Are you looking for new travel destinations and want to learn more about Spring travel trends for Canadians?
Canadians want to shake up their typical vacation routine and seek out “new to you” places worth exploring. To learn more about Spring travel trends for Canadians, I met with travel experts at Expedia. I love working with them as they have the most recent Canadian search trends and great insight on where Canadians are looking to travel and what destinations are topping the list.
7 Spring Travel Trends for Canadians
Canadian Travel Destinations
Canadians are excited to be exploring our own beautiful country, and three specific destinations are seeing a significant rise in searches for all the right reasons! Fortunately, I have visited each and can provide you not only insight as to who’s on the list but also why you should visit and some must-see experiences!
Quebec City, Quebec
Quebec City is one of my favourite cities in the whole world and a place that I think every Canadian should visit at least once. They say “you can experience Europe without crossing the Atlantic” and that couldn’t be more true. As soon as you arrive in downtown Quebec City and step out onto the cobblestone streets, you know you are truly somewhere special. With a unique mix of architecture, Old Quebec has a unique mix of New France architecture, small European streets, and British and romantic influence.
Beyond its stunning city sights, Quebec is also a gastronomic capital. I tell people, “I wasn’t a foodie before I visited Quebec, but I sure am now!” From incredible eats like Don Végane to world-class dining in the Champlain Restaurant at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City is a place where you can fuel your soul and your belly with decadent culinary experiences.
Quebec City is the best of all worlds, wonderful Canadian culture, incredible sights and sounds, festivals, shows, and events, and of course, incredible eats! Here are some of my favourite experiences not to be missed:
Quebec City Bike Rentals and Tours
An e-bike tour is a great way to see beyond the usual tourist sights and learn more from a local host about the architectural history that makes up the streets. If this is your initial introduction to e-biking, then Tuque & Bicycle Experiences first-timer 2-hour guided tour is the tour for you. I always love having a guide when I am learning a new skill, as it cuts down the learning curve and helps me get to the “adventure” part of the experience faster!
If a guided tour is not your thing, they also offer bike rentals, so you can hit the streets and local trails and discover on your own.
Indigenous Tourism Experiences
Immersing yourself in an Indigenous tourism experience in Quebec is an educational and inspiring way to explore the region. For over 30 years Indigenous Tourism Quebec has been inviting guests to come to the region to gather on the land and visit one of 200+ Indigenous-owned businesses, which can be found throughout the whole province of Quebec.
These businesses have a passion for sharing their history and stories from the past, innovative and new evolutions from the present, and dreams and aspirations for the future. Experiences are led with a level of intention and respect that I don’t often see in other travel experiences. Here you can first hand feel the respect and connection to the culture and a passion for sharing that with guests.
St John’s, Newfoundland
St. John’s Newfoundland has been on many Canadians’ bucket lists, but Expedia is showing us that this is the year people are finally booking their East Coast adventures. There is no other destination in Canada like St. John’s and if there was an award for the most welcoming place in Canada, I think this would be it.
As soon as you walk down Water Street (Canada’s oldest street) you’ll be welcomed by locals, making sure you have your questions answered and welcoming you into their stores and restaurants, where visitors can quickly become friends. With fresh-off-the-boat fish, kitchen-party-style music, and a vibrating city scene, the only problem is that once you “tick” St.John’s off your bucket list, you’ll be sure to put it right back on there as you’ll be wanting to go back again and again.
One of the most popular things to do while visiting St. John’s is to go whale watching, and if you can visit in the late Spring / early Summer you can also go iceberg hunting! Seeing huge, towering icebergs as they float by, combining them with the East Coast wildlife on your tour- now that’s a trip you’ll never forget.
Here are some of my favourite St. John’s Newfoundland experiences not to be missed:
Hunting for Icebergs
Hunting for icebergs is an adventure tour not to be missed. On our tour, as soon as we rounded the corner, we could see the white blip on the horizon and couldn’t believe the size. Standing over 80 feet high, 200 feet long, and 60 feet wide, this iceberg we saw was the size of a large mansion, and we were only seeing the top 10%.
One of my favourite parts about seeing an iceberg up close was seeing the ice below the surface. The real glow from beneath the ocean’s surface signaled like a warning that there was a lot more to be told and that danger lurked!
Gros Morne National Park
I have one piece of advice when visiting the St. John’s area of Newfoundland. As a full-time traveller and a lover of all things Canadian, I can say that Gros Morne National Park is truly a national treasure that everyone needs to experience.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll be able to walk on geological formations that are in the process of continental drift, leaving the earth’s mantle exposed! You can only experience this in a few places on earth. With picture-perfect fjords perfectly placed in between mountains, panoramic views, and hikes that bring you to world-class views, there is a mecca of experiences awaiting at Gros Morne.
