20 Most Photogenic Places Across Canada

No matter what angle you’re looking at it from, Canada makes for some postcard-perfect pictures. It’s no wonder that Hollywood loves filming here so much. Those breathtaking landscapes in Brokeback Mountain? Those were in Canada. The lovely old homes and riverside walkways in The Handmaid’s Tale? Canada. The Cullen house and the forest in The Twilight Saga: New Moon? The snowy prairies of Fargo? Yep, you guessed it. With many countries around the world not yet allowing international tourists, this Canada Day is the perfect time to fall in love with our home all over again. Here are 20 of the most photogenic places across Canada.

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Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador

It’s almost impossible to not take a good picture on Fogo Island. If the fishing villages with their quaint cottages, icebergs, and rugged Brimstone Head — according to the Canadian Flat Earth Society, this is one of the four corners of the Earth — are not quite what you deem Instaworthy, point your camera in the direction of one of the architectural marvels here, like Fogo Island Inn or the Long Studio.

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St. Andrews, New Brunswick

Fishing boats in the harbour, colourful heritage buildings that date back to the 18th century, the lighthouse, the local Anglican church building and whales are just some of the things you’ll want to photograph in St. Andrews, also known as St. Andrews By-the-Sea. Then there’s the famed Algonquin Resort, where you can stay during your Canadian getaway. If it was good enough for Princess Diana…

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Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario

In winter, it looks like a modern, Canadian version of those old Dutch paintings depicting ice-skating crowds. In summer, the Rideau Canal is nothing to be scoffed at either. It makes for one of the best Canadian bike tours but you can travel it by boat too. Along the way you’ll see historic buildings, lots of greenery — or fall colours if it’s the season — and bridges old and new. And then there’s that moment when you’ve passed underneath the Mackenzie King Bridge and you look up to see the Chateau Laurier and Parliament Hill up ahead.

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Banff National Park, Alberta

You know the picture: emerald lake, snow-capped peaks and a dark green forest under a blue sky. It’s really the only picture any Canadian tourism brochure needs. The funny thing is that the picture could be either of Lake Louise or of Moraine Lake (pictured), because Canada has two such stunning places within 15 km of each other, and they’re only scratching the surface of photogenic spots in Banff National Park.

Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia

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Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia

Whether you want to focus on foliage, totem poles, seascapes, ships coming in to harbour, Lions Gate Bridge or the Vancouver skyline, Stanley Park has all the right vantage points. No wonder this city park is home to one of Canada’s best hiking trails.

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Toronto skyline, Toronto, Ontario

It’s easy to overuse the word “iconic” but when it comes to describing the Toronto skyline, it really is the first word that comes to mind. And while the classic way to get the perfect shot of the CN Tower, well, towering over the rest of the city is to take a ferry out to the Toronto Islands, you can keep your feet firmly on land and get great pictures too. Try the views from Ireland Park, Trillium Park, Humber Bay or Polson Pier or for something different take your shot from the top of the CN Tower itself.

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Churchill, Manitoba

By itself, Churchill isn’t exactly pretty. It’s what you’ll find around here, however that makes it Instagram heaven. In winter, Churchill is famous for its polar bears and the Northern Lights. The polar bear capital of the world is one of the best places to visit in July too: this time of year, you’ll have a hard time choosing whether you want to photograph the bears still roaming the area or the beluga whales.

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Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

There’s a good reason why people in search of a good photograph all flock to Peggy’s Cove, no matter whether it’s summer or winter. When you’ve taken the thousandth picture of the lighthouse, wander into the village itself. You’ll find colourful fishing boats, cottages, rusty anchors and the rock carving in the William E. deGarthe Memorial Provincial Park.

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Auyuittuq National Park, Nunavut

If it were more easily accessible, it would have been as crowded as Calgary during Stampede. However, it’s partly because it’s so far off the beaten path that Auyuittuq National Park has become one of Canada’s hidden gems. Only partly, though. The real reason is that no matter which way you turn, you’ll be able to take a breathtaking picture. Of course, at least one of the many, many pictures you’ll take here should be of Mount Asgard or Mount Thor.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

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Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Whether it’s the mudflats of Midas Basin or the weird formations of Hopewell Rocks at low tide, the waterfalls of Fundy National Park, the whales and dolphins and porpoises and birdlife, the isles or even the towns and villages along the coast, the Bay of Fundy offers a variety of things to photograph. Of course you’ll also want to snap the same seaside spot at different times to capture the world’s highest tides.

