Backpacking in Canada

Backpacking in Canada

Between jobs and after work, you will have plenty of time to explore Canada. The cities of Vancouver, Montréal, and Toronto offer backpackers an amazing variety of sights and diversions, and are great starting points for travel in Canada's less thickly-populated areas. 

Vancouver

Vancouver attracts millions of visitors each year. Its location directly on the Pacific Coast, the diverse recreational activities in and around the city, the Canadians' lively attitude, and a mild coastal climate are just a few of the myriad of reasons why this cosmopolitan city has become so popular.

Discover for yourself: 

• The cultural diversity in Chinatown, Little India, and Little Italy
• Gastown, the city's historical origin
• Chilling out on one of the beaches that surround the downtown district
• Lush green vegetation and impressive totem poles in Stanley Park
• Arts and crafts and colourful markets on Granville Island  
• Or you can sip from a drink – although highly overpriced – in the youngest trendy district of Yaletown, where you can find popular clubs, small bistros and exclusive boutiques in former warehouses.

If you don’t fancy walking or taking the bus, just rent a mountain bike and explore the city on two wheels! Backpacking in Canada is an experience you'll never forget.

Around Vancouver

The hustle and bustle of Vancouver isn't enough for you? Then go in pursuit of the ultimate adrenaline kick at further beaches outside the city gates and in the nearby Coast Mountains.  Get your adrenaline pumping with snowboarding, tubing, and sledging in the winter, or experience some spectacular mountain biking in the summer. 

The loveliest view of Vancouver’s skyline can be seen from the water – treat yourself to a boat trip as you backpack through Canada.

Montréal

The second-largest city in Canada, Montréal is also the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. With its many universities, its very own Chinatown, glimmering sky-scrapers, and an impressive historic part of town dating back to the 17th century, Montréal is as cosmopolitan as world metropolises come. Yet the city is typically Canadian: in the event that winter rears its ugly head, part of the city has been built underground. Stores, offices, and restaurants dot the entire length of a 32-km system of tunnels. Trees throughout the city are brightly coloured in the fall, especially if temperatures happen to climb above 20°C during a brief “indian summer”.

Toronto

With over 2.5 million residents, Toronto is the largest city in Canada, and a great example of multicultural harmony. With its low crime rate, Toronto is one of the safest cities in North America. The people here come from all over the world, as evidenced by the city’s diverse cultural districts. Little Italy, Little Jamaica, Koreatown, and Greektown live peacefully together on the western side of Lake Ontario – and there is much more to discover here. You’ll find Yonge Street, the city’s main cultural vein, with countless shops and theatres, and King Street, with the Canadian Walk of Fame and the seventh-largest stock-exchange on earth. Or visit the nearby Niagara Falls. An excursion through the big-city followed by a trip into Canada’s wilderness – no problem in Toronto!

Travel in Canada – but how?

Like most backpackers, you will certainly be covering most of the not-to-be-underestimated distances by bus or by train. Inland Canadian flights may sound tempting, but unfortunately cost a lot of money and often prove impossible on a normal budget.

Discover Canada by bus or train?

Busses offer the most well-developed transportation network over long distances in Canada, and are a relatively comfortable way to backpack across Canada. Bus fares are generally also cheaper than train costs. You can reach almost every corner of Canada by bus. However, when planning your journey, you must take into account that some travel routes are not as frequently travelled as others. 

…or maybe by car?

If you want complete flexibility you should buy a car. Of course, instead of sitting alone in a car, it’s nicer to get together with other backpackers who you have met during the orientation days or in hostels, and go backpacking with them. More fun – and lower fuel costs!

Native Indians, Inuit and Métis

Canada is multicultural – and that hasn’t just been the case since the immigration movements of the past century. The original inhabitants of the country, known today as the First Nation or Native Canadians, are a variety of different peoples, including Native Indians, Inuit (Canadian Eskimos), and Métis (a mixed race descended from Europeans and native inhabitants).

Native Canadians

Most Native Canadians live in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario. In total, around 3% of the population of Canada belongs to the First Nation today. The carved totem poles which you can find in many locations – e.g., in the coastal region of British Columbia – are just one testimony to the art and culture of the native people of Canada.

As you backpack in Canada, you can find numerous events and museums across the country, which provide insight into the different cultures of native Canada. The name of the country itself, “Canada”, originated from a native Canadian language – the Huron-Iroquois use the word “Kanata” for “settlement”.

Multi-coloured Canada

Canada's multi-coloured festivals are sociable, fun, and interesting. These festivals and events are definitely worth seeing, whether you are part of the audience, the participants, or the staff. There is a huge selection of these events:

• Dog sledding in the Yukon
• Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montréal
• The Calgary Stampede – world class rodeo
• Festivals focused on native Canadian art, culture, and mythology 
• Huge funfair based on the Gold Rush
• Arctic Food Celebration with culinary delicacies of Arctic cuisine
• Lots of music festivals and wine festivals
• Professional ice sculptors competing to build the most spectacular sculptures
• Gay Pride Week, or
• Highland Games, based on the Scottish Highland Games