Signal Hill National Historic Site
Signal Hill National Historic Site, St. John’s most iconic landmark, is a must for anyone visiting the city. A short walk from downtown St. John’s will have you walking trails that have been traversed for hundreds of years, looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean and sweeping views back to the beautiful town of St. John’s.
Explore the main sights, including Cabot Tower and the Queen’s Battery and Barracks, plus take some time to discover all the amazing trails the historic site has to offer. The trails all have varying difficulties from easy to moderate to difficult, but all result in stunning lookouts and views.
I love the Signal Hill National Historic Site so much that I went there twice on my last trip to St. John’s!
Explore Quidi Vidi, St. John’s Picture Perfect Seaside Town
This small, quaint inlet is lined with houses and boardwalks for locals and visitors alike. Its uniqueness is worth the walk in, but once you’re there, be sure to give yourself lots of time to explore. The perfect mix of location, atmosphere, good food, and great people makes Quidi Vidi a must! We went back 3 times during our week in St. John’s: once for pictures, once for another meal, and another time to soak it in before we left!
Whether it’s your first time visiting or you’ve fallen in love with the town and visited multiple times (like me), there is so much to see and explore in Canada’s oldest city, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Niagara Falls, Ontario
As one of the most visited destinations in the world, Canadians are proud to have Niagara Falls in their backyard, and I was surprised to learn that about 70% of Niagara Falls visitors every year are Canadian. While you go for the iconic waterfalls, that truly are magnificent, there is so much more to explore around town that makes this the perfect year to visit!
Spring and Summer in Niagara Falls are full of colour, with the flowers in bloom and on bright display around the city. In the fall, the leaves pop the brightest oranges, crimson red, and sunflower yellow.
I recommend you take in the falls from above with a helicopter tour, from behind the falls at The Journey Behind the Falls, from below at the Niagara Parks Power Station and The Tunnel, where you can walk right to the base of the falls, and even a zipline that makes you feel like you’re speeding right into the falls. A few blocks away, be sure to visit the butterfly conservatory, the Floral Showhouse garden, and my personal favourite, the Niagara Glen.
Here are a few detailed articles showcasing what not to miss:
Experience Nature’s Beauty – Hiking in Niagara Glen
The Niagara Glen is a designated nature reserve managed by the Niagara Parks Commission. Niagara Parks invites you to explore the Glen, one of the last remaining areas of old-growth Carolinian Forests in the Niagara Region. After my first visit to the park this past October, I’m officially hooked and want you to experience the magic within this special area of Niagara Falls.
Set deep in the Niagara Gorge, visitors get to wander through well-marked trails that will wind you through boulders that were left behind as the Niagara Falls eroded through the area, thousands of years ago. The forest is alive from the high canopy above to the ground below with delicate mosses, rich ferns, and some of the largest trees of their kind calling the park home. Keep your eyes out for fossils scientists have identified showing marine life from an ancient sea!
In Depth Niagara Falls Guide
It can be overwhelming when you first start your research on the must-see and do adventures in Niagara Falls. If you are like me, you want to soak it all in and see everything. To save you time, I’ve done the research for you and compiled an in-depth article showcasing all the adventures you don’t want to miss, check it out here.
Exploring Niagara Falls with Kids
After my first visit to Niagara Falls, I’m hooked! I can see how families could spend a long weekend or a whole week exploring everything that Niagara Falls has to offer. With outdoor, indoor, and educational adventures, there is something for everyone in the family. Check out my 25 Amazing Adventures To Explore in Niagara Falls with Kids article for the inside scoop on what to do while visiting.
International Travel Destinations
Canadians are exploring East and West with cities including Edinburgh and Paris topping the European search results and Osaka and Tokyo in Japan for those heading West. Cancun continues to be a favourite as well for those looking to escape the Canadian cold and head for warmer beaches.
Edinburgh, Scotland
I’ll never forget stepping out of the train station only to realize that there was a castle in the middle of the city. We quickly dumped our bags and, within minutes, were walking down the historic Royal Mile. Entrenched with rich history, Scottish guards stood at attention as we made our way to the castle. Bagpipes in the wind, and the unique mix of culture and history that can only be found in Scotland.
It’s no wonder that Canadians are flying directly to this beautiful European city. A mixture of innovation and education built on a foundation of tradition and culture, Edinburgh is a city that is as beautiful to visit as it is to explore. A definitely top city worldwide to visit, this is the perfect time to start planning your trip.
Here are a few must-see stops in Edinburgh:
The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is the busiest tourist street in the Old Town. The street gets its name for a few reasons. One, it is approximately one mile long. Second, each end of the street features two significant locations in the royal history of Scotland: Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The Royal Mile contains a variety of shops, restaurants, pubs, and popular tourism attractions.
