Victoria is my favourite city in Canada. It has everything in a city that I love. There's the harbour that has spectacular views that lead out to the sea, as well as museums, cafes, restaurants and an awesome book store! The city has a very English feel to it. The Empress hotel felt very British, it's a remarkable building that is sadly sinking into the ground at a relatively slow speed.
The city is also a great base. Being on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, you're just a boat ride away from the mainland, with Vancouver to the east and Seattle to the south. If I could pick one place to return to in Canada it would most definitely be Victoria.Vancouver
Only a shortish boat journey away from the quaint city of Victoria lies a more modern take on Canada. Vancouver didn't feel like one city to me but several miniature cities creating one big one. There's the old town, which is worth visiting just to witness the steam clock strike the hour. Chinatown is how all Chinatowns seem to be, once you're in it everything and everyone turns Chinese, a very surreal experience. The modern part of the city is filled with skyscrapers and attractions to see and do. There also seems to be North Vancouver and West Vancouver. The only negative thing I found in this city was a long street of run down buildings, dodgy looking hotels and closed stores, littered with homeless and rough looking people. Hopefully this street no longer exists...
Nelson
Although so small I would class it as a town, Canada doesn't have many cities, so have to claim what they can! Nelson is a very laid back city, with many friendly people all seemingly willing to help you out or have a friendly chat. There's a great little market, that sells a range of items from varying stalls. Nelson is also well known for a great number of restored heritage buildings. This is a city to take it easy in and chill out for a few days. A great spot to do this is down by the river, with the view of the mountains and a pretty red bridge.Calgary
An underrated city in my opinion. It is a city that is under constant construction, but when you have so much space to build like the Canadians do then why knock anything down? Just keep building! There's plenty to do in Calgary, such as the Calgary Tower, which isn't as tall or grand as the CN Tower in Toronto, but still is well worth the trip to the top. Calgary is also a nice city to bike round, especially towards the suburbs.
Ottawa
The capital of Canada is somewhat overlooked in my opinion. It is a great city for the sightseers. The parliament buildings have a very European feel to their architecture. There are also museums and art galleries filled to the brim with culture and history of the country. Ottawa is positioned right on the border of two provinces, the predominantly French speaking Quebec to the east and Ontario to the west.Toronto
Toronto is modern, big and in your face. There are skyscrapers galore, including the CN Tower, which was the tallest tower in the world at one stage. It's littered with bars and restaurants and there's so much to do from cinema or theatre to ice hockey and sightseeing. Toronto is a vibrant city and a week can easily be spent enjoying the sights and culture.
