Want a unique trip to Canada? These small cities ranked as places you shouldn’t skip
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver. Canada’s largest cities routinely draw crowds of tourists. They’re lovely destinations but, well, expected ones. Tucked beyond these well-known places, the country is home to vibrant small cities with just as much to offer visitors.
Resonance Consultancy took a deep dive into the best small cities in Canada in its 2023 report. The final rankings took into account everything from weather and infrastructure, to activities and safety, as well as shopping and outdoor spaces.
The result? Whatever you’re looking for in a vacation destination, you’ll find it in these five unique and top-ranked small cities in Canada.
5. Waterloo, Ontario
Tucked not-quite-midway between Toronto and Detroit is “Canada’s silicon valley:” Waterloo. It boasts one of the youngest populations in the country, drawn to the city’s universities, think tanks and startup-friendly culture.
Waterloo is also a hot spot for “Ontario’s craft beer craze,” rankers said. Perhaps by natural extension, the neighboring city of Kitchener also boasts the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Germany. With a vibrant nightlife and plentiful green spaces, visitors can enjoy everything Waterloo has to offer.
4. Niagara Falls, Ontario
Located just across the momentous waterfall bordering upstate New York, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is the place to be. Resonance Consultancy ranked the city No. 1 in family-friendly attractions, No. 2 in theaters and No. 3 in sites and landmarks.
Beyond its namesake falls, the city offers visitors vibrant — and growing — local markets to explore, ever-changing creative events and a historic downtown with plazas to wander.
3. Kingston, Ontario
About midway between Ottawa and Toronto, the city of Kingston blends “European walkability” with history and the best of lakefront living, rankers said. The city was Canada’s first capital, from 1841 to 1844. It boasts Fort Henry, one of the only UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ontario, where visitors can get a feel for what 19th-century military life was like.
Downtown, Kingston’s small alleyways, brick buildings, shops and local breweries are perfect for exploring. Whether your jam is boutique or thrift stores, there’s a hidden gem waiting for you. Situated on Lake Ontario, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy a range of watersports, including sailing, paddle boarding and windsurfing, rankers said.
2. Kelowna, British Columbia
On the other side of the country, the small city of Kelowna offers visitors a range of outdoor activities, regardless of the season, Resonance Consultancy reported. During the summer, orchards and vineyards around the city ripen while lakes and swimming holes echo with the sound of splashing. During the winter, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy three major resorts all within an hour’s drive.
Kelowna has drawn a surge of people since the COVID-19 pandemic, with new residents drawn to the city’s outdoor offerings, vibrant shopping areas and rich restaurant scene. The ever-expanding downtown boasts 10 breweries, five cider mills and five distilleries, rankers said.
1. Victoria, British Columbia
Taking the coveted top spot as Canada’s best small city is Victoria, a vibrant city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Resonance Consultancy reported. Overlooking the Olympic mountains of Washington state, the city’s climate is an “Alaska-meets-Hawaii” blend — almost “sub-Mediterranean,” rankers said.
Whether you want to surf, mountain bike, hike or sip a beer downtown, Victoria has it all. Canada’s craft brewing scene began here and is still going strong as the city has one of the “highest number of breweries per capita,” rankers said.
With its many draws, Victoria is a unique destination for tourists who want to enjoy the best Canada has to offer.
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