• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

  • City Guides
      • Calgary
      • Banff
      • Jasper
      • Edmonton
      • Vancouver
      • Kelowna
      • Victoria
      • Tofino
      • Regina
      • Saskatoon
      • Winnipeg
      • Toronto
      • Ottawa
      • Niagara Falls
      • Montreal
      • Halifax
      • St. John’s
  • Where to Go
    • Map of Canada
      • Provinces
          • Alberta
          • British Columbia
          • Manitoba
          • New Brunswick
          • Newfoundland & Labrador
          • Northwest Territories
          • Nova Scotia
          • Nunavut
          • Ontario
          • Prince Edward Island
          • Quebec
          • Saskatchewan
          • Yukon
  • Food and Drink
    • Calgary Restaurants
    • Edmonton Restaurants
    • Banff Restaurants
    • Canmore Restaurants
    • Saskatoon Restaurants
    • Breweries in Calgary
    • Breweries in Edmonton
    • Restaurants in Kelowna
  • What To Do
    • Outdoor Attractions
    • Indoor Attractions
    • History & Culture
    • Food & Drink
    • Festivals & Events
    • Road Trips
  • Articles
  • Facts
    • Facts About Canada
    • Alberta Facts
    • Ontario Facts
    • British Columbia Facts
    • Quebec Facts
    • Nova Scotia Facts
    • Calgary Facts
    • Vancouver Facts
    • Toronto Facts
    • Niagara Falls Facts
    • Canada Flags
    • Canadian Money
    • Canadian Languages
  • About
    • About Us
    • Work With Us
    • Contact

These are the 100 ‘Most Instagrammed’ Attractions in Canada

By Bailey Storey 37 Comments

Sharing is caring!

396 shares
  • Share396
  • Tweet
top attractions in canada

There’s certainly no shortage of attractions in Canada. From world-famous Niagara Falls to massive ski resorts and mountain lakes, there are loads of things to do in Canada. While we could certainly put together a list of what we feel are the best attractions in Canada, we thought we’d use Instagram to find out what everyone else is taking photos of. After all, Instagram is used by more than a billion people and has become an influential tool in promoting tourism in Canada and around the world. So, we waved our magic Instagram wand and found the…

100 ‘Most Instagrammed’ Attractions in Canada

From unspoiled landscapes to urban splendour, Canada has it all.

One of the best things to do in Canada is to take advantage of the fabulous outdoors – and there’s a lot of it. Approximately 90% of the country is uninhabited, with thousands of miles of untouched natural wonders, including 48 national parks and reserves and 970 national historic sites.

What’s more, Canada boasts some wonderful man-made attractions too, such as the world’s largest totem pole and the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. Its cosmopolitan cities each have their own distinct personality but are all friendly, multicultural and full of fun things to do.

So, it may come as no surprise to hear that people come from far and wide to experience Canada’s wonder. But as the second-largest country in the world, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to exploring.

We decided to crunch the numbers, with a little help from Instagram, and shine a light on the most picture-worthy things to do across the country…

Read on to find out which attractions secured a place on the top 100 list, but first, let’s have a look at the top 10…

10. Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia (363,022)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rogers Arena (@rogersarena)

Located in downtown Vancouver, this multi-activity sporting arena is the home of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team, as well as the venue for some of the biggest concerts and shows in the city. Rogers Arena also holds the prestige of being the site of the ice hockey events at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. All Canadians remember that goal by Sydney Crosby that bid farewell to team USA.

Visiting Vancouver? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Vancouver!

9. Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia (370,738)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Granville Island (@granville_island)

Once an industrial manufacturing area, Granville Island is now a shopping district that is popular for entertainment in Vancouver. The tourist hotspot offers visitors the opportunity to explore its large public market, marina, theatres, art galleries, and a variety of shopping areas.

8. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Toronto, Ontario (405,005)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (@ripleysaquaca)

Opened fairly recently in 2013, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is now one of the top things to do in Toronto. The country’s largest indoor aquarium houses roughly 20,000 exotic sea and freshwater specimens, including sharks, jellyfish, stingrays, and more.

7. Capilano Suspension Bridge, North Vancouver, British Columbia (481,131)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #CapBridge (@capilanosuspensionbridge)

Crossing the Capilano River in North Vancouver, this attraction has welcomed visitors since as far back as 1889. At 140 metres long and 70 metres high, the Capilano Suspension Bridge offers breathtaking views to those who walk across it – views good enough to capture by the looks of its top 10 position!

6. Old Port of Montreal, Québec (509,464)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MTLopolis (@mtlopolis)

This 1.2 mile-long, historical port in Montreal has been used from as early as 1611 when French fur traders used it as a trading post. Now a popular leisure attraction, the Old Port of Montreal offers a range of activities to visitors including walking, cycling, roller-blading, and boating on the Saint Lawrence River.

Visiting Montreal? Don’t miss our guide to the best things to do in Montreal!

