On a map, Nova Scotia resembles a duck or a lobster — both appropriate shapes for a province defined by its proximity to the North Atlantic Ocean.
But the landscapes, seascapes and, um, people of Canada’s second-smallest province are as diverse as anywhere in the country: drive for an hour in any direction and you’ll find completely different scenery and cultural heritage.
The coastline, lapped by the world’s highest tides, is dotted with French Acadian villages and their towering stone and wooden churches. The opposite rocky coast is dotted with silvery sands and fishing villages founded by European and black Loyalist settlers. Between the two coasts, the fertile Annapolis Valley is home to an emerging wine region. The rolling highlands to the north attracted Gaelic Scottish settlers who recognized Cape Breton’s resemblance to Scotland. And throughout Nova Scotia, indigenous Mi’kmaq people have traveled for millennia, using rivers as highways and coasts as food pantries.
The hardest question is where to focus your visit. We can help you create a Nova Scotia itinerary that includes all of the best destinations along the province’s 7,500 km (4,660 miles) of coastline.
We’ll help you create an itinerary of the best things to do in Nova Scotia
A stroll along the waterfront is the perfect way to discover vibrant Halifax © J Duquette / Shutterstock
1. Halifax
Perfect for a day on the waterfront
The best way to discover Nova Scotia’s capital city and its rich history is to stroll along its harbor promenade. Start with a visit to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, where waves of immigrants arrived in Canada, then learn about Halifax’s harrowing role in the Titanic disaster at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
Queen’s Mark is the city’s glitzy new waterfront development, complete with luxury accommodation, some of the city’s best restaurants and steps to the sea. In the evening, enjoy some live music and bar-hopping at hilltop venues such as The Carlton and The Split Crow.
Side Trip: Take a bathtub-like ferry across Halifax Harbour (every 15-30 minutes) to Dartmouth, whose downtown stretches for 10 blocks, feels like an urban village. Throw axes at the Timber Lounge, buy records at Taz or Renegade Records, or sip a Negroni at the Dear Friend Bar.
2. Southwest Nova
A great way to explore the state’s multicultural roots
The southern tip of Nova Scotia (known locally as Southwest Nova) is home to several culturally diverse peoples. The French Shore, where the Acadians resettled in 1763 after their forced expulsion, runs along the shoreline of the Bay of Fundy. Other Acadians settled in the Pubnico area, where fishing boats are now moored two or three abreast, seafood is piled high on plates, and their past comes to life in historic Acadian villages. In Shelburne and neighboring Birchtown, enslaved Africans were freed and their stories of escape are told at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. The month-long Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl each February enlivens the region with a plethora of tasty events, making it a great place to visit in the winter.
3. Digby Neck
Best place for whale watching
A long, finger-like peninsula stretches from the scallop-fishing port of Digby into the Bay of Fundy, leading to the ferry-connected islands of Long and Bryher. Whale-watching tours depart from these rugged, remote islands throughout the day in search of humpbacks, minkes, gray whales and the rare northern right whale. Seabirds, dolphins and seals add a vibrant variety to any trip.
Local tip: If speed is your thing, book a whale watching tour aboard a Zodiac. If you prefer slow and steady sailing, opt for a converted fishing boat. Either way, know your tolerance for motion sickness and prepare accordingly.
To make the most of beautiful Kejimkujik National Park, head to the water © Marc Guitard / Getty Images
4. Kejimkujik National Park
Enjoy the untouched natural beauty
Nowhere is more remote from the crowded crowds (if crowds are possible in Nova Scotia) than the lakes, rivers and trails that span the swath of wilderness affectionately known as the Keji, where the only sound that is often heard is the haunting call of loons.
Renting a kayak or canoe to explore the waterways is the best way to experience the park’s majesty, and don’t miss a tour of Canada’s second largest petroglyph collection, where a Mi’kmaq guide will explain how First Nations ancestors inscribed their observations into the rocks.
Detours: Reserve a frontcountry site for comfortable camping (when reasonably crowded), or a backcountry site for wilderness adventures.
5. Annapolis Valley
Perfect for winery tours and “pick-your-own” experiences
Nova Scotia’s breadbasket and home to many “u-pick” farm stands, the Annapolis Valley is nestled among quaint mountains and forested ridges. In May, the air is filled with the fragrant scent of apple blossoms, and in the fall, grapes are harvested to make Annapolis Valley specialties like Tidal Bay, a crisp white wine that pairs perfectly with Nova Scotia seafood.
Detour: If you don’t want to drive, book a winery tour aboard the Magic Winery Bus or Grape Escape.
