Towering highlands, coastal roads, and little villages on the water. Nova Scotia is beautiful like that.
A Nova Scotia vacation might be the remedy to the busy pace many of us find ourselves living in. You will escape the modern world and find a place where time moves a little slower.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Why Take a Nova Scotia Vacation for Your Next Trip?
Nova Scotia is a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean filled with historic sites, stunning scenery, and incredible things to do from coast to coast. While a trip to the Canadian Rockies is best for a sense of adventure, visiting Nova Scotia is ideal for a relaxing trip to Canada's history.
The small villages are made up of clapboard houses and huts suspended over the water on wooden stilts, and friendly cities feel close-knit in a way few do. Coasts are dotted with historic lighthouses, and seven different UNESCO Sites — three world heritage sites and two biospheres — make it feel like time has stood still.
Visiting Nova Scotia is like a trip into the golden age of holiday-making.
Top Nova Scotia Vacation Packages
The best vacation packages in Nova Scotia aren't the ones that fit the most into the least time. They're the ones that just feel right. So at Canada By Design, our itineraries are designed for you.
Each trip is tailored around your interests by your personal Travel Designer, giving you, the traveler, expert guidance and freedom of choice in equal measures. That means if you want your days filled with exciting excursions and all the must-do experiences in Atlantic Canada, we will arrange each activity to flow seamlessly to the next. But if you want a day to slow down and simply watch the sea, we will build that time into your stay.
These are our favorite Nova Scotia itineraries — the base packages we start with. If you don't see what you're looking for here, we will work with you one-on-one to shape something that works for you.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Atlantic Charm: A Nova Scotia Road Trip
11 days | Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island | May to September
This trip lets you explore the province and neighboring Prince Edward Island over 11 days. You'll have the flexibility of a rental car along your trip, letting you travel exactly where you want, when you want. This allows you to visit the more remote and most charming places along your drives, and is perfect for a family vacation.
To see what this Nova Scotia vacation could look like, we've broken down this best-selling itinerary a little later on in this post.
Credit: VIA Rail
Atlantic Maritimes Explorer by Rail: A Rail Adventure to Nova Scotia
8 days | Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island | May to October
A rail adventure in Eastern Canada is perfect for experiencing that vintage luxury associated with old-world travel. From Quebec, a little bit of Europe in Canada, to the 19th-century tales of Prince Edward Island, to Nova Scotia, where traditional fishing villages are still a way of life for many locals.
Credit: Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism / Barrett &McKay Photo
Coastal Quest: A Long Atlantic Canada Getaway
18 days | Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland | May to September
This trip is best for visitors with a little more time on their hands. You will travel far beyond Nova Scotia to discover the Canadian East Coast, journeying through all four provinces that make up Atlantic Canada. This trip lets you settle into Atlantic Canada over the course of 18 days and get a real feel for the region.
You start in Nova Scotia, spending four days exploring the island, before working slowly north to explore New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. You will dip back into Nova Scotia briefly, from days 8-10, to drive the stunning Cabot Trail around Cape Breton, before continuing on.
Things to Do in Nova Scotia
The best things to do in Nova Scotia are to visit its historic cities and villages — Halifax, Peggy's Cove, and Lunenburg — venture into its national parks, and road trip its scenic trails.
As you can see, this means the best things to do in Nova Scotia all revolve around its history, its blend of cultures, and its beautiful landscapes overlooking the sea. This is why, when planning trips to Nova Scotia, we help you slow down to your ideal pace to really get the sense of place only Nova Scotia can offer. And, to do this, we arrange everything and create a seamless trip at every step, to let you sink into it that little bit more.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Things to Do in Halifax, NS
The best way to spend a day in Halifax is to begin at the long boardwalk, running the length of the Halifax Waterfront. You'll pass restaurants, museums, and marinas where all kinds of modern and historic ships are docked. From there, head away from the harbor to Citadel Hill where you'll find Halifax Citadel, a historic naval base set on the city's highest point.
