Last Updated on April 22, 2025
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Nova Scotia Road trip is the best way to see this Canadian province and Lunenburg is one of the must stops. The historic port town, known for rich maritime history, stunning waterfront and colorful houses, is among the prettiest towns in Canada. It’s a popular day trip from Halifax, but there are many great things to do in Lunenburg, that you can easily spend a couple of days and stay busy.
Lunenburg is considered to be the best surviving planned colonial British town in North America. The beautifully preserved colonial architecture earned the Old Town a UNESCO World Heritage status. One of only 22 in all of Canada.
One of the things Lunenburg is known for is its architecture, that dates back to the 18th and 19th century. The houses are beautifully preserved and painted all kinds of colors. One of the distinct features is the so-called Lunenburg bump, where the 2nd floor extends over the entrance.
A lot of people come to Lunenburg for the day, but if you can, I recommend spending 2 full days in town. Like with most popular day trip destinations, you will be able to enjoy those quiet mornings and evenings, when the crowds thin out. And while technically you can visit Lunenburg year-round, best time to come is between May-October. Many of the things to do in Lunenburg are seasonal, and plenty of places shut down for the winter.
How to get to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
First things first, how do you get to Lunenburg. The town is located along the Southern Shore of Nova Scotia, about 100 km (62 miles) from Halifax, which is the Capital city. This is where the International Airport is located, so if you are flying in, Halifax will be your starting point. There are several car rentals at the airport, but if you plan on staying in Halifax for a couple of days first, it will be cheaper to rent one in the city.
If you are close, or relatively close to Bar Harbor Maine, you can get yourself and your own car to Nova Scotia by ferry. Which is exactly what we did. The highspeed CAT ferry takes 3.5-hours and arrives in Yarmouth, which is about a 2.5-hour drive to Lunenburg. It’s a seasonal service, from May to October, with one departure daily each way.
There is a local bus that connects Halifax and Lunenburg, but it’s only one bus a day each way. It’s operated by Maritime Bus and you can check the schedule here. So, if you are planning to stay in Lunenburg overnight, you can make that work, but if just want to do a Luneburg day trip, the bus is not an option. You really do need a car to get around and explore Nova Scotia.
Things to do in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Take a Walking Tour
Lunenburg is a small town best explored on foot, and there’s no better introduction to it than a Walking Tour. There are several walking tours to choose from, but one that I recommend is the Essential Luneburg Tour. It is 90 minutes long and gives you a great overview of the town, its history and architecture. You get to explore Lunenburg with a local, see all the top points of interests and discover some hidden gems.
This tour runs twice a day (10 am and 2 pm) between May and October. It starts at the Lunenburg Academy and continues down the hill through town.
Essential Lunenburg Tour is 25 CAD per person (adult), and you can book it here. There are also a few other tours they offer, that might interest you, like a Food Tour or a Haunted Tour.
King Street
Whether you take the Walking Tour, or explore the town on your own, one of the streets you can’t miss is King Street, which is nicknamed UNESCO Fresco. It’s not far from the waterfront and it’s lined with beautiful Victorian houses, each painted a different color.
The entire town is crazy picturesque, and if you love photography, you will love Lunenburg. King Street is definitely not to be missed.
Stroll around Waterfront
One of the things Lunenburg is known for is its picturesque waterfront. It’s filled with cool ships, bright colored buildings, restaurants, galleries and cafes. Many of the best things to do in Lunenburg are located right there. It’s at the waterfront where you will find the Fisheries Museum, Bluenose II and various boat excursions. Depending on when you visit, you might also run into some kind of a festival or event, and those are always fun.
Whether you visit just for the day or stay longer, spending some time at the waterfront should be on your Lunenburg itinerary.
Step aboard Bluenose II
Lunenburg is the birthplace of Bluenose, the iconic fishing and racing schooner. It’s the ship you see on the Canadian dime. While the original Bluenose sadly got wrecked and sank in Haiti in the 40s, years later the replica of it was built, and you can visit it while in Lunenburg.
