What to pack for Canada
Most of Canada has warm summers and long, cold, snowy winters. The west coast around Vancouver is milder and wetter, while the Prairies and the east can be very cold in winter. Mountain weather changes quickly.
That is the long-term pattern, not a forecast. Weather in any given week can be warmer, colder or wetter than usual, so check the forecast a few days before you leave — Wayfold does this automatically and adjusts the packing list for your actual dates.
Pack with Canada in mind
- A properly warm winter coat, hat, gloves and boots from late autumn to spring
- Rain gear for the west coast
- Insect repellent for summer in lakes and forests
- Layers for mountain days in the Rockies
Start from a full checklist
Combine the points above with a complete list for the kind of trip you are taking:
- Hiking packing list for national parks · 52 items
- Ski trip packing list · 55 items
- Road trip packing list · 46 items
- Alaska cruise packing list · 61 items
What to eat in Canada
These are dishes most visitors to Canada will meet, with the usual recipe’s diet flags. Use them as a starting point for menus and for asking questions — not as a guarantee of what is in a particular plate.
Poutine
Fries with cheese curds and gravy (the gravy is usually meat-based).
GlutenDairy
Butter tarts
Small pastry tarts with a gooey butter, sugar and egg filling.
Vegetarian-friendlyGlutenDairyEgg
Nanaimo bars
No-bake layered bars with chocolate and custard icing.
Vegetarian-friendlyGlutenDairyEggNuts & peanuts
Peameal bacon sandwich
Cornmeal-crusted back bacon in a bun, a Toronto classic.
Contains porkGluten
Montreal-style bagels
Dense, sweet wood-fired bagels, often with sesame.
Vegetarian-friendlyGlutenEggSesame
Montreal smoked meat
Cured, smoked beef brisket on rye bread.
Gluten
Tourtière
Québec meat pie, often made with pork.
Contains porkGluten
Avoiding pork? In this list, Peameal bacon sandwich and Tourtière usually contain pork.
Meal times, tipping and water
| Breakfast | 07:00–09:30 |
|---|---|
| Lunch | 12:00–13:30 |
| Dinner | 17:30–20:00 |
| Tipping | 15–20% at sit-down restaurants is expected. |
| Tap water | Generally safe to drink |
| Halal food | Moderate |
| Vegetarian food | Easy to find |
Local chains you will see
Well-known local names — handy for a quick, predictable meal or coffee:
- Harvey's — Canadian burger chain.
- A&W Canada — Burger chain.
- Swiss Chalet — Rotisserie chicken restaurants.
- St-Hubert — Rotisserie chicken restaurants, mostly in Québec.
- Mary Brown's — Fried chicken chain.
General guidance — check locally. Recipes vary between kitchens; always ask about allergens. Checked 30 September 2026. In the app, the food guide marks which dishes fit each traveller’s diet and can show a diet and allergy card in the local language.
Entry rules for US and UK passport holders
A summary of the passport and travel-authorisation rules Wayfold reminds travellers about for Canada. Rules change, and your exact situation (other nationalities, long stays, work or study) may differ.
US passport holders
- No eTA or visa needed. US citizens need a valid passport (or NEXUS card) to enter Canada. Government of Canada — eTA (opens in a new tab)
UK passport holders
- Passport valid for your whole stay. Check the expiry date on every passport in your group before you book — airlines can refuse boarding if a passport does not meet the rule. Government of Canada — eTA (opens in a new tab)
- Get a Canadian eTA if flying. Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada need an eTA (CAD $7). Not needed by land or sea. Government of Canada — eTA (opens in a new tab)
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules change — always check the official source before you travel. Rules last reviewed 29 September 2026. For the bigger picture, read what ESTA, the UK ETA and ETIAS are.
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Canada?
Generally safe to drink. Tap water is generally treated to a safe standard, though some travellers prefer bottled water for taste. General guidance — check locally. Recipes vary between kitchens; always ask about allergens.
Do you tip in Canada?
15–20% at sit-down restaurants is expected.
Is it easy to eat halal or vegetarian in Canada?
Halal food: moderate. Vegetarian food: easy to find. Vegetarian-friendly classics include Butter tarts, Nanaimo bars and Montreal-style bagels. Recipes vary between kitchens, so always ask.