Editor’s Observe: This information was initially printed in 2021 and has been fully up to date for 2025 to make sure all data is correct and present.
After greater than 20 years of travelling the world, you get fairly good at recognizing the distinction between tourism hype and an genuine expertise. Nova Scotia is the true factor.
We’ve road-tripped throughout Canada from coast to coast, exploring a few of the greatest and most lovely cities in Canada, and there’s a cause we hold coming again right here. It’s a spot that doesn’t want a filter. From the rugged, windswept shoreline of the Cabot Path to the full of life pubs in Halifax pouring native beer. It feels lived-in, welcoming, and endlessly fascinating.
We created this information as a result of we all know how irritating it may be to point out up someplace and really feel such as you’re lacking the very best spots. We’ve been there. This information is constructed from our personal journeys, highlighting the issues we’d do once more in a heartbeat.
Right here’s our trustworthy, no-fluff information to the very best issues to do in Nova Scotia that will help you plan your individual journey.
Fast Checklist: Prime 5 Issues to Do in Nova Scotia
For those who’re brief on time or simply need absolutely the can’t-miss highlights, listed below are the highest experiences we suggest prioritizing to your journey. We’ve completed all of them, and so they symbolize the very best of what the province has to supply.
- Drive the Cabot Path: Some of the scenic drives on the planet, this can be a must-do for its coastal views and rugged highlands.
- Discover Halifax’s Waterfront: The guts of the town is its bustling waterfront, filled with historical past, nice meals, and harbour views.
- Go to Peggy’s Cove: Residence to probably the most iconic lighthouses in Canada, this picturesque fishing village is definitely worth the go to.
- Wander the Lunenburg Waterfront: A UNESCO World Heritage Web site, its vibrant colonial buildings make it one of many prettiest cities within the nation.
- Go Tidal Bore Rafting: For an actual journey, trip the incoming tide of the Bay of Fundy on a zodiac. It’s a singular thrill you received’t discover anyplace else.
Finest Issues to Do in Halifax
Halifax is the colourful coronary heart of Nova Scotia, a metropolis the place maritime historical past meets a full of life, trendy power. We at all times make it our first or final cease on any journey to the province as a result of it units the proper tone. Listed below are a couple of of our favorite issues to do within the metropolis.
Stroll the Halifax Waterfront
You’ll be able to’t actually say you’ve been to Halifax till you’ve hung out on its waterfront. It stretches for a number of kilometres and is the true pulse of the town.
We love grabbing a espresso and simply watching the tall ships and harbour ferries go by. You’ll discover all the pieces from museums and playgrounds to breweries and meals stalls serving up recent seafood. It’s the proper place to get a really feel for the town.
Go to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
It is a actually transferring expertise. Pier 21 was the gateway to Canada for over 1,000,000 immigrants, and this museum tells their tales with unimaginable care and element.
It provides you a profound sense of the hope and hardship that formed so many Canadian households. We expect it’s a must-visit to know a significant piece of our nationwide story.
Discover the Halifax Public Gardens
When the power of the town will get to be a bit a lot, the Public Gardens are our go-to spot to unwind. These are a few of the best surviving Victorian gardens in North America.
It’s a fantastic and peaceable place for a quiet stroll among the many fountains, flower beds, and previous, shady timber. It’s an ideal, low-key afternoon exercise.
Tour Alexander Keith’s Brewery
This is among the most entertaining brewery excursions we’ve ever taken. Neglect a dry, technical rationalization of brewing. Right here, actors in Nineteenth-century costumes information you thru the historic brewery with songs and tales. It’s a full of life and enjoyable solution to spend an hour, and sure, you get to pattern the well-known beer.
Benefit from the View from Citadel Hill Nationwide Historic Web site
For the very best panoramic view of Halifax, you must make the stroll as much as Citadel Hill. This large, star-shaped fort has been watching over the harbour for hundreds of years.
We suggest timing your go to to listen to the firing of the midday gun, a convention that occurs daily. The view of the downtown core and the harbour from the ramparts is definitely worth the climb alone.
