We Asked 3 Travel Advisors for the Most Scenic Way to Visit Canada in Fall—They All Said the Same Thing

I'll never forget the first time I saw Fairmont Le Château Frontenacin autumn. Perched high atop Cap Diamantin Old Québec, its turrets and copper roofs stood out against a blaze of orange and red along the Saint Lawrence River.It felt like stepping into a fairy tale.

With its château-style towers and grand scale, it's easy to imagine what it must have felt like to arrive here at the turn of the 20th century: stepping off a Canadian Pacific Railway train and into a horse-drawn carriage, climbing cobblestone streets toward gilded-age luxury.

Le Château Frontenac may be Canada's most photographed grand railway hotel, but it's far from the only one. Across the country, a handful of equally spectacular railway hotels are just as rewarding to arrive at the old-fashioned way: by train.

If you're craving a slower kind of fall trip—one built around scenic rail journeys, changing leaves and historic railway hotels—here's why travel advisors love sending clients to these legendary Canadian landmarks by train.

Related: A New Priceline Study Reveals Where Everyone's Leaf-Peeping for Fall 2026—And It's Not Vermont

The History of Canada's Grand Railway Hotels

Canada's grand railway hotels are a series of glamorous, castle-like hotels built by companies like the Canadian Pacific Railwayand Canadian National Railwaystarting in the late 19th century. With famous examples that include Québec City 's Fairmont Le Château Frontenac , the Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Empress in Victoria, these grand hotels were designed to give wealthy train passengers a lavish place to stay during cross-country journeys.

Many were built in the French Renaissance-inspired Château style, featuring copper roofs, stone facades, turrets and gables, which became known as a distinctly Canadian form of architecture. As rail networks expanded, later hotels rose in major cities, such as Toronto's Fairmont Royal York and Ottawa's Fairmont Château Laurier .

"People are not just traveling to check things off their list anymore—they want to travel to a destination with a sense of place, and these hotels really capture that. They all have very rich histories," says Rachel Hardy, a luxury travel advisorand CEO of The Society of International Railway Travelers .

Related: The Fall Getaway That's Perfect for Your Personality Type

Traveling By Train Today Between Canada's Grandest Hotels

While not all the hotels remain, Canada's surviving grand railway hotels are as splendid as ever, and several still offer direct routes between them. The Fairmont Royal York is across the street from Toronto's Union Station(connected by an underground tunnel), while Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is built directly above Montréal's Gare Centraletrain station. The Fairmont Château Frontenac is a quick taxi ride (or 20-minute walk) from Québec City's Gare du Palais, while the Fairmont Château Laurier is an easy tram or taxi ride from Ottawa Station. The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is about 1.5 miles from Pacific Central Station, accessible via SkyTrain or taxi.

"Many of these historic hotels are right near the train station, so they're very connected. It's very convenient to travel between those in the Eastern corridor," says travel advisor Christy Fischer, owner of WanderRail Travel and founder of the Amtrak Solo Travelers Facebook group.

A few no longer have direct rail service but remain reachable via train with a motorcoach transfer, including the Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Château Lake Louise and Fairmont Empress.

"Arriving at these hotels is like stepping back in time," Fischer says. "They'll take your breath away—everything is classically glamorous and perfectly preserved, yet with all the conveniences of modern amenities."

Related: The Grown-Woman Getaways I'm Telling Every Friend Over 40 to Book

The Golden Age of Travel Lives On

The remaining grand railway hotels are some of the most magnificent historic hotel properties in North America.

In Toronto, the beaux-arts Fairmont Royal York (once the tallest building in the British Empire) still anchors the skyline beside Union Station. In Ottawa, the turreted Fairmont Château Laurier overlooks the Ottawa Locks of the Rideau Canal and is nicknamed "the third chamber of Parliament" for its proximity to Parliament Hill. In Montréal, the celebrated Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth—known as the site o f John Lennonand Yoko Ono's 1969 "Bed-In for Peace"—remains one of the city's grandest addresses. And in Québec City , the stunning Fairmont Château Frontenac carries more than a century of rich history, including its role as the site of the WWII Quebec Conferences.

"All of Canada's grand railway hotels have done a great job of incorporating their histories into the experience. There's an element of feeling like you're in a museum, in addition to being in an exquisite hotel," Hardy says.