South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

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South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

As daylight fades and the big red sky is reflected in the waters of the South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon becomes home to one of the world’s most beautiful sunsets. The banks of the South Saskatchewan River offer great views at any time of day, though, with the city’s famed bridges forming the perfect backdrop. Even if your Instagram feed consists mostly of pictures of food, the banks of the South Saskatchewan River are a good choice: Saskatoon has one of Canada’s highest number of restaurants per capita.

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Tofino, British Columbia

Of course there are many Canadian towns that offer the combination of beaches, mountains and whales but Tofino has that something extra for photographers who are willing to brave the elements. It’s one of Canada’s premier storm-watching destinations with truly dramatic waves. Good waves naturally draw the surfing crowd, so you can also get cool pictures of young and old with their surfboards.

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Canmore, Alberta

Canmore is one of those Canadian towns that fill up with charm in winter but it’s ridiculously pretty in summer too. It was around here that most of Brokeback Mountain was filmed and even just a stroll down the town’s main street comes complete with that stunning mountain scenery. If you prefer photographing beautiful people, be sure to visit during the Canmore Folk Festival.

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Quebec City, Quebec

Quebec City is without about one of the most beautiful cities in the world, whether you come here in summer, in winter or to see the fall colours. The jewel in the city’s crown is the historic neighbourhood of Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Chateau Frontenac holding watch over it. With buildings dating back to as early as the 17th century, Old Quebec feels more like it’s in a somewhere in Europe than Canada.

Dempster Highway, Yukon and Northwest Territories

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Dempster Highway, Yukon and Northwest Territories

It’s nearly impossible to find a spot along the Dempster Highway that isn’t instantly Instaworthy. Covering just under 740 km, the road takes you across different kinds of terrain, each with its own charm. The one thing that makes a picture of a lonely road leading to distant mountains extra special? When it’s just rained and there’s a rainbow.

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Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

If for some reason you get tired of photographing Prince Edward Island’s rolling green hills, rural landscapes and red sand beaches, turn your focus on downtown Charlottetown. There’s a reason why this is one of the best Canadian cities to visit in a non-pandemic summer: the wide, leafy streets are lined with Victorian buildings, many of which house cute little boutiques, galleries or eateries where you can take tons of pictures of fresh seafood. Then there’s the riot of colours at the farmers’ market.

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Big Muddy Badlands, Saskatchewan

Just when you thought Saskatchewan has nothing to offer except an endless expanse of flatness, Big Muddy Badlands come and destroy all your preconceptions. Castle Butte is especially photogenic. Of course the Rockies would find the Big Muddy’s attempts at variation in gradient a little laughable but can the Rockies say that they look like they’re straight out of a Western?

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Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

British Columbia has been blessed with plenty of picturesque spots and one that’s especially versatile for photographers is the Okanagan Valley. The combination of lake, mountains and vineyards makes for stunning landscape pictures any time of year but don’t forget the fruit orchards that are in full bloom in spring. Then there’s harvest season, when you can get the perfect close-up of grapes on the vine or apples and cherries being picked by hand.

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Niagara Falls, Ontario

They may not be the biggest in the world but they’re probably the most famous: the Niagara Falls that straddle the border between Canada and the United States are one of the must-see waterfalls in Canada. The good news is that if you don’t want to fork out a substantial amount for a helicopter tour, the best land-based vantage points of the falls are on the Canadian side. You’ll have more time to frame the perfect shot too. For truly surreal pictures, visit in winter.

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Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

Back when cameras were unwieldy boxes that couldn’t take pictures in anything other than shades of brown, the way to really capture the beauty of a landscape was to bring your brushes and your easel and paint it. For members of the Group of Seven, a favourite subject to paint was the landscapes of Algonquin Provincial Park. Famous for its fall colours, the park also offers plenty of opportunities for Instaworthy pictures of lakes, canoes and amazing camping spots. It’s also one of the best places for spotting that quintessentially Canadian animal, the moose.