Top Things to do in Nova Scotia
Top Hotels in Nova Scotia
- 1. Maritime Inn Antigonish
- 2. Prince George Hotel
- 3. Comfort Hotel Bayer's Lake
- 4. The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites
- 5. Cambridge Suites - Halifax
- 6. The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax
- 7. Comfort Hotel Bayer's Lake
- 8. Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Halifax - Dartmouth
- 9. Chateau Bedford, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
- 10. Hampton Inn by Hilton Halifax Downtown
What to do and see in Nova Scotia, United States: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
From Yarmouth to Sydney, Nova Scotia is full of scenic landscapes, rich history, and interesting local culture. Sights and fun experiences abound in Nova Scotia, and there is a little bit of something for everyone. Soak up the beauty and serenity to be found in the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, or head to Cape Breton Highlands National Park for the stunning landscape and wildlife. Explore the history of the area at Louisbourg's Fortress Louisbourg, or hike the Skyline Trail in Ingonish.
Restaurants in Nova Scotia
1. The Crombie
2. Laurie Swim Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 66 reviews
Award-winning visual artist and author, who is nationally and internationally recognized; Laurie creates painterly works of art in fabric and thread portraying the landscapes and people of the South Shore. Visit the Laurie Swim Gallery in beautiful Old Town Lunenburg and see these beautiful works for yourself.
3. Halifax Central Library
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,108 reviews
Reviewed By RDHiscott - Lion's Head, Canada
This modern new building replaces the old Halifax Memorial Library on Spring Garden Road – it is a large building with open glass walls with great views of the city, along with a rooftop terrace with some spectacular paroramic vistas of the Halifax waterfront. Check out the modern art design of an entire wall devoted to cards from the library card catalogue of another era … some of us still remember doing library searches that way! Very impressive architecture, beautiful building!
4. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,164 reviews
Immerse yourself in the rich marine history depicted by this museum's vast collection from binnacles and buoys to anchors and armaments.
Reviewed By B1698RKmichaelh - Burke, United States
This museum has some of the most beautiful ship models, sailboats of unique designs from the Maritime region and artifacts of the wrecks so abundant on the shoreline of Nova Scotia. And to add to this is actual artifacts from the Titanic! Including an actual deck chair. Great displays and fund for the whole family
5. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,880 reviews
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is located in the national historic site at the Halifax seaport where nearly one million immigrants landed in Canada from 1928 to 1971. Today, as Canada’s sixth national museum, we share the ongoing story of immigration to Canada—past to present, and coast to coast. Our exhibits immerse visitors in the immigration experience and allow for a deeper understanding of how newcomers shape our country. Our staff and collections provide opportunities for visitors to discover the countless journeys to Canada and find their own family’s connection to the story. Countless Journeys. One Canada.
Reviewed By rayp775 - Ipswich, United Kingdom
Visited here on our first full day in Halifax and a short walk from our stay. Would certainly recommend the guided tour and our guide George, an immigrant who passed through Pier 21 added immensely to our enjoyment, being able to bring to life the process and hopes and fears of all those who journeyed to a new world. With many artefacts donated by families this offers a great insight into the development of both Halifax and wider Canada and its multi-cultural make-up today. Great visit.
6. Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,088 reviews
This museum chronicles the life and career of Alexander Graham Bell with its rich collection of artifacts and documents accumulated by Dr. Bell and his family during their time in Nova Scotia.
Reviewed By SueK167 - Laguna Woods, United States
Had no idea the many contributions made by Alexander Bell in addition to the telephone, ie aviation, hearing impaired, boating, conservation, etc, etc. Beautiful museum displaying this man's many talents with minimal education. Highly recommend when in Baddeck NS
7. Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 902 reviews
2020 Guided Tour Experience In order to keep our visitors and staff safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have adapted the museum experience we offer this season. We are offering a guided tour of the first floor. The small group sizes allow for easy physical distancing and the wearing of a non-medical face mask is strongly recommended while on site. This high value experience gives the opportunity to discover how our ocean connects to our maritime identity. Small groups sizes allow for the benefit of a 1 to 5 staff to visitor ratio, and our staff are wow makers! Our ocean is a pillar of Nova Scotia’s natural and cultural heritage. We identify with our ocean but what are we doing to protect it? This tour will touch on some ocean preservation initiatives plus more! To book your tour: Call 902-930- FISH (3474)
Reviewed By cliffl973
My wife and I visited in late September. We expected to breeze through in maybe half an hour. Actually spent a couple of hours, and it was educational and informative and very entertaining. They have the best collections of shipbuilding tools I've seen, and a wonderful old birchbark canoe—just two of the many highlights of our visit. And make sure to view the cod-cleaning video by Rosie Tanner (I bough a DVD copy at the well-stocked gift shop for a friend who fancies himself an expert fish cleaner). Lisa, the interpretive guide at the aquarium, was personable, enthusiastic, and a font of knowledge. My only suggestion for the acquarium might be that they provide a nook or crevice for the Wolf Fish to retire to when he's feeling shy. On our two-week driving tour of Western Nova Scotia, this was certainly one of the most enjoyable experiences.
8. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 408 reviews
Art museum focusing on provincial and Canadian artwork in various mediums.
Reviewed By BenLar137 - Calgary, Canada
There's so much here to like! We love how they used two of the historic buildings in downtown Halifax and joined them underground to make one larger gallery - possibly inspired by the Louvre. All the exhibits we saw on our visit in October were well thought out, and presented in a contemporary way. The highlight of our visit was the Maude Lewis exhibit, where they brought in the actual house she lived in, as well as an astounding collection of her work. What a tribute to an amazing artist! The other exhibits were interesting as well, especially a gigantic work by Ken Monkman. There's even a convenient, on-site restaurant. Having experienced how well they do what they do here, we would unreservedly recommend this for any visitor to the city with an hour to spare.
9. HMCS Sackville - Canada's Naval Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 380 reviews
HMCS Sackville, the last remaining Flower Class corvette in the world, symbolizes the extraordinary effort of Canadians seventy years ago during the Second World War. Restored to her wartime configuration she serves as a museum and memorial to those lost during the Battle of the Atlantic and to honour those who serve and continue to serve in the Naval Service of Canada. HMCS Sackville is currently undergoing a major refit and unfortunately will not be open to visitors until the summer of 2019.
Reviewed By bcdrader - Drayton Valley, Canada
This ship museum provides a wonderful opportunity to explore one of Canada's WWII Corvette class ships and its war-time importance. It operated by donations only.
10. St. Mary's Basilica
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 216 reviews
Reviewed By 476jael - Long Island, United States
During our “10-Day Canada and New England” cruise aboard Caribbean Princess ship, we visited St. Mary’s Basilica in Halifax, a National Historic Site of Canada. From outside the basilica, its Gothic façade and tall spire looked somewhat unusual, because they were all built with white granite. When we entered the basilica, we were pleasantly surprised by so elegant nave, which gave us such a warm feel, unlike typical Gothic cathedrals’s oppressive feel. Simplistic and, yet, very elegant nave had pristine decors with white columns and beautiful stained glass windows. In spite of high Gothic style vaulted ceiling and tall columns, we felt as if we were inside a warm Renaissance style nave. The pipe organ was also placed in an elegant way. We were so fortunate to witness a wedding ceremony for a lovely couple taking place during our visit. We quietly sat down in the back of the nave, and watched the ceremony in a beautiful setting for a while before quietly leaving the nave. We had such a memorable and pleasant time visiting this basilica. We highly recommend visiting this basilica during your visit to Halifax.
