of a European destination, you’ll find plenty of French-influenced buildings in Quebec City. And it’s not just the architecture – there are creperies, cider stalls and bistros.

Of course, you could always head inside if things get too warm, with museums, featuring fine art and cultural enlightenment, aplenty.

Old Québec is the city’s historic neighbourhood and considered by many to be the birthplace of French North America.

This UNESCO World Heritage treasure has retained its colonial architecture for over 400 years and if you wander through Petit-Champlain, you’ll discover the historic gems found inside the fortified walls and ramparts.

Finally, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac stands high on a bluff overlooking the mighty St Lawrence River. It is said to be the world’s most photographed hotel.

Montreal

Canada’s second largest city rivals Paris with its rich French history, rare art and sophisticated culture.

Many of the City of Saints’ most notable structures can be found in the Old Town including the City Hall, Old Port, Place d’Armes and the Bonsecours Market.

After all that architectural elegance, it’s always good to relax and admire the view from afar. And Mont Royal Park, which features lakes, woodland and a sculpture garden, is a great place to picnic in the shadow of the hill which gives the city its name.

Visited by nearly one million people each year, Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal is an active place of worship and an iconic heritage building.

The mind-blowingly beautiful multimedia spectacular Aura takes place here.

Designed and executed by Montréal’s award-winning multimedia studio Moment Factory, it puts the ethereal beauty of the basilica on full display, as a 20-minute light show builds to reveal a carousel of luminescent scenes set to orchestral music.

Vancouver

On Canada’s Pacific west coast, you will find one of the ‘most liveable’ cities on earth.

And no place in the Terminal City combines urban lifestyle with the natural world better than Stanley Park. This stunning area is bigger than New York’s Central Park and its 1,000 acres are filled with things for outdoors enthusiasts to do.

The five-mile-long seawall is a scenic haven for joggers, cyclists and horse-drawn carriages, while the park is also home to a stellar aquarium, totem pole art and restaurants to dine in the woodland.

As well as taking part in outdoor fun and games, Vancouverites like to sponsor the arts with theatres, galleries and film sets commonplace.

There are also plenty of clubs, bars and restaurants to help you while away a night on the tiles.

The ‘food lover’s paradise’ of Granville Island is both a locals’ favourite and a huge draw for visitors. One of the best ways to get to there is via one of mini-tugboat ferries that criss-cross False Creek.

Flights for 2025

Air Transat’s summer 2025 flights are now bookable for travel from May 5 through to 26 October.

Direct flights to Toronto, Canada are available from as little as £375 pp return, with services from Manchester (six times per week), London Gatwick (double daily), Glasgow (daily) and Dublin (daily). Direct flights from London Gatwick to Montreal (eight times per week) are available from £443 pp return. Air Transat has just launched its Big Flight Sale. Travellers from across the UK and Ireland can save on direct flights to Toronto and Montreal, with Economy Class fares available from £355 per person return for travel between 8th January and 31st October 2025, when booked between 8th and 31st January 2025*.

With a generous carry-on baggage allowance included, fly in comfort in Economy Class with reclining seats and soothing mood lighting. 
And for an elevated in-flight experience, Air Transat’s Club Class offers even more space, exceptional comfort, gourmet meals, complimentary beverages and preferred services.

For more information and to book, go to airtransat.com And for more information on holidays in Canada, see: explore-canada.co.uk