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Nova Scotia 1 week itinerary

In this post, I’ll cover a number of details on how to enjoy a beautiful trip to Canada’s Maritime jewel: Nova Scotia. This post will cover transportation, lodging, logistics and recommendations on how to spend a week in this beautiful Province.

Rocky coastline with grassy and mossy terrain in the foreground, and calm blue ocean under a partly cloudy sky.
Gooseberry Cove, Nova Scotia.

How to get to & around Nova Scotia

Most people fly into Halifax International Airport. Alternatively, you can drive up from Maine through the connected mainland or take a ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine to Yarmouth.

In terms of getting around once you’ve made it, unless you’re planning to only stay in Halifax it is recommended that you rent a car in order to travel around the Province.

Coastal landscape with a road, grassy cliffs, rocky shoreline, and a few houses under a clear blue sky.
Near Margaree Valley in Cape Breton National Park.

Where to stay

I really enjoyed the Prince George Hotel in Halifax, the Margaree Valley area near Cape Breton National Park, and the Fairmont House BnB in Mahone Bay.

Aerial view of a winding road cutting through dense green forested hills under a cloudy sky.
Cabot Trail in Cape Breton National Park, Nova Scotia.

When to visit

The high season is April-October, with the most visitors coming in the months of July and August when the weather is the most reliable (i.e. least rain) and warm. Many of the attractions and restaurants mentioned below may not be open outside of this tourist season. Keep this in mind when booking your trip! I visited in June which was the early season and a perfect time to go as children were still in school in Canada and the USA so places were less crowded, and the weather was still pretty mild.

A waterfront cityscape featuring modern buildings, a crowd near tents, and boats docked along the pier under a cloudy sky.
The Halifax waterfront.

Itinerary

Days 1-2

Start your journey in beautiful Halifax, which is Nova Scotia’s capitol. It’s a pretty small city so you can explore it decently with just a few days.

A historic white clock tower with blue clock faces stands on a grassy hill under a cloudy sky, with modern buildings in the background.
A black and white arch labeled The Last Steps stands on a wooden dock by the water, with a ramp and life preservers beneath it.
A view up a sloped street lined with parked cars, leading to a historic white and green building with a clock tower.
View from a grassy hilltop overlooking a stone wall, modern buildings, a road, and a distant waterfront under a cloudy sky.

Highlights include:

  • Walking along the waterfront harbour – there are tons of shops and it’s fun to watch the boats!
  • Walking along Argyle Street (at night) – there is a lively drinking culture and bar scene that might surprise you.
  • Town Clock on Citadel Hill – makes for great photos
  • Touring the Fort Citadel – great views of the whole city and harbour with lots of Canadian history.
  • Visiting the Titanic graves at Fairview Lawn Cemetery. Here you’ll find the unmarked graves of many of those who perished on the Titanic, who’s bodies were brought and buried in Halifax as it was one of the closest cities to the incident. Many of the survivors never returned to Europe and made Halifax their home. You can read more about the Halifax Titanic connection here.

Food and Drink:

A cinnamon roll with frosting and a cup of latte on a wooden table, with a fork and napkin beside them.
A woman in a red jacket holds a dessert with cotton candy and green topping inside a bright, modern cafe.

  • Bird’s Nest café – delicious baked goods in a delightful atmosphere
  • The Fog Company – amazing desserts with a clever artistic twist
  • Kanpai Izakaya – amazing Japanese with a cozy vibe
  • Passage to India – an unassuming restaurant in the basement of the mall with incredible chaat and authentic Indian delicacies

Days 3-5

A winding road curves along a lush green mountainside overlooking the ocean under a cloudy sky.
Views of the Cabot Trail.

Drive north towards Cape Breton Highlands National Park, which is really the crown jewel of a Nova Scotia itinerary. along the way consider stopping off at Taylor’s Head Beach for beach combing or swimming, depending on the weather. If you’re looking for food on the drive, don’t miss the Red Shoe Pub which offers nightly performances of local Celtic music.

Exterior view of the Red Shoe Pub, a white building with red trim, sign, and green bushes in front.
A white lighthouse with a red top stands on a grassy, rocky hill under a cloudy sky near the water.

Once you are near the National Park, the main attraction is to drive the Cabot Trail. Here are a few great places to stop along the drive (driving counter clockwise from Margaree Valley):

  • Louisburg Lighthouse – the original was the first lighthouse ever built in Canada, and it sits in one of the most eastern parts of the country.
  • Bras d’Or lake – a UNESCO heritage site, also known as an Inland Sea.
  • Hike in Gooseberry Cove Provincial Park – beautiful beaches, tidepools and coastal exploration.
  • Hike the Skyline Trail – gorgeous views of the coast.
  • Visit Cheticap, a traditional Acadian fishing town.
  • Hike the Gypsum Mine Trail – a beautiful blue lake nestled in a forest, in the shape of a heart.
A calm body of water bordered by green hills and trees, with a cluster of buildings visible on the right under a partly cloudy sky.
A circular lake surrounded by dense green forest and hills under a cloudy sky.

Days 6-8

Drive south towards Lunenberg. Consider a day and a night on the Bay of Fundy. In the Bay, you can admire the incredible tide differentials and explore for fossils at Joggins Fossil Cliffs.

If headed straight for the Lunenberg area, enjoy some of the quiet of the towns of Lunenberg and Mahone Bay. These are both cute towns, a little sleepy but that’s the point – you’re there to take in the quiet, enjoy the coast, and eat some good food.

The main attractions in this area are the colorful homes in Lunenberg, and the beautiful hike out to Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse.

A white lighthouse stands on rocky cliffs by the ocean under an overcast sky, with people walking nearby.
A coastal village with several houses, a red boathouse on the water, rocky shoreline, and cloudy sky.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a black jacket holds a large rock while standing on a rocky beach under a clear blue sky.
Aerial view of a coastline near Vancouver, with red cliffs, pebble beach, and blue water—perfect for your Vancouver travel itinerary.

Days 9+

Consider tacking on a trip to Prince Edward Island (read my 3 day itinerary here) or south to Maine and Bar Harbor, including Acadia National Park.

Eroded red sandstone cliffs and rocky shoreline beside grassy land, overlooking a calm blue sea under a clear sky.
Beaches of Prince Edward Island.

I hope this helps you plan a great trip to the beautiful Maritimes – a quiet but special place with tons of Canadian history, natural beauty and cultural curiosities.

Rebecca runs The Adventure Beckons, a travel and outdoor adventure blog based in Vancouver, British Columbia. As an experienced traveler to over 40 countries and counting, she provides her readers with practical travel itineraries from day trips to multi-week adventures. She strives to balance nature and hiking with the must-see tourist highlights that are genuinely worth your time and money.

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