The 10 Top Things to Do in Winter in Canada

Winter is a great time to visit Canada, especially for the adventurous. From unique activities such as dog-sledding to the more traditional winter activities such as skiing and skating, there is something for everyone. Also, Canada boasts some of the world’s biggest and best winter festivals this season.

The height of winter is freezing cold in most places in Canada except for the British Colombian coast, where winters are moderate. Whistler, two hours inland from Vancouver, on the other hand, gets loads of snow and is a major ski destination through May.

Winter in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is long. Calgary, however, does not get much snow, but it stays around in the higher altitudes; Banff and Canmore—both in Alberta—may get two feet in April. Meanwhile, southern Alberta gets winter relief from warm Chinook winds.

Eastern Canada, including Toronto and Montreal, has a short, fierce winter: sub-zero temps around -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) are not uncommon from December to February. At least one or two snowfalls of eight inches or more will likely hit in January and February.

Despite the cold weather, though, many cities across the country host seasonal events and activities in the winter. From staying in an ice hotel to ice skating on the Rideau Canal, there’s no shortage of winter fun to be had in Canada this year.

01
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Visit One of Canada’s Famous Ski Resorts

Due to the heavy amount of snowfall expected across the country, Canada is known for its many ski resorts and slopes, which are open for over half of the year.

Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics Nordic events. Meanwhile, Banff and Lake Louise are an easy ski escape outside of Calgary, Alberta, and Mont-Tremblant, 90 mins north of Montreal in Quebec, is one of the most charming winter alpine villages. These resorts are excellent by any standard—long runs, sharp drop-offs, and spectacular scenery plus a range of activities, such as heli-skiing and glacier skiing.

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Stay in the Quebec Ice Hotel

ADDRESS
1860 Boulevard Valcartier, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, QC G0A 4S0, Canada
PHONE +1 418-844-2200
WEB Visit website
The Quebec Ice Hotel is spectacular to behold and is one of the most unique visitor experiences in the world. The cathedral-like hotel is carved entirely of ice, including the furniture and even ice candelabras hanging from the 18-foot ceilings

What’s even more special about this unique attraction is that the Quebec Ice Hotel is rebuilt each year, opening its doors from January to the beginning of April. The walls are four feet thick and insulate the hotel to a crisp but comfortable 23 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 to -2 degrees Celsius). Visitors may choose to just pass through for a tour and a drink at the ice bar or stay overnight.

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Check out the Québec Winter Carnival

The residents of New France, now Quebec, had a rowdy tradition of getting together just before Lent to eat, drink, and be merry. Today, the Québec Winter Carnival carries on this tradition with the biggest winter carnival in the world, celebrated annually at the end of January through mid-February. The event is staged largely for families to enjoy, and they come out in droves to embrace and celebrate the cold. Aside from accommodations for the event, a trip to the Québec Winter Carnival costs relatively little.

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04
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Skate the Rideau Canal (Ottawa)

ADDRESS
Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Every winter, Ottawa’s Rideau Canal becomes The Rideau Canal Skateway and at just under five miles (7.8 kilometers) long, it’s the world’s largest skating rink. Locals and visitors alike make the most of this frozen roadway in winter, using it both as a means of transportation and form of recreation.

It’s important to keep in mind when planning your trip that the skateway generally opens in January or February when the canal is sufficiently frozen and safe for skaters. Skate rentals and sharpening, as well as boot checks, are also available, and you can even rent sleighs in which children can sit while adults push it along the canal.

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Visit Winterlude (Ottawa)

ADDRESS
Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway, Ottawa, ON K1P, Canada
WEB Visit website
Canadians celebrate sub-zero temperatures and waist-high snowdrifts by staging great winter festivals, such as Ottawa’s Winterlude. For the first three weekends every February, the nation’s capital puts on a winter festival that features ice-skating on the world’s longest rink, ice sculptures, a snow playground, concerts, and more.