Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for 2026 — Our Top Picks

The best travel credit card for you depends on where you bank, how much you spend, and what kind of travel you want to fund. This ranking covers the top options across all tiers — from the $799/year premium card that pays for itself in the first month, to the no-annual-fee option that still earns enough for a free flight every year.

1. Amex Cobalt — Best Everyday Travel Card

The Amex Cobalt earns 5 Amex MR points per dollar on dining and groceries — a rate that no other Canadian card comes close to matching. On a household spending $1,500/month on food categories, that's 7,500 points per month or 90,000 points per year — enough to book a business class flight to Europe. The $155.88 annual fee is trivially small relative to the ongoing earn potential. For most Canadians, this should be their primary spending card.

• 5x points on dining & food delivery, 3x on streaming & eligible travel
• Flexible Amex MR points transfer to Aeroplan, Avios, Flying Blue, and more at 1:1
• $155.88/year (monthly billing at $12.99)
• Welcome bonus: earn up to 15,000 points in year one with monthly $500 spend
• Supplementary cards: $0 (great for household pooling)

2. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite — Best for Frequent Flyers

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite's headline feature: no foreign transaction fees. For Canadians who travel internationally several times a year and use their card abroad, this 2.5% fee waiver alone can save $200–$400 per year. Layer in 3x Scene+ on dining, 2x on transit and streaming, plus six free Visa Airport Companion lounge visits annually, and you have a genuinely compelling all-in-one travel card.

• No foreign transaction fees — rare for a Canadian card at this fee level
• 3x Scene+ on dining, 2x on groceries, transit, streaming
• 6 free airport lounge visits per year (Visa Airport Companion network)
• $150 annual fee (first year free on some offers)
• Strong travel insurance: emergency medical, trip cancellation, baggage

3. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite — Best for Aeroplan Collectors

If you fly Air Canada regularly and want to build Aeroplan miles as efficiently as possible, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is purpose-built for you. It earns 1.5x Aeroplan on groceries, gas, and Air Canada purchases — and those miles go directly into your Aeroplan account with no transfer step required. The included travel insurance package is also among the most comprehensive in this fee tier.

4. Amex Platinum — Best Premium Travel Card

The Amex Platinum's $799 annual fee is steep, but the benefits more than offset it for the right cardholder. The $200 annual travel credit effectively reduces the fee to $599. Add in unlimited lounge access at 1,400+ airport lounges globally (Centurion, Priority Pass, Escape, and more), comprehensive travel insurance, and a 70,000-point welcome bonus worth ~$1,050 in Aeroplan flights, and the first-year value is over $2,000 for frequent travellers.

5. Scotiabank Scene+ Visa — Best No-Fee Travel Card

For those who refuse to pay an annual fee, the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa earns 5x at Cineplex, 3x at Sobeys group stores, and 2x on dining. The points are worth 1 cent each and can be redeemed on any Expedia booking with no blackout dates. Simple, transparent, and surprisingly generous for a $0/year product.

Honourable Mention: RBC Avion Visa Infinite

The RBC Avion earns in its own bank currency (Avion Rewards) that can be transferred to British Airways Avios, WestJet Dollars, and American Airlines AAdvantage. For RBC clients who want a single institution relationship or who frequently fly WestJet, Avion offers a compelling alternative to the Amex ecosystem. The companion voucher feature available on some Avion tiers adds meaningful value for couples who travel together.