As a Vancouverite, I am proud to say that three of the top ten most beautiful places in Canada to visit are in the greater Vancouver area! Granville Island and Stanley Park are among Canada’s most Instagrammable tourist destinations, and Whistler also makes the list.
A new study has revealed that Old Montreal is Canada’s most Instagrammable tourist destination. And I can see why, it’s stunning! I absolutely love Old Montreal. Its architecture and cute cafes keep me wanting to go back and visit again and again. It has a very European vibe.
Coffee & Mascara Travel and Wellness blog contains affiliate links for which I may be paid a small commission if you make a purchase using them. This comes at no cost to you. It helps me continue to provide you with awesome travel articles, inspiration and tips. I only recommend products and services that I know and trust. Please read my Affiliate Disclosure for more information.
Casino comparison site CasinoBonus analyzed the number of Instagram posts containing relevant hashtags for the top 50 tourist destinations in Canada, according to top travel sites, to determine which one was the most popular with Instagram users.
If you are looking for the most beautiful places in Canada to visit and spruce up your Instagram feed, here they are. Having visited most of these I can attest to the fact that this list is accurate and every site here is worth visiting.
Canada’s most beautiful places
Being a native Canadian, I am proud to say that I have visited nine out of these ten places. Not bad ‘eh?! The only one I’m missing is number 8, The Mount Edith Cavell Trail. I have yet to explore Jasper National Park.
During my Rocky Mountains road trip, we didn’t make it all the way to Jasper. I will definitely have to add it to my list of stops for next time.
1. Old Montreal
Old Montreal takes the top spot for the most Instagrammable tourist destination in Canada, with 22,398,024 Instagram posts that include its hashtags. Known as Vieux-Montréal in French, Old Montreal is home to numerous historic buildings and sites to cater to a variety of tastes.
Everything from scenic views from the Old Port of Montreal across the St. Lawrence River, to stunning architecture in the likes of the Notre Dame Basilica, to the vibrant cultural scene at the Place d’Armes. Old Montreal has it all for someone looking for culture and history.
Old Montreal certainly deserves to be listed as one of Canada’s most beautiful cities. It’s a place I continue to go back to and always discover new gems each and every time.
2. Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls comes second for the most Instagrammable Canadian tourist destination, with 6,328,608 Instagram posts that include its hashtags.
Straddling the border of Ontario, Canada, and New York, United States, Niagara Falls is possibly the most iconic waterfall in the world.
Niagara Falls comprises three waterfalls, the most well-known and largest being Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. There are frequent boat tours of the falls and various other attractions around the falls area. When I visited years ago, I went on the Maid of the Mist boat ride. You do get wet, but the views are worth it!
3. Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
The Whistler Blackcomb skiing resort, which includes the Whistler Sliding Centre, comes third for the most Instagrammable Canadian tourist destinations, with 3,526,920 Instagram posts that include its hashtags.
Host of the 2010 Olympics and named the best skiing resort in North America, Whistler Blackcomb offers skiing, snowboarding, and a selection of other winter sports, as well as the vibrant resort town of Whistler at the base of the mountains.
Not just a winter resort, there are also year-round offerings at Whistler. Not only can you enjoy the breathtaking British Columbia scenery, but you can also downhill bike straight down the mountain.
I tried that once and I’ll never do it again, lol! But I do love watching the bikers ride down from the patio at Garibaldi Lift Co. I enjoy Whistler year-round as I snowboard during the winter months, then enjoy the lakes and patios in the warmer, summer months.
4. Old Quebec
The Fairmont Chateau Frontenac is a centrepiece and a must-see when visiting Quebec City. The inside is stunning! I didn’t stay there when I visited, but I did stop and have lunch at the restaurant.
With 2,565,213 Instagram posts that include its hashtags, Old Quebec is fourth on the list of the most Instagrammable tourist destinations. Vieux-Québec in French and referred to as the Old City in English; Old Quebec is the historic centre of Quebec City that dates to the colonial times of New France.
