Travel Guide: Cheap flights to Canada
Canada Airlines and Airports
Airline and airport information plus insider tips for Canada
Canada virtually owns the rights to the words "great outdoors". It is second only to Russia in terms of land size and its climate, which varies from temperate in the south to subarctic and arctic in the far north, means that most of the population (about 30 million) live in the south along the border with the US. This leaves vast tracts of land that are under-populated and unspoilt. Canada's provinces offer huge variety. In the east, the cities of Toronto and Montreal give way to lakes and rivers, national parks and the rugged Atlantic coast. In the west, a journey through Vancouver and British Columbia could take several weeks such is the diversity on offer from swimming at the beach in Vancouver to skiing at Whistler, taking the ferry to outlying islands and exploring the interior. Hop over to the next province - Alberta - for a trip to the sublime Rockies. With the pound and euro doing well against the dollar, the Big Moose is one big adventure playground for tourists.
Find the best flight prices to Canada
When to fly to Canada
Spring, summer and autumn are all good times to visit. Unless you are going specifically for snow, avoid the winters. In much of Canada they are much harsher than British and Irish winters.
The west coast by the Pacific Ocean (Vancouver for example) and the east coast (Halifax) by the Atlantic might escape most of the snow and freezing temperatures, but they get plenty of rain. Luckily, most of the rain falls in the wintertime.
Edmonton in Alberta has a typical prairie climate: summers are hot, winters are cold and there is not much rain.
Peak season:
Canada's peak season really depends on what you are going for. For winter sports enthusiasts, November to March offer the best chance of good snow. For those keen to go outdoors - camping or caravanning, to the lakes, national parks, or beaches of British Columbia - late-May to early September (Victoria Day to Labor Day) enjoy the best weather. Temperatures are warm, but not unbearable.
Off season:
Canada has a very well-developed winter tourist season. In addition to superlative skiing and snowboarding facilities, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, ice-fishing and snowshoeing are also on offer. If you are not keen on these pursuits, November to February visits are best abandoned.
Getting Around
Given the huge distances between cities, flying is a good option. CanJet serves 15 destinations in Canada and the US including St. John's, Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Air Canada Jazz, a regional airline, serves more than 70 destinations in Canada and the US.
The train offers a good way to see the countryside, and VIA Rail Canada offers several packages for intrepid travellers. The one most often recommended however is the Canrailpass, which offers 12 days' travel anywhere in Canada during a 30-day period.
Renting a car can give you the freedom to follow your own itinerary. Car rental companies are represented at all the major airports.
Flying to Canada
Major airports in Canada include:
Toronto - Lester B Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Canada's principal airport is located 27 kilometres north west of Toronto.
Vancouver (YVR) is one of the most beautiful airports in the world.
Montreal's Trudeau Airport (YUL) is 16 kilometres west of the city centre.
Edmonton (YEG) about 30 kilometres south of the city.
Halifax International Airport (YHZ). About 35 kilometres from downtown Halifax.
Airlines serving state include:
Toronto - Air Canada flies from Heathrow, Glasgow and Manchester and from Dublin and Shannon. British Airways from Heathrow. Low-cost carrier Zoom flies from Gatwick as well as Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester. Air Transat flies from ten cities in the UK and Ireland.
Vancouver - BA and Air Canada fly from Heathrow; Air Transat and Zoom from Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester.
Montreal - Air Canada and BA depart from Heathrow. Air Transat and Zoom, from Gatwick.
Calgary - Air Canada and Air Transat fly from Gatwick. Zoom flies from Glasgow, Manchester and Gatwick.
Halifax - Air Canada flies from Heathrow. Zoom flies from Belfast, Gatwick and Glasgow.
In-flight Reading
In the Skin of a Lion
by Michael Ondaatje
The story of early immigrant settlers as they work on the construction of many of the city's landmarks including the Bloor Street Viaduct.
The Stone Diaries
by Carol Shields
How Daisy Goodwill Flett's youth, marked by death and loss, gives way to a seemingly conventional life as a middle-class wife and mother.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
by Mordecai Richler
Follows a brash Jewish kid from Montreal determined to "make it". Kravitz schemes his way to success but not without suffering the loss of love and friendship.
The Fifth Business
by Robertson Davies
This novel is told in the form of a letter written by narrator Dunstan Ramsay on his retirement as master at a college and is addressed to his former headmaster.
The Blind Assassin
by Margaret Atwood
The goings on of a family during the 20th century from the perspective of the present day.
Insider Information on Canada
On Sundays, entire families do the Grouse Grind in Vancouver. An almost three-kilometre trail takes you up the face of Grouse Mountain, nearly 3,000 feet. If you are fit, it should take about 50 minutes. Hike up, but take the gondola down to protect your knees of course.
Visitors to Montreal should take note of the "Sunday Tam-Tams" in Mount Royal. Tam-tams are a type of hand drum, and hundreds of Montrealers and visitors turn up on summer Sundays to play around the monument to Sir George-Etienne Cartier.
As well as nearby Niagara Falls, Toronto claims the world's tallest building. The CN Tower stands at 1,815 feet. Once at the top - by elevator naturally - there is plenty to do including walking on a glass floor, eating at the revolving restaurant and enjoying the view.
Bring your Stetson. The Calgary Stampede takes place in July, and is the Calgary's most popular tourist attraction. It features a rodeo, chuckwagon races, concert and amusement park.
Travel Tips
- Finding Cheap FlightsOur golden rules for finding a cheap flight
- Airlines with low-cost ticketsAn essential guide to how the main carriers operate
- Before You GoAdvice on everything you need to do before you set off
- Regional UK and Irish AirportsFlying from the four corners of the UK and Ireland
- Glossary of Flying TermsAn A-Z of common terms you’ll need to know
- Travel Sickness and DVTHow to stay happy and healthy in the air
Travel links
- MapCanada Map from Multimap
- Destination GuideLonely Planet's guide to Canada
- ClimateAverage seasonal temperatures
- WeatherThe weather today in Canada
- Currency converterFind the current exchange rate