NOVA SCOTIA

ESSENTIAL INFO

POPULATION: 971,395 (2021 census)

CAPITAL: Halifax (403,131 metro)

AREA: 55,284 km² (21,345 sq mi)

COASTLINE: 13,300 km world's 2nd longest

ISLANDS: 3,800+ coastal islands

TIMEZONE: AST (UTC-4), ADT (UTC-3)

CURRENCY: CAD ($1 CAD ≈ $0.74 USD)

LANGUAGES: English 93.2%, French 3.2%

CALLING CODE: +1 (902/782/431)

ESTABLISHED: July 1, 1867 (Confederation)

MOTTO: Munit haec et altera vincit

FLOWER: Mayflower (trailing arbutus)

BIRD: Osprey

TREE: Red spruce

GDP: $44.9 billion CAD (2023)

SALES TAX: 15% HST combined

MIN WAGE: $15.00/hour (2024)

WEATHER & CLIMATE

SPRING (MAR-MAY): 5-18°C (41-64°F)

• Apple blossoms peak May • Mild rain 90mm/month

• Lupines bloom • Whale migration begins

SUMMER (JUN-AUG): 18-25°C (64-77°F)

• Peak tourist season • 16 hours daylight

• Festival season • Best whale watching

• Beach weather • Warmest ocean temps

FALL (SEP-NOV): 8-20°C (46-68°F)

• Peak foliage Oct 1-15 • Hurricane season

• Apple harvest • Fewer crowds • Lower prices

WINTER (DEC-FEB): -8-3°C (18-37°F)

• Snow 150-300cm annually • Northern lights

• Ice wine season • Skiing conditions

CLIMATE DATA:

• Annual rainfall: 1200-1500mm

• Ocean temps: 4°C winter, 18°C summer

• UV index: 8-9 peak summer

• Frost-free: 120-160 days

TOP 25 MUST-VISIT DESTINATIONS

01. PEGGY'S COVE • 43km from Halifax

Iconic 1915 lighthouse • Granite coastal landscape • 750,000 annual visitors

02. HALIFAX CITADEL • Downtown Halifax

Star-shaped fortress built 1856 • Noon gun firing daily • 78th Highland Regiment

03. BAY OF FUNDY • Minas Basin region

16.3m tides (53ft) • 100 billion tons water • Tidal bore rafting

04. CAPE BRETON ISLAND • 298km Cabot Trail

Highland National Park • Celtic music heritage • Bras d'Or Lakes

05. LUNENBURG • UNESCO World Heritage 1995

Colorful wooden architecture • Bluenose II home port • Fisheries Museum

06-10: Annapolis Valley • Kejimkujik NP • Fortress Louisbourg • Hopewell Rocks • Digby Scallops

11-15: Mahone Bay • Grand-Pré National Historic Site • Antigonish Highland Games • Sherbrooke Village • Canso

16-20: Chebucto Peninsula • Advocate Harbour • Parrsboro Fossil Cliffs • Spencer's Island • Five Islands

21-25: Meat Cove • Ingonish Beach • Brier Island Whales • Economy Falls • Blomidon Provincial Park

TRANSPORTATION GUIDE

HALIFAX AIRPORT (YHZ):

• 35km from downtown • 15+ airlines

• Rental cars: Budget, Enterprise, Hertz

• Airport shuttle $24 • Taxi $65 • Bus Route 320

FERRIES & MARINE:

• Bar Harbor-Yarmouth (seasonal May-Oct)

• Saint John-Digby year-round

• Halifax-Dartmouth foot ferry $2.75

• Brier Island ferry free

VIA RAIL:

• The Ocean: Montreal-Halifax (22 hours)

• 3x weekly departures • Sleeper cars available

DRIVING DISTANCES:

• Halifax to Sydney: 364km (4h)

• Halifax to Yarmouth: 302km (3.5h)

• Halifax to Moncton NB: 272km (2.5h)