Most Nova Scotia vacations begin in Halifax, as it is home to the region's main international airport. This is ideal as Halifax is a big city disguised as a small town and, as a result, perfectly balances convenience and accessibility with culture, and is a perfect introduction to the province.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Things to Do in Lunenburg, NS
In Lunenberg, wander through brightly colored 18th-century houses clustered around the port. They're arranged in a historic planned colonial settlement by British settlers. It remains the best preserved in North America, and Old Town Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a result. So this is the place to see a historic waterfront as it has existed for nearly 300 years.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Things to Do in Peggy's Cove, NS
In Peggy's Cove, your first stop should be Peggy's Cove Lighthouse at the very tip of the village. It is often said to be the most photographed lighthouse in Canada. From there, wander the village to see quaint gift shops and local eateries — the best of which are all tucked into colorful clapboard houses — and huts set over the water on wooden stilts.
Peggy's Cove is small, so you won't be here all day. But it is absolutely a must-stop on any trip to Nova Scotia.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Things to Do on the Cabot Trail, NS
When driving the Cabot Trail, you'll pass charming villages nestled between the water and highlands, clifftop trails to walk — all irresistible as you drive by. We recommend driving counterclockwise so that you drive on the outer lane and get the best views over the ocean.
The best places to visit are Baddeck, where you will begin and end your drive, a village holding onto its Gaelic heritage, Ingonish Beach, Neil's Harbour, and Chéticamp, a French Acadian outpost.
Between the towns and villages, all lingering on the shorelines, mighty highlands and rolling hills are a tale of an old homeland, and a hint of the Gaelic culture that permeates the island.
The best way to see these landscapes is by hiking them.
While the Skyline Trail is the most famous hike in Cape Breton — and deservedly so, boasting stunning views over the rocky cliffs, Atlantic Ocean, and Cabot Trail all at once — other gems include the Middle Head Trail, just north of Ingonish Beach on the eastern side of the island, and the Acadian Trail, which leaves from the Chéticamp Visitor Center.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Things to Do in Nova Scotia's National Parks
Nova Scotia has three national parks, all of which are best explored on foot.
The best way to experience Kejimkujik National Park & National Historic Site is by exploring over 10,000 years of Indigenous Mi’kmaq history hidden in hemlock forests. In Cape Breton Highlands National Park, choose one of the 26 hiking trails — our favorites are listed above — and venture out onto rocky headlands overlooking the Atlantic. And in the Fundy National Park, see the power of the Fundy tides as the Bay of Fundy fills and empties with the strongest tides in the world.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Things to Do in Nova Scotia: Honorable Mentions
While many of the best things to do here are rooted in the places you will visit across your trip to Nova Scotia, some things remain true across your stay.
You should, while here, take any opportunity to try the fresh seafood, most caught just short boat-hops away from the places where they're served. Some of our Travel Designers' favorites are, unsurprisingly, the lobster rolls; specifically the ones in Salt Shaker Deli & Inn, in Lunenberg. Though other must-tries are seafood chowder, Digby scallops, and locally-caught shellfish.
During your trip, find ways to meet the friendly locals and see live music. This isn't difficult — our trips to Nova Scotia take you to small villages like Baddeck and Annapolis Royal, where communities are close-knit and made up of generations of inhabitants. Though many pubs in Halifax also have live music performed by local musicians, and are frequented by the people living there.
Lastly, while in Nova Scotia, visit the surrounding provinces that make up Atlantic Canada. Both New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are short drives or ferry rides away, and are worth the brief detour along your Nova Scotia vacation.
Our Favorite Sample Nova Scotia Itinerary
Our favorite itinerary to explore Nova Scotia to the fullest is our Canadian Maritimes road trip: Atlantic Charm. This Nova Scotia itinerary includes just under 24 hours of driving across 11 days — around 2 hours a day. So most of your time is spent on the ground, getting to know the places you travel between. But, at the same time, the stunning roads you drive let you enjoy the classic road trip experience.
To give you a look into what your Nova Scotia vacation could be like, we’ve outlined it in more detail below. But this itinerary is only the start. While it reflects what you can do, this trip is about you, not us. We will help you make one that means the most to you.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 1: Halifax to Lunenburg
Your first day in Nova Scotia is a one-day introduction to all that the province offers. Starting in a city-that-feels-like-a-town, Halifax, you'll journey down to a village on the rocks to see a historic lighthouse, and then on to a colorful town perched in an ocean harbour. The drive itself takes just shy of two hours. So, set across a day, so there is plenty of time to discover each stop.