It is the only walled city north of Mexico and hosts a wealth of amazing culture and history. From the stunning Château Frontenac hotel on Cap Diamant to the fortifications of the city walls, its four gates and the Citadelle de Québec, to the bustling Quartier Petit Champlain, among other attractions, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
5. CN Tower
The CN Tower is the fifth most Instagrammable Canadian tourist destination, with 1,769,780 Instagram posts that include its hashtags. An icon of the Toronto skyline, the 553 metres tall (1,815 feet) building is the tallest freestanding structure in the western hemisphere.
One of the CN Tower’s main attractions is the world-renowned 360 Restaurant located in the tower’s main pod; it offers picturesque views of the cityscape as it spins once every 72 minutes.
For the more daring, (psst that’s me), there is the EdgeWalk, which allows people to walk above the main pod in the open air 356 metres above the ground. I did the EdgeWalk and it was incredible! Not only are the views insane, but there aren’t too many places in the world where you can walk around the outside of a building.
6. Granville Island
With 819,990 Instagram posts that include its hashtags, Vancouver’s Granville Island is sixth for the most Instagrammable Canadian tourist destinations. Granville Island is most famous for its market, which offers a variety of different foods and fresh produce.
There is also a wealth of bars and restaurants to explore, as well as theatres and art galleries. A popular way of reaching the district is by the Aquabus ferries across False Creek. A popular mode of transportation for both locals and tourists alike, it’s one of my fave ways to get around.
7. Stanley Park
Vancouver’s Stanley Park is the seventh most Instagrammable Canadian tourist destination, with 789,493 Instagram posts that include its hashtags. North America’s third-largest park, Stanley Park also boasts the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront walkway in the Seawall, at 22 kilometres or 14 miles long.
The park is a preservation of the landscape as it was when it was first incorporated; the dense forest and tall trees can be explored by more than 27 kilometres or 17 miles of forest trails. Stanley Park also hosts attractions and has a rideable miniature railway.
Stanley Park is also home to Totem Poles, which are unique to the Northwest Coast and Alaska. Check out my article on interesting facts about Stanley Park to learn even more about this award-winning park.
It also boasts Canada’s largest aquarium. Stanley Park certainly deserves to be on this list of the most beautiful places in Canada.
8. Mount Edith Cavell Trail
The Mount Edith Cavell Trail comes eighth for the most Instagrammable Canadian tourist destination, with 621,494 Instagram posts that include its hashtags. Located in Jasper National Park, Alberta, the Mount Edith Cavell Trail provides awe-inspiring views of the scenic Albertan landscape.
Comprising two hikes: the easier Path of the Glacier Trail and the more challenging Cavell Meadows Trail, the trails offer stunning views of Mount Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier, and Cavell Pond.
This is also the one and only place on this list and I personally have yet to visit.
9. St. Lawrence Market
With 148,592 Instagram posts including its hashtags, Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market comes ninth for Canada’s most Instagrammable tourist destination. The historic St. Lawrence Market is over 200 years old and is a lively hub for food and produce for all of southern Ontario.
The market offers a weekly farmer’s market every Saturday, as well as its Sunday antiques market. This is in addition to St. Lawrence Market’s varied offering of foods, produce, and other wares daily.
While it is a great market, I am surprised to see it land as number nine on this list. I would say there are more beautiful places in Canada than this but if you’re in Toronto, it’s worth a visit.
10. Icefields Parkway
Rounding out the top 10 in tenth place is the Icefields Parkway in Alberta, with 140,754 Instagram posts that include its hashtags. Considered one of the best drives in the world, the scenic road links Lake Louise in Banff National Park to Jasper in Jasper National Park.
Its 232 kilometres (144 miles) provide breathtaking views of the Albertan Rockies, with mountains, valleys, and glaciers all to be seen along this picturesque drive.
There are lots of amazing places to stop along the Icefields Parkway, including the Columbia Skywalk, pictured above. I highly recommend checking it out as the views are incredible! I stopped here during my road trip through the Rocky Mountains. Check out my 5-day rocky mountains itinerary for some epic road trip stops.
Conclusion – The 10 Most Beautiful Places in Canada to Visit
And there you have it, ten of Canada’s most beautiful places. At least according to Instagram, they are. Having visited almost all of these places, I tend to agree that these are definitely places to add to your travel bucketlist.
If this list has inspired you to visit Vancouver, check out the most Instagrammable places in Vancouver.
Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and share your thoughts!