Issues to Do on the Cabot Path & Cape Breton Island
Leaving the mainland for Cape Breton Island looks like getting into a distinct a part of the province. The panorama will get wilder, the cliffs get greater, and the Celtic music will get louder. This a part of Nova Scotia is an journey in itself, and it’s a bucket-list vacation spot for a cause.
Drive the well-known Cabot Path
Individuals name this one of many world’s greatest drives, and for as soon as, the hype is totally justified. The Cabot Path is a 298 km freeway that loops round Nova Scotia’s North Shore, hugging mountainsides and providing unimaginable views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Our greatest recommendation is to present it time. The largest mistake you can also make is attempting to hurry it in a single day. Take two or three days, pull over at each lookout, and discover the small villages alongside the way in which.
Hike the Skyline Path
For those who solely do one hike in Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park, make it this one. The Skyline Path is known for its boardwalk that descends a steep headland, providing you with a commanding view over the rugged shoreline.
It’s an iconic Canadian view for a cause, and it’s an particularly standard spot for sundown. Preserve your eyes peeled for moose; we’ve typically noticed them grazing within the meadows close to the beginning of the path.
Go to the Alexander Graham Bell Nationwide Historic Web site
We weren’t certain what to anticipate right here, however this museum within the city of Baddeck is genuinely fascinating. Alexander Graham Bell was a lot greater than the man who invented the phone; he labored on all the pieces from airplanes and hydrofoils to massive kites.
The positioning is stuffed with his actual artifacts, innovations, and private results. It’s an incredible look into the lifetime of a real genius and an ideal rainy-day exercise.
Discover the Fortress of Louisbourg Nationwide Historic Web site
This isn’t your common historic website. Louisbourg is an enormous, residing reconstruction of an 18th-century French fortified city. The size of it’s laborious to understand till you’re strolling its streets. It’s truly North America’s largest historic reconstruction mission.
You’ll be able to simply spend a full day right here interacting with costumed interpreters, watching blacksmiths at work, and even consuming fresh-baked bread from the interval bakery. It’s probably the most immersive historic experiences we’ve had in Canada.
Go Whale Watching
The waters off the coast of Cape Breton are a wealthy feeding floor for a number of species of whales. Taking a zodiac tour from a city like Chéticamp or Nice Bay provides you a improbable probability of seeing them up shut.
There’s nothing fairly just like the second a pod of pilot whales surfaces close to your boat. It’s a robust reminder of simply how wild this nook of the nation actually is.
Issues to Do on the South Shore
Nova Scotia’s South Shore is picture-postcard territory. That is the place you’ll discover the quaint fishing villages, historic lighthouses, and vibrant seaside houses the province is known for. It’s a improbable space for a scenic, stress-free drive.
Discover Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse
Peggy’s Cove is among the most photographed locations in Canada, and it lives as much as the hype. The traditional lighthouse perched on a mountain of large granite boulders is a scene you received’t overlook.
Our greatest recommendation is to go early within the morning or later within the afternoon to keep away from the height tour bus crowds. And please, respect the warning indicators and keep off the moist, black rocks. The waves listed below are unpredictable and harmful.
Wander the Streets of Lunenburg
Lunenburg is a private favorite of ours. As a UNESCO World Heritage website, all the previous city is a protected historic space, and its distinctive colonial structure is extremely well-preserved.
We love simply wandering the hilly streets and admiring the colorful buildings. It’s additionally the house port of the well-known Bluenose II schooner, so remember to verify if it’s within the harbour while you go to.
Go to Mahone Bay and the Three Church buildings
Simply down the highway from Lunenburg is the beautiful city of Mahone Bay. It’s well-known for one iconic view: the three historic church buildings that line up completely alongside the waterfront.
Whereas it makes for a fantastic photograph, the city itself is value exploring. It’s stuffed with nice little artisan outlets and cafes and has a extra relaxed really feel than a few of its extra well-known neighbours.
