Canada
Last checked:
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Currency
- CAD · Canadian dollar
- Languages
- English, French
- Plugs
- Type A, B · 120 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Niagara Falls (Horseshoe Falls) · Niagara Falls, Ontario
Huge waterfall with boat trips and walkways behind the falls.
- Banff National Park and Lake Louise · Banff, Alberta
Rocky Mountain lakes, hiking and wildlife; book parking or shuttles in summer.
- Old Quebec · Quebec City
Walled French-speaking old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Stanley Park · Vancouver
Large forested park with a seawall path around it, next to downtown.
- CN Tower and waterfront · Toronto
Landmark tower with views over Lake Ontario and the city.
Getting around
Public transport
TTC with PRESTO or tap card
Toronto subway, streetcars and buses. Tap a contactless credit or debit card or PRESTO card. UP Express runs from Pearson Airport to Union Station in about 25 minutes.
Public transport
TransLink (Compass / tap)
Vancouver SkyTrain, buses and SeaBus. Tap a contactless card or Compass card in and out. Trips starting at the airport pay an extra AddFare.
Public transport
STM / OPUS
Montreal metro and buses; buy passes in the Chrono app or at stations (varies).
Ride-hailing app
Uber / Lyft
Both work in major cities, including Toronto, Vancouver (since 2020), Montreal (Uber), Ottawa and Calgary. Coverage in small towns and national parks is limited.
Taxi
Taxis
Metered in cities. Vancouver airport taxis use fixed zone fares into the city.
Trains
VIA Rail
Intercity trains, most useful in the Quebec City - Montreal - Ottawa - Toronto corridor. Long-distance scenic routes are slow and pricey.
Car rental
Car rental
Usually needed for national parks and rural areas. Check winter tyre rules and prepare for long distances.
Bike share
Bike Share Toronto / Mobi / BIXI
Docked bike share in Toronto, Vancouver (Mobi) and Montreal (BIXI, mainly April to November).
Money and cash
Currency: CAD · Canadian dollar
Cards and tap to pay are accepted almost everywhere, including transit in Toronto and Vancouver. Shelf and menu prices usually exclude sales tax (GST/HST and provincial tax), which is added at the till. US dollars are accepted in some border and tourist areas but at a poor posted rate; pay in CAD.
Tipping
Tipping in Canada is similar to the US but a little less intense. In sit-down restaurants about 15-20% of the pre-tax bill is normal. Card machines suggest tips almost everywhere; at counters tipping is optional.
| Restaurants | 15-20% of the pre-tax amount for table service. Servers often share tips with kitchen staff ('tip out'). |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | About $1-2 per drink at a bar or 15-20% on a tab. Counter service in cafés: optional. |
| Taxis and ride apps | About 10-15% for taxis; optional in Uber or Lyft (add in app). |
| Hotels | A few dollars per bag for porters and a few dollars per night for housekeeping. |
| Tours and guides | Around 10-20% for guides, depending on length and quality. |
| Food delivery | Around 10-15% in the app is common (varies). |
Service charge: what’s true
Not usually included. Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for large groups, and some tourist areas (for example Niagara Falls) add extra 'tourism' or 'destination' fees to bills. These must be shown on the bill. Check before tipping again.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Card terminals often start their preset options at 18-20% or more and may calculate them on the total after tax. Tipping on the pre-tax amount is standard. You can choose 'Other' or 'No tip' at counter-service places.
Useful phrases
- Could we have the bill, please? Asking for the bill (Canadians use 'bill' or 'cheque').
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît. The bill, please (French, in Quebec).
- Is the tip included? Asking if gratuity is already on the bill.
Etiquette
- In Quebec, greet with 'Bonjour' first; trying some French is appreciated.
- Queue and wait your turn; politeness and saying sorry are common.
- The drinking age is 19 in most provinces and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Drinking in public is mostly illegal.
- Cannabis is legal for adults, but rules on where you can use it vary by province, and taking it across the border is illegal.
- Keep a distance from wildlife and never feed animals in national parks.
- Tipping at restaurants is expected; leaving nothing reads as a complaint.
Scams and how to handle them
Extra tourism fees on bills
Where: Niagara Falls and some other tourist areas
How it works: Restaurants and hotels add 'tourism improvement' or similar fees on top of listed prices.
How to avoid it: Read the menu and bill; ask before ordering if fees are added.
Poor rate for US dollars
Where: Border towns, Niagara Falls shops
How it works: Merchants accept US cash at a posted rate below the bank rate.
How to avoid it: Pay by card in CAD or withdraw CAD from a bank ATM.
Car break-ins
Where: Vancouver, trailheads and parking lots
How it works: Thieves break into rental cars to take luggage and bags left visible.
How to avoid it: Leave nothing in sight, keep luggage out of view and take valuables with you.
Fake rental listings
Where: Online, for short-term rentals
How it works: Listings for apartments that do not exist ask for deposits by wire or e-transfer.
How to avoid it: Book through established platforms and never pay outside them.
Government or police impersonation calls
Where: Phone, text and email
How it works: Callers claim to be the CRA, police or immigration and demand payment in gift cards or crypto.
How to avoid it: Hang up. Real agencies never ask for gift cards or crypto. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Dynamic currency conversion
Where: Shops, restaurants, ATMs
How it works: Terminals offer to charge you in your home currency at a worse rate.
How to avoid it: Always choose to pay in CAD.
Safety
- Canada has low crime; take normal care against petty theft and do not leave bags unattended.
- Car break-ins are common in some cities and at trailheads; keep luggage out of sight.
- In Vancouver, the Downtown Eastside (around East Hastings) has visible drug use and is best avoided at night.
- Bears and other wildlife: store food properly, carry bear spray on hikes in bear country, and follow park advice.
- Winter driving and wildfires (summer, western Canada) can close roads; check conditions before travel.
How widely English is spoken
English is used everywhere outside Quebec. In Quebec, French is the main language; English is widely understood in Montreal and tourist areas but less so in rural Quebec. Signs in Quebec are in French.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Canada, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Canada
- Wikivoyage: Toronto
- Wikivoyage: Vancouver
- Wikivoyage: Niagara Falls (Ontario)
- Wikipedia: List of tipping customs by country
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Scams and fraud
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.