By Air
Canada's main international airline is Air Canada. WestJet is a strong domestic and international carrier based in Calgary. Transat operates charter and scheduled routes primarily between Europe and Canada's major cities.
Canada's busiest international airports are Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), and Montréal–Trudeau (YUL). Calgary (YYC), Ottawa (YOW), Edmonton (YEG), Halifax (YHZ), and Winnipeg (YWG) also handle international flights.
Approximate flying times to Toronto: London 8.5 hours, New York 1.5 hours, Los Angeles 5.5 hours, Sydney 22 hours, Singapore 23 hours. Vancouver is about 2 hours closer from Asia and Australia, and 2 hours further from Europe and the US East Coast.
A departure tax is included in ticket prices — you won't pay it separately at the airport.
By Rail from the USA
Amtrak connects to Canada at several border crossings. The Maple Leaf runs New York–Toronto via Niagara Falls. The Adirondack runs New York–Montréal. The Cascades runs Seattle–Vancouver. All are pleasant scenic routes but immigration formalities add time; allow several hours.
By Bus
Flixbus and various regional carriers connect US border cities to Canadian destinations. Routes like Buffalo–Toronto, Seattle–Vancouver, and Detroit–Windsor are well served. Cheaper than flying for short cross-border hops but slower.
By Road
The US–Canada border has dozens of crossings. The busiest are Ambassador Bridge (Detroit–Windsor), Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls), Peace Arch (Blaine, WA–Surrey, BC), and the Thousand Islands crossing (Kingston, ON). Wait times at major crossings can be long on summer weekends; check the CBSA wait time app before you go.
Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Australia, and many other countries do not need a visa to enter Canada but may need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if arriving by air. Americans driving or taking the train do not need an eTA.
By Sea
BC Ferries connects Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands to the mainland. The Washington State Ferries Anacortes–Sidney route links Washington State to southern Vancouver Island. Car ferry service between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia (Marine Atlantic) is the main link to the island.