Canada's breathtaking scenery receives endless camera attention. But there are also some iconic buildings well worth focusing your lenses on here.
After extensive research – our own cross-country travels plus a straw poll of highly opinionated friends – we've constructed a celebratory skyline of what we think are Canada's absolute best architectural landmarks.
Canada’s most dramatic contemporary hotel building, this awe-inspiring Newfoundland landmark thrusts towards the water like a space-age boat about to launch.
The most imposing of Canada’s historic railway hotels, this castellated multi-turreted edifice is Québec City’s most-photographed building – for good reason.
The sail-shaped building that launched a million postcards, Vancouver’s pier, conference centre and cruise ship terminal is a must-see for downtown visitors.
Nestled among Rocky Mountain forests, this iconic Fairmont property looks like a giant wedding cake – especially when its gabled rooftop is frosted with fresh-fallen snow.
Canada’s most famous church, this Old Québec landmark has an achingly ornate interior. Built more than 350 years ago, it’s also one of North America’s oldest places of worship.
Perfectly framed on Parliament Hill, Ottawa’s grand, gothic revival pile echoes but improves on the 19th-century British architecture that inspired it.
Winnipeg’s most striking modern landmark, this 2014-opened structure was designed by Antoine Predock and resembles a huge hand holding a beacon of hope.
Built for the Expo 67 World’s Fair yet still looking decidedly futuristic, Montreal’s most famous housing complex was designed by architect Moshe Safdie.
A 19th-century building transformed by Frank Gehry’s sparkling glass and wood-framed façade, Toronto’s AGO is one of North America’s largest and best-looking art museums.
Once the British Empire’s tallest skyscraper, Vancouver’s 1931-built art deco masterpiece is richly adorned with aquatic and transportation-themed decorative motifs.
The 2016-opened Calgary home of the National Music Center wraps its silvery arms around an old-school live music tavern, moved here from across the city.
Useful Links
Train Trip FinderWhere to go in CanadaJourneys Across CanadaCanadian Rockies and West CoastEastern Canada and The MaritimesCanadian North and ArcticSummer Train TripsWinter Train TripsFall Color Train TripsTours for SeniorsRoad Trips and Self DrivesFamily AdventuresVacations for Active SeniorsHistory and Culture TripsWildlife Viewing TripsExplore Canada
The Canadian TrainTrain Across CanadaCanadian Sleeper TrainLuxury Trains Across CanadaVIA Rail VacationsRocky Mountaineer Train ToursCanadian Rockies Train ToursTrain Tours for SeniorsCanadian Pacific RailwayBest Train Trips in CanadaNational Park Train ToursTrain Tours from VancouverCanadian Snow TrainAlaska Cruise and Train ToursCanadian East Coast Train ToursCanadian West Coast Train ToursPopular Train Trips
Vancouver to Toronto Train JourneyAcross Canada by TrainComplete Canadian Rockies by TrainCanadian Cross-Country JourneyClassic Eastern Canada by TrainTrans Canada Rainforest RouteCanadian Rockies Voyage by TrainCanada Coast to Coast by TrainRockies Winter Wonderland by TrainDiscover Whistler and the Canadian Rockies by TrainMontreal and Quebec City Getaway by TrainCanadian Cross-Country Journey in WinterLords of the Wilderness Bear ViewingTrans Canada by Train in WinterEssential Rockies with Alaska CruiseCanadian Train Vacations
© 2025 Fresh Tracks Canada
Canada’s most dramatic contemporary hotel building, this awe-inspiring Newfoundland landmark thrusts towards the water like a space-age boat about to launch.
The most imposing of Canada’s historic railway hotels, this castellated multi-turreted edifice is Québec City’s most-photographed building – for good reason.
The sail-shaped building that launched a million postcards, Vancouver’s pier, conference centre and cruise ship terminal is a must-see for downtown visitors.
Nestled among Rocky Mountain forests, this iconic Fairmont property looks like a giant wedding cake – especially when its gabled rooftop is frosted with fresh-fallen snow.
Canada’s most famous church, this Old Québec landmark has an achingly ornate interior. Built more than 350 years ago, it’s also one of North America’s oldest places of worship.
Perfectly framed on Parliament Hill, Ottawa’s grand, gothic revival pile echoes but improves on the 19th-century British architecture that inspired it.
Winnipeg’s most striking modern landmark, this 2014-opened structure was designed by Antoine Predock and resembles a huge hand holding a beacon of hope.
Built for the Expo 67 World’s Fair yet still looking decidedly futuristic, Montreal’s most famous housing complex was designed by architect Moshe Safdie.
A 19th-century building transformed by Frank Gehry’s sparkling glass and wood-framed façade, Toronto’s AGO is one of North America’s largest and best-looking art museums.
Once the British Empire’s tallest skyscraper, Vancouver’s 1931-built art deco masterpiece is richly adorned with aquatic and transportation-themed decorative motifs.
The 2016-opened Calgary home of the National Music Center wraps its silvery arms around an old-school live music tavern, moved here from across the city.
Useful Links
Train Trip FinderWhere to go in CanadaJourneys Across CanadaCanadian Rockies and West CoastEastern Canada and The MaritimesCanadian North and ArcticSummer Train TripsWinter Train TripsFall Color Train TripsTours for SeniorsRoad Trips and Self DrivesFamily AdventuresVacations for Active SeniorsHistory and Culture TripsWildlife Viewing TripsExplore Canada
The Canadian TrainTrain Across CanadaCanadian Sleeper TrainLuxury Trains Across CanadaVIA Rail VacationsRocky Mountaineer Train ToursCanadian Rockies Train ToursTrain Tours for SeniorsCanadian Pacific RailwayBest Train Trips in CanadaNational Park Train ToursTrain Tours from VancouverCanadian Snow TrainAlaska Cruise and Train ToursCanadian East Coast Train ToursCanadian West Coast Train ToursPopular Train Trips
Vancouver to Toronto Train JourneyAcross Canada by TrainComplete Canadian Rockies by TrainCanadian Cross-Country JourneyClassic Eastern Canada by TrainTrans Canada Rainforest RouteCanadian Rockies Voyage by TrainCanada Coast to Coast by TrainRockies Winter Wonderland by TrainDiscover Whistler and the Canadian Rockies by TrainMontreal and Quebec City Getaway by TrainCanadian Cross-Country Journey in WinterLords of the Wilderness Bear ViewingTrans Canada by Train in WinterEssential Rockies with Alaska CruiseCanadian Train Vacations
© 2025 Fresh Tracks Canada
