Key facts
Canada is a country located in Northern America. Canada has only one border country: United States of America. As for languages, the country’s residents speak English and French.
The national currency in Canada is Canadian dollar (CAD). The dollar ($) is subdivided into 100 cent (¢).
Canadian
Banknotes
5$10$20$50$100$1$2$500$1000$
Canadian
Coins
1$2$5¢10¢25¢1¢50¢
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Canada is 294.73 Mbps and mobile is 147.55 Mbs.The global average is 187.01 Mbps and 128.37 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density Canada has more ATMs than most other countries.212.44 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration You can buy a SIM card in Canada without having to register it with your ID or passport.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Canada. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Canada will celebrate 8 national public holidays. Furthermore, there are 23 holidays that are only celebrated in certain parts of Canada. The next one National Patriots’ Day will take place on May 20.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024 | New Year’s DayNew Year’s Day | |
| February 19, 2024Moving holiday | Family DayFamily Day | Regional holiday |
| March 17, 2024 | Saint Patrick’s DaySaint Patrick’s Day | Regional holiday |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayGood Friday | |
| April 1, 2024Moving holiday | Easter MondayEaster Monday | Regional holiday |
| April 23, 2024 | Saint George’s DaySaint George’s Day | Regional holiday |
| May 20, 2024Moving holiday | Victoria DayVictoria Day | |
| June 21, 2024 | National Aboriginal DayNational Aboriginal Day | Regional holiday |
| June 24, 2024 | National HolidayFête nationale du Québec | Regional holiday |
| July 1, 2024Moving holiday | Canada DayCanada Day | |
| July 12, 2024 | Orangemen’s DayOrangemen’s Day | Regional holiday |
| August 5, 2024Moving holiday | Saskatchewan DaySaskatchewan Day | Regional holiday |
| August 19, 2024Moving holiday | Discovery DayDiscovery Day | Regional holiday |
| September 2, 2024Moving holiday | Labour DayLabour Day | |
| September 30, 2024 | National Day for Truth and ReconciliationNational Day for Truth and Reconciliation | |
| October 14, 2024Moving holiday | ThanksgivingThanksgiving | |
| November 11, 2024 | Remembrance DayRemembrance Day | Regional holiday |
| December 25, 2024 | Christmas DayChristmas Day | |
| December 26, 2024 | St. Stephen’s DayBoxing Day | Regional holiday |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Canada?
There are Mariott hotels in 12 cities.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Canada.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Canada.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in Canada.
There are Radisson hotels in 19 cities.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Canada.
What fast food chains are present in Canada?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Canada.
The KFC chain operates in Canada.
The Burger King chain operates in Canada.
The Subway chain operates in Canada.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Canada.
The Starbucks chain operates in Canada.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Ottawa?
Weather data for Ottawa (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Canada
Sources
- Canada Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Canada (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is legal.
You must fulfill the province or territory’s or territory’s minimum age requirement to enter Canada.
Provincial or territorial authorities impose minimum ages: 18 years in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, and 19 years in the remaining provinces and territories.
Alcohol allowance
- 1.5L of wine, or
- 1.14L of alcoholic beverages, or
- 8.5L of beer/ale
Tobacco allowance
- 200 cigarettes, and
- 50 cigars, and
- 200 grams of manufactured tobacco, and
- 200 tobacco sticks.
Sources
- Alcohol and Tobacco Limits (Canada Border Services Agency)
- What you can bring home to Canada (Canada Border Services Agency)
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)