Being that Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area, it should come as no surprise that it’s home to many incredible hotels and resorts.

Whether you’re looking at travelling to Vancouver in the west or Toronto in the east, there are luxurious accommodation options spanning the entire country from coast to coast.

Seclusion in the Canadian wilderness? Fun in the snow at world renowned ski resorts? Or maybe endless entertainment in Canada’s vibrant provincial and territorial capitals? There are hotels and resorts for every interest that easily stand out from the rest.

The following are Canada’s most luxurious hotels and resorts where you’ll be pampered like the many important guests who have stayed, including royalty, world leaders, and movie stars.

The Most Luxurious Hotels and Resorts in Canada

Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

Toronto’s multi-award winning Ritz-Carlton, with its five-star amenities and proximity to many of the city’s top attractions, is one of the city’s tallest and most notable buildings. Toronto’s only CAA five-diamond status hotel, Ritz-Carlton is the epitome of luxury and class.

The hotel is just steps from the entertainment district and high-end shopping, with direct access to Toronto’s famous PATH downtown walkway. The hotel offers up some of the city’s largest luxury hotels rooms, many which offer incredible views of the CN Tower or Lake Ontario.

Also presenting views of Lake Ontario is the Ritz-Carlton Club Level Lounge which provides these special guests with complimentary food and drinks throughout their stay.

The hotel’s 7,400-square-foot ballroom is the city’s largest and its Spa My Blend by Clarins whole body wellness centre offering custom face and body treatments is the only one of its kind in North America.

Pro tip: You can easily take a daytrip to Niagara Falls to discover the falls along with a few of Canada’s top casinos such as Casino Niagara or Fallsview Casino Resort.

Of course you may be tempted to just stay in your luxurious Ritz suite and simply advantage of the complimentary Wi-Fi to browse onlinecasinozed.com to wager at some of Canada’s top online casinos.

Spend your casino winnings at the hotel’s TOCA Italian restaurant which offers up Canada’s only cheese cave.

Enjoy the hotel’s large collection of original artwork by Canadian artists as you make your way back to your room to enjoy a soak in your private tub surrounded by Portuguese Estremoz marble before settling into 400 thread count Frette bed sheets.

Sonora Resort, British Columbia

A stay at Sonora Resort is all about getting back to nature and experiencing Canada’s rugged yet beautiful wilderness. The secluded oasis is set on Sonora Island of British Colombia’s Discovery Islands, only accessible via water taxi from Vancouver Island or sea plane ride from Vancouver or Seattle.

The resort offers up a mix of oceanfront rooms, luxurious suites with 2-6 bedrooms which feature enticing fireplaces, and two private villas privately nestled in the forest with mini grand pianos and multiple hot tubs.

However, it’s really all about getting outdoors at Sonora Resort. Adventure awaits you as you can choose to take expeditions to Orford River in autumn in search of grizzly bears, try some sea kayaking in Surge Narrows Marine Park, or take a helicopter journey to a nearby glacier.

Pro tip: They also offer eco expedition tours where you’ll zip around in a zodiac in search of bald eagles, orcas, humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and dolphins.

The resort also features an archery range and is a popular spot to go fishing. Try a bit of fly fishing for rainbow trout or take to the seas to reel in giant Chinook salmon.

When it comes to dining, your accommodation rate includes all gourmet meals as well as selected liquor and wine. Overlooking the Yuculta Rapids, the Tyee Dining serves up dishes like Dungeness crab gnocchi, steelhead, sous-vide duck eggs, and marinated mussels & clams.

In addition to the outdoor recreation, delicious cuisine, and award-winning wine cellar, the resort also provides guests with an outdoor heated pool, saunas, roof top hot tubs, mineral pools, movie theatre, and its Island Currents Spa.

Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta

This castle rising up out of a sea of pines sits in the heart of Canada’s UNESCO-listed Banff National Park.

