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From historic sites to coastal delights, Canada’s maritime province of Nova Scotia offers visitors a wealth of fun things to discover!
Nova Scotia is best known for being almost totally surrounded by water, as one of three Canadian maritime provinces, with high tides, delicious seafood and lots of shipwrecks, but that’s certainly not all the region is famous for.
In this post, we’ll be sharing our top picks for places to visit in Nova Scotia, including the most interesting towns and cities as well as stunning natural destinations.
We hope you enjoy learning about this beautiful Atlantic province and be sure to let us know in the comments which Nova Scotia must-sees we should add to our list!
Halifax
Halifax is the capital city of the province and also contains one of the most visited Nova Scotia tourist attractions: Halifax Citadel.
This hill overlooking Halifax is where the British first built a settlement, as it was easy to defend from the star-shaped military fortification. Today Halifax Citadel is a National Historic Site of Canada containing an Army Museum and, apparently, a number of ghosts!
Halifax’s waterfront boardwalk is one of the longest in the world, lined with shops, places to eat and interesting museums such as the Canadian Museum of Immigration and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. There are often street buskers performing here as well.
Other attractions in Halifax include the iconic Town Clock (which sits in front of the citadel), the beautiful Victorian-era Halifax Public Gardens and the Halifax Common, which is Canada’s oldest park.
Peggy’s Cove
One of the most beautiful Nova Scotia places to visit is Peggy’s Cove, a fishing village with an iconic lighthouse standing on 400 million-year-old granite rock.
At just 43 kilometers (26 miles) southwest of Halifax, the town of Peggy’s Cove makes for a delightful little day trip to see one of the most picture-perfect red and white lighthouses, which was built in 1915. The lighthouse sits on top of a very recognizable granite outcrop and is the most photographed lighthouse in Nova Scotia.
After taking some photos at this pretty spot, we recommend heading into the quaint little fishing village as well, for some fresh, delicious (and ubiquitous) lobster. The area around Peggy’s Cove is also a good place for spotting dolphins, seals, whales and even Atlantic leatherback sea turtles.
Cape Breton
If you’re looking for ‘more bang for your buck’ then Cape Breton is definitely one of the best places to visit in Nova Scotia!
This 10,311 square kilometer (3,981 square mile) island is connected to the mainland of Nova Scotia by a causeway and famous for the 185-mile coastal road known as the Cabot Trail for spectacular views while driving. Some of the best towns to stop off at during a road trip are Inverness and Sydney, where you can see the world’s largest violin (called The Big Fiddle).
Cape Breton is also where a museum can be found in the former home of Alexander Graham Bell, at the Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site. For travelers who are into stunning natural sights head to Mary Ann Falls or Black Brook Beach, one of the most popular beaches on the island that’s also bordered by a waterfall.
Looking for a more rugged and wild destination? Meat Cove is the most northerly settlement in Nova Scotia, surrounded by jagged cliffs and mountains where Bald Eagles can often be spotted.
Lunenburg
Often called the prettiest town in Canada, Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and more than deserves a spot on our list of nice places to visit in Nova Scotia.
Lunenburg is known for its beautiful colorful wooden houses, which mostly date back to the original 18th-century British settlement. Combined with the masts of ships moored in the harbor, Lunenburg makes for the most charming little cozy stay and a great base for joining a local whale-watching cruise.
The town is filled with excellent restaurants, distilleries, breweries, galleries and boutique shops. You can take a ride through the streets in a romantic horse-drawn buggy, join a guided tour to learn more about the town’s history and it’s ghosts or just wander around yourself to see how many different colored buildings you can find.
Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park
Surfers looking for places to go in Nova Scotia will want to head to the Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park as it is one of the most popular surfing locations in the province (and the country!)
Lawrencetown Beach is a pretty mix of sand and stones, but it’s the swell that draws most visitors! At just a half-hour drive from Halifax, this beach is known for providing good surfing conditions. There’s even a surf school right on the shore where you can sign up for lessons or hire boards and wetsuits.
The beach is known for having dangerous riptides, however, so we’d suggest joining a lesson rather than trying it out yourself, unless you’re a strong swimmer and experienced surfer. Even without surfing, this is a lovely beach for walking, with plenty of parking and a café to enjoy some refreshment while watching others out in the water.