While the ship does travel around the area, Lunenburg is its home port and where you have biggest chances of seeing it. So, if Bluenose II is in town while you’re there, be sure to step aboard and check it out. The decks are open in between cruises and it’s one of the fun and free things to do in Lunenburg.
Speaking of cruises, Bluenose II goes out twice a day for a 2-hour Harbor Cruise (morning and afternoon), but those sell out quick. I recommend checking the schedule before you arrive and if the ship is in port, book your cruise in advance. And if you are really passionate about boating and sailing, you could also be a deckhand for the day on the Bluenose II. This experience is offered several days during the season.
Take a boat tour
When in Lunenburg, you have to get out on the boat. Not only to spend some time on the water and enjoy the scenery, but also to get those postcard perfect views and photos of iconic red buildings and the town. There are several boat tours to choose from, from one hour harbor tours to fishing excursions and sailing tours.
We missed out on the Bluenose Harbor cruise and decided to book a sailing tour with Star Charters, which I can’t recommend enough. It was a great couple of hours aboard 48 feet wooden ketch, sailing across the Lunenburg Bay, enjoying the beautiful coastal landscapes. We even spotted some seals.
Cruising the harbor was definitely one of my favorite things to do in Lunenburg and it’s something not to be missed when you visit. If you’d like to do the sailing trip, they go out a couple of times during the day and then again for a sunset cruise. There is a ticket booth right on the Lunenburg Waterfront, where you can book your tour.
You might also notice whale watching tours being offered, but Lunenburg is not the best place to do that. Best Whale watching in Nova Scotia in season, which is the summer months, is in the Digby/Brier Island area.
Visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
When strolling around the waterfront, walk over to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, which is housed in one of the brightly painted red buildings. Fishing has been a huge part of life in Lunenburg and this museum does a great job of showcasing it through various exhibits, displays and demonstrations.
One of the cool things about the museum is, that they have volunteers and retired fishermen on site to share their stories and answer any questions you might have. There are also several historic fishing vessels, that are part of the museum, that you can walk on and explore.
Like a lot of Lunenburg attractions, the museum is open seasonally. You can visit it from May 17-October 25. It’s open every day 9.30 am-5 pm. The entrance fee for an adult is 14.50 CAD.
Stop at St. John’s Anglican Church
Built in 1754, the St. Jonh’s Anglican Church, is the second oldest Protestant church in Canada, as well as a Canadian National Historic Site. The original church was destroyed in a fire in 2001 but was later rebuilt to what you see today. If the doors are open, be sure to also go inside and check out the beautiful stained glass.
You will find St John’s Anglican church three blocks away, up the hill from Lunenburg’s waterfront.
Visit Lunenburg Academy
Not far from the St John’s Anglican church is Lunenburg Academy, another must visit spot in town. This beautiful three-story Victorian house sits up on a hilltop, known as Gallows Hill, a few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of the waterfront.
Built between 1893-1895, the Academy operated as a public school for more than a century, until it closed in 2012. The building is now owned by the town and is home to Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance. The historic school is one of very few wooden buildings in Canada that survived the 19th century and was designated a National Historic Site.
Besides checking out the beautiful exterior, you can also step inside and visit one of the classrooms (for free). Heritage Interpretive Classroom opened pretty recently and tells the history of the building through many displays, memorabilia and photographs from the years the Academy was a school. You can visit the classroom every day in high season, from late May-August, and some days in shoulder season.
Lunenburg Viewpoint
If you are looking for great panoramic views of Lunenburg, add this spot to your itinerary. Lunenburg Viewpoint (also marked on google maps Lunenburg Photo Spot) is where you get those iconic photos of the harbor and town from across the water.
Assuming you have a car, the viewpoint is just a short drive from the town’s center. To get there, start heading out of town towards the golf course and right before you reach it, you will see an area to pull over and park. You should be on Tannery Rd, and this is the exact location.
