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Written By
Gitanjali Verma
Jun 8, 2026
•Life in Canada
Exploring Canada as a newcomer is one of the most rewarding parts of settling into your new life. It helps you connect with your new community, understand the country’s vast geography, and discover its rich history. The good news is that it doesn’t have to break your budget. Three programs make travel affordable this year: the Parks Canada Discovery Pass, the Canada Strong Pass 2026, and the Canoo app.
Settling in is about much more than managing paperwork, setting up banking, or starting a new job. It is about turning an unfamiliar place into a true home. When you explore your province, you start to understand the unique places, people, distances, and history around you. A museum visit, a day trip, or a weekend drive can help you connect to your new community.
My Experience: My own early visits in Ontario helped me understand the place where I was building my life. Later, travelling further showed me just how distinct each Canadian region is. You don’t need a massive travel budget to start. Immense value comes from simple day trips, local museum visits, and weekend drives.
Exploring your new province is exciting, but it also helps to balance travel plans with everyday settlement costs. As you build your budget, it’s smart to conquer your vital settlement milestone first. You can check out our handy checklist in First Things to Do After Landing in Canada to map out your initial setup.
Finding an affordable place to live is the secret to freeing up your budget for Canadian travel. Before you map out your next weekend road trip, make sure your housing is lined up. Browse thousands of neighbourhood apartment and housing listings tailored for new arrivals at Rentals for Newcomers! To stand out to landlords the moment you find the perfect place, download our Ultimate Rental Application Guide for Newcomers to prepare your paperwork in advance.
If you are wondering which option is right for you, this quick comparison shows the main differences at a glance.
| Program | Who it is For | Key Benefits | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Canada Discovery Pass (view pass details) | General public & tourists | 12 months of unlimited entry to 80+ national sites. | Paid annual pass ($83.50 adult / $167.50 family) |
| Canada Strong Pass 2026 (check summer dates) | General public & tourists | Free entry to federal sites/museums; 25% off camping & VIA Rail (June 19 – Sept 7, 2026) | Free |
| Canoo App (download mobile app) | Permanent Residents (<5years) & New Citizens (<1 year) | Free or discounted admission to 2,000+ national & local attractions. | Free mobile application |
While the table gives you a high-level breakdown, each of these programs has specific rules, hidden costs, and eligibility windows. Here’s what you need to know to maximize the benefits of each program.
The Parks Canada Discovery Pass is an annual admission pass valid for 12 months. It covers entry fees for more than 80 national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas the federal government manages.
This public pass is for the general public and newcomers. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary workers, students, and international students can buy a pass.
A Discovery Pass is cost-effective if you:
💡Important 2026 Rule: Because of the summer tourism initiative, standard Discover Passes are only sold outside of the Canada Strong Pass period. If you already hold and active Discovery Pass that overlaps with the summer, Parks Canada will automatically extend your pass expiry date for an extra three months at no additional charge. You can verify your automatic pass extension via Parks Canada.
The Canada Strong Pass is a temporary federal initiative returning for the summer of 2026. It is open to all domestic residents and international travellers.
You don’t need to apply, sign up, or download a code. The discounts are automatic when you show up at participating sites from June 19 to September 7 to claim your savings.
Even though it is a public offer, it is especially useful if you want to explore your province or another part of Canada on a budget during summer 2026. With free admission to Parks Canada sites, free or reduced admission at participating museums and galleries, and selected VIA Rail discounts, it’s a low-cost travel option for newcomers.
Canoo is the most newcomer-focused program in this article. It is specifically designed to welcome new arrivals by removing financial barriers to Canadian culture.
Canoo is a free app for newcomers that gives eligible newcomers access to thousands of experiences across Canada, including museums, parks, theatre festivals, concerts, and other attractions.
Not every newcomer is ready for a long national park trip. Many of us start by exploring our own city or province first. Canoo can help because it is not limited to parks. It can open up museums, galleries, cultural attractions, and events that help you connect to Canada without breaking the budget.
For recent arrivals, this pairs well with practical settlement planning. Read our helpful guide on Living in Edmonton to understand local job markets, housing markets, and newcomer networks.
When I first arrived, I didn’t jump into an expensive, cross-country trip. I started closer to home in Ontario, with places like the ROM, the Bata Shoe Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, and the Mast Trail in Rouge National Urban Park. Those smaller visits helped me understand the history, culture, and natural spaces around me without stressing over finances. One of the first provinces I visited outside Ontario was Quebec, and even that felt like discovering a different side of Canada.
Later, I visited Banff, Glacier National Park, and the surrounding Rockies, and that experience stayed with me. I was living in Ontario then too, so seeing Alberta and nearby British Columbia felt breathtakingly different. We stayed in Golden, B.C. for a week and drove about three hours in the morning and at night after visiting Banff National Park, Bow Lake, the Athabasca Glacier, and other places. It reminded me how much there is to discover across Canada.
