The 11 Best Canadian Train Trips
Canada is second only to Russia when it comes to land mass, which means seeing the country's vast wilderness can be overwhelming. Luckily, Canadian train trips criss-cross most of it, and these rail journeys allow you to take in some of the world's most spectacular scenery, stress-free. Just imagine: the nation's vistas unfolding before you slowly (or swiftly, depending on your chariot) while you remain in the comfort of your seat. On top of that, some of the Canada's most remote—and beautiful—spots lack road access, so a train ride may also be the only way to visit. All the more reason to climb on board.
Read on to learn more about 11 of the most beautiful Canadian train trips you can take across the Great White North, as well as some recommendations for where to stay at the beginning or at the end of your railroad adventure. (And for more fabulous train rides, check out the results of Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards 2023 to see which trains our readers voted the best in the world.)
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Lloyd Sutton/AlamyVia Rail’s Winnipeg to Churchill
This 1,054-mile trip north feels more interplanetary than provincial, whisking you from urban Winnipeg to the tundras of Churchill, known as the polar bear capital of the world. Accessible by plane or train only, it’s also prime turf for beluga whale-watching, and possibly the world’s best perch to view the northern lights. Landscapes en route are breathtaking, with stops including tiny river towns The Pas, Thompson, and Weir River. Splurge on Via’s Sleeper Plus class for access to a bed and shower.
Where to stay: In Winnipeg, check into the impressive and century-old Fort Garry Hotel, a prime example of twentieth-century châteauesque architecture, including prominent cornices and a steep sloping copper roof. In case you needed a bit more of that old-world feel to your trip.
AlamyOntario Northland’s Polar Bear Express, Cochrane to Moosonee
Ontario is larger than France and Spain combined, but most visitors stick to its big southern cities. Embarking from tiny Cochrane—nearly 500 miles north of Toronto—the Polar Bear Express chugs five hours further north to Moosonee, so remote it lacks road access. The route mimics a path fur traders favored centuries ago, through a primeval landscape of thick forests and winding rivers. Note that reaching Cochrane involves a flight to northeastern Timmins and an overnight bus ride.
Where to stay: Break up your adventure with a night at Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa in Timmins, Ontario. The place is all about rural and cozy vibes, letting you bask in the natural beauty of nearby Gillies Lake Park and Hollinger Park.
Panther Media/AlamyAgawa Canyon Tour Train, Ontario
It’s only accessible by trail or rail, which makes Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park near Sault Sainte-Marie such a thrill to visit. Hop on and off this 90-minute ride as you pass four dramatic waterfalls and a trail system that overflows with pristine natural beauty. Bonus: Beavers, the most Canadian of critters, traipse through here frequently.
Where to stay: Since this tour train takes just an hour and a half, you'll need a place to rest your head in Sault Sainte-Marie before continuing your journey. Luckily, the Delta Hotels by Marriott Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront is near the station, and offers cool views of Saint Mary's River and the United States beyond.
Robert Keane/UnsplashRoyal Canadian Rockies Experience, Banff to Calgary, Alberta
Canada’s glitziest train ride is also one of its most cinematic, passing through splendid Banff and Lake Louise, along with jaw-dropping sights like Alberta’s Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a World Heritage Site where Indigenous people hunted ruminants by enticing them to leap off a cliff. Still eager to see more? At the end of the line, you can book a helicopter trip over the Rockies for a bird's eye view.
Where to stay: In Banff, you shouldn't miss the Fairmont Banff Springs. This Scottish Baronial fortress grants you a million-dollar view of those majestic snow-dusted mountain tops, which makes the moniker “the Castle in the Rockies” all the more fitting.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
Courtesy Via RailVia Rail’s The Canadian, Toronto to Vancouver
A single train journey can’t capture Canada’s magnificence, but this four-night/three-day adventure from Toronto to Vancouver comes close. You’ll take in prairies, lakes, peaks, valleys, hamlets, waterfalls, and, if you’re lucky, cameos by local wildlife like deer, elk, and bears. If you can, book a seat in Prestige Class—think concierge, superb meals, private lounges—for one of the most comfortable train trips you’ll ever take.
Where to stay: Once you're in Vancouver, keep the plush and casually fabulous energy going with a night or two at the dreamy Shangri-La Vancouver, where those who appreciate the subtleties of luxury travel won't be disappointed.
