Top 10 Best Cities in Canada

Canada is a massive country with cities as diverse as its landscapes. From bustling urban centers filled with arts and culture to quiet, scenic towns nestled in the mountains, there's a place for just about everyone. But which city stands out as the best? That's where you come in.

Maybe you're looking for a city with incredible job opportunities, a thriving nightlife, or a strong sense of community. Perhaps outdoor activities are at the top of your list, and you want a place surrounded by nature. Some cities are known for their food scenes, others for their festivals, and some for offering a little bit of everything. No matter what you value most, there's a city in Canada that fits the bill.

So, which cities truly stand out? Cast your vote for the places you think deserve recognition.

The Top Ten

Toronto, Ontario

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, the provincial capital of Ontario, and the core of the Greater Toronto Area, the country's most populous metropolitan region. It is an international hub for business, finance, arts, and culture. Toronto is also recognized as one of the most multicultural and... read more

It is amazing. No conflicts happen on the street, nor any robberies or murders in the city. The tower glows beautifully at night, lighting up the sky with an amazing view of the river.
Reflections of light in the river make the night view as bright as day. Buildings with small lights seen from the dark look like an ant farm, each a shining dot. Stars are clearly seen, and it's quiet at midnight.

Close first against Niagara Falls. Both are great, but Toronto just pushes to first place with the skyline and everything for everyone.
Like what one commentator on the Montreal section said: "It has something for everyone. It is good for sports lovers, animal lovers, foodies, beach lovers, nature lovers, and amusement park lovers" - Mono.
Amazing city, and I wish I was rich enough to live downtown.
Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. It is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in the country. Vancouver is a popular filming location and was the host city of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

I am so moving to Vancouver when I'm older. After high school, I'm gonna be one of those international university students. I can't wait to get to Vancouver. All my life, I've wanted to go to Vancouver.
I love it when a city is considered beautiful by everyone, and that is exactly what Vancouver has achieved. I love you, Vancouver!

Vancouver has better rapid transit, infrastructure, and food than Toronto. Plus, unlike Montreal and Toronto, there are actually things to see outside of the downtown core like Metrotown, South Surrey, Lynn Canyon, and much more.
Montreal, Québec

Montreal is the most populous municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec and the second-most populous in the country. It was originally known as Ville-Marie and takes its name from Mount Royal, a three-peaked hill located in the city center.... read more

Montreal is a good place to live. Live in a good neighborhood that is safe and clean, and you will love Montreal for life, I swear.
Montreal has some things that should be fixed, like some parts of the city. The roads are nasty, there is graffiti on old buildings, and there are abandoned buildings in the airport areas, which make tourists a bit afraid of Montreal. These are the bad things about Montreal.
Otherwise, Montreal is really a good place to live. Mount Royal, Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal Olympic Stadium and Tower, La Ronde, and more.

I've lived in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Montreal is by far the most socially dynamic and exciting city to live in. It offers incredible food, rich history, and an atmosphere that makes the city feel like Paris. I say this because I've been to Paris and noticed that it has the same "feel" as Montreal. At first, I thought I was imagining things. So, I closed my eyes and stood there, taking in the sounds and smells. It really did feel the same. To share this in common with the most visited city on Earth is simply incredible.
Montreal also offers unexpected features like the largest jazz festival on Earth, with an average attendance of 2.5 million people, and the world's largest international comedy festival. In the summertime, the International Symphony of Fire fireworks festival showcases a fireworks display every weekend from different countries, with Canada's own display rounding out the season.
Despite common misconceptions about Quebec being separatist, Canada Day is a big deal in Montreal, which is a federalist city. The festivities include music, the wearing of Canada-themed apparel, singing "O Canada," dancing, and fireworks raining down over the St. Lawrence River. These are all hallmarks of how Montreal celebrates Canada's birthday.
Montreal is also the birthplace of both of Canada's national sports: lacrosse and hockey. Hockey is especially celebrated here, with a level of fandom unmatched by any other Canadian city. In Montreal, you can expect to see Habs sweaters even in the summertime, along with Expos hats, Alouettes jerseys, and Impact shirts. It's considered cool to sport fan apparel at all times, especially the CH logo of the Canadiens. Painting your face in the traditional Bleu, Blanc et Rouge (Blue, White and Red) at sporting events for the Habs and Alouettes, or Quebec Blue and White for the Impact, is also the norm.... read more
Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated at the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River in the southern part of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie. The city lies approximately 80 kilometers east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies.