Go Kayaking in Blue Rocks
If you wish to see what an actual, working fishing village seems to be like, head to Blue Rocks. Positioned just some minutes outdoors Lunenburg, this tiny neighborhood of fishing shacks, fishing boats, and stacked lobster traps feels a world away from the vacationer observe.
The waters across the scattered islands are fairly sheltered, making it one in every of our favorite spots for a guided sea kayaking tour.
Hike at Kejimkujik Nationwide Park Seaside
Whereas the principle a part of Kejimkujik Nationwide Park is inland, the Seaside adjunct is a improbable cease on the South Shore. The Harbour Rocks Path is a simple 5.2 km hike that takes you to a fantastic shoreline of turquoise water and white sand. We at all times see seals sunning themselves on the rocks right here.
Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley Experiences
This a part of Nova Scotia is all about dramatic pure forces. The Bay of Fundy is residence to the best tides on Earth, making a panorama that modifications fully twice a day. Simply inland, the fertile Annapolis Valley presents a a lot gentler, however equally fascinating, expertise.
Expertise the World’s Highest Tides
It’s laborious to wrap your head across the scale of the tides right here till you see the proof. Twice a day, 160 billion tonnes of water move out and in of the bay, inflicting the water stage to rise as a lot as 16 metres (52 toes).
The hot button is to go to a spot like Corridor’s Harbour at low tide after which return six hours later for prime tide. Seeing the fishing boats go from sitting on the muddy ocean flooring to floating excessive above is one of the best ways to understand this pure surprise.
Go Tidal Bore Rafting
This is among the most unusual adventures we’ve had in Canada. You head out on a zodiac on the Shubenacadie River whereas the water is low, and then you definitely trip the incoming tidal bore, a wave created by the huge tide, because it rushes up the river.
You can be crashing by way of big, muddy waves and getting fully soaked. It’s an absolute thrill and one thing you received’t overlook.
Stroll on the Ocean Ground at Burntcoat Head Park
That is the very spot the place the world’s highest tides have been formally recorded. At low tide, the water recedes, permitting you to stroll on the ocean flooring for kilometres. You’ll be able to discover the tide swimming pools and see the “flowerpot” sea stacks up shut.
You completely should verify the tide schedule earlier than you go. The water is available in a lot quicker than you’d assume. You’ll be able to also have a distinctive eating expertise by consuming on the ocean flooring at Burntcoat Head Park. How enjoyable is that?
Go Wine Tasting within the Annapolis Valley
After the wild adventures on the bay, the Annapolis Valley presents an ideal change of tempo. That is Nova Scotia’s wine nation, producing glorious cool-climate wines.
We suggest visiting a couple of vineyards like Lightfoot & Wolfville or Domaine de Grand Pré to pattern Tidal Bay, the area’s signature crisp, white wine. It’s an effective way to spend a relaxed afternoon.
Go to Grand-Pré Nationwide Historic Web site
This highly effective UNESCO World Heritage Web site tells the story of the Acadian folks and their deportation, referred to as the Grand Dérangement, within the 1750s. It’s a somber however extremely necessary piece of Canadian historical past.
The positioning itself is gorgeous and peaceable, with a memorial church and gardens overlooking the unique dykelands that the Acadians created.
Distinctive Nova Scotia Meals Experiences
You’ll be able to’t speak about Nova Scotia with out speaking in regards to the meals. The seafood right here is a few of the freshest on the planet, however there are a couple of different native specialties you’ll want to attempt to get an actual style of the place. These are a couple of of our non-negotiable meals experiences.
Eat a Lobster Roll
You will note lobster rolls on nearly each menu, and for good cause. A correct Nova Scotia lobster roll isn’t difficult or fussy, it’s only a beneficiant pile of recent lobster meat, evenly dressed with mayo or melted butter, and served in a toasted, top-split bun.
One of the best ones we’ve had typically come from small, unassuming seafood shacks by the facet of the highway. Don’t overthink it; simply order one everytime you get the prospect.
Attempt Digby Scallops
The city of Digby is residence to one of many world’s largest scallop fishing fleets, and the scallops from these waters are well-known for being extremely recent, candy, and tender.
