Canadian travellers exploring 'their own backyard' this summer, Airbnb says

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There’s no place like our home and native land.

That seems to be what Canadian Airbnb users are thinking as schools close and summer vacation officially kicks off with domestic travel bookings expected to continue being a hot ticket.

Such bookings jumped 40% last year compared to 2019 for a total of more than 9 million domestic guest arrivals, Airbnb said, and that trend is expected to continue this summer as the home-sharing company recently offered a list of the 10 trendiest locations to visit in Canada.

Stretching from southern Alberta to just about as far east as travellers can go (St. John’s), “domestic travel continues to thrive with more Canadians seeking getaways close to home.

“From national parks and quiet seaside towns to vibrant small cities, this summer’s top trending domestic destinations stretch across the country,” the company said, basing its results on searches made in 2024 for travel this summer.

“Whether it’s a rustic cabin, a coastal cottage or a trendy tiny home, Canadians are finding meaningful ways to explore their own backyard.”

Leading the way were two Ontario destinations that are likely well-known to travellers from the GTA: The Blue Mountain area, near Collingwood, and the hiking and camping hot spot of Algonquin Park, which is still recovering from a damaging storm earlier this month.

Quebec was home to three of the 10 locations, including the secluded Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known for their “wind-swept beaches, dramatic cliffs and Acadian roots;” La Haute-Gaspesie, another hiking hot spot along the St. Lawrence River; and the “rustic” Matawinie region, north of Montreal that includes Mont-Tremblant National Park.

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St. John’s and Hubbards, N.S., a coastal community west of Halifax “offering seafood shacks, beaches and laid-back charm,” were among the East Coast options, while Winnipeg’s “thriving arts scene,” the “lakeside adventures” in nearby Falcon Lake, Man., and the Rocky Mountain “gem” of Waterton Park, Alta., were drawing travellers to the Prairies.

That said, Canadians sick of the tariff battle with the U.S. are also looking mostly overseas for international getaways, Airbnb said, with Mexico City; Rio de Janeiro; Tokyo; Thira, Greece; Bari, Italy; the Nord de Palma District of Spain; Marrakesh, Morocco; Funchal and Cascais, Portugal; and Chamonix, France, among the top trending locations this summer.