Out west, the Fairmont Château Lake Louise sits directly on a glacier-fed lake beneath the Victoria Glacier, while the Fairmont Banff Springs, nicknamed "the Castle in the Rockies," rises from pine forest above the Bow Valley. The green-roofed Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is known as "the Castle in the City," and on Vancouver Island, the Fairmont Empress overlooks Victoria's Inner Harbour.

"The Fairmont Banff Springs is one of the most iconic landmarks in Banff, and they serve a wonderful elaborate, old world-style afternoon tea," Hardy says.

Related: Why Toronto Is the Absolute Best Summer Escape for World Cup 2026—And Beyond

Why the Journey Is Worth the Time

Traveling by train through Eastern Canadatakes travelers on a journey past farmland, river valleys and th e Saint Lawrence Riveron modern trains. Meanwhile, VIA Rail 's The Canadian offers a relaxing transcontinental journey aboard vintage stainless-steel cars with glass-domed observation decks, crossing the prairies toward the Rockies.

"The level of service is very elevated on VIA Rail's The Canadian —especially in Prestige class, with upscale, all-inclusive private accommodations and white-glove service," says travel advisor Lois Barbour, owner of Travel Time Agency ."The scenery is especially remarkable in fall, with majestic mountains and trees changing color."

Farther west, a motorcoach ride past glaciers and turquoise lakes connects to Rocky Mountaineer 's famous First Passage to the West , a glass-domed, daylight-only journey through Rogers Pass and the Spiral Tunnels. From Vancouver to Victoria, a calm, scenic ferry crossing of the Strait of Georgia completes the loop.

"The landscapes change dramatically, with glass-topped views of mountains, lakes, and icy glaciers," Barbour says. "It's an amazing trip that incorporates a legendary train route with stellar service."

Related: 10 Best Canadian National Parks to Visit for Free This Summer

Four Routes for a Grand Railway Hotel Tour

The Corridor Loop: Toronto to Ottawa, Montréaland Québec City (7–10 days)
The simplest of the journeys, VIA Rail's Corridor service covers the entire route. A train from Toronto's Fairmont Royal York reaches Ottawa's Fairmont Château Laurier in under five hours, then continues to Montréal's Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth and Québec City's Fairmont Château Frontenac.

The Rockies Run: Jasper to Lake Louise, Banff and Vancouver (8–11 days)
No train runs between Jasper and Banff, so an Icefields Parkway motorcoach bridges the gap to the Fairmont Château Lake Louise and Fairmont Banff Springs. From there, Rocky Mountaineer's First Passage to the West continues to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. This route runs mid-April through mid-October only, so book ahead for fall travel.

The Island Crossing: Vancouver to Victoria (5–7 days)
With no rail link to the island, the BC Ferries Connector(a single motorcoach that boards the ferry) takes you from downtown Vancouver to the Fairmont Empress in about three and a half hours. It runs daily, year-round.

The Transcontinental Option: Toronto to the Rockies via The Canadian (4 days)
VIA Rail's The Canadian is a long-haul sleeper service departing Toronto's Fairmont Royal York twice a week, connecting east to west. Ride it to Jasperto connect with the Rockies leg above.

Related: Canada Strong Pass Offers Freebies and Discounts to Travelers

Tips for Seeing Canada By Train

Work with a travel advisor."Work with someone who is an expert in arranging train travel. They can make sure all your plans line up seamlessly," Hardy says.

Book early."Especially if planning a transcontinental journey, sleeper cars are limited—so book far in advance," Barbour says.

Get off the train."Stop in the cities along the route and spend time there. The beauty of train travel is that you don't have to rush," Fischer says.

Consider upgrading."For a truly luxurious experience, consider GoldLeaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer or a Prestige Class cabin on The Canadian," Hardy says.

Travel light."There's limited storage space on trains, so pack accordingly," Barbour says.

On a budget?"VIA Rail's Sleeper Plus class on The Canadian offers a classic, comfortable overnight train experience with a bathroom, shower and everything you'd need," Fischer says.

Dress in layers."There could always be a pop of heat in September, but it's more likely that you'll need a warm hat and gloves," Hardy said.

Look for deals."There are some great discounts for train travel, especially in the shoulder seasons," Barbour says.

Explore beyond the classics."There are so many wonderful train routes in Canada, such as Montreal to Halifax," Fischer said.

Related: Hyatt Points Just Got Way More Valuable Thanks to This New Air Canada Collaboration

This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.