Calgary is just the best! Good work in all industries, super nice people, close to the mountains, most sunny days of any city in Canada, and warm Chinooks during winter.
Beautiful massive parks, including a provincial park that runs pretty much across the entire south (Fish Creek Park). Great downtown life, good bars, lots to do anytime of the year!

I live in Calgary, and it is a really nice city. They have the greatest stampede in America. Also, there is barely any crime compared to other cities.

How did Ottawa pull ahead of Calgary? I've lived in both cities for equal amounts of time, and Calgary is ten times better than Ottawa.
Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It lies on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern part of Southern Ontario. The city is home to many national institutions, including Parliament Hill, and is known for its bilingualism, with English and French both widely spoken.

Beautiful view of the capital. I like it there. I prefer Toronto, but Ottawa is nice too!

My friend lives in Ottawa, and he said it was awesome.

If I went to Ottawa, I would see the Peace Tower!
Québec City, Québec

Quebec City, officially named Québec, is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. It was founded in 1608 and is one of the oldest European settlements in North America. As of 2021, the city had a population of over 549,000, with a metropolitan population exceeding 839,000, making it the second-largest... read more

I live in Montreal and have been to Quebec City a couple of times. I can say it's way better than Montreal - way more relaxing, beautiful, historical, etc.

A nice town to relax in from the capital, and it's not as big as Montreal. By the way, Quebec City is fun. Visit the "Vieux Quebec" (Old Quebec).

Definitely better than Montreal, especially if you love snow!
Edmonton, Alberta

Edmonton, the capital of Alberta in Canada, is known for its vibrant festivals and striking natural beauty. The West Edmonton Mall is one of the largest shopping and entertainment complexes in North America, attracting millions of visitors each year. The North Saskatchewan River Valley provides a vast... read more

Edmonton is the best city in Canada. It has all four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). It also has the largest urban forest in North America, which adds beautiful scenery to the city.
People in Edmonton are very friendly. Edmontonians really love their city. We also have the largest mall in North America, which is great for shopping. Edmonton has plenty of festivals to keep you occupied in the summer.
Edmonton is also Canada's fastest-growing city, so that must mean people really like Edmonton. The city also has many bike trails, so if you like bike riding, Edmonton would be the perfect city for you.
I must say that I really hate Calgary. Calgary tries to be better than Edmonton, but deep down Edmonton is by far better. Calgary says they have easier access to the Rocky Mountains, but I'm pretty sure Calgarians don't go to the mountains that often. It's easy to get to Jasper from Edmonton.
Calgary thinks they're the cleanest city in the world. That's false. Vancouver is cleaner than Calgary. Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada. What's so good about that? A few clouds won't matter. I hope that nobody from Edmonton moves to Calgary because Calgary sucks, and Edmonton will always be the best.
Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Falls is a city located in Ontario, Canada. It sits on the western bank of the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. According to the 2021 census, the city's population is 88,071.

This is my favorite place in Canada and in the world. The grandeur of the Horseshoe Falls and the rainbows that appear very often can't be described.

Best place for vacations! My family has been visiting Niagara Falls for the past twenty years. It is still as wonderful as it was the first time!

Great destination, close to the wine country, good theatre, cuisine, and of course, good people and their unique cultures.
Winnipeg, Manitoba

I stayed one month in Winnipeg, and it could be the city in which I'd like to settle. It's big, with so many things to do (beautiful parks, great malls, lots of restaurants), yet public transportation is only by bus.