The views are beautiful, but it is a bit far away, so you will need a Zoom lens to get some nice closeups. For the reference, the photo below was shot without a Zoom, so you can get an idea how far it is. Great time to go is during Golden Hour and sunset.
Lightship brewery
Basically, next door is Lightship, one of two breweries in Lunenburg, a must stop for any craft beer lover. It’s a fun outdoor place, right by the water, with a great view of Lunenburg harbor. You basically get the same view as the one from the viewpoint, but here you can enjoy it along with a cold beer. They have a nice beer and cider selection, as well as small menu, if you want a bite to eat.
There are plenty of tables and chairs, and if you are looking for a spot to catch the sunset, this is a good one.
Since Lightship Brewery is near the Lunenburg Viewpoint, it makes sense to visit both back-to-back.
Ironworks Distillery
Ironworks is Nova Scotia’s first micro distiller, housed in a historic building, that used to be the old marine blacksmith shop. They have a great selection of spirits, which they proudly make from locally sourced ingredients. They make vodka, rum, gin, whiskey and several fruit liquors.
You can just walk in, sample a few things and pick a bottle to bring home. Tastings are free, but if you’d like to learn more about the process of making the spirits and the history of the building, they run a 45-minute tour, which I highly recommend. You can book it here.
If you do the Sights & Spirits Tour with Lunenburg Walking Tours, one of the stops is Ironworks Distillery.
Enjoy fresh seafood
As a seaside, you can expect a lot of great fresh seafood in Lunenburg. This small town has a lot of great restaurants, more than you’ll get a chance to try during a short visit. Some of the ones we tried and loved were Grand Banker Bar & Gril, The Old Fish Factory and Salt Shaker Deli.
Visit Mahone Bay
Mahone Bay is a small town just a quick 15-minute drive from Lunenburg. It’s best known for its three churches, that sit side by side right on the water. It’s one of the most famous images on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, and this is the spot, where you can get that view.
There are many cute stores and restaurants in Mahone Bay and it’s just a really nice town to walk around for a bit. If you get hungry Oh My Cod! is a great place to grab some lunch.
Visit Peggy’s Cove
Peggy’s Cove is home to the famous lighthouse and it’s one of the most popular places in Nova Scotia. Not just the lighthouse, but also the quaint fishing village are really picturesque and
Being just one hour away from Lunenburg, it’s easy to make that day trip, although you definitely don’t need a full day there. Peggy’s Cove is small, so even if you take your time enjoying the views, strolling through the village and even stop for lunch, half a day is plenty. You can easily combine it with a stop in Mahone Bay.
Peggy’s Cove is the most popular place in Nova Scotia, so to avoid the crowds and tourist buses, you need to go early.
Lunenburg Day trip
If you are looking to visit Lunenburg just for the day and don’t want to drive, there are several group tours from Halifax you can book. Most of them combine a couple of other places like Mahone Bay or Peggy’s Cove for a full fun day.
Where to stay in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Rum Runner Inn – great little hotel in a prime location, in the heart of town, a short walk to pretty much everything. Some of the rooms come with beautiful views of the ocean and waterfront.
Smugglers Cove Inn – one of the best places to stay in Lunenburg, right in the middle of town. With 17 rooms, it’s one of the biggest hotels in Lunenburg. If you stay there, you’ll be just a short walk away from the waterfront and close to many restaurants.
Brigantine Inn & Suites – a small Inn with 7 rooms, in the best location possible, on the waterfront and in the heart of town. Some of the rooms have great views of the waterfront and HMS Rose, where we stayed, is one of them. The room Brigantine Romance has a private jacuzzi overlooking the room. The Inn is right above the Grand Banker restaurant and that’s where you check in. If you arrive by car, parking is on the street, but we never had problems finding a spot. Especially once the day trippers leave.
READ MORE:
- 15 Fun Things to do in Halifax, Nova Scotia
- How to spend 2 days in Quebec City, Canada
- Top Things to do in Niagara Falls, Canada
- One day in Ottawa – Top Sites in Canada’s Capital
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