Itineraries — Ontario

Ontario is Canada's most populated province (15.5 million inhabitants, 38% of the country's population) and its economic and institutional heart. This is where the icons of anglophone Canada concentrate: Toronto the multicultural metropolis, Niagara Falls (one of the world's most visited natural wonders), Ottawa the federal capital, and the northern shore of the Great Lakes (the world's largest freshwater reserve).

The region is organised around three complementary hubs with distinct personalities. Toronto (6.3 million inhabitants with metro area) is the multicultural metropolis par excellence — 52% of the population foreign-born, one of the world's most diverse cities. Iconic skyline dominated by the CN Tower (553 m, built in 1976, long the world's tallest free-standing tower until 2007), Canada's financial centre, rich ethnic neighbourhoods (Chinatown, Little Italy, Greektown, Little India, Koreatown), major cultural institutions (Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Distillery District). Niagara Falls (1h30 south of Toronto) is the flagship natural attraction — the Horseshoe Falls (horseshoe-shaped, 670 m wide, 53 m high) discharge 90% of the total volume and create a dizzying panorama. Ottawa (2h east of Toronto, 2h west of Montreal) is Canada's federal capital — seat of Parliament, the major national museums and the UNESCO Rideau Canal.

Our recommendation: 3-4 nights Toronto + 1-2 nights Niagara + 2 nights Ottawa over 7 days, to combine with Quebec (5-7 additional nights) for a complete East Canadian trip over 12-14 days. Prefer June to September for climate and maximum accessibility to the falls, or January-February for the striking spectacle of partially frozen falls.