Travel essentials for Canada
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Power & adapters
Type A, B adapter required
You need a Type A or B adapter. Canada runs on 120V, half the Australian voltage - phone and laptop chargers handle it automatically, but Australian hair dryers and styling tools will run weakly or not at all.
120V, 60Hz
Tap water
Safe to drink
Tap water is safe and excellent everywhere in Canada. Boil-water advisories occur in some remote communities and are locally publicised.
Staying connected
Excellent in cities and along highways, genuinely absent in national parks and the north.
Canadian roaming is among the most expensive in the world, which makes an eSIM unusually worthwhile here. Buy a North America plan if you are also crossing into the US.
Compare Canada eSIMsHealth risks
- Extreme cold and wind chill in winter
- Wildlife encounters - bear safety matters in the Rockies
- Ski and snowboard injuries, which are the most common insurance claim
Emergency numbers in Canada
| All emergencies | 911 for everything |
|---|---|
| Police | 911 |
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| Australian consulate | Australian High Commission Ottawa - +1 613 236 0841 |
Tipping and everyday costs
Expected and effectively compulsory: 15-20% in restaurants and bars, and card terminals will prompt you with those options. Tip taxi drivers and hotel staff too.
What screening will actually let you pack
Half of what goes in the bag is decided by someone else. What you can take on a plane sets out the Australian rules item by item - power banks, liquids, scissors, aerosols - and what has to be declared at the border on the way home.
More Canada essentials
Further reading: Power adapters by country: what Australians actually need to pack
How these comparisons are made
Plug types, voltages and frequencies come from the international electrotechnical standards data for each country, stated per destination with what that means for Australian appliances specifically - what needs an adapter, what needs a converter, and what should stay home. Read the full editorial policy.
Canada travel essentials FAQs
What power adapter do I need for Canada?
A Type A or B adapter. Canada runs on 120V, half the Australian voltage, so chargers work fine but Australian hair dryers and styling tools generally will not.
Planning Canada?
We will send you the Canada guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.