The 10 Most Beautiful Towns and Villages in Canada (3 of 6)

Quebec City, Quebec

If you want to feel like you’re exploring a traditional European town but would rather pass on the long flight and jetlag, Quebec City has you covered. It’s the oldest walled city in North America, and its Old Town (Vieux-Québec) is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There you will walk along cobblestone streets, behold the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec (the oldest in North America not located in Mexico), and enjoy a coffee and meal at one of the many vibrant sidewalk cafes. But don’t just limit your experience in the city to Old Town! Charming neighborhoods such as Montcalm, St-Roch, and St-Jean-Baptiste really hold their own when it comes to living your best vacation life.

Banff, Alberta

Although the permanent population of Banff, located in the renowned Banff National Park, is just around 8,300, it is nonetheless capable of accommodating millions of tourists every year. The Banff Springs Hotel (today owned by Fairmont), which opened in 1888, was the brainchild of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which sought to have grand hotels built across the country to encourage wealthy travelers to ride the transcontinental train. You feel like you’re right in the middle of the wilderness, and yet you can still enjoy all of the amenities of a “civilized” town, including shops, restaurants, and breweries to savor a pint.