Edinburgh Castle
Located at the top of Castle Rock in the heart of Old Town, Edinburgh Castle has played a prominent role in the history of Scotland. It has housed royalty, the military, the local mint, the national archives, and even a prison. There is so much to see and learn at the castle that I highly recommend booking one of their official guided tours to make the most of your visit. Be sure to listen for the one o’clock gun, marvel at the wooden architecture in The Great Hall, peek inside the Royal Apartments, visit the prison where Caribbean pirates were once held, and reflect on earlier times at the Scottish National War Memorial.
Traveler Tip: Be sure to buy your tickets in advance, as in the busy summer months, they often sell out.
Paris, France
One of the recent trends in travel is called “Set Jetting” where travelers are seeking out destinations from their favourite shows and movies that they’ve seen on screen. Emily in Paris is just one of those shows and many Canadians (myself included) are excited to head to the city of love and scope out scenes like the Eiffel Tower, St. Tropez in southern France, and the Louve Museum, just to name a few.
Whether you plan to spend all of your time in the city or choose to venture around the country and explore, Emily isn’t the only person that should be visiting Paris this year!
A few must-sees in Paris include:
Louve Museum
Standing out with its glass pyramid, The Louve Museum, is a national art museum and is home to some incredibly famous works of art. The Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and The Winged Victory are all residents of this historic museum.
Champs-Élysées
If French fashion is on your radar, then a wander down the famous Champs-Élysées street is a must. At almost 2 km in length, start at the Place de la Concorde and wander your way towards the Arc de Triomphe. Along the way, enjoy theatres, luxury shops, cafes and restaurants and just soak in the French culture that can only be found in Paris.
Cancun, Mexico
Canadian travellers love escaping our cold climate and Cancun continues to be a popular destination for Canucks. With the stunning waters, relaxing beaches and luxury and family-friendly resorts, it makes for an ideal spring getaway to shake off winter.
Travel Tip: Marriott Bonvoy has recently elevated their all inclusive experiences in Mexico with many properties offering incredible dining experiences, elevated guests rooms, cultural classes and experiences, and on site amenities. When using Expedia be sure to check out deals and campaigns offered by the Marriott Bonvoy collection and these new and lesser known benefits.
Tokyo and Osaka, Japan
Japan has quickly become a top destination among Canadians and two cities are among the top ten trending this spring! Osaka is up 75% in searches and Tokyo is up 45% compared to the previous year. Now Japan is a country that sits on my own personal bucket list and while I haven’t visited yet I do see why Canadians are making Japan a priority to visit this year.
Japan is known for its rich culture, incredible food scene, natural beauty and modern innovation. From bustling cities to quiet mountainside towns, Japan is both a fascinating and accessible destination which appeals to first-timers and repeat visitors alike. From the energizing bustle of Tokyo to the storied temples and shrines of Kyoto and the enchanting, primeval forests of Yakushima island, Japan has something for everyone.
Travel Hacks for 2025
Deciding where you want to go is the challenge but I”m here to help you save money on your next adventure. Expedia has released their Travel Hacks Reports that spotlights ways you can save anywhere from 13-30+ percent on your next trip. Let’s dig in:
Price Alerts
I love this feature that can be found on the Expedia App. Use their Price Tracking alerts and you can pinpoint the optimal booking window and receive instant notifications when flight prices drop. Basically, set it up and it’ll do the research and save you money!
Best Day Of The Week To Book
Did you know that if you book your trip on a Sunday you’ll save up to 24.1%? (when compared to customers who booked the same trip on a Friday). Booking on a Sunday will save you about 17% on domestic flights and 24% on International flights.
Booking Domestic Flights
If you’re exploring Canada the best time to book a domestic flight is one month out, more specifically 30-37 days before you travel. Doing this will save you about 33% on your Canadian trip.
Booking International Flights
Avoid booking your flight too early as that’s when fares tend to be their highest. The magic number for booking an international flight is about 106 days out (just over 3 months prior to travel).
When to Travel
Thursdays vs. Sundays
Did you know that if you book your flight to depart on a Thursday, you can save about 13%? Try to avoid flying out on a Sunday which is when flights tend to be the most expensive.
When To Depart
Try to book a flight before 3pm in order to reduce your chance of cancellations. Bookings after 3pm have an 18% higher chance of being cancelled or facing delays compared to those that opt for the early morning flights.
The theme that we’re seeing in Canada is strong, Canadians want to travel, are excited to explore amazing Canadian destinations and are seeking out epic international adventures when going overseas. Take this inspiration and align it with the travel hacks we’ve outlined and you’ll be walking down the airplane isle before you know it.
Your next adventure awaits!
