The most populous cities in Canada are located in the east of the country. It was these lands that were the first to be mastered by the settlers and, moving westward, reached the Pacific Ocean. In the central and western part is ultra-modern Vancouver and slightly more provincial Edmonton and Winnipeg, but they are much younger and more cosmopolitan than their eastern neighbors. It is in the older, more traditional part of the country that the unique flavor of Canada is preserved.
The three largest cities in eastern Canada, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, are often referred to as the “three capitals”. They are very close in spirit, but at the same time they are absolutely unique. In each of them you will find incredible, jokingly, friendliness of Canadians, excellent service, convenience and comfort. And this is where it is best to start your acquaintance with the rich culture of the country, which was built by fortune seekers from all over the world.
Ottawa
Capital of Canada. Unlike many world capitals, this is a very calm city. Government buildings, skyscrapers and major cultural and entertainment venues are concentrated in the center, while the rest of the area is dominated by cottages and cozy parks, such as Hayden Park, where anyone can have a picnic.
Ottawa is home to some of the largest and most interesting museums in the country: the Aviation Museum, the Museum of Agriculture, the Royal Mint, the Children's Museum and a dozen others, no less interesting. However, the most curious of them is the Museum of Pioneers, which contains many exhibits dedicated to the life of the first settlers.
A lot of entertainment can be found in the city itself, but the most active residents of Ottawa always go to the neighboring small town of Wakefield, where dozens of the best pubs and cafes are located, you can ride horses and dog sleds or play golf.
Montreal
The main city of the French part of Canada, which is still dominated by the French-speaking population. It is the most Europeanized city in Canada and in "Old Montreal", by the Cathedral of Our Lady of Montreal, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that you are somewhere in northern France. This is the cultural capital, which hosts dozens of festivals of a wide variety of topics: cinematographic, animation, music and culinary. They take place almost all year round, so whenever you are in Montreal, you will surely find something interesting.
You will not get bored in this city, it instantly captures with its atmosphere and calls for action here and now. The most memorable, unexpected adventures with travelers take place there, because in order to get into the whirlpool of events, in Montreal, it is enough just to leave the house.
Toronto
Toronto, located on the shores of Lake Ontario, is the economic center of Canada. A very dynamic, lively city, but it differs from Montreal in about the same way as Moscow differs from St. Petersburg. Toronto has its own charm. In this city, it is best to devote time to shopping in any of the dozens of shopping centers in the city center, or to get to know the nature of Canada better. It is home to the country's main zoo, one of the largest in the world, and the Zellers Wildlife Research Park. And not far from the city center, you can immerse yourself in the non-urbanized environment of the Toronto Islands, a huge recreational area for walking and water sports, best navigated by a rented bike. And, finally, a hundred kilometers from the city, which can be overcome by public transport, there is the famous Niagara Falls, the best views of which are from the Canadian side.
Before traveling to Canada, especially to its eastern part, you need to remember that the climate there in many ways resembles the climate of the Central European part of Russia. Therefore, the best time to visit Canada is summer or winter, depending on your preference. The off-season can cloud a trip with frequent rains and gray skies. However, vivid impressions of this beautiful country will surely make you forget about the bad weather.