Whether or not you could have them completely pan-seared or evenly fried, they’re a real style of the area. We at all times make a degree to get them organized once we see them on a menu.
Bask in a Donair
This one would possibly shock you, however the donair is the official meals of Halifax. It’s a singular tackle the Turkish doner kebab, made with spiced floor beef that’s sliced from a vertical spit and served on a heat pita with tomatoes and onions.
What makes it a Halifax authentic is the sauce: a candy, garlicky concoction produced from evaporated milk, vinegar, and sugar. It would sound a bit unusual, however it’s a neighborhood obsession and the final word late-night snack. You must attempt it a minimum of as soon as.
Sensible Info for Planning Your Journey to Nova Scotia
Okay, now that you’ve got an thought of what you need to do, let’s cowl the logistics. Right here’s our easy recommendation on tips on how to plan your go to to Nova Scotia.
Finest Time to Go to Nova Scotia
The preferred time to go to is through the summer season months of July and August. The climate is heat and sunny, and all the pieces is open and in full swing. Nevertheless, that is additionally the busiest and costliest time.
Our favorite time to go to is in September. The climate remains to be lovely, the summer season crowds have thinned out, and the autumn colors start to seem within the Cape Breton Highlands. Spring will be unpredictable and wet, whereas winter is reserved for the actually hardy.
Attending to Nova Scotia
You’ve gotten a couple of choices for attending to the province, relying on the place you’re coming from.
- By Air: The Halifax Stanfield Worldwide Airport (YHZ) is the principle gateway to the province, with connections throughout Canada and internationally.
- By Automotive: For those who’re driving, the principle entry level is by way of the Trans-Canada Freeway from neighbouring New Brunswick.
- By Ferry: Automobile ferries function from Prince Edward Island, Saint John, New Brunswick, and even Bar Harbor, Maine (USA), providing a scenic various.
Getting Round
We are able to’t stress this sufficient: you’ll need to hire a automotive to correctly discover Nova Scotia. Exterior of Halifax, public transportation could be very restricted. This province is made for road-tripping, and having your individual automobile provides you the liberty to discover by yourself schedule.
The place to Keep in Nova Scotia
Lodging can guide up months upfront, particularly for the height summer season season, so we suggest reserving forward. We now have an entire information devoted to The place to Keep in Nova Scotia that’s primarily based on all our journeys out East.
In Halifax, you’ll discover loads of main accommodations to select from. Within the smaller cities alongside the South Shore and the Cabot Path, we love staying within the native inns, B&Bs, and rental cottages for a extra private expertise.
Nova Scotia FAQ
We get a whole lot of questions on planning a visit to Nova Scotia. Listed below are the solutions to some of the most typical ones.
It’s powerful to choose only one, however the two most well-known points of interest are the Cabot Path and Peggy’s Cove. The Cabot Path in Cape Breton is taken into account one of many world’s most scenic drives, whereas the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove is the enduring picture of a maritime fishing village.
We suggest a minimum of 7 to 10 days to get a very good really feel for the province. This offers you sufficient time to discover Halifax, drive the Cabot Path with out speeding, and see a few of the South Shore. In case you have two weeks, that’s even higher.
July and August have the warmest, most dependable climate, however they’re additionally the busiest months. We expect September is the very best time to go to. The climate remains to be nice, the big summer season crowds are gone, and the autumn colors begin to seem within the highlands.
No, and we wouldn’t suggest attempting to. Whereas it would look manageable on a map, Nova Scotia is a big province filled with issues to see. Driving the Cabot Path loop alone can take a full day. To correctly expertise it, you’ll want to plan for a multi-day highway journey.
Nova Scotia is a kind of locations that really delivers. It’s greater than only a assortment of fairly sights; it’s a province with an actual sense of place and a heat, welcoming spirit. We’ve cherished each journey we’ve taken there, from the rugged highlands of Cape Breton to the quiet shores of the Bay of Fundy.
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a wild coastal highway journey or a calming getaway in a historic city, you’ll find it right here. We hope this information has given you the boldness and concepts you’ll want to begin planning your individual journey.
