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Nova Scotia Tours & Trips
9 Nova Scotia trips. Tours from 11 tour companies. 15 reviews. 4.5/5 avg rating.
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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...
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...
S
Sally Doerksen
Oct 2022
Written on
Enchanting Canadian Maritimes
The days start very early in the morning. The tour guides are in...
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...
Nova Scotia Tour Selection Trips
- Nova Scotia is pretty large, which means lots of driving. Consider this when deciding accommodation. It may be easier to book a few places rather than trying to do day trips from a home base.
- There are many outdoor water activities. Being on the north Atlantic ocean, the water is cold year round. Consider traveling in the late summer once the Ocean has the ability to warm up a bit.
- While the summer offers awesome water based activities, the winter equally is a great time to visit. If you can handle the cold, (temperatures in peak winter are often below freezing), there is skiing, ice skating, and sleigh rides through snowy Nova Scotia.
- If you’re looking to visit museums, consider a museum pass. The Nova Scotia museum pass is $47 CAD, and let’s you visit any museum in Nova Scotia for 12 months.
- Public transportation in Nova Scotia is a bus system. Buses can take you around the city center, and out to the suburbs. For further distances, look into the Maritime Bus, which will connect most of the Province’s towns/cities.
Additional details
Where is Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia is a province in eastern Canada on the Atlantic Ocean. The province is east of the state of Maine, Southwest of New Brunswick, South of Prince Edward Island, and Southwest of Newfoundland.
Weather in Nova Scotia
The weather in Nova Scotia depends on the season, with warm summers and winter often dropping below freezing. The middle of winter often has temperatures between 0-32 degrees Fahrenheit. Locals know to expect snow for most of the winter, so they make the most of the chilly weather.
If colder weather and winter activities are your thing, this is a great time to visit. There are festivals, snowshoeing, ice skating and sleigh rides, making this a real life winter wonderland.
Summer brings warm weather, and a whole new experience to Nova Scotia. Temperatures range from 70-80 degrees, making it ideal weather to get outdoors and enjoy the natural beauty of the province. Spend the day relaxing at the beach, hike through the Cape Breton Highlands, or hang out at one of the many street festivals.
If you’re hoping for a balance between the two, consider visiting during the spring or fall. The earlier part of spring (mid-March to late April) is still a bit chilly with daily averages of 32-50 degrees fahrenheit. Later in the season is when the warm weather starts to kick in, with temperatures rising to 50-70 degrees.
You can expect the reverse for the fall, with warmer temperatures early in the season, cooling down as the fall season goes on.
Best time to visit Nova Scotia
The best time to visit depends on what activities and experiences you want to get out of your trip. There really is no “bad time” to visit Nova Scotia, and all seasons are worthy of a visit. There is plenty of activity year-round.
Summer is a popular season, because of the warm weather and the high amount of outdoor activities. For anyone hoping to spend a lot of time on the water (kayaking, swimming), it’s better to go during summer. Most whale watching tours in Nova Scotia don’t start until June, so if this is high on your list, consider holding off until summer.
If you’re hoping to experience the warm weather without the crowds of summer, try going in should season, when the crowds have thinned out. Late April-early May is a great time for this, before school is let out for the summer, or in late September-Early October when school has started again.
Even in the warmer months, it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or another layer, especially if you’re near the water, as it can get a bit chilly. A notable reason for fall being a popular time to visit is the changing of the leaves. The autumn colors are pretty are pretty impressive, and is worth considering a fall visit.
Who Will Enjoy Traveling in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a great destination for various visitors. The most common types of visitor for the region is one who likes to be outdoors. As said above, there is plenty of outdoor activities, from hiking, to cycling, to spending time on the water.
Many people head to Cape Breton Highlands to get kick their active drive into gear. There are beaches and paths to explore the great outdoors. Follow the cabot trail through the winding roads to the top of the cliffs for jaw-dropping views. This track is especially popular for motorcyclists. When the winter season hits, hiking trails turn into great snowshoeing opportunities. Hit the slopes for skiing or sledding.
Those who like to explore shops, museums, and spend time indoors are also in for a treat. The best place to visit for this type of travel is to Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia.
The city is filled with museums, galleries, and historic sites. Learn about immigration at the Canadian Museum of Immigration, or spend some time at the new Discovery Centre off the Halifax waterfront. Pop through the various distilleries and breweries around the city.
Common Nova Scotia Tour Routes
Common tour routes include a visit to the three Canadian Maritimes provinces, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Nova Scotia. Options include driving through the provinces, or sometimes, taking a cruise through the maritimes.
Road trips usually stop in major cities such as Saint John, NB; Charlottetown, PEI; over to Nova Scotia towards Halifax. If you’re taking a cruise, the ports are a bit different, starting in Halifax, over towards Charlottetown, and sailing around New Brunswick through the Gulf of St. Lawrence towards Quebec.
Road trip routes through Nova Scotia alone are also a great way to see the region. A common route starts in Halifax, spending some time exploring the capital. The road trip heads west, stopping at Peggy’s cove and Lunenburg. Keep heading west towards Yarmouth, and explore the southwestern shores of the province, before heading north.
Make a stop in Digby, home to the famous digby scallops you can hand pick, before heading towards the coastal town of Annapolis Royal. Continue driving east towards Cape Breton Island to explore one of the most picturesque places in Canada! After a stop on the island, many visitors make their way back towards Halifax. If you’re short on time (less than a week), it’s better to break up this trip.
Either head west from Halifax and tackle Peggy’s cove, Yarmouth, and Digby, or break up the time between Halifax and Cape Breton Island. While the drive is beautiful, there is a fair amount of driving, and the whole trip shouldn’t be spent in the car driving between places!
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