Travel 101: 9 Things You Should Know Before You Visit Canada

Are you planning to travel to Canada? Good for you. Canada is a fantastic place and is packed full of wonderful experiences.

What’s more, it’s an easy country to visit. Regardless of whether this is your first time as an immigrant, tourist, or just taking a short trip, there are a couple of things that you should know to maximize your trip.

Here are nine things that you should know when visiting Canada.

Canada is huge

What comes as a surprise to most people is that Canada is the second-largest country in the world after Russia. It covers approximately 9.9 million square kilometers and touches three oceans – the Pacific, Atlantic, and the Arctic.

What this means to you as a traveler is that it will take you a long time to cover the places that you would want to see. For instance, driving from one coast to another could take you a week or longer if you plan to make some stops along the way.

The official languages in Canada are English and French

Although English is widely spoken in Canada when traveling through some parts of Eastern Canada like New Brunswick you will find French-speaking people. Additionally, the French dialect is different from France.

This is because when the French colonized Canada, the Canadians retained the old dialect and never changed like in France.

Visa requirements

You will either be required to carry your visa or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authority), but never both. Others will only need to have a valid passport. An eTA is applied online for just seven Canadian dollars.

You will then get a number that is linked to your passport. However, before your eTA Canada application is approved, you have to fill in some pre-screen questions. You will then get a confirmation email along with your eTA.

Strict alcohol rules

Canada has stricter alcohol drinking rules than many other countries. First of all, you will have to be above 18 or 19 years of age, depending on the province you will be visiting.

Additionally, you will always have to carry your ID with you when purchasing alcohol.
When purchasing alcohol for home consumption, you will have to visit an official liquor store. Such stores have different names in different areas.

For instance, NSLC in Nova Scota and LCBO in Ontario. However, some large grocery stores also sell beer and wine. Although you can purchase drinks in bars, drinking on the streets is prohibited. Plus, you cannot have an open drink in your car even if you’re not driving.

Ice hockey is a favorite sport

Canadians love ice hockey, and if you get the opportunity to watch a game, it will be an incredible experience. Apart from witnessing the action-packed game, during breaks, you will enjoy more entertainment like music, dancing, and other fun things.

Explore the Nature

Canada is known for its modern, cool, and popular cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. With lots of good food, culture, and plenty of fun things to do, these cities make good travel destinations.

However, Canada’s beauty lies beyond the cities. Because of the vast size of the country and the relatively small population, most parts of the country are unspoiled.

Therefore, there are several pristine areas waiting to be explored immediately when you get into Canada. You can hike across a glacier mountain, tramp across coastal rainforests, or go canoeing through one of Ontario’s lakes.

Canada has numerous national parks with incredible views, and they offer several activities. If you enjoy outdoor sports like camping, hiking, skiing, canoeing, bird watching, or fishing, then you will be in your element once you visit Canada.

Driving rules

Unlike other countries, the speed limits in Canada are in kilometers per hour. Therefore, remember that change when driving in Canada. Additionally, Canadian drivers are slower and easygoing, and there is generally less road rage.

In Canada, the traffic lights are slightly different. Sometimes, you may notice two red lights that are in different shapes. However, the main difference is the flashing green traffic light, which signifies that only motorists on that lane have the right of way.

Still, in the metric system, you should also know that Canada uses liters and not gallons. Therefore, when purchasing gasoline, remember that the price will be displayed in liters. One gallon is equivalent to 3.75 liters, so don’t conclude that gas is cheap in Canada when you first see the signs.

Electronics used in Canada

Canada uses a similar style plug to North America. This is a two-prong plug. Sometimes electronic devices have a third prong, which is for grounding. Therefore, if you’re visiting Canada from Europe, you should first buy an adapter with a plug that fits Canadian outlets.

Additionally, the voltage in most wall outlets in Canada is 120 volts. Although most electronics today can handle varying voltages, bringing appliances that run on 240 or 230 volts may not work well in the lesser voltage wall outlets.
Therefore, you should first check the label of your electronic devices and the supported voltages.

Canadians are not big smokers

In Canada, cigarette smoking is prohibited. In fact, cigarette packages have graphic labels and warnings that discourage this habit.

Although laws on cigarette smoking and selling vary by province, cigarette smoking is not allowed inside restaurants, clubs, and bars. If you have to smoke, you have to move several meters away from some buildings.

In some provinces like Ontario, vendors that sell cigarettes are not allowed to display them. Also, cigarettes are very expensive, and a carton can retail anywhere from $20 to $40 Canadian.

Final Thoughts

From the amazing scenic beauty, bustling cities, courteous people, long coastlines, and wondrous parks, there are several adventurous things to do in Canada. For decades, Canada has been a popular tourist destination, and over the last few years, it has become a preferred destination for international students.

However, despite how amazing and friendly the country may be, it is still a foreign country and you need to know the above things before you plan your trip to the Great White North.