O Canada! There’s tons to see and do in this country renowned for maple syrup, ice hockey and its famously friendly inhabitants. To get your trip off to a flying start, take a look at our essential Canadian facts and figures:
  • Canada is known as “the Great White North”, owing to its location above the USA. It’s also the second-largest country on earth, occupying a massive 9.985 million km²!
  • Canada’s winters are well-known for being cold, as temperatures can drop to -25°C (-95°F). Perfect for skiing, snowshoeing and other winter activities! That said, Canadian summers can be pleasant with the thermometer rising to 35°C (95°F).
  • English and French are the official languages of Canada. You’ll mostly hear French spoken in the province of Quebec, where over 80% of the locals are first-language Francophones.
  • Canada has 6 time zones, stretching from Pacific Standard Time in Vancouver (GMT-8) in the west, to Newfoundland Standard Time in Newfoundland (GMT-3.30) to the east.
  • The official currency is the Canadian dollar (currency code: CAD). It’s denominated in notes of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, and coins of 1¢, 5¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 and $2.
  • When you’re in Canada, be sure to check out Toronto’s 553.3m-high CN Tower and Alberta’s Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of stunning beauty.
Find out more about the Great White North before you travel in our useful articles below, and also learn about Canada’s eTA visa here.