Toronto tops list of Canada's most-wanted summer travel destinations

Despite sky-high flight prices and the rising cost of living, Canadians are still making summer travel a priority this year, but naturally, many are being more strategic about when and where they book their next escape.

According to a new report from travel app Skyscanner, nearly four in 10 Canadians (39 percent) say affordability is their biggest challenge when it comes to travelling this summer.

As part of its 2026 Smarter Summer Report, Skyscanner analyzed travel search data to identify the destinations Canadians are searching for the most this summer and pinpoint the cheapest times to visit them.

Overall, Toronto ranked as the most searched destination among Canadian travellers, ahead of major international cities like Paris and Tokyo, and other domestic destinations like Calgary and Vancouver.

The report found that the cheapest week to travel to Toronto is between July 6 and 13, while Mondays offer the lowest fares on average. Summer flights to Toronto average $446, while hotel stays average $387 per night.

Calgary ranked second, with the cheapest week to visit falling between Aug. 10 and 16, and flights averaging $426 during the summer. Vancouver took the third spot, with the cheapest week to visit running from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, and the average summer flight price sitting at $466.

The first international city to appear on the list of most-searched destinations is Paris at #4, where the cheapest week to travel is also from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, with the average summer flight costing $1,083.

These are the top 10 destinations Canadians are searching for the most this summer:

1. Toronto, Canada
2. Calgary, Canada
3. Vancouver, Canada
4. Paris, France
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. Rome, Italy
7. Lisbon, Portugal
8. Montreal, Canada
9. Athens, Greece
10. Dublin, Ireland

If you're operating on a tight budget but still determined to travel this summer, Skyscanner says June and September (often referred to as the "shoulder season") can offer even more savings.

"Canadians are continuing to prioritize travel this summer, but we're seeing travellers become much more flexible with when they travel," said Skyscanner Travel Expert Laura Lindsay. 

"Shoulder season in June and September is becoming increasingly appealing for Canadians looking to avoid peak-season crowds while still enjoying many of the same destinations and experiences. Using tools like flexible date searches and Price Alerts can also help travellers feel more confident they're finding strong value as they plan." 

According to the travel app, several Canadians top the cheapest destination charts for summer 2026, including Yellowknife, Winnipeg, Halifax, Kelowna, and Victoria in June, and Prince George, Calgary, Toronto, Whitehorse, and Vancouver in September.