Best of Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada Two-Week Travel Itinerary
Two weeks is an excellent length of time for visiting each of the four provinces and not feeling too rushed along the way. You could just spend the entire two weeks in the three Maritime provinces, or only explore the far reaches of Newfoundland and Labrador, but this itinerary has it all.
Nova Scotia
Day 1: Halifax
After arriving in Halifax, settle in at a historic downtown B&B such as the Halliburton. Spend the afternoon taking in sights such as the Old Town Clock on the way to Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and make dinner reservations at a waterfront restaurant.
Day 2: South Shore
100 km (62 mi)/1 hour
From Halifax, drive south through Peggy’s Cove (take the obligatory lighthouse photo) and Mahone Bay (browse the arts and crafts shops, eat lunch at Rebecca’s Restaurant) to Lunenburg. There’s plenty to see en route, but arrive in time for an afternoon walk through the UNESCO-protected core of downtown, which is filled with colorful buildings. For the views alone, the Salt Shaker Deli and Inn is my favorite Lunenburg lodging.
Day 3: Fundy Coast
250 km (155 mi)/6 hours, including ferry
From Lunenburg, drive across to Annapolis Royal to explore the historic town and visit Fort Anne. Stop in Digby for a meal of plump Digby scallops and board the afternoon ferry for Saint John, New Brunswick. Plan on an overnight at one of the lodgings in nearby Fundy National Park.
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New Brunswick
Day 4: Fundy National Park
160 km (99 mi)/2 hours
Mornings are a delight in Fundy National Park, so plan on exploring the Fundy Trail Parkway and taking a coastal drive. Be sure to stop at the lookout points and beaches along the way. At low tide, you can walk a short stretch across the exposed ocean floor at Long Beach. Turn in early to rest up for day of hiking in the national park.
Day 5: Fundy National Park
There’s a hike for everyone in Fundy National Park, which showcases a cross section of Fundy landscape from coastal cliffs to dense forests. Take a relaxing swim or paddle before tucking into a seafood dinner in nearby Alma.
Prince Edward Island
Day 6: Cavendish
260 km (160 mi)/3 hours
Leaving the Fundy Coast behind, drive to Prince Edward Island via the Confederation Bridge. Check in early to Charlottetown’s Shipwright Inn and spend the afternoon on a rural jaunt through Cavendish, strolling the red-sand beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park and stopping at Green Gables Heritage Place.
Back to Nova Scotia
Day 7: Cape Breton Island
240 km (150 mi)/3 hours, including ferry
Rise early to catch the ferry from Wood Islands to Caribou. Learn about the arrival of the early Scottish settlers at Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou, then drive through to Baddeck, on Cape Breton Island. Squeeze in a visit to Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. Most rooms at Baddeck’s Water’s Edge Inn have balconies with views of the sun setting over the lake.
Day 8: Cabot Trail
93 km (58 mi)/1 hour
Baddeck is the gateway to the famously scenic Cabot Trail, the first section of which you’ll be driving today, to Ingonish. Once arrived, you can choose between hiking coastal trails, relaxing on the beach at Ingonish, and golfing at Highlands Links.
Day 9: Cabot Trail
280 km (174 mi)/4 hours
Continue around the Cabot Trail in a counter-clockwise direction, cutting across the rugged interior of Cape Breton Highlands National Park to Chéticamp, with time to hike the Skyline Trail and go whale-watching at Pleasant Bay.
Day 10: Sydney to Halifax
400 km (250 mi)/4.5 hours
Head to Sydney and take a stroll along the waterfront, and then head out to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site for a deep dive into local history. It’s then an easy 4.5-hour drive back to Halifax, or you can catch the evening ferry to Argentia (reserve a cabin for extra comfort).
Adding On: Five Days in Newfoundland and Labrador
Day 11: St. John’s
140 km (87 mi)/2 hours
You’ll wake to your first views of Newfoundland as the ferry pulls into Argentia, the gateway to the Avalon Peninsula. There’s plenty to see on the way to the capital, including the archaeological dig at the Colony of Avalon. Once in St. John’s, head to The Rooms to learn about local history and Signal Hill National Historic Site for the views. Make reservations at Mallard Cottage for dinner. Still feeling energetic? The lively downtown bars of George Street come alive after dark.
Day 12: Across Newfoundland
700 km (435 mi)/7 hours
Head west from St. John’s, stopping at Trinity, a picturesque fishing village where little has changed in over a century, en route to Gros Morne National Park, where during the long days of summer you have time for a walk through the Tablelands and can still be at Lobster Cove Head in time to watch the sunset. Gros Morne Cabins are a centrally located base in Rocky Harbour.
Day 13: Gros Morne National Park
350 km (215 mi)/4 hours
Join a morning boat tour of Gros Morne’s Western Brook Pond and drive north along the Northern Peninsula. Make sure to stop at Port au Choix National Historic Site and the thrombolites of Flowers Cove en route to L’Anse aux Meadows. Dinner at the Norseman Restaurant is a must.
Day 14: Northern Peninsula
330 km (205 mi)/6 hours, including ferry
Learn about the remains of the Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, then drive to St. Barbe and put your feet up for a couple of hours on the ferry crossing to Labrador. Head north along the Labrador Straits to Mary’s Harbour. Park your vehicle and pack an overnight bag for the short boat trip to Battle Harbour, an “outport” (remote fishing village) that was abandoned in the 1960s, but where restoration efforts include lodging and a dining room.
Day 15: Labrador Straits
770 km (475 mi)/10 hours, including ferry
From Battle Harbour, return to the mainland and explore this remote stretch of coast. Red Bay National Historic Site should definitely be on your itinerary, as should the lighthouse at L’Anse Amour. Catch the ferry back to St. Barbe and continue south to Port aux Basques in time for the evening ferry back to Nova Scotia.
Back to Nova Scotia
Day 16: Eastern Shore
435 km (270 mi)/6 hours
Arriving in North Sydney around dawn on the overnight ferry, you have plenty of time to make an afternoon flight home from Halifax. If you’re not flying out until the following morning, take Marine Drive along the Eastern Shore and spend the night along this remote stretch of coast, where Sherbrooke Village is a historical highlight and where the beaches of Taylor Head Provincial Park are perfect for a walk.
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