In downtown Halifax, start your day with breakfast before visiting Citadel Hill. Then, begin your journey. As you leave Halifax, you'll make your way to Peggy's Cove where you'll find the village on the outer edge of St. Margarets Bay. The village itself is charming, made up of wooden clapboard houses and a late-1800s red-roofed church. The star of the show, though, is the iconic white and red Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, built in 1915, and looks out to the open Atlantic from Peggy's Point.
From there, continue heading south to arrive at Lunenburg, your home for the night. We recommend you settle in by wandering the UNESCO World Heritage streets — designed by British colonials expressly for this purpose — and grabbing a lobster roll at the Salt Shaker, a personal favorite of one of our expert Travel Designers at Canada By Design.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 2: Lunenburg to Annapolis Royal
From Lunenburg, you'll head inland and cross the province on your way to the Annapolis Valley. This part of Nova Scotia is beautiful, with rolling grassy fields and lush woodland all studded with lakes and rivers and the occasional cluster of white clapboard houses.
As you go, you'll pass Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, which is steeped in Indigenous Mi'kmaq tradition. The Mi'kmaq peoples once used the Mersey River to travel between the open Atlantic and the Bay of Fundy, and over 500 Indigenous petroglyphs can be found across four different sites around Kejimkujik Lake. Leisurely trails circle the lake, follow the Mersey River, or head further into the surrounding woodland.
From Kejimkujik National Park, you'll continue to cross the province until you reach the Annapolis Valley, where you are free to spend the rest of the day exploring the waterfront town, Annapolis Royal.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 3: Explore Annapolis Valley
Your day will begin with a drive and two short ferry hops to Brier Island, where a whale-watching tour will venture onto the Bay of Fundy in search of whales.
As you return, explore Brier Island before returning along Long Island and Digby Neck. Stop in Digby town to try the world-famous scallops there, and continue to Annapolis Royal. Once you've made your way back to town, visit the Fort Anne National Historic Site to learn about the rotating occupation of the region by, first, the Scots, then the French, and finally the English.
If you're lucky enough to be here on a Friday between mid-June and mid-September, we recommend spending the evening at the Oqwa’titek Amphitheatre to enjoy 'Summer Music at the O', which offers a free outdoor concert overlooking the river.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 4: Annapolis Royal to Wolfville
Today, you will head north along the west side of Nova Scotia, following the Bay of Fundy to Wolfville. The surrounding landscapes are covered in vineyards, and the town is smattered with breweries and wineries. There, you will find the historic center of Acadian culture in Canada, Grand-Pré National Historic Site, and the neighboring Landscape of Grand Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site, made up of beautiful gardens and a charming brick church, marks the location of a 17th-century Acadian Village.
This part of Nova Scotia is rich with Acadian history and present-day cultural experiences.
Credit: Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism
Day 5: Wolfville to Charlottetown
At this point in your journey, you will leave Nova Scotia for a few days, passing briefly through New Brunswick and venturing on to Prince Edward Island, where red beaches line the ocean. You'll arrive via the Confederation Bridge, crossing the Northumberland Strait, before driving through the rolling fields that make up the Island.
You'll end your drive in Charlottetown, the province's capital and your home base for this portion of your stay.
Credit: Tourism Prince Edward Island / John Sylvester
Days 6-7: Prince Edward Island
No road trip to the Maritimes is complete without spending a little time in the neighboring Prince Edward Island. We've included two full days here to give you a sense of the place and admission into Green Gables Heritage Place and Prince Edward Island National Park.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 8: Prince Edward Island to Baddeck
You will leave Prince Edward Island on the ferry crossing at Wood Islands, taking you directly back to Nova Scotia, where you will head north to Cape Breton Island.
Cape Breton Island is like few other places on Earth. Old cultures exist today as lived traditions.
The island is known as the 'Celtic Heart of North America' and is home to a steadfast Gaelic culture that is lived through ceilidh dances and fiddle tunes. But, beyond the Gaelic villages in the south and the Highlands in the north, Indigenous Mi’kmaq, Gaelic, and Acadian cultures all intertwine to create a unique Cape Breton identity.
