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.

Sydney is the only real city on Nova Scotia’s beautiful Cape Breton island, a former steel and coal town that is reinventing itself as a cultural and culinary hub. The revitalised waterfront area is particularly appealing, and there are some interesting Loyalist-era buildings in the city’s North End district.

The vibrant maritime city of Portland is a culinary and cultural hotspot, with some fantastic restaurants, a thriving craft beer scene and a host of trendy galleries and shops. Lobster lovers will be in heaven, while history buffs will enjoy strolling the handsome Victorian streets of the Old Port district.