ACCOMMODATIONS OVERVIEW

LUXURY HOTELS ($200-400/night):

• Halifax: The Westin, Delta Prince Edward

• Cape Breton: Keltic Lodge Resort & Spa

• Lunenburg: Lunenburg Arms Hotel

BOUTIQUE & HISTORIC ($120-250):

• Halifax: Halliburton House Inn

• Annapolis Royal: Queen Anne Inn 1865

• Digby: Admiral Digby Inn waterfront

B&BS & INNS ($80-180):

• 400+ properties province-wide

• Maritime hospitality • Local breakfast

• Peak season July-August bookings essential

CAMPING & RV ($25-65):

• 70+ provincial parks with camping

• Private campgrounds • KOA locations

• Backcountry camping in national parks

CUISINE & DINING SCENE

SIGNATURE DISHES:

• Lobster rolls $18-35 • Fish & chips $12-18

• Halifax donair $8-12 • Rappie pie traditional

• Digby scallops $24-38 • Malpeque oysters

CRAFT BEVERAGES:

• Tidal Bay wine appellation

• 21+ wineries Annapolis Valley

• Local distilleries: rum, vodka, whisky

FARMERS MARKETS:

• Wolfville: Saturdays May-October

FINE DINING:

• Halifax: Chives Bistro

FESTIVALS & EVENTS CALENDAR

SPRING (MAR-MAY):

• Apple Blossom Festival Annapolis Valley (May)

SUMMER (JUN-AUG):

• Halifax Jazz Festival (Jul) • Tall Ships (varies)

• Bluenose Marathon Halifax (Aug)

FALL (SEP-NOV):

• Devour Food Film Festival Wolfville (Oct)

• Celtic Colours International Festival (Oct)

WINTER (DEC-FEB):

• First Night Halifax New Year's

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

HIKING TRAILS:

• All skill levels

• Skyline Trail Cape Breton (8.2km)

• Coastal trails: Duncan's Cove, Crystal Crescent

WATER SPORTS:

• Kayaking: Bedford Basin, Bras d'Or Lakes

• Surfing: Lawrencetown Beach, Chesterman

• Sailing: Halifax Harbour, Chester Race Week

WILDLIFE WATCHING:

• Whales: 12 species (humpback, minke, pilot)

• Seals year-round

WINTER RECREATION:

• Skiing: Martock, Wentworth, Cape Smokey

• Snowshoeing all provincial parks

• Ice fishing inland lakes • Cross-country trails

CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS

MUSEUMS & HERITAGE:

• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (Halifax)

• Alexander Graham Bell Museum (Baddeck)

ART & GALLERIES:

• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

PERFORMING ARTS:

• Neptune Theatre Halifax • Live music venues

• Celtic music kitchen parties

HISTORIC SITES:

• Acadian heritage sites

HALIFAX METRO

HALIFAX: Capital city, 403,131 pop.

DARTMOUTH: Twin city across harbour

BEDFORD: Historic lakefront town

SACKVILLE: Suburban community

ATTRACTIONS: Citadel Hill, Waterfront, Public Gardens, Point Pleasant Park

DINING: 400+ restaurants, craft breweries

NIGHTLIFE: Bars, pubs, live music venues

TRANSPORT: Airport YHZ, bus system, ferries

SOUTH SHORE

LUNENBURG: UNESCO site, colorful buildings

MAHONE BAY: Three churches, antiques

CHESTER: Yacht racing, Big Tancook Island

PEGGY'S COVE: Famous lighthouse, granite

BRIDGEWATER: Largest town, DesBrisay Museum

LIVERPOOL: Privateer history, beaches

SHELBURNE: Loyalist landing site

ACTIVITIES: Coastal drives, sailing, fishing

BAY OF FUNDY

TIDAL RANGE: Up to 16.3m (53 feet)

