Canada’s Friendliest Tourist Destinations, According to Tripadvisor Reviews 

Oh, Canada! Known for its maple syrup, stunning landscapes, and famously friendly locals, it’s no wonder 17.3M tourists visited the Great White North in 2024 [Tourism Data Collective]. This left us wondering, which tourist attraction truly lives up to Canada’s friendly reputation?  

We dove into the top 20 most-reviewed Canadian attractions on Tripadvisor and analyzed the reviews to see which places are perceived as the most welcoming to tourists. Our focus was on extracting keywords tied to ‘friendliness’, such as ‘friendly’, ‘helpful’, ‘welcoming’, ‘polite’, ‘hospitable’, ‘nicest’, and ‘accommodating’. 

Key Findings: 

  • Konzelmann Estate Winery (Niagara, ON) ranks as the friendliest attraction in Canada, with 17.7% of reviews associated with ‘friendliness’ keywords 
  • Old Québec (Québec City, QC) is the nation’s 2nd friendliest attraction (9.9%), followed by the Banff Gondola (Banff, AB) in 3rd place (8.8%)  
  • Moraine Lake (Banff, AB) ranks as the least friendliest tourist attraction, with only 0.8% of reviews referencing friendliness  

Canada’s Most & Least Friendly Attractions, Revealed 

While everyone’s experiences at attractions can vary, our data highlights which Great White North tourist destinations made the friendliest impressions nationwide. 

Just a 22-minute drive from Niagara Falls, Konzelmann Estate Winery earns the title of Canada’s friendliest attraction, according to reviews. Winning by a landslide, 17.7% of their Tripadvisor reviews gush about the exceptional friendliness of their staff, from sommeliers to hosts and guides. In fact, the winery leads the nation with the highest percentage of reviews for keywords like ‘friendly’ (12.4%), ‘helpful’ (3.1%), ‘welcoming’ (1.1%), ‘polite’ (0.3%), and ‘hospitable’ (0.2%). If you’re in the Niagara area, wine not stop by for a visit? Cheers!  

Salut! Ça va? Old Québec charms its way into 2nd place as Canada’s friendliest tourist destination, with 9.9% of reviews raving about its welcoming community. This historic and cultural heart of Québec City makes a lasting impression, as visitors couldn’t stop praising the warmth of the shopkeepers and locals in the area! Together, they account for 711 mentions of ‘friendly’ (7.4%), 118 mentions of ‘helpful’ (1.2%), 71 mentions of ‘welcoming’ (0.7%), and more. They go the extra mile, sharing recommendations and lending a hand, despite language barriers. Talk about a warm bienvenue! 

Looking for breathtaking views and some friendly vibes? Hop on the Banff Gondola, Canada’s 3rd friendliest tourist attraction, according to 8.8% of reviews! Visitors can’t stop complimenting the friendly staff who ensured a smooth ride up to Sulphur Mountain and the welcoming restaurant workers at the top. With 796 mentions of ‘friendly’ (6.2%) and 238 mentions of ‘helpful’ (1.9%), the Banff Gondola truly elevates Canadian hospitality – literally.  

On the flip side, another Banff attraction lands on the opposite end of the Canadian friendliness spectrum: Moraine Lake. It ranks as Canada’s least friendly destination, with only 0.84% of its 4,988 reviews associated with ‘friendly’ keywords. But don’t let that stop you from visiting this breathtaking location – it still boasts a glowing 5-star rating on Tripadvisor! Most of its reviews focus on helpful tips to make the most of your visit. So, while it might not be the ‘friendliest’ place in the country, it’s still a moose-see destination! 

Friendliest Tourist Attractions, by Provinces and Territories 

In our study above, we analyzed the top 20 most-reviewed attractions on Canada’s Tripadvisor page. To dig deeper, we examined the top 3 most-reviewed attractions on each province and territory’s Tripadvisor page to reveal the friendliest destinations in each region. (Note: Results may vary from the national rankings).  

Here are the friendliest attractions: 

  1. Alberta: Banff Gondola (8.8%) located in Banff 
  1. British Columbia: Butchart Gardens (4.4%) located in Victoria 
  1. Manitoba: Canadian Museum for Human Rights (5.9%) located in Winnipeg 
  1. New Brunswick: Roosevelt Campobello International Park (17.5%) located near Saint John  
  1. Newfoundland and Labrador: The Rooms (7.1%) located in St. John’s 
  1. Northwest Territories: N/A 
  1. Nova Scotia: Halifax Citadel National Historic Site (8.3%) located in Halifax 
  1. Nunavut: N/A 
  1. Ontario: Parliament Hill and Buildings (4.8%) located in Ottawa 
  1. Prince Edward Island: Confederation Centre of the Arts (8.3%) located in Charlottetown 
  1. Québec: Old Québec (9.9%) located in Québec City 
  1. Saskatchewan: Stone Hall Castle (7.2%) located in Regina 
  1. Yukon: N/A 

Conclusion 

If you’re planning a trip to the Great White North, we know how overwhelming it can be to put together the perfect itinerary. Whether you use this study as a guide or not, one thing’s for certain – you’ll be greeted with warmth and kindness no matter where you go! Canadian friendliness isn’t just a stereotype, it’s their way of life. Safe travels!  

Methodology 

To determine the ‘friendliest’ tourist attractions in Canada, we conducted a thorough keyword search within the review sections of each attraction’s Tripadvisor pages. The following terms were searched and tallied: friendly, nicest, welcoming, polite, hospitable, accommodating, and helpful. We ensured that there was no duplication of keywords within the same person’s review. 

After crunching the numbers, we calculated the percentage of friendly-related mentions in each attraction’s total Tripadvisor reviews.  

For the national rankings, we analyzed the top 20 most-reviewed attractions under the ‘Things To Do in Canada’ page on Tripadvisor. For the provincial and territorial rankings, we focused on the top 3 most reviewed attractions under the ‘Things to Do in [Province/Territory]’ page. Because of these two scopes, results may vary between the two rankings. 

The Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon were not accounted for due to an insufficient amount of data.  

This data was collected in January 2025.  

Fair use 

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