Beginning its life as one of Canada’s earliest grand railway hotels in the late 19th century, Fairmont Banff Springs now offers up over 750 luxurious guest rooms. Select from mountain view rooms and suites, with the 1,500-square-foot Royal Suite being the embodiment of ultimate luxury.

The Royal Suite is where stars and royalty would stay including the likes of King Edward VIII and Marilyn Monroe. The suite features its own library, grand piano, powder room, and striking chandelier.

The resort features an onsite bowling alley, tennis courts, 27-hole golf course, aquatic & fitness centre, and its Willow Stream Spa. Set amongst the Canadian Rockies, there are endless year-round outdoor recreation opportunities available.

You can engage in hiking or nature photography tours during the summer, while winter offers up skiing in nearby legendary ski resorts as well as snowshoeing and ice skating.

Designated as a Canadian National Historic Site, Fairmont Banff Springs also offers up a range of cultural programs, Grotto Canyon ice walks, river rafting, and half day tours of Lake Louise & Moraine Lake.

Photo by Andres Alvarado (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec

Sticking with the Fairmont brand, Quebec’s Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is another historic hotel dating to the late 19th century. Like Fairmont Banff Springs, it too began its life as one of Canada’s grand railway hotels.

Situated in the heart of UNESCO-listed Old Québec, the hotel sits on the Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux archaeological site and overlooks the St. Lawrence River.

This was the seat of colonial French power in North America and later British power when they took control during the Seven Years’ War. Old Quebec is touted to be the most intact fortified town found in North America if you exclude Mexico.

Regarded as the “most photographed hotel in the world” by many, it is the hotel itself that shines here as opposed to the offered activities that are the highlights of other properties I’ve mentioned.

Pro tip: The best part is that you don’t have to be staying at the hotel to experience it thanks to the guided tours that are offered. During the summer months, you can even tour the Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site.

An extensive list of celebrities have stayed at the hotel including Queen Elizabeth II, Charles Lindberg, Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, Charles de Gaulle, and Celine Dion. Even Allied leaders met here during WWII to discuss strategy which included Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The hotel’s executive suites are actually named after the various notable people that have made their presence here such as the Trudeau Suite, Celine Dion Suite, and Elizabeth II suite.

Each suite features framed photographs of the various important figures for which they are named after. And throughout the hotel, there are also countless artefacts from Old Quebec dating back as far as 400 years ago.

Image credit: daveynin (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Fairmont Empress, Vancouver Island

Named for Queen Victoria, Vancouver Island’s Fairmont Empress has been welcoming guests since 1908. Known as Canada’s “Castle on the Coast”, The Empress overlooks Victoria Harbour just steps from the Parliament buildings.

The Empress was listed as one of the most iconic hotels in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine and has undergone a number of expansions during its lifetime as well as a recent $60 million restoration.

The hotel features a collection of well over 450 rooms and suites, many of which overlook the harbour where you’ll witness seaplanes, ferries, and cruise ships passing throughout the day. Boat tours can also take you to observe humpback whales, orcas, and seals.

Celebrities who have stayed include leaders like Winston Churchill, writers including Rudyard Kipling, old Hollywood royalty such as Katharine Hepburn and Roger Moore, as well as British Royalty with visits by Edward VIII, George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.

You can relive a lot of The Empress’s history by visiting the lower lobby’s Archives Gallery. The hotel also continues to serve up its legendary Royal Afternoon Tea with delectable scones and sandwiches as it has since 1908.

The hotel’s award winning Willow Stream Spa offers up a Finnish style sauna, steam inhalation room, and mineral pools. BMW bicycles are provided for guests to cycle through what is one of Canada’s most cycling-friendly cities to check out places like Beacon Hill Park, Royal BC Museum, and the Inner Harbour.

These are just some of the legendary luxury hotels in Canada. Other iconic properties worth a stay include the Four Seasons Resort Whistler which is set within a European-style village in what is one of North America’s largest ski resorts, as well as New Brunswick’s historic Algonquin Resort with its Tudor Revival style.

So the next time you’re passing through Canada, how “a-boat” treating yourself to one of these luxurious stays, eh?

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.