Winter Holidays in Canada 2024/25

Find winter fun

Alberta

Alberta's Rocky Mountains are a winter playground once the snow arrives. From around November to April, you'll find all sorts of snowy goodies on offer. Canmore is a great place for dog sledding and heli-skiing. Calgary's Olympic facility gives you the chance to try bobsleigh and luge. The mountain towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper have chocolate-box landscapes rich with snowshoeing, ice climbing and horse-sleigh adventures. Jasper in January is a 2-week festival offering music, sporting and culinary events.

British Columbia

Two of the most famous centres in Canada come alive in winter: Vancouver and Whistler. Whistler is known for its world-class skiing and snowboarding but the town has lots more on offer, including zip-lining and snowmobiling. The spas are perfect for relaxing in a hot pool as the snow falls around you. Vancouver is full of bright lights and Christmas shopping, with cafes and breweries to keep you warm (although the climate in the city is pleasantly mild).

Ontario

Ontario has some of the best winter festivals in Canada. Winterlude in Ottawa sees 3 weeks of festival fun take place every February, with ice sculptures, a snow maze and the world's longest natural skating rink. The Winter Festival of Lights illuminates 3 miles of displays along Niagara Falls, lighting up the icy waterfall in all its winter glory. Toronto's Cavalcade of Lights is one of the biggest and best, with fireworks and a huge Christmas tree.

Québec

Québec City is home to the biggest winter festival of them all - Carnaval du Québec. The program of spectacles and events features a canoe race across the frozen St. Lawrence River, a night-time parade and a breathtaking ice palace. Montréal boasts Igloofest, with 12 nights of dance music concerts in the Old Port and MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, from the end of February to mid-March. The city lights up with art installations culminating in the highlight of nuit blanche.

Skiing to skating

Best ski resorts

• Banff - From your base in the lively town of Banff, you can access the Ski Big 3 resorts of Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay. Some of the most atmospheric skiing in the Rocky Mountains.
• Jasper - Marmot Basin resort offers fewer crowds and bigger slopes.
• Whistler - The best-known of them all, Whistler is a must visit for skiing, as well as other incredible winter activities. Whistler is home to the biggest ski area in Canada with world-class pistes and a vibrant pedestrian village.
• Sun Peaks - The dry BC Interior makes for incredibly light powder.

Best for skating & snowshoeing

• Lake Louise - You can ice-skate on this picturesque lake and snowshoe the nearby trails before warming up with a hot chocolate in the iconic Fairmont hotel.
• Ottawa - Skate on the frozen Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which becomes the largest natural ice rink in the world. Snowshoe in the Gatineau Park conservation area just minutes from downtown.
• Vancouver - Skate in Robson Square and snowshoe on the trails of nearby Grouse Mountain for great views of the city.

Best wildlife watching experiences

• Jasper National Park is incredible for wildlife watching. Although bears will be hibernating, there are plenty more animals to spot in Maligne Canyon, like elk, bighorn sheep, deer and bald eagles.
• Banff National Park - You can often spot elk in the towns in the morning. What more could you ask for on winter holidays to Canada?
• Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario - The wilderness reserve is home to moose, deer, elk, martens, wolves and plenty of birdlife.

Ice climbing to sledding

Ice climbing and ice canyons

Jasper's Maligne Canyon Ice Walk is one of the most popular winter activities. Join a guided tour and explore the canyon's walkways, frozen waterfalls, ice caves and incredible ice formations. Banff, Lake Louise and Canmore in the Albertan Rockies are prime locations to try the exhilarating sport of ice climbing on frozen waterfalls. Beginner climbs are open from November through to April, with more advanced, higher elevation climbs open even longer.

Husky dog-sledding

Is there anything more adorable than husky puppies? You'll be pleased to know that most dog-sledding tours have a meet and greet with the adorable huskies at the end. In the Rockies, you'll find plenty of places around Banff and Lake Louise to try dog-sledding. Wrap up warm and enjoy the sled ride or try mushing a team of dogs yourself. You can also try dog-sledding in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, in Ontario's Highlands or plenty of Québec's wilderness regions.

Snowmobiles and heli-tours

For high-octane excitement, you can't choose a better activity than snowmobiling or heli-sightseeing. Rush through silent forests and frozen lakes in pristine environments by snowmobile for a truly unique thrill. Towns like Banff, Canmore and Whistler are perfect for heli-sightseeing, giving you a bird's eye view of the snowy mountain peaks and glaciers. You can even land on the glaciers themselves! Take a heli-tour over Niagara Falls for a new way to appreciate the natural wonder in winter.