GettyWhite Pass and Yukon Route, Yukon
Even today, building a railway through the mountains, glaciers, and gorges of Gold Rush country remains an impressive feat, let alone in 1898, when this route was first built. Survey views of the Yukon, BC, and Alaska, as your train rises a gut-churning 3,000 feet in just 20 miles to the summit of White Pass. Touring such treacherous terrain will leave you appreciating how the railway helped knit a nascent Canada together.
Where to stay: There aren't many hotel options in Skagway, Alaska, where this train journey begins. That said, there are a handful of cruises that call at this Alaskan port town, including options aboard Celebrity Cruises, so you can make this a two-for-one adventure.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
Rocky MountaineerRocky Mountaineer's First Passage to the West, Western Canada
If there’s one Canadian train ride that should make your bucket list, it’s the journey on the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff. The whole ride is scenic, offering glimpses into the Great White North’s wildlife as well as its important Indigenous history. Thoughtful guides and storytellers onboard talk you through the locales and vistas from the comfort of your plush leather seats underneath the train cars’ glass-domed roofs. Meals here are delicious too, no matter which class of service you’re in, whether it’s SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf (though the latter’s linen-covered tables are a classy touch).
Where to stay: The Rocky Mountaineer is often spoken about in the same breath as other famous luxury train rides across the world: the Orient Express, Seven Stars Kyushu, or the Royal Scotsman. But unlike those, this isn’t a sleeper train. It travels exclusively by daylight, making the most of the scenery. At night, guests check into a hotel along the route—so your comfort throughout the journey is assured.
GettyTrain de Charlevoix, Quebec
Inaugurated in 1889, when it connected Quebec City to remote Charlevoix, this train line cruises along a glorious section of St. Lawrence coastline. Much of the scenery en route seems unchanged a century and a half later, with the mighty river on one side and lush landscapes on the other. Stops include enchanting coastal villages like Baie-St-Paul; consider splitting the journey over two days to explore. The route runs June through October.
Where to stay: Before you climb onboard the train in Quebec City, prep for your journey in old Basse-Ville (meaning “lower city”) at the boutique hotel Monsieur Jean, which offers bright and breezy digs melded with friendly Quebecois hospitality.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
Courtesy Via RailVia Rail, Jasper, Alberta to Prince Rupert, BC
The windows-only Dome Car on this nature-filled route offers 360-degree views of the regal Canadian Rockies. During the seven-hour train ride, you’ll also get an ocean’s worth of lakes, including beautiful Yellowhead, Lucerne, and Moose. Have more time? The train heads to coastal Prince Rupert the next morning, where whale-watching and grizzly-bear-viewing are highlights. Bonus: At the Alberta-British Columbia border, the train crosses the Continental Divide.
Where to stay: Once you're on Kaien Island and the train pulls into the port city of Prince Rupert, head for the Crest Hotel, where you can wake up to beautiful waterfront views of—what else?—Prince Rupert Harbour.
Ron WattsRocky Mountaineer's Journey Through the Clouds, British Columbia and Alberta
The Canadian Rockies’ tallest peak, majestic Mount Robson, is the star of this ten-day journey from Vancouver to Calgary. But it’s hard to pick a highlight when your trip spans sights like British Columbia’s astonishing Hell’s Gate—twice the width of Niagara Falls—and Moose Lake, home to plenty of its namesake. You’ll also get a glimpse of the gargantuan Albreda Glacier, a landscape dating back eons.
Where to stay: When in Canada, you can't go wrong with a Fairmont, and the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary is a true beaut. Plus, it's sandwiched between the city's downtown and the Calgary Design District, so you'll have plenty of sightseeing options when you get off the train.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
Courtesy Via RailVia Rail’s The Ocean, Montreal to Halifax
Climbing north into remotest Quebec and east into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, this aptly-named, 836-mile trip lets the wide-open spaces and clear-blue waters unfold like aqua-tinted postcards. Bonus: The Ocean is the oldest continuously running named passenger train in North America, rolling along since 1904.
Where to stay: In Montreal you've got the pick of the litter, but the stately yet modern Hotel Birks Montreal and the classically luxurious Four Seasons Montreal take the cake. Meanwhile, in Halifax, you've got the super sleek Muir, Autograph Collection in the downtown waterfront area, and the richly cozy The Pebble Bed & Breakfast in the South End for an inn-in-the-city experience.
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