Bilingual Montréal is Québec’s largest city, a vibrant island metropolis with a distinctive blend of old style European charm and thrusting modernity. Architectural highlights include the beautiful Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal, and the city also boasts the world’s third largest botanical garden.

Québec City, the capital of French-speaking Canada, is one of the North American continent’s most beguiling cities. The pretty old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a joy to behold; the cobbled streets and church spires are enclosed within the old city walls, and many of the buildings date back to the 17th century

The stunning Saguenay fjord is the fourth largest in the world, and the only fjord in North America navigable by cruise ship. The point where the fjord meets the colder waters of the St Lawrence river is rich in krill, which makes this a great destination for whale watching.

Percé is situated near the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Canadian Maritimes and a whale watching hotspot. Highlights include Forillon National Park, home to wildlife including moose and bears, and Bonaventure Island, where you’ll find one of the world’s biggest gannet colonies.

Charlottetown, the charming provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, occupies an important place in Canadian history: it was here that the conference which led to the creation of the Canadian Confederation took place in 1864. The city also has a great culinary scene, making use of the island’s bountiful seafood and fresh produce.

The charming village of Baddeck is the start and end point of the famous Cabot Trail, which traces the coastline of Cape Breton island and is named after the 15th-century Venetian explorer John Cabot. The main attraction is the island’s wild beauty, with a rugged landscape of woodlands, lakes, gorges and cliffs.

The picturesque town of Louisbourg, on the Atlantic coast of Cape Breton island, was the main port for the French colony of Île-Royale, named after King Louis XIV. The beautifully restored 18th-century Fortress of Louisbourg, which twice fell to the British, is one of Canada’s most important historical sites.

Lunenburg’s UNESCO-listed old town is the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America, with its picturesque wooden buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. You can also see a replica of the famous schooner Bluenose, an icon for Nova Scotians, which was built at the port.

At the tip of Cape Cod, on a coastline of wild dunes and beautiful beaches, lies welcoming Provincetown, where the Pilgrim Fathers sought shelter on board the Mayflower in 1620. Writers and artists have long been drawn here, as evidenced by the town’s many galleries, and it’s also a popular holiday destination for the LGBT community.