Nova Scotia

01 / NS

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

The most photographed lighthouse in Canada sits on massive rounded granite boulders at the edge of the Atlantic, framing one of the country's most iconic images. The working village behind it is a genuine fishing community of 30 year-round residents. Come before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to experience it at its quietest.

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02 / NS

Cape Breton Highlands & Cabot Trail

A 298-kilometre loop road through the Cape Breton Highlands is one of the most spectacular coastal drives in North America. The road climbs above 450 metres, follows sea cliffs above the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and bisects Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The Skyline Trail hike, the Acadian community of Cheticamp, and the whale-watching at Pleasant Bay are highlights.

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03 / NS

Lunenburg

A UNESCO World Heritage Site — one of only two planned British colonial settlements in North America to retain their original layout. The town sits on a steep hillside above the harbour, its painted Victorian commercial buildings reflected in the water below. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and the Bluenose II replica are the key heritage attractions.

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04 / NS

Cape Split Hike

The best day hike in Nova Scotia follows a forested ridge to dramatic cliffs above the Bay of Fundy, where strong tidal currents swirl around the headland. The 13-kilometre return trail takes 4–5 hours and is accessible to most hikers. At peak tide the current around the cape produces standing waves visible from the cliff top.

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05 / NS

Halifax Citadel

The star-shaped fortification above the Halifax waterfront is a National Historic Site interpreting 250 years of military history, with costumed soldiers, the noon gun ceremony, and panoramic views across the harbour to Dartmouth. The central library next door is one of Canada's finest new public buildings — an architectural landmark in its own right.

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06 / NS

Annapolis Royal & the Valley

Annapolis Royal is one of the oldest continuously settled European communities in North America, established by French colonists in 1605 at what they called Port-Royal. Fort Anne National Historic Site preserves the earthwork fortifications from which French and English forces fought for control of Acadia through the 17th and 18th centuries. The surrounding Annapolis Valley is Nova Scotia's agricultural heartland — apple orchards in bloom in May, farm markets from August through October, and a road that winds through small towns like Wolfville and Windsor with enough history, wineries, and craft breweries to fill several days.

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07 / NS

Kejimkujik National Park

Kejimkujik is one of two designated Dark Sky Preserves in Nova Scotia, which means the night sky alone is worth the drive. During the day, the park offers some of the best freshwater paddling in Atlantic Canada — a network of linked lakes and rivers that canoe trippers can explore for days without seeing the same water twice. The Mi'kmaw petroglyphs at Kejimkujik are among the most significant in eastern North America, with carvings dating back thousands of years preserved on the lakeside slate outcroppings. The Seaside Adjunct on the Atlantic coast protects beach habitats and is separate from the main park interior.

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