Canada is an increasingly popular tourist destination for international travelers. The country is beautiful, welcoming, safe, and there are plenty of attractions to suit every taste. 

However, Canada is also massive and sparsely populated. Geographically, it’s the second-largest country on the planet, but it’s home to just 38 million people. By comparison, there are 39 million people in Tokyo alone. 

But you’d be remiss to think that Canada is nothing by mountains, forests, and moose. There are world-class cities here that every international traveler should visit. Let’s explore the top three Canadian cities you should see on your trip abroad.

Toronto, Ontario

Canada’s largest city is home to nearly three million people. But this is no typical concrete jungle. The city has dedicated nearly 20% of its area to parks and greenspace. Of course, it’s still welcoming to urbanites. Attractions like the famous Distillery District are perfect for dining, drinking and shopping. You can even test your fear of heights by walking the edge of the 1,814-foot CN Tower. If you crave something more relaxing, set sail on a guided boat tour of Lake Ontario.

Montreal, Quebec

Perhaps no city in Canada offers more European charm than Montreal. The entire province of Quebec speaks French as its official language, and Montreal is no exception. Of course, English is widely spoken as well, but it never hurts to learn a few French phrases to help you navigate to the city’s 50+ significant historical sites and 40 museums. In Old Montreal, you can still walk cobblestone paths and see historic buildings that date back to the 1640s. 

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is all about the natural beauty of the Pacific. The city plays host to more than 230 gardens, parks, and recreational facilities. Here, you can enjoy whale watching, ride a Gondola to Grouse Mountain, or ski at Whistler. The “city of neighborhoods” also offers a variety of different restaurants, shops, and cultural experiences to explore. On top of all that, the maritime weather is fairly pleasant most of the year, making Vancouver an excellent fall and winter destination as well.

Canada Travel Insurance

While it is true that Canada has public healthcare, those services are only available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. As a visitor, you’ll need to have your own coverage. 

Travel medical insurance is a good option while visiting Canada because it is affordable and provides coverage for necessary care of unexpected injuries and illnesses. The major cities in Canada will all have excellent hospitals and doctors available, but you will not want to be solely responsible for paying for treatment out of your own pocket. To protect your finances, make sure you have travel medical insurance.

Although travel insurance primarily focuses on trip cancellation, travel delay, and trip interruption coverage, it can also cover emergency medical care. Those who are primarily interested in insuring their nonrefundable prepaid trip costs should look into this coverage prior to their trip to Canada.