Once you arrive, you'll spend the rest of your day exploring Baddeck, an overwhelmingly charming Gaelic village in the south of Cape Breton Island. We've included admission to the Alexander Graham Bell museum for you to enjoy today.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 9: Cape Breton Island | Drive the Cabot Trail
From Baddeck, you will head north on the Cabot Trail and, over the course of the day, drive the stunning loop around the island. The trail takes four hours to drive and, for most of that time, hugs the coast.
The road delivers stunning views, and the villages along it introduce you to life in this historic place. Here, Acadian and Gaelic cultures mingle. You'll pass Chéticamp shortly after the Skyline Trail, which is a thriving Acadian community protected from the Atlantic by Chéticamp Island.
Trails lead from the road, taking you deep into the Cape Breton Highlands National Park or out along the cliffs. We recommend taking at least one on your drive to experience the wild essence of the island, and there are several stunning options as you go. The most popular hiking trail is the Skyline Trail on the northeast of the drive, and is our favorite to recommend to our guests. The trail is relatively easy and leads to a boardwalk on the headland, overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the road snaking along the edge of the island.
As you head south, you'll return to the Gaelic Baddeck area and end your day back in Baddeck.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 10: Cape Breton Island
During your last day on Cape Breton Island, you will make your way to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, an 18th-century ruins and reconstruction of a French colonial town, perched on the eastern edge of the island. The fortress, run as a living museum, will welcome you into 1740s life on the shores of the North Atlantic.
During your time spent exploring the grounds, you'll hear the life of a soldier, be invited to participate in traditional games and dances, and learn about the French community's relationship with the Indigenous Mi'kmaq peoples who have inhabited these lands for a century.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Day 11: Baddeck to Halifax
Day 11 marks the end of your Nova Scotia vacation and your return to Halifax. Take the long way back, following the eastern edge of the Bras D'Or Lake, before reaching the mainland via the Canso Causeway bridge and heading south to Halifax. We recommend you spend one last night here before your travels home. Once in Halifax, unwind from your trip with an evening stroll along the waterfront boardwalk, savor one last lobster roll at one of the many eateries on the water, and enjoy your last night in Atlantic Canada.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Book Your Nova Scotia Vacation Today with Canada By Design
We don't just create Nova Scotia vacation packages.
When working with Canada By Design, you will be working one-on-one with a personal Travel Designer who will help you tailor your trip to make it the perfect fit. That means extra time in the places you love, and expert advice on the things to do and see once you're there, all based on your personal interests and desires. We begin with expert-made itineraries, and hand them over with personalized service and support, from first call right up until you return home.
Contact a Travel Designer today to begin planning your Nova Scotia vacation, and let us take care of the details.
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FAQs
When is the best time to visit Nova Scotia?
The best time for a Nova Scotia vacation is from June through to October. During the summer, the sun is shining and the weather is warm, generally hovering around mid-60s to mid-90s Fahrenheit. And in September and October, fall color viewing is at its best.
The most popular months to visit Nova Scotia are July and August, making them the busiest. So, if you're looking for a quieter trip, we suggest booking just outside of this window.
How long should I spend in Nova Scotia?
We recommend spending 7 to 10 days in Nova Scotia. However, we have Atlantic Canada trips ranging up to 17 nights to let you fully explore the region.
If you have a specific period of time you'd like to spend here, talk to your Travel Designer and they can customize trips to fit your desired pace of travel.
Can I visit other Maritime provinces during my Nova Scotia vacation?
Yes, we absolutely recommend visiting other provinces and exploring beyond Nova Scotia during your time in Atlantic Canada. Our itineraries include a brief stay in Prince Edward Island by default, but we also have options venturing into New Brunswick and Newfoundland for guests looking to explore further.
Is a car rental required?
A road trip to Nova Scotia is our favorite way to see the province, and many of our bucket list road trips take place here. A car rental lets you go beyond the bigger cities and see life in the small coastal villages. However, we also offer small group tours if you would simply like to sit back, relax, and be shown the gems of Atlantic Canada.