TIDAL BORE: Reversing rapids phenomenon

DIGBY: Scallop capital, ferry to NB

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL: Historic capital

WOLFVILLE: Acadia University town

WINDSOR: Birthplace of hockey

PARRSBORO: Fossil hunting, dinosaurs

ACTIVITIES: Whale watching, kayaking, fossil hunting

CAPE BRETON ISLAND

SYDNEY: Steel city, urban center

LOUISBOURG: Fortress National Historic Site

BADDECK: Bell Museum, sailing

INGONISH: Highland Links golf, beaches

CABOT TRAIL: 298km scenic loop

CELTIC CULTURE: Music, language, festivals

HIGHLANDS: National park, hiking trails

GLACE BAY: Mining heritage, beaches

EASTERN SHORE

SHEET HARBOUR: Marine drive start

TANGIER: Coastal wilderness

MUSQUODOBOIT: Railway museum

SHERBROOKE: Living history village

CANSO: Easternmost point

COUNTRY HARBOUR: Scenic ferry

ACTIVITIES: Marine drive, hiking, beaches

WILDLIFE: Seals, eagles, whales

NORTHUMBERLAND

NEW GLASGOW: Industrial heritage

PICTOU: Birthplace of New Scotland

ANTIGONISH: Highland games, university

TRURO: Hub of Nova Scotia

AMHERST: Gateway to NS

PUGWASH: Peace conferences

ACTIVITIES: Warm water beaches, cycling

BEACHES: Warmest in Atlantic Canada

FOOD & DRINK

SEAFOOD: Lobster, scallops, mussels, oysters

SPECIALTIES: Donairs, fish & chips, rappie pie

CRAFT BEER: 60+ breweries province-wide

WINERIES: Tidal Bay wine appellation

FARMERS MARKETS: Halifax Seaport, Wolfville

FINE DINING: Award-winning restaurants

PUB CULTURE: Traditional Maritime taverns

FESTIVALS: Seafood, wine, harvest celebrations

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

HIKING: 100+ trails, coastal paths

CYCLING: Rails-to-trails, road cycling

KAYAKING: Protected bays, open ocean

SAILING: World-class harbors, regattas

FISHING: Deep sea, river, lake angling

WHALE WATCHING: 12 species visible

GOLF: 70+ courses, Highland Links

WINTER: Skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing

CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS

MUSIC: Celtic, folk, kitchen parties

FESTIVALS: Celtic Colours, Jazz East

ARTS: NSCAD University, galleries

THEATER: Neptune Theatre, live venues

MUSEUMS: 200+ heritage sites

CRAFTS: Pottery, weaving, woodworking

LITERATURE: Anne of Green Gables connection

PHOTOGRAPHY: Lighthouse Route scenic

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is Nova Scotia expensive to visit?
Budget travelers: $75-100/day | Mid-range: $125-200/day | Detailed cost breakdown

Q: How many days do you need in Nova Scotia?
Minimum 5 days, ideal 10-14 days to see major attractions | Sample itineraries

Q: What's the weather like?
Maritime climate, summers 18-25°C, winters -8-3°C | Monthly weather guide

Q: Best way to get around?
Car rental essential for flexibility | Transportation options

ACCOMMODATION FINDER

HALIFAX HOTELS:
Downtown luxury & boutique hotels
Budget hostels & B&Bs

COASTAL STAYS:
Lunenburg historic B&Bs
Peggy's Cove lighthouse views

CAPE BRETON LODGING:
Highland lodges on Cabot Trail
Baddeck lakefront resorts

UNIQUE STAYS:
Lighthouse accommodations
RV parks & camping

DINING & FOOD GUIDE

MUST-TRY FOODS:
Authentic lobster rolls
Halifax donairs (invented here!)
Digby scallops in season

BREWERY TOURS:
Halifax craft brewery trail
Annapolis Valley wine tours

FARMERS MARKETS:
Wolfville Farmers' Market