Easily accessible but seemingly a world away, our neighbor to the north is filled with cities to love and destinations to treasure. Scenic views await at every turn, with mountains framing the West Coast, the Canadian Rockies further inland, and the coastal charms of the Maritime provinces. History and culture are abundant in cities from coast to coast, and with a well-connected railway system - and several iconic trains to boot - it has never been easier to soak up all its wonders. Spring and summer vacations to Canada are forever in our hearts, but we like fall best of all, especially in Canada.
Watch as the bustling cities take on a distinctly cozy vibe as the temperatures begin to drop and hues of gold, amber, rust and crimson kiss the trees. See how the interior landscape transforms from a lush haven of greenery to a stunning kaleidoscope of colors, offering a new level of ambiance to each expedition. You do not have to take our word for it, though. There is still time to book your autumn adventure this fall, and if you need inspiration, here are the best places to visit in Canada in September and October.
Eastern Canada and the Maritimes
Some of Canada's most culturally rich cities and delightfully scenic locations beckon in the Eastern provinces. Beginning inland in Québec, you can find two incredibly diverse cities: Québec City, which boasts more than 400 years of history and remains surrounded by fortified walls, and Montreal, an ever-so-slightly more modern metropolis (at 380+ years old) that has grown and evolved become Canada's cultural capital. As tourist season tapers off in the fall, it is easier to wander down the narrow streets and alleyways of Old Québec or Old Montreal, and colorful foliage adds a romantic feel to the historical architecture.
Moving toward the coast, the scenery becomes less urban and starts to encompass the sleepy spirit of the Maritimes, a region consisting of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Hues of yellow and orange dapple the forests and pepper the coastlines, creating leaf-peeping scenes you could only dream of. Discover capital cities, such as Halifax in Nova Scotia, and UNESCO-listed locales, including Lunenburg, wrapped in autumn's brilliance and mild temperatures.
Choose one region to explore or both, which is always our preference!
Travel from Eastern Canada's captivating cities to the coast by train while discovering the Highlights of French Canada and Nova Scotia, which features an overnight journey on VIA Rail's Ocean. If you want a long-distance Eastern Canada adventure without having to move your luggage from place to place, you might like to soak up the fall colors by rail and cruise on a journey that sets sail from Québec City, travels along the St. Lawrence River and Atlantic Coast, and eventually docks for the final time in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Canadian Rockies
There are few places where natural beauty is more evident than the Canadian Rockies, which is why it is one of the best places to visit in Canada in October. Located in Western Canada, the Rockies are an incredible destination to gauge the changing seasons, as this vast range is home to four pristine national parks: Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho. The towering mountain peaks, glacial lakes, ice fields, and sprawling valleys here are so stunning that the national parks have collectively formed the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage site. Now imagine how these sites look painted with the hues of autumn.
Given these extreme landscapes, you might think part of the country is difficult to reach. But that is not the case, and our selection of Canadian Rockies rail tours makes it easier than ever. While we have vacations departing throughout the year, our September and October departures can have more availability, giving you the best chance to travel on your target dates and soak up the wonders of the Rockies under a new, fall foliage-hued lens.
Experience the Canadian Rockies by Rail on a week-long journey from Vancouver. Travel inland aboard Canada's most beloved overnight train, VIA Rail's Canadian. Upon arrival in Jasper, head to Lake Louise via Icefield Parkway and then continue to Banff, where a guided tour introduces its sites.
If your ideal vacation instead looks like daylight-only travel, high-end service and a stay at the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, you might like to visit the Canadian Rockies, Banff & Lake Louise on a journey featuring Rocky Mountaineer. After exploring Vancouver, travel aboard Canada's premier luxury train, Rocky Mountaineer, to Lake Louise for a stay at the five-star lakeside chateau. From Lake Louise, follow Icefield Parkway to Banff to uncover even more Rocky Mountain majesty.
Canada from Coast to Coast
Canada is filled with incredible destinations, so if you can't narrow it down to just one region, we don't blame you. And, in fact, we have just the cure: a coast-to-coast Canadian vacation. Travel from one side of the nation to the other on well-connected railways while surrounded by magnificent scenery and dynamic cities. Follow changing terrain from one location to the next - one day looking upon the ocean and calm coastal scenes and another wrapped in the 11,000-foot peaks of the Rockies.
Traveling from one side of the nation to the other is the best way to see how the seasons influence Canada's unique landscapes and to watch as fall foliage creeps its way inland. A cross-country route is filled with the best places to visit in Canada in September (and any other time of the year!) and opens your eyes to culture, cuisine, and soul that you might otherwise miss by focusing your journey.
Come along to experience these elements as you discover Canada Coast to Coast on an epic 18-day expedition. This is your chance to join VIA Rail's ever-popular Canadian and on its incredible route from the Canadian Rockies to Toronto and to witness autumn's best colors while traveling into the Maritime provinces aboard VIA Rail's Ocean.
Begin by touring Vancouver and Butchart Gardens on beautiful Vancouver Island, and then head into the Rockies to the resort town of Jasper for a tour of Jasper National Park. Setting out aboard The Canadian, we cross the lake-filled Canadian Shield before arriving in Toronto, where we visit Niagara Falls. The journey continues to Eastern Canada's most influential cities - Montreal and Québec City - and then toward the Atlantic Seaboard on The Ocean, passing through New Brunswick before arriving in Nova Scotia's capital, Halifax. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and space remains on our scenic fall departures.