Mahone Bay
The beautiful town of Mahone Bay is one of the best vacation spots in Nova Scotia with an iconic harbor view of three churches.
Not far from Lunenburg, Mahone Bay also contains pretty colorful houses and has a rich maritime history. The First Nations Miꞌkmaq people built birch bark canoes here during the 13,500 years prior to arrival of the Europeans.
Then the British began industrial production of shipbuilding, and although they transitioned to engine ships during WWII, the town has retained it’s wooden boat-building heritage. A visit to the The Mahone Bay Museum is a must if you want to learn more about the area’s history, particularly details about boat building.
Aside from boats, Mahone Bay offers a tranquil setting for a getaway, with heritage gardens, Victorian homes, shops and galleries. The best place to get a shot of the three famous churches, St James’ Anglican, St John’s Evangelical Lutheran and Trinity United, is from Oakland Road across the bay.
Yarmouth
For some of the freshest and most delicious seafood in Nova Scotia, head to the town of Yarmouth, which is the home of the largest fishing fleet in Atlantic Canada.
Like many parts of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth has a history indelibly linked with the sea. It has been an important ferry base since the 1880s, when steamships first started sailing from Yarmouth to Boston and New York City. Today it’s possible to sail on a ferry service from Yarmouth to Portland in Maine.
A visit to Yarmouth provides plenty of opportunities to discover the town’s First Nation and French history or go on a lobster boat tour to nearby Tusket Island. With lots of beautiful accommodation options and delicious restaurants to try, it makes for a great gourmet trip as well.
Franey Mountain
Hikers looking for dramatic views will probably choose Franey Mountain as one of the top places to visit in Nova Scotia.
The Franey Mountain Trail (or Franey Trail as it’s sometimes called) is a challenging hike within the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Upon reaching the peak, hikers will be rewarded with incredible 360-degree views over Clyburn Brook canyon and the Atlantic coastline from Cape Smokey to Ingonish.
This trail is a 7.4 kilometer (4.6 mile) loop, so it can be done in a day by experienced hikers. Parts of the trail can be steep and rugged so you will need to be reasonably fit in order to tackle it.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR VISITING: The Franey Trail is only open from from mid-May to mid-October. You will need a park pass for hiking, which costs a small fee. Get your pass and any info you might need at the Parks Canada visitor centres in Chéticamp or Ingonish.
Port-Royal National Historic Site
When it comes to cool places to visit in Nova Scotia the Port-Royal National Historic Site scores very high marks in our books, as it’s a replica of the original French settlement called Habitation at Port-Royal.
Established in 1605, Habitation at Port-Royal was France’s first permanent settlement in North America. The settlement was destroyed by the British in 1613 but rebuilt 8 kilometers (5.0 miles) upstream at what is now Annapolis Royal.
Today the site features reconstructed early 17th-century buildings from the original settlement, with actors in period costumes to help bring the French settlement to life for visitors. The information also delves into the friendly relationship the French had with the local Mi’kmaq people.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR VISITING: While the grounds are open year-round, the buildings are only open to visitors from May – October. They are open daily from 9am – 5pm during this time period though. Tickets cost $4.25 for adults and are free for children up to the age of 17.
Fortress of Louisbourg
The Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site is not only an important spot historically, but also one of the most popular tourist places in Nova Scotia.
Similarly to Port-Royal, the Fortress of Louisbourg is now a ‘live museum’ where visitors can see French soldiers, sailors, servants, ladies and children in period costume, going about their day as it was back in the 1700s. This was once one of the busiest ports in North America, as well as a key point of trade and defence for the French colony.
While it’s called the Fortress of Louisbourg, this historic site is actually an entire recreated fortified town, with shops, gardens and residences to explore. It’s very fun to see the cannons fired or to learn how to fire one yourself, and you can drink rum with fishermen while pretending you’ve gone back in time.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR VISITING: The Fortress of Louisbourg is open year-round, but has different levels of activity so the best time to visit is the peak season between July and September. During this time it’s open seven days a week from 9.30am until 5pm but check the opening times for other periods if that’s when you will be in the area. In peak season tickets cost $18.75 for adults and are free for youth up to age 17.
Did We Miss Any of Your Favourite Places to Visit in Nova Scotia?
Let us know on the comments so we can add more amazing spots to our list!