Canada

Travel tips for Canada: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Cards work almost everywhere. Travelers report Canada is virtually cashless with cards and mobile payments accepted almost everywhere, meaning visitors can rely entirely on cards for daily spending and only need cash for rare exceptions like hotel tips or emergencies.

Try the food

  • Poutine: Crispy French fries topped with fresh squeaky cheese curds and smothered in hot, savory brown gravy.
  • Butter Tart: A small, flaky pastry shell filled with a gooey, sweet syrup, butter, and egg mixture, occasionally containing raisins or pecans.
  • Nanaimo Bar: A layered no-bake dessert bar consisting of a coconut-graham crumb base, custard-flavored butter icing center, and a chocolate ganache top.
  • Montreal-style Smoked Meat (Viande fumée de Montréal): Cured and smoked beef brisket, heavily spiced with peppercorns and coriander, typically served piled high on rye bread with yellow mustard.

Essentials

Plugs
Type A / Type B
Voltage
120V, 60Hz
Driving
Right side
Tap water
Safe to drink
Emergency
911 (all services)
SIM tip
Purchase a prepaid SIM card from major carriers like Rogers, Bell, or Telus at airport kiosks, or download an eSIM like Airalo before arrival for immediate data access.

Etiquette

Tipping 15 to 20 percent on the pre-tax total is expected in restaurants, bars, and for personal services like taxis or haircuts.

Airports in Canada