From eastern cities to the Pacific

Who it is for

For anyone who wants to combine Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, with a long journey between the east and the Pacific.

Not for anyone traveling in winter without cold-weather clothing.

The strategy

Toronto and Montreal come first; check your chosen train and the hotel change. Vancouver closes the trip, with a flight across the country. Count airports, transfers and the local arrival time within the week; three bases in seven days leave little room for extra stops. Keep the Vancouver arrival easy.

What you will see

• St. Lawrence Market, Toronto. The south market has operated on this site since 1803 and in the current building since 1902, built over the old 1845 city hall, whose portico is still embedded in the facade.
• Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal. Neo-Gothic, built between 1824 and 1829 by Irishman James O’Donnell, who converted to Catholicism so he could be buried there.
• Stanley Park, Vancouver. A 405-hectare park opened in 1888 on a forested peninsula that was never entirely logged, with about half a million trees and traces of the Squamish village of Xwayxway, emptied in the early 20th century.

Day by day

Toronto

1. 1
   Day 1: Downtown, the lake and the market

   1. 9CN TowerOne to two hoursIf there is time
   2. 1St. Lawrence MarketEssential
   3. 2Distillery DistrictEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Museums, the university and Queen West

   
3. 3
   Day 3: Ravines, the east and the Don Valley · if you have more time

   1. Casa LomaUp to half an hourIf there is time
   2. 8Scarborough BluffsWorth a visit

Montreal

1. 4
   Day 4: The old city, the port, and downtown

   1. 1Notre-Dame BasilicaEssential
   2. 3Pointe-à-Callière and the Vieux-PortEssential
2. 5
   Day 5: The mountain, the bagel, and the Plateau

   1. 2Parc du Mont-RoyalEssential
   2. 7Marché Jean-Talon and Marché AtwaterWorth a visit
3. 6
   Day 6: The Olympic east and the Expo islands · if you have more time

   

Vancouver

1. 7
   Day 7: Downtown, the origin, and the park

   1. 6Canada PlaceUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 1Stanley ParkEssential
   3. 2The seawallEssential
2. 8
   Day 8: Market, beach, and coastal art

   1. 4Granville Island Public MarketWorth a visit
3. 9
   Day 9: The other side of the water · if you have more time

   1. 5Grouse Mountain and the Grouse GrindHalf a day or moreWorth a visit
   2. 9Science WorldUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 8Vancouver Art GalleryUp to half an hourIf there is time
   4. 2The seawallEssential