Canada just scored major recognition on the global stage with five of its cities named among the best places to visit in 2025 — but Ontario was noticeably absent from the list.
Travel + Leisure released its annual World’s Best Awards, based on nearly 180,000 reader responses evaluating cities on landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.
The top Canadian city once again is Quebec City, earning a spot in the “hall of fame” for being ranked in the top Canadian cities at least 10 years in a row. Readers raved about its French-inspired architecture and historic charm, with one saying, “If you can’t get to Paris, go to Quebec.”
Close behind are Montreal and Vancouver, both climbing one spot from last year and praised for their vibrant arts scenes and culinary culture.
Smaller cities made a strong showing, too: Halifax ranked fourth and was called “the up-and-coming city in Canada” by one voter, while Victoria rounded out the top five with its waterfront views, British-style buildings, and famous Butchart Gardens.
Notably missing was Toronto — Canada’s largest city, which last appeared in the 2023 list but has since been edged out by Halifax.
Here’s the official ranking for Canada’s best cities in 2025 according to Travel + Leisure:
- Quebec City — Score: 86.79
- Montreal — Score: 82.93
- Vancouver — Score: 82.79
- Halifax — Score: 82.26
- Victoria — Score: 80.70
While no Canadian city made the global top 25 — where the lowest score was 88.15 — these cities remain among the world’s favorites for travelers. So whether planning a staycation or a getaway, these five Canadian gems are officially worth visiting. Sorry, Ontario — maybe next year!