5. Mont-Tremblant, Québec (512,052)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tremblant (@monttremblant)

As the world’s second-oldest ski resort, Mont-Tremblant has been attracting snow enthusiasts since the first chairlift opened in 1939. And it’s still as popular as ever, now offering 95 trails, 18 acres of ramps, rails and jumps, and an Olympic-calibre super-pipe. The picturesque ski resort is also clearly one that visitors think is Instagram-worthy…

Visiting Quebec? Don’t miss our guide to the best things to do in Quebec!

4. CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario (548,969)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Must Do Canada (@mustdocanada)

Standing at a height of 553 metres, the CN Tower is one of Toronto’s most well-known sights and landmarks. It was the world’s tallest freestanding structure until 2007 when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, but it still remains the tallest in the Western Hemisphere. Its grandeur has captured attention since it was built, and continues to do today!

3. Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler, British Columbia (567,932)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Whistler Blackcomb (@whistlerblackcomb)

By many measures, Whistler Blackcomb holds the title of North America’s biggest ski resort, boasting over 8,100 acres of snow-covered slopes, 16 alpine bowls, 3 glaciers, world-class terrain parks, and over 200 marked trails. With all of this on offer, the ski resort often surpasses 2 million visitors a year – and its top-three position indicates that people like to share it on the ‘gram!

Skiing in Canada? Don’t miss the chance to go skiing in Banff, as well as Golden, BC!

2. Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta (767,268)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lake Louise Boathouse (@lakelouiseboathouse)

Lake Louise is a picturesque lake in Banff National Park that entices visitors all year round. In winter, it freezes over, creating a wonderful ice skating experience, and in the summer, it is a hotspot for canoeing and paddle boarding. Its popularity is evident, with the turquoise lake securing second place.

Want more? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Lake Louise!

1. Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario (1,144,605)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Official Scotiabank Arena (@scotiabankarena)

Coming out in the top spot as the most Instagrammed attraction in Canada is Scotiabank Arena, with a whopping 1,144,605 photos.

The multi-complex centre in Toronto, Ontario, is home to the Toronto Raptors (NBA), the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), and the Toronto Rock (NLL). In 2018, it was ranked by Billboard Magazine as the 13th busiest arena in the world and the busiest in Canada for its size – a mecca for sports fans.

In fact, Canada is renowned for its passionate sporting culture so it’s no wonder that the majority of its most Instagrammed attractions offer activities of this nature – skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, canoeing, and hiking to name a few.

Interestingly, more than half of the top 100 most Instagrammed places of interest in Canada are, in fact, outdoor attractions: Nova Scotia’s picturesque Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, Alberta’s “drive of a lifetime” Icefields Parkway, and even Vancouver’s clothing-optional Wreck Beach.

You can view the entire table of results here…

10 ‘Most Instagrammed’ Lakes in Canada

Of course, there is a long list of reasons why Canada entices visitors from all over the world and one that is up there with the best is the lure of its vast, breathtaking lakes.

Did you know there are thought to be over 2 million of them across the country?! So we’ve dived back into the data to find out which of these are the most Instagrammed.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Must Do Canada (@mustdocanada)

Banff National Park is one of Canada’s great national treasures, so it may not be surprising that the lake considered to be its crown jewel has taken the number one spot.

That’s right, with its soaring mountains, lush alpine forest and brilliantly blue waters, Lake Louise secured first place with an impressive 767,268 photos.

Following Lake Louise, the top 10 ‘most Instagrammed’ lakes in Canada are:

Somewhat amusing is the fact that Alberta has fewer lakes than almost any other province in Canada and yet it’s home to half of Canada’s top 10 most Instagrammed lakes. This is thanks to the beauty of both Banff National Park and Jasper National Park.

Methodology

To compile our list of the top 100 most Instagrammed attractions in Canada, we curated a list of the most popular ‘things to do’ across the country, taken from countless articles and sources listing the must-visit places of interest.

This included places of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent and/or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and/or amusement. Large sites like Niagara Falls and National Parks such as Banff and Jasper were consequently split up by their individual attractions.

We then scoured Instagram to identify how many photos on Instagram had been posted in the specific location and ranked the attractions based on this number to identify our top 100. For the list of lakes, we simply took all of the lakes in Canada that made it onto the initial list and ranked those again by the number of photos.

Some of them surprised us. For example, we never imagined any arena coming out on top, but when you think of the entertainment inside the arenas, it makes sense.

Did anything surprise you? What’s your favourite attraction in Canada? Let us know in the comments!

Sources: Tripadvisor, listchallenges, Internationaltraveller, and Must Do Canada.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jacqui says

    May 5, 2021 at 3:49 pm

    I’m surprised that there weren’t more attractions from the East Coast on this list. What about the infamous Cabot Trail?

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      May 5, 2021 at 6:16 pm

      I know. We were surprised too. This was compiled using “location” and not tags, so it’s possible people on the Cabot Trail aren’t adding the actual location tag. I was surprised with Scotia Arena being #1 but I guess with all the events, it kinda makes sense.

      Reply
    • Tommy Hartlin says

      May 12, 2021 at 12:21 pm

      That top 10 makes sense but wish there was NS or Newfoundland places on the list.

