Canada is a vast country, and the most common mistake on a first visit is trying to combine east and west in two weeks. This itinerary focuses on the most popular region, the east: Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montreal and Quebec City, over 10 days by train between cities. The schedule is written in a format suited to a visa application.
Best time to visit Canada
Summer (June to August) is the best season for families and for boat trips at Niagara, and autumn (September and October) is famous for its foliage colours in Quebec. Winter is very cold but suits snow lovers. Canadian visas take longer than Schengen visas, so apply early.
Day-by-day itinerary
| Day | City | Activities | Transport | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | Arrival and check-in | Flight to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) | Hotel, Toronto |
| 2 | Toronto | CN Tower, Harbourfront | Walk and subway | Hotel, Toronto |
| 3 | Niagara Falls | Day trip to the falls | Coach or car (about 2 hours) | Hotel, Toronto |
| 4 | Toronto | Royal Ontario Museum, St. Lawrence Market | Subway | Hotel, Toronto |
| 5 | Toronto → Montreal | Transfer, Old Montreal | VIA Rail train (about 5 hours) | Hotel, Montreal |
| 6 | Montreal | Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica | Metro | Hotel, Montreal |
| 7 | Montreal → Quebec City | Transfer, Old Quebec | Train (about 3 hours) | Hotel, Quebec City |
| 8 | Quebec City | Montmorency Falls | Bus | Hotel, Quebec City |
| 9 | Quebec City → Montreal | Return and shopping | Train | Hotel, Montreal |
| 10 | Montreal | Departure | Flight | — |
Getting around between cities
VIA Rail trains connect Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City from city centre to city centre, and are more comfortable than domestic flights over these distances. Niagara is visited as a day trip from Toronto, so you don’t need a separate hotel there. If you want to add the west (Vancouver and Banff), it is better to make it a separate trip with a domestic flight.
Visa and trip documents
The Canadian visitor visa is applied for online, with biometrics at a visa application centre, and some eligible nationalities use an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) under certain conditions. Check what applies to your nationality on the Canadian government website (canada.ca). Canada advises against buying tickets before a decision, which is where an itinerary, a flight reservation and hotel bookings help explain the length and purpose of your visit.
We prepare this itinerary with your own dates, with flight and hotel bookings in all three cities, in Arabic and English.
Frequently asked questions
Are 10 days enough to visit Canada?
Enough for the east only. Western Canada needs at least one more week.
Do I need a US visa to visit the other side of Niagara?
Yes. Crossing the bridge to the US side requires a separate US visa, and this itinerary covers the Canadian side only.
What language is spoken in Montreal and Quebec City?
French is the main language, but English is widely used in hotels and tourist areas.
