Reasons to visit Nova Scotia in 2025

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Still wondering if you should plan a Nova Scotia trip? We’ve compiled just some of the MANY reasons you need to plan your visit.

And this is just scratching the surface.

Canada’s Ocean Playground

With more than 13,300 kilometers of coastline, it’s no surprise Nova Scotia has an abundance of unique experiences so you’ll enjoy more time on the coast in 2024. From beaches where you can relax with a good book to several opportunities for exciting water activities like surfing and boat tours, as well as many oceanfront cottages and resorts, there is so much to do along Nova Scotia’s coast.

World famous lobster (and seafood)

Nova Scotia lobster is world-famous. From lobster festivals to lobster boils on the beach and lobster boat tours, we love to celebrate this legendary crustacean. Add in the delicious lobster dishes found in restaurants across the province and a Lobster Trail that highlights several of these stops and you’ll soon find there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy lobster in Nova Scotia.

Along with a diversity of shellfish and seafood offerings fished straight from our ocean to your plate – your seafood cravings will be satisfied in Nova Scotia.

Extraordinary Events

Whether you’re interested in music, athletic events, culture, or conventions there’s an event for you in Nova Scotia.

Check out annual events like the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, the Halifax International Busker Festival, the Antigonish Highland Games, Festival Acadien de Clare, Celtic Colours International Festival and more!

Outdoor Adventure

Unsurpassed beauty, natural wonders and plenty of adventure can be found across Nova Scotia at provincial and national parks.

Whether you’re interested in hiking dramatic cliffs at Cape Breton Highlands National Park, cycling past rugged coastlines or surfing waves on the Eastern Shore, a kayaking excursion and low-key camping trip at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, a thrilling rafting trip on the Shubenacadie River, world-class golf, or taking in endless breathtaking views from a gondola at the top of Cape Smokey, it’s easy to find adventure in Nova Scotia.

Biking at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Immersive Culture & Heritage

The stories of our vibrant culture and heritage weave through communities across Nova Scotia. Take part in guided tours and Mi’kmaw experiences at Eskasoni Cultural Jouneys, Membertou Heritage Park, Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre, Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site to learn more about the Mi’kmaw people.

Explore the Grand-Pré National Historic Site and Le Village historique acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse to immerse yourself in the heritage of the Acadians.

Visit the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre and Trail, Africville Museum, and Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia discover the stories of the province’s African Nova Scotians.

Discover North America’s only living history museum for Gaelic language and culture at the Highland Village Museum | Baile nan Gàidheal in Iona to experience Gaelic culture as it was hundreds of years ago.

Witness the living wharves that tell the stories of Nova Scotia’s fishing industry and attend performances at various theatres across the province, as Nova Scotia invites you to explore its abundant and vibrant cultural heritage.

Picturesque Lighthouses

Given our thousands of kilometers of coastline, it’s no surprise Nova Scotia has the largest number of lighthouses of any province in Canada. With more than 150 dotting our shores, these lighthouses are an important symbol of the past. For centuries, these lighthouses greeted those who arrived on our shores and helped protect the people who make their living on the water.

Today, some lighthouses, like Cape Forchu are open to the public, and offer an opportunity to take a guided tour into the lighthouse tower, while others, like Peggy’s Cove, can be observed from short trails and accessible viewing decks outside .

The World’s Highest Tides

The Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides and along with it, a plethora of related activities. From whale watching, where you can learn about 12 different species of whales, to Dining on the Ocean Floor, where you’ll savour the best of Nova Scotia food and drink right on the ocean bed.

If you’re interested in an activity to get your heart racing, Tidal Bore Rafting on the roller coaster waves of the Shubenacadie River might be for you. Or, if you want to learn about the bay itself, the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark has lots of opportunities to find out more about how the bay has shaped the remarkable landscapes. You can even view some of the oldest dinosaur fossils in Canada!

The Nova Scotia Good Cheer Trail

In Nova Scotia, we’re lucky to have an abundance of wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and meaderies that are an integral part of communities across our province. The Good Cheer Trail is Canada’s only trail celebrating all five of these craft beverages and the perfect opportunity to tap into this industry. Collect stamps by learning about Nova Scotia’s signature appellation wine Tidal Bay, enjoying a craft beer tasting, sampling a cider, taking a distillery tour, or trying mead. Several producers have also expanded their offerings to now include craft non-alcoholic beverages.

Variety of Accommodations

Whether you’re looking for a lavish resort, a historic inn, a cozy cottage or glamping under the stars, Nova Scotia offers an array of overnight options for your perfect vacation.

High end resorts like Trout Point Lodge and Fox Harb’r offer guests an elegant stay, while travellers interested in a piece of Nova Scotia’s history might be drawn to a provincial heritage property like the Clockmaker’s Inn. If snuggling up in a cozy cottage is what you envision, you’ll find options nestled in wilderness and shorelines across Nova Scotia.

If you’re after something a little more unique, consider a dome, yurt, oTENTik, tiny home or lighthouse accommodation for your Nova Scotia vacation.

Community Connections

Nova Scotia has many vibrant communities featuring unique accommodations, museums, galleries, trails, and locally inspired dining, from one end of the province to the other. Take time during your visit to explore shops, chat with locals and discover the unique personality,
architecture, stories, and geography of these special places.