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Travel In Canada

Your Canadian experience should take you beyond the area where you settle to live and work. Go ahead - Explore the beauty and diversity that makes our country special!

While our cities are wonderful, you must venture into the magnificent countryside to really appreciate Canada. According to The Economist, Canada is among the three most scenic countries on earth, along with Norway and New Zealand. Discover the unique arts and crafts of our First Nations people.

Here are some common ways to get around while in Canada:

Plane

Flying is the most efficient and fastest way to travel across North America. Canada’s two largest airlines, Air Canada and WestJet, serve most Canadian cities. There are a number of regional carriers in Canada, such as Porter Airlines which flies out of the Toronto Island Airport to Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and a number of U.S. cities.

All Canadian carriers provide online booking services and most offer a range of prices for one-way flights. So, if you find an exceptionally inexpensive one-way price to your destination, you will need to be flexible about your return date if you want the same low price coming back.

Canadian travel agencies, including those online, can assist you in booking domestic flights; the fees they charge are more than offset by their knowledge, which can end up saving you significant money and time.

Bus

Canadians use the word “bus” to refer to both local transit vehicles and highway coaches. Canadian bus line companies offer an extensive network of reliable bus service throughout the country, including frequent downtown-to-downtown services between major cities.

Train

VIA Rail Canada provides passenger rail service in Canada, and offers an extensive schedule of operations in the Quebec City - Windsor corridor. The Ocean provides bi-weekly service between Montreal and Halifax, and the Canadian runs between Montreal/Vancouver and Toronto/Vancouver. Regina, Calgary and Banff are not served by the Canadian.

Car

Car rental agencies are located across Canada. Prices are competitive, so check more than one agency to get the best deal. Most agencies won’t rent to anyone under 25 years old or without a major credit card. Before buying a vehicle, it’s advisable to contact the ministry of transportation in the province or territory in which you reside.

Driving in North America

If your home driver’s permit is not in English or French, it might be wise to apply for an International Driver’s Permit before coming to Canada. If you are interested in working as a driver in Canada, you must obtain a Canadian driver’s license at a ministry of transportation office in the province where you intend to drive. Bring your home driver’s license and your birth certificate with you when you apply.

Citizens from countries that have reciprocal licensing agreements with the Canadian provinces can exchange their home driver’s license for a Canadian driver’s license. If this does not apply to you, you may be required to pass the complete driver’s test.

Speed Limits

Speed limits are posted in kilometers (km) as follows:

Urban Areas: Legal limit is 50 km per hour, unless otherwise indicated.
Highways: Legal limit is 100 km per hour

Traffic at intersections is usually regulated by automatic lights,  roundabouts are becoming more common; traffic moves on the right.

Short-Term Accommodation

Youth Hostels

Other Accommodations

During the summer months (May to August), many university and college residences offer short-term accommodation. Check their websites for details

Download the full Guide For Participants Coming To Canada (PDF* 570 KB) brochure.

For more information about International Experience Canada, please contact us.


* If you require a plug-in or third-party software to view this file, please visit the alternative formats section of our help page.

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Date Modified:
2012-04-03