Great city, not to mention very nice people. Great big forests to take hikes in too.
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Really good citizens, has lakes. Probably number 2! But there is a bad thing: it has a lot of tax and more tax than others. But I lived here, and I recommend a visit!

This is an awesome city! It is one of the most beautiful. Plus, it is a medium city! Not like cities such as Vancouver, where Justin Bieber hangs out. Halifax is the best!

A perfect city to experience true Canadians. No metropolitan attitudes like in Toronto or other big cities.

The Newcomers

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Banff, Alberta

Best place in Canada. Very beautiful. Has mountains, skiing, and lots more.

Banff is my personal favorite.
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Hope, British Columbia

The town where First Blood (Rambo) was filmed!

The Contenders

London, Ontario

Small town feel in a medium-sized city. What else do you need? Also, the most affordable housing in the country.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

I lived in Saskatoon a few years when I was a kid. It was nice back then, with friendly people, but now it seems to be dirty and not like it was. I used to live in River Heights.
The only bad thing was trick-or-treating in the mall since it was already freezing in October!

Whoever says Saskatoon is terrible clearly hasn't been there or lived there.
Moncton, New Brunswick

A nice place to live, not too small and not too big. And it's working like a big city like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, etc. I love this city.

The most polite city in Canada!
Victoria, British Columbia

Polite people, great climate, tourist attractions... We got it all.

Great weather and a nice city for walking or biking.

It's my name, and the people there are awesome!
Red Deer, Alberta
Waterloo, Ontario

We are so lucky to live in this mini-city of universities, pedestrian and bike trails, great Uptown shops and bars, and well-maintained public parks and spaces.
I like how although the city is growing, the planners are keeping the downtown area compact and cute. The ION public transit train links Waterloo with Kitchener.

Waterloo is a very clean and technologically advanced city. Its downtown area is growing rapidly, and it has a very strong focus on education as well as being the birthplace of Blackberry.
Waterloo is truly an amazing city that, in 10 years' time, will be even better.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Anthony Bourdain came here for a reason. St. John's and Newfoundland are on the rise. Tourists are flocking here every year for one of the best-kept secrets. A favourite of Russell Crowe, Jason Momoa, Brendan Gleeson, Weezer, Tony Bourdain (RIP), Eddie Vedder, and Jack Johnson, it's just getting popular now. This standing in no way reflects it. People come for their privacy.
Saint John, New Brunswick

Well, it's the best city I've been to. Better than Moncton, at least if you disregard the economy. The weather is the best in Canada. Rain and fog half of the year! If you don't like rain, you're a monster.
Jasper, Alberta

Jasper is another one of my favorite cities in Canada.

So beautiful and so nice people.
Orillia, Ontario
Regina, Saskatchewan

I'd love to visit this beautiful city!
Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a port city located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is situated on the western tip of Lake Ontario and has a population of over 800,000 in its metropolitan area. Hamilton is known for its steel industry, natural waterfalls, and cultural landmarks.

Hamilton is the most diverse city in Canada. It is now transitioning from being a labor and steel production city to a leader in medical advancements, all while being the waterfall capital of the world.
It is home to what people call "the mountain," where many street names continue but coin the prefix "Upper," e.g., James St and Upper James St. There are many different communities that coexist, where race, class, education level, and religion are intermingled and live harmoniously.

Hamilton is an interesting and diverse city. It is located between Niagara Falls and Toronto, on the south side of Lake Ontario, close to Wine Country Ontario. It has an older industrial base profile (steel mills) and lots of diversity.
It went through some tougher times, but the people are resilient, optimistic, and embracing the future. Watch out for Hamilton - you ain't seen nothing yet!
Kamloops, British Columbia

Best climate in Canada. Driest, hottest summers and a fairly mild winter. Fantastic skiing close by at Sun Peaks and the best recreational lake in Canada (Shuswap Lake) is a short drive away in the summer.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Fredericton, New Brunswick