B.C.’s capital narrowly beat out British Columbia’s largest city as one of the best places to visit in Canada, according to American outlet U.S. News & World Report.
Earlier this month, U.S. News released its “Best Places to Visit in Canada for 2026,” which included 20 communities from across the country.
“Victoria & Vancouver Island” ranked the eighth best place to visit in Canada in 2026, beating Vancouver which was close behind in ninth place.
Victoria was praised for its historic buildings and atmosphere, while U.S. News highlighted the Island’s overall food scene, nature, and wildfire tours as highlights for visitors.
“While Montréal and Québec City highlight Canada’s French roots, Victoria represents the country’s British past,” reads the U.S. News list.
“Many pay a visit to Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, for afternoon tea, a tour of the imposing Parliament Buildings or a history lesson at the Royal BC Museum.”
Victoria beat out other popular travel destinations like Toronto, Whistler and Calgary in this year’s list, while Quebec City took home the number one spot, followed by Jasper National Park and Niagara Falls in second and third place, respectively.
The top 10 list can be found below, while the full “Best Places to Visit in Canada for 2026” list can be found on the U.S. News & World Report website.
Quebec City, QB
Jasper National Park, AB
Niagara Falls, ON
Prince Edward Island
Banff, AB
Montreal, QB
Whitehorse, YT
Victoria & Vancouver Island, B.C.
Vancouver, B.C.
Toronto, ON
U.S. News says it makes its list based on user reviews and editor reviews, with each of those categories being weighted at 50 per cent of a location’s overall score.
“From the cosmopolitan streets of Toronto to the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, our neighbor to the north features a diverse set of vacation destinations that entice travelers year-round,” reads the list.
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