The cliffs along the Bay of Fundy are beautiful in all seasons © Chris Sheppard / 500px / Getty Images
6. Cliffs of Fundy Geopark
Great for natural history
Recently designated the Fundy Cliffs Geopark, the Parrsboro Coast is one of the world’s richest natural history sites. Eroded by the world’s highest tides, the coastal cliffs reveal prehistoric ghosts in the form of pre-dinosaur Carboniferous fossils. Stop by Parrsboro’s Fundy Geology Museum to experience a time when Nova Scotia was a swampland roaming giant amphibians, then head to Joggins Fossil Centre for a guided tour of the eroded cliffs and see prehistoric tree fossils.
Local tip: Stop for lunch at Wild Caraway Restaurant in Advocate Harbour, where most dishes feature locally sourced ingredients or ingredients grown on-site at the restaurant.
7. 100 Wild Islands
Perfect for sea kayaking
Though the classy name 100 Wild Islands springs to mind as soon as you say it, this coastal wilderness is actually 282 tiny polka-dot oceanscapes bordered by forests and beaches. With 20 miles (32 kilometers) of coastline and seemingly endless protrusions above the waves, the best way to explore the islands is on a guided kayak tour with outfitters like Coastal Adventures or North Cove Camping and Kayak Center. Book with Murphy’s Camping to ride out to the islands with the owners and collect wild mussels.
Mahone Bay, with its three picturesque churches along the waterfront, may be Nova Scotia’s most beautiful town © Marc Guitard / Getty Images
8. Chester, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg
Best seaside town
Start in Chester, a summer sailing destination for two centuries. Play pool or dine on fish and chips at Fo’c’sle (Nova Scotia’s oldest tavern, nicknamed “Chester’s Living Room”). In Mahone Bay, stroll past three churches shoulder to shoulder and numerous artisan shops, and discover why many consider it Nova Scotia’s most picturesque town.
The town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Bluenose II, a replica of the famous schooner featured on Canada’s dime coin, is a maritime town with plenty of seafood restaurants, historic inns and maritime-themed attractions, including the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.
Side Trips: From these towns, there are plenty of options for excursions. Head to Peggy’s Cove to see the white lighthouse perched on sea-carved rocks. Take a ferry for a day trip to Big Tank Cook Island. Take a boat tour to the island that inspired the TV show “The Curse of Oak Island.” Or drive to Blue Rocks, a checkerboard pattern of coves, islands and tiny fishermen’s homes and huts.
9. Tatamagouche
Great for a small town Nova Scotia experience
Tatamagouche is a small town that’s both a destination in itself and a great base for exploring Nova Scotia’s north coast. Once the setting for the reality TV show “The Week the Women Went,” the town has been reborn after a long recession. Today, shops like Tatamagouche Brewing, Appleton Chocolates, and Creamery Square (named after the town’s agricultural roots) are the rewards of a stroll down Main Street.
Drive south to see the water-powered Balmoral Mill (the oatcakes are delicious), then head east to stroll among the fragrant flowers of Seafoam Lavender, and in Pictou you can see a replica of the Hector, the ship that first brought the Scots to the area.
Local tip: Stay and dine at the Train Station Inn, housed in a former train station and rail cars, including a refurbished 1928 dining car.
10. Fortress of Louisbourg
Great for a historical immersion
North America’s largest historical reconstruction project lies in a remote, mist-shrouded location on the eastern tip of Cape Breton Island. Entering the Fortress of Louisbourg conjures up images of the early 18th-century French fortified outpost and town. Inside the fortress walls, visitors wandering among 80 reconstructed structures encounter costumed interpreters and farm animals. Enjoy period-accurate meals at Hôtel de la Marine or Grandchamps restaurant, and stay the night in the comfortable Lartigue House, the nearly useless guardhouse or the downright terrifying prison.
In the fall, or any time of year, the Cabot Trail is one of Canada’s most spectacular drives © Lisa-Blue / iStockphoto / Getty Images
11. Cabot Trail
Perfect for a scenic drive
It’s hard to overstate the beauty of the Cabot Trail through northwest Cape Breton. Much of the route passes through mountaintop wilderness and coastal villages. Along the way, you’ll experience 200 years of Scottish heritage at the Gaelic College in St. Anne’s, 300 years of French-Acadian culture at Les Trois Pignons Museum and Gallery in Chéticamp, and 10,000 years of indigenous Mi’kmaq traditions at Cruskup Ridge RV & Campground near Englishtown. In autumn, the mountainside bursts into a riot of color, making the Cabot Trail a leaf-peeper’s dream road trip.
Local tip: The Cabot Trail drive begins and ends at the saltwater Bras d’Or Lake in Baddeck. As you drive north, the scenery unfolds on your side of the road. Take advantage of the many lookout points, which have interpretive signs that complement the beauty of the scenery.
Plan your trip to Nova Scotia:
This article was first published on September 29, 2021 and updated on May 23, 2024.