If you are inspired to build your own memories out west, you can check out verified Calgary rental listings or look into Apartments for Rent in Vancouver to find your ideal home.
I also visited St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in March 2024. One of the highlights was Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, the easternmost point of North America. Standing there felt incredibly special. It was a reminder to me that exploring Canada is not only about saving money on admission, but also about experiencing places that stay with you.
That is one reason I think it helps to start close to home. Exploring your own province first can be more affordable, more realistic, and still deeply meaningful.
To get the most out of these programs without overspending, try this layered approach.
Months 1-3
Download the Canoo app immediately upon arrival. Use it to explore museums, galleries, and local attractions in your city or province.
Plan your long-distance train travel, national museum tours, and camping trips during the offer window to eliminate entry fees and slash transit costs.
If you fall in love with the Canadian outdoors, you may want to continue hiking or snowshoeing past September. In that case, consider purchasing a Discovery Pass once the summer promotional window closes.
This kind of layered approach helps you explore and feel more at home while keeping costs down.
You can also balance travel goals with day-to-day settlement priorities by using resources on the cost of living in Canada, saving money on rent, and finding the right home in Canada.
| Park or Site Type | Who Operates It? | Are the Summer Passes Accepted? | Examples |
| National Parks & Historic Sites | Federal Government (Parks Canada) | YES (Free gate entry via Canada Strong Pass 2026) | Banff, Jasper, Rouge Urban Park, Cape Spear |
| National Museums | Federal Government | YES (Free for youth under 17 / 50% off ages 18–24) | Canadian Museum of Nature, ROM, National Gallery |
| Provincial & Territorial Parks | Provincial Governments | NO (Requires separate day passes or vehicle permits) | Algonquin (ON), Garibaldi (BC), Mont-Tremblant (QC) |
| Municipal & Private Parks | Local Cities / Private Owners | NO (Standard local entry or parking fees apply) | Local conservation areas, city beaches, private campgrounds |
You do not need a major trip to get value from this. A museum visit, a short road trip, or a day at a historic site can still help you learn about your province and community.
“Free admission” cuts your front-gate costs, but you still need to budget for gas, accommodations, special tours, reservations, and transportation.
This is one of the best ways to get to know Canada. Museums and historic places help you understand the country’s story. Parks and natural sites help you understand its landscapes and distances.
Places like Wapta Falls in British Columbia reminded me that some of Canada’s most memorable experiences come from simply spending time in nature and seeing a different landscape up close.
As an immigrant, I have found that exploring Canada helps turn it from a place you live in into a place you begin to know. For me, that started with museums, local attractions, and trails in Ontario. Later, places like Banff, Moraine Lake, Glacier National Park, and Cape Spear showed me how varied and unforgettable this country can be.
Affordable options like the Discovery Pass, the Canada Strong Pass, and Canoo are worth knowing about. Exploring Canada as a newcomer does not have to be expensive or overwhelming. These options can make it easier to explore your province, understand your new country, and create meaningful memories without overspending.
Exploring your new country turns an unfamiliar landscape into a place where you truly belong. Pair this travel guide with Prepare for Canada resources on Living in Canada: Essentials for Newcomers, and webinars for newcomers so you can balance housing, careers, and exploration goals with confidence.
No. Both are public offers. The Discovery Pass is a standard Parks Canada annual pass, and the Canada Strong Pass is a public summer 2026 offer.
Canoo is the newcomer-focused option in this article. It offers eligible newcomers free or discounted access to thousands of experiences across Canada.
No. The Canoo app is only for Permanent Residents who have received their PR card within the last 5 years, or new Canadian Citizens within their first year of citizenship. Temporary residents can use the Canada Strong Pass or Discovery Pass.
Yes. Banff National Park, including Moraine Lake, is managed by Parks Canada. This means general park admission is free during the Canada Strong Pass period (June 19 to September 7, 2026). However, you still have to pay for shuttle fees, hot springs access, and parking reservations.
No. You do not need to purchase or sign up for it. The free entry and camping discounts apply automatically when you show up at the gates.
No, not usually. Provincial parks generally have separate passes, fees, and booking systems. The programs in this article relate to Parks Canada places and Canoo partner experiences.
WRITTEN BY
Gitanjali Verma
Gitanjali Verma is a Toronto-based community advocate who is deeply involved in supporting newcomers to Canada. She serves as Co-Chair of the Toronto Newcomer Council and has been working with refugees for over a decade. Alongside her community work, she brings experience working with global organizations, including HSBC. Having lived and travelled across diverse cultures, she brings a global perspective to her work. Gitanjali is passionate about helping newcomers build confidence and find their footing, and shares practical, people-focused insights to support their journey in Canada.
© Prepare for Canada 2026
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