Aurora Hunting

Winter (from November to March) is the best time to try to see the Northern Lights. Canada is one of the best places in the world to spot them as much of the country lies under or close to the auroral oval - the region around the poles where the aurora is active. There are plenty of tours you can join to find the lights or you can hunt for them yourself anywhere with little light pollution on a clear night. Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Churchill in Manitoba and Jasper National Park are some of the best places to spot the lights.

Food, drink & relaxation

Gourmet and après delights

There's no better way to warm up in winter than with some delectable food and drinks. The après scenes in Banff and Whistler are bursting with bars to try, so you'll never be short of a tipple with a view. Try fine dining with unbeatable vistas at Christine's on Whistler's Blackcomb Mountain. In Ontario, a true Canadian treat is maple taffy, poured onto ice and rolled onto a lolly stick.

Winter relaxation

There's no feeling quite like sinking back into a hot thermal pool and gazing at the snowy mountain peaks around you. The Banff Hot Springs is an idyllic location for some pampering and relaxation, from massages to soaking in the mineral pools. The luxurious Scandinave Spa in Whistler is one of the most highly recommended, with plenty of treatments and hot tubs on offer. You can also find Scandinave Spas in Mont-Tremblant, QC and Blue Mountain, ON.

Cosy sleigh rides

Sleigh bells in the snow aren't just for Christmas time (although the holiday season is a magical time to visit Canada). A romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride is a highlight throughout the winter months in Canada. The stunning backdrop of Lake Louise is the most famous place for a sleigh ride, although you can also find tours in Whistler and in the Ontario and Quebec countryside.

Winter specials

Carnaval du Quebec

The roots of this hugely popular festival in Quebec City go all the way back to 1894. It's one of the biggest winter celebrations in the country and is guaranteed to warm your heart in the cold weather. Celebrations include opening and closing ceremonies at the impressive Ice Palace, a masquerade ball at the Chateau Frontenac, outdoor sports events, free breakfast banquets, a night parade and tons more food, music and events in the "worldwide capital of snow".

Niagara Ice Wine Festival

For three weekends in January, the Niagara Region celebrates its best-loved (and most delicious) produce - ice wine. The intensely sweet and fruity wine is carefully produced under rare conditions when grapes freeze on the vine and are harvested overnight. Experience glamour and indulgence at the Niagara Icewine Gala with unique wine and food pairings at over 35 wineries. The vibrant outdoor street festivals offer hundreds of tastings of this nectar of the gods.

World Ski & Snowboard Festival

This huge celebration in Whistler is the largest annual snowsports and music festival in North America. The event is held each April and is a 6-day festival of music, art, photography, filmmaking, ski and snowboard competitions, and non-stop nightlife. It's an incredible party to dive into and experience the best of mountain culture in this world-famous resort. Even if skiing isn't your thing, you'll be amazed by the Big Air Competitions, the inspirational speakers and the insane icy challenges on offer.

Top tips

Temperatures in Canada

Winter in Canada is freezing cold and snowy - but hey, that's what makes the fun activities possible. As long as you prepare well for the weather, you'll enjoy your winter adventures. Vancouver is the exception with a mild climate on the BC coast. Even in winter, the temperature rarely dips below freezing here. In the rest of Canada, you can expect minus temperatures from December to January, with -2° to -5° not uncommon in Montreal and Toronto.

What to wear

Pack the right clothes and you won’t feel the cold. Take warm boots, thermal layers and a good, warm, waterproof jacket. Hat and gloves are essential. If you are going on an ice canyon walk, warm boots and cleats will be provided, but not all winter excursions provide clothing. If you are planning dog sledding or a sleigh ride, wrap up warm. Although blankets are provided, you will be staying still on the sled so it can get chilly.

Tips for warming up

Enjoy the hot drinks on offer! Canada's incredible café and dining culture comes into its own in winter, where hot chocolate is top of the menu. Many hotels and attractions provide firepits so you can warm up as you chill out outdoors. In big cities like Calgary, Montreal and Toronto you'll find innovative walkways which connect major shopping centres and hotels so you can get around without having to brave the cold.

Speak with our experts

If you like sound of a winter holiday in Canada, we would love to make it happen. We are the experts when it comes to Canada holidays and can craft a winter break to include everything you want to see. Whether it’s skiing in Whistler or a city break in Québec City, it’s all possible. Call our Canada Travel Experts to book your winter holiday. Choose from dozens of Canada winter holiday packages or tailor-make your perfect trip from scratch.

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