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9 Nova Scotia trips. Compare tour itineraries from 6 tour companies. 15 reviews. 4.5/5 avg rating.
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Top Nova Scotia Attractions
- Go for a hike/walk in Cape Breton island. Follow the Cabot trail for scenic overlooks.
- Whale watch on the Bay of Fundy. The boat ride offers the opportunity to see whales, and other marine life.
- Tour the wineries of Nova Scotia and try the crisp white wines. Visit the Avondale sky wine lab, where you can create your own signature wine blend after a tasting and a tour of the winery.
- Visit the old town of Lunenburg. This UNESCO World Heritage Site sits on the coast and is filled with colorful buildings.
- Dine on the ocean floor while visiting the Bay of Fundy! Every few weeks, the tides are low enough that it allows for an opportunity to eat on the ocean floor.
Nova Scotia Tours & Travel Guide
Nova Scotia Attractions & Landmarks Guide
Wild and beautiful Nova Scotia is a classically beautiful destination - perfect for outdoorsy outings like kayaking and biking. This maritime province in Eastern Canada offers wildlife viewing, old stately homes, and idyllic settings. Get ready to slow down the pace, get out your camera, and enjoy the natural beauty here.
Getting to Nova Scotia
Most people decide to fly into Nova Scotia. The airport, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, is situated about 20 miles outside of Halifax, the capital. There are options to arrive by ferry boat or through a cruise ship from both Canada and Eastern United States.
The bay ferry departs from Bar Harbor, Maine, and docks in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, which sits on the western coast of Nova Scotia. If you’re in New Brunswick, Canada, you can take a boat from Saint John to Digby, Nova Scotia.
Digby is on the northwestern coast of NS and is about a 2.5 hour drive from Halifax. Ferry rides are also optional from Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island or Argentia, Newfoundland.
Top Things to See in Nova Scotia
1. Halifax Waterfront
If you’re visiting the city of Halifax, take a stroll along the waterfront. Starting at Pier 21, there is the Canadian Museum of Immigration. Continue the walk and explore the shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Parked along the waterfront are some of the final WWII convoy escort corvettes. There is also the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, which is the oldest continuously running farmers’ market in North America.
2. Lunenburg is a town about an hour outside of Halifax, making for a great day trip from the city. Explore the narrow streets and unique architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Colorful buildings line the waterfront, as well as tall ships. Visitors can even see the Bluenose II, a replica of an original schooner boat that is found on the Canadian dime!
3. Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Looking for some outdoor time? Head towards Cape Breton Highlands NP, known as the #1 Drive in North America. This Island, one of the world’s must-see islands, sits on the east of Nova Scotia. The park is filled with cliffs and river canyons that border the Atlantic Ocean.
Visit the 186 Cabot Trail, which offers 26 hiking/walking trails, shopping areas along the trail, and marvelous scenery. The beaches, the waterfalls, and gorgeous lookout points make this a nature lovers dream.
4. Nova Scotia Wineries
The climate and soil in Nova Scotia makes it an ideal place for grapes to grow. Discover the wines at one of the 18 wineries found in the province, including traditional method wine, to icewine, and the signature appellation wine.
Spend the day (or the weekend!) on the Good Cheer Trail, consisting of Canada’s first winery, craft brewery, distillery and cider trail. Collect the stamps along the trail for an opportunity to win a prize!
Wildlife in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a prime destination for wildlife viewing. Here are just some of the animals you can spot in Nova Scotia:
1. Beavers are known for their dam building. From their webbed feet, a flat tail for swimming, and the flaps in their nose/ears that close while diving, their body is adapted to live in the water. Their diet is made up of bark, leaves, and twigs from trees. They live between forested areas, and slow-flowing water sources.
2. Black Bears are the only type of bear that is found in Nova Scotia. They can be found hanging out in the woods or near swamps. The bears often have a black coat in Nova Scotia. Bears can be found rummaging through garbage for food, but often eat plants and animals. Bears den in the winter, and when they are denning, they are unconscious, meaning they don’t eat or drink during this time.
3. Moose is the largest member of the deer family. They are a dark brown in color, with gray legs, large head, and humped shoulders. Males get new antlers every spring that last until early winter. These animals are very hefty – smaller females weigh in at nearly 600 pounds, and large males can top off around nearly 1100 pounds! Both males and females are between 5 feet to 6.5 feet tall.
4. Humpback whale are black on top and white on their belly, with a fin on the back of their body. The best opportunity to see a humpback whale is in the warmer months (April-October) when they migrate north. They are often spotted in the coastal areas of Nova Scotia, seen leaping out of the water.
5. River otters are dark brown on their back, with a light gray or brownish belly. They have webbed feet, eyes that are high up on their heads, and whiskers that help them feel for food in the dark. Look for trail they leave while sliding in the snow/mud on their stomach.
6. Big Cats - In Canada, there are three members of the cat family, including the bobcat, lynx and cougar.
The bobcat are known for their black ear tufts and short tails. Fur colors can be anywhere from yellow, gray, brown or reddish. Bobcats are on the smaller side, clocking in at 2.5 to three feet in length.
Lynx are similar size in length as bobcats, and weigh around 20 pounds. Fur Coats are grayish brown with some white or light gray areas. Lynx have a ruff of fur that frames their face with black tipped ears.
Cougars range anywhere from 5 feet long on the smaller side (usually females, the males are larger) to 8-9 feet in length. Their weight ranges from 80 pounds to nearly 200 pounds.
Cuisine in Nova Scotia
Right off the Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia is known for its seafood! Some notable foods include:
1. Digby Scallops are often picked right from the Bay of Fundy, home of the largest scallop fishing fleet in the world. Try the scallops in a seafood linguine, topped on chowder, deep fried or pan-seared.
2. Donair was named the official food of Halifax in 2015. It consists of pita topped with spiced beef, topped with garlic sauce, tomatoes and onions.
3. Dulse is an edible red seaweed, also found in the Bay of Fundy. The seaweed can be eaten as a snack, or can be made into products such as powder or soap. Visitors can join a seaweed picking experience, where you can hand-pick your own seaweed in Gulliver’s Cove.
4. Oatcakes are a great morning snack paired with coffee. They can be found in bakeries and cafés around Nova Scotia. They come either chewy or crunchy, and can be topped with a bit of sweetness from chocolate or peanut butter.
5. Rapure/Rappie Pie is a comfort food for Nova Scotians. Potatoes are grated and pressed to remove the moisture, cooked in broth and baked until the edges are crispy. Chicken or clam is often added to this dish. You’re most likely to find this dish in the Southwest corner of Nova Scotia, on the Acadian shore.
Nova Scotia Reviews & Ratings
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M Anne Capper
Oct 2022
Written on
Enchanting Canadian Maritimes
Itinerary: plausible, excellent. Canada has long stretches of "rocks, and trees and water". We're BIG. Coach: compared with European tours, somewhat lacking... no 2...
S
Sally Doerksen
Oct 2022
Written on
Enchanting Canadian Maritimes
The days start very early in the morning. The tour guides are in...
L
Laurel Sawatzky
Oct 2022
Written on
Enchanting Canadian Maritimes
It was interesting but not enchanting. The hotel in Baddeck was disappointing and should be taken off the list. It needed some TLC and was outside of Baddeck. We wer...
M
Michael Wager
Sep 2022
Written on
Enchanting Canadian Maritimes
all our stops were great and our guide ,bus driver, and health person were very freindly and fun
D
David Wolfer
Sep 2022
Written on
Enchanting Canadian Maritimes
It is filled with beautiful landscapes and ocean scapes. It involves h...
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