      Reply
      • Matthew G. Bailey says

        May 12, 2021 at 1:47 pm

        Us too. Hard to believe with so much beauty there

        Reply
  2. Heather says

    May 8, 2021 at 10:14 am

    All look fun to see and do

    Reply
    • Heather says

      May 13, 2021 at 7:49 pm

      I want to go to them all again without restrictions!

      Reply
  3. Davita says

    May 8, 2021 at 8:06 pm

    Love lake Louise, but Moraine Lake is also a must visit imo

    Reply
  4. Christian L says

    May 10, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    Well balanced selection- great job!

    Reply
  5. CL says

    May 11, 2021 at 12:35 pm

    Such an awesome site…so glad to have found you!

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    May 12, 2021 at 6:32 am

    They all look amazing

    Reply
  7. Ann says

    May 12, 2021 at 8:11 am

    Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll be sure to check them out this summer

    Reply
  8. Molly Jones says

    May 12, 2021 at 8:46 am

    Can’t believe the Burmis Tree (Crowsnest Pass, Alberta) did not make the list, but I guess it is not really an attraction. Maybe you can do a list of the most instagrammed flora/fauna and dead trees in Canada 🙂

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      May 12, 2021 at 9:46 am

      haha yes. Even more surprising is I don’t think anything from the east coast made it, and there’s so much beauty there

      Reply
  9. Joanne Elford says

    May 12, 2021 at 9:58 am

    We have such a beautiful country! We should all be sharing the beauty of our own little piece of heaven with the rest of the world!

    Reply
  10. John says

    May 12, 2021 at 10:31 am

    Awesome!

    Reply
  11. Adam says

    May 12, 2021 at 1:47 pm

    Nothing better then the mountains!!

    Reply
  12. Debbie S. says

    May 13, 2021 at 2:41 pm

    What a great article. I haven’t actually been to too many of these places. I’d love to though.

    Reply
  13. Gillian says

    May 13, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    This makes me miss travelling!

    Reply
  14. Carole says

    May 13, 2021 at 8:51 pm

    I have been to a few of these. Canada is so beautiful!

    Reply
  15. Jackson says

    May 14, 2021 at 8:25 am

    Alberta always lookin right

    Reply
  16. Tammy says

    May 14, 2021 at 9:07 am

    The north shore of Lake Superior is magical!!

    Reply
  17. Ashley Stefaniszyn says

    May 14, 2021 at 10:17 am

    Wow some cool places in Canada, surprised two arenas made the list rather than some of Canada’s natural beauties.

    Reply
  18. Deb Roberts says

    May 14, 2021 at 4:12 pm

    Looks like I have some places to visit!

    Reply
  19. Juliet S. says

    May 14, 2021 at 5:34 pm

    The Capilano Suspension Bridge and Lake Louise have long been on my bucket list and I guess I’m going to have to wait a bit longer!

    Reply
  20. Amber says

    May 14, 2021 at 9:16 pm

    love love love the Alberta lakes… even got married at Moraine Lake

    Reply
  21. Amie says

    May 17, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    So many great places to see in Canada!

    Reply
  22. Allison says

    May 25, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    Not sure these are the best representation of Canada? Just because it is Instagram popular doesn’t mean it’s that great.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      May 26, 2021 at 10:40 am

      I guess it depends. But the whole purpose of this study was just to see what attractions were being tagged the most

      Reply
  23. Kitty says

    May 26, 2021 at 12:54 am

    I can’t wait to check some of these out!

    Reply
  24. Craig says

    May 30, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    Some places i would love to go see.

    Reply
  25. Trish says

    May 31, 2021 at 11:28 am

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  26. Ashley Spooner says

    June 10, 2021 at 7:50 am

    I’ve done the ripleys aquarium and it is pretty cool!

    Reply
  27. Janice Cournoyer says

    June 10, 2021 at 8:12 am

    Where is Manitoba? We have many beautiful lakes, beaches, and hikes

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      June 10, 2021 at 9:35 am

      It does. They just didn’t get “Instagrammed” as much.

      Reply
  28. cathy erdle says

    June 11, 2021 at 9:49 am

    It’s really interested for me to see which sites attract the most buzz on instagram!

    Reply
  29. Sabrina says

    June 12, 2021 at 8:18 am

    So many places I still need to visit!

    Reply
  30. Terry Perron says

    June 15, 2021 at 7:50 am

    Great list, so many beautiful lakes in Canada. Never get bored.

    Reply
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
\n

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

14 + seven =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

© 2022 Must Do Canada. All Rights Reserved.

Things to Do in Canada

About
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Us
  • Get in Touch
Resources
  • Facts about Canada
  • Canadian Languages
  • Canadian Money
  • Canada Flags
  • Things to Do in Calgary
Tips
  • Best Canada Road Trips
  • Best Road Trip Essentials
  • Fall in Canada
  • Travel Resources
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
x

Travel Across Canada Every Week

Join our weekly newsletter for the latest articles, videos, top photos, and more!

Awesome! Thanks for subscribing. Please check your inbox and confirm :)