Eastern Canada Highlights: 10 days Ottawa to Toronto

Your journey begins in one of the continent’s most captivating cities. Montréal is a place of rare character, where the elegance of Europe settles comfortably alongside the energy of North America, and where every neighbourhood tells a story of culture, creativity and resilience. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed and transferred to the luxurious Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, your home for the next two nights – a landmark address at the very heart of Montréal, befitting the journey ahead. 

A mosaic of cultures, flavours and creative energy that comes alive at street level, Montréal rewards those who wander. This morning, join a guided city tour to uncover its history, striking architecture and distinct neighbourhoods, from the heritage streetscapes of the Plateau to the grandeur of Mount Royal. This afternoon, make the city your own with your choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Beyond the Market Walking Food Tour: Jean-Talon isn’t just a market – it’s the beating heart of Montréal’s food culture. Sample fresh goat cheese, lose yourself in a spice den, taste exceptional charcuterie and discover a forager, a sorbet maker and Syrian sweets around every corner. A stroll into Little Italy brings freshly roasted coffee, generations of tradition and an award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate maker.

Montréal Underground City Tour – The City Beneath the City: Most visitors never know it exists. Stretching 33 kilometres beneath the city, Montréal’s Underground City is a vast, ingeniously designed network of metro stations, towers, hotels and public squares, built to keep the city moving through the harshest winters. A local guide reveals hidden passageways, insider shortcuts and the fascinating history behind one of the world’s most remarkable urban feats.

Montréal by Cadillac Convertible: Settle into a stunning Cadillac convertible and let Montréal unfold around you in the most stylish way imaginable. Iconic landmarks, vibrant neighbourhoods and hidden gems come to life with a passionate local guide. No crowded buses, no rushing – just open skies, great stories and insider knowledge that turns a city visit into something genuinely memorable. 

Travel the historic Chemin du Roy – the ancient road connecting Montréal and Québec City for centuries – passing through Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, the self-proclaimed world capital of ice fishing. Along the way, a Scenic Enrich experience offers a genuine taste of Québécois tradition. 

Scenic Enrich
Step inside a local Sugar Shack to discover the centuries-old art of maple sugaring – a practice that began with the Indigenous peoples of North America and was embraced by French settlers, giving birth to one of Québec’s most beloved traditions. Savour traditional Québécois fare and enjoy the warmth of live, local music in a setting that feels genuinely unchanged by time.

Arrive in Québec City and settle into a three-night Scenic Special Stay at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – the world’s most photographed hotel, dominating the city’s skyline above the Saint Lawrence River and visible from almost anywhere in the city. 

Dating to 1608, Québec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America – a fortified city of stone buildings, narrow streets and a French-speaking soul unlike anywhere else on the continent. This morning, a guided tour takes in the Latin Quarter, the sweeping Plains of Abraham, City Hall and the historic Place Royale. The afternoon is yours to shape with your choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences. 

Scenic Freechoice:
Old Québec Walking Tour – Four Centuries Waiting to be Discovered: A World Heritage treasure and the cradle of French civilisation in North America, Old Québec invites you into four centuries of living history. Every alley and hidden doorway holds something worth discovering. Your guide weaves world-changing battles and generations of local artistry into a walk-through cobblestone streets that feels anything but ordinary.

Lower Town & Grand Marché by E-Bike – Québec City Like a Local: Ride through narrow, atmospheric streets past heritage architecture and a legendary public square, following the waterfront of the Old Port where fortification walls rise above and the St. Lawrence stretches to the horizon. A riverside path leads to the Grand Marché, where local producers invite you to taste and linger.

Québec City Guided Sightseeing River Cruise: Discover Québec City from the water on a guided cruise along the St. Lawrence River, sailing from Old Québec past Île d’Orléans toward Montmorency Falls, with sweeping views of the Château Frontenac from the water. Relax on the outdoor terraces as your guide brings the city’s remarkable story to life.

Stretching between mountains and shores, the Charlevoix region reveals landscapes of rare, unhurried beauty – a World Heritage Biosphere Reserve that has captivated artists and travellers for centuries. Today’s full-day excursion follows the Royal Road – the Chemin du Roy – from the historic heart of Québec City, pausing at the thundering Montmorency Falls and Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a revered North American pilgrimage basilica before arriving in the charming town of Baie-Saint-Paul for a leisurely regional lunch. The panoramas, the gastronomy and the sense of quiet grandeur make this one of the journey’s most quietly memorable days.

Begin the day at one of Canada’s most immersive wildlife experiences. At Parc Oméga, elk, bison, wolves, bears and foxes roam freely through vast natural habitats – a Scenic Enrich experience that is as humbling as it is remarkable. Continue to Ottawa, Canada’s capital, situated at the confluence of several rivers and a city whose very name derives from the Algonquin word Odawa, meaning “to trade.” Settle into the Westin Ottawa before an evening that celebrates the city’s culinary standing. 

Scenic Enrich
 Encounter Canada’s iconic wildlife roaming freely through the vast natural habitats of Parc Oméga.

Scenic Enrich
Savour Ottawa’s finest cuisine through a progressive dining experience, with each course served at a different celebrated restaurant in the heart of the capital – a seamless, convivial way to discover a city through the lens of its food.

Before departing Ottawa, a guided morning tour reveals the city’s considerable grandeur – Parliament Hill rising above the Ottawa River, the Victorian architecture of its public buildings and the beautifully park-lined Rideau Canal, a World Heritage Site in its own right. Continue south to Toronto for a two-night stay at the storied Fairmont Royal York, one of Canada’s most celebrated addresses. 

This morning’s guided tour takes in Toronto’s great landmarks – the St. Lawrence Market, Toronto Harbour and the vibrant pulse of Dundas Square. Later, rise to the observation deck of the iconic CN Tower and step out onto the famous glass floor for breathtaking views over the expanse of Lake Ontario. The day draws to a close on the water, with a relaxing harbour cruise offering a final, sweeping perspective of the city’s remarkable skyline. 

Few natural wonders command the senses like Niagara Falls. Cruise to the very base of the falls and feel the full, thunderous force of the cascading waters at close range. This evening, dinner at Table Rock Restaurant perched right beside the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, which is one of the most extraordinary dining settings imaginable.   The Niagara Parks Power Station’s spectacular sight and sound night show follows, a theatrical tribute to the power that once lit a continent. Your Scenic Special Stay is at the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa, where Fallsview rooms place the falls themselves as your backdrop, a setting that stays with you long after you have moved on. 

This morning, enjoy breakfast at your hotel as your journey comes to a close. Take a final moment to admire the awe-inspiring beauty of Niagara Falls, before being transferred to Toronto Airport for your onward or homebound flight.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. Please refer to Scenic’s terms and conditions for further information. Hotels are indicative and subject to change.