Canada and Alaska Atlantic Provinces

The Atlantic Provinces

Discover Atlantic Canada: Wild Coasts, Warm Hearts & World-Class Adventures

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Canada's East Coast provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI & Newfoundland

Canada's four Atlantic provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador — form one of the world's most captivating travel regions. Here, towering icebergs drift past colorful fishing villages, whales surface alongside ferry routes, and centuries of Celtic, Acadian, and Indigenous heritage weave through every meal, melody, and conversation. Stretching from the world's highest tides to North America's most easterly point, Atlantic Canada rewards the curious traveler with landscapes and experiences that simply don't exist anywhere else on earth.

New Brunswick
Canada's Bilingual Heartland
New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, where French Acadian culture thrives alongside English heritage in a landscape shaped by the sea. The Bay of Fundy defines the province — home to the world's highest tides, which rise and fall up to 16 metres twice a day, sculpting the iconic flowerpot sea stacks at Hopewell Rocks and powering one of the planet's great natural spectacles. Beyond the tides, you'll find cosmopolitan Fredericton on the banks of the Saint John River, the whale-watching haven of St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, and the vibrant Acadian coast with its warm salt water, spirited festivals, and a joie de vivre unlike anything else in Canada.

Nova Scotia
The Ocean Playground
Named "New Scotland" by its early settlers, Nova Scotia is almost entirely surrounded by water and shaped in every way by the sea. The province boasts over 7,600 km of coastline, more than 150 lighthouses, and a deeply proud maritime identity. Drive the legendary Cabot Trail — 298 km of cliff-edge road winding through Cape Breton Highlands National Park with views over whale-inhabited waters — or stand beside Canada's most photographed lighthouse at Peggy's Cove. History lovers can step back to 1744 at the Fortress of Louisbourg, and food and wine enthusiasts will find a thriving scene with over 20 award-winning wineries producing Nova Scotia's signature Tidal Bay wine. Named one of Travel + Leisure's top destinations in 2025, the province continues to captivate visitors worldwide.

Prince Edward Island
The Garden of the Gulf
Canada's smallest province punches well above its weight in charm, culinary excellence, and natural beauty. PEI's signature landscape — red sandstone cliffs dropping to white-sand beaches, emerald farmland, and peaceful harbors — is the reason the island earned its nickname: the Garden of the Gulf. Charlottetown, the birthplace of Canadian Confederation, offers boutique dining, vibrant theater, and a walkable historic core, while the island's North Shore rewards visitors with pristine national park beaches and the farmstead that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved Anne of Green Gables novels. And then there's the food: PEI is the lobster, oyster, and potato capital of Canada, and the island's chefs have built a globally recognized culinary identity around what comes from its red soil and cold, clean waters.

Newfoundland & Labrador
The Rock — Canada's Wild East
Newfoundland and Labrador is the Canada that time forgot and adventure found. With 29,000 km of rugged Atlantic coastline, the province offers some of the most dramatic and untouched landscapes in North America. Every spring, thousands of icebergs — some the size of office buildings — calve from Greenland's glaciers and drift south along "Iceberg Alley" past the province's coast. Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lets you hike across exposed sections of the Earth's actual mantle at the Tablelands and glide through glacier-carved fjords on Western Brook Pond. History stretches back even further at L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the world’s only authenticated Norse settlement in North America — and to the colourful jellybean row houses and lively pub culture of St. John's, one of the oldest cities in North America.

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Discover Atlantic & Eastern Canada—scenic East Coast road trips, Maritime province tours, coastal vacations, and unforgettable whale watching in St Andrews. Plan your Canada East Coast adventure today!

  • New Brunswick - Walk the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks Twice a day, the Bay of Fundy's incomparable tides drain up to 160 billion tonnes of seawater from the bay, exposing the ocean floor around the famous flowerpot rock formations at Hopewell Cape. Walk among these 15-metre sea stacks at low tide, then watch them disappear beneath the waves just hours later — or kayak right over them at high tide. It's one of the most surreal natural experiences in Canada.
  • New Brunswick - Whale watching in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea -The cold, nutrient-rich waters at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy attract humpback, finback, minke, and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. St. Andrews-by-the-Sea is the region's premier whale-watching hub, with boat tours offering close encounters throughout summer. The charming town itself — with its historic inns, galleries, and a working marine research station — deserves at least a full day of exploration.
  • New Brunswick Festival Acadien & the Acadian Coast - Acadians — descendants of the first French settlers in North America — make up one-third of New Brunswick's population and celebrate their culture with extraordinary passion. Every August 15, National Acadian Day ignites communities across the province with the Tintamarre, a parade of joyful noise where everyone becomes a musician. The warm-water Acadian Coast beaches around Shediac are also the warmest saltwater swimming in all of Canada.
  • Nova Scotia - Drive the legendary Cabot Trail - Ranked among the world's most scenic drives, the 298-km Cabot Trail loops around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, climbing to the plateaus of Cape Breton Highlands National Park before descending to postcard-perfect fishing villages along the Atlantic. Stop to hike the Skyline Trail for panoramic views at sunset, watch for whales and bald eagles from clifftop lookouts, and end the day with Celtic music in a Baddeck pub.
  • Nova Scotia - Fortress of Louisbourg: a living museum - Step through the gates of the largest historical reconstruction in North America and find yourself in 1744 French colonial Cape Breton. Costumed interpreters — soldiers, bakers, merchants, and fisherwomen — bring this once-mighty Atlantic fortress back to life. Watch cannon demonstrations, taste period-authentic food, and wander fog-shrouded cobblestone streets where the entire town feels like a portal to another century.
  • PEI - The finest seafood in Canada - PEI's cold, clean waters and fertile mudflats produce lobster, oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams of extraordinary quality. The annual PEI Shellfish Festival in Charlottetown is a bucket-list culinary event, while year-round the island's chefs and fishers put world-class shellfish on every table. A traditional Island lobster supper — piled high at a community hall — is one of the most authentic Maritime experiences you'll ever have.

Know Before You Go

Atlantic Canada rewards those who take their time. The four provinces are best explored over 10 to 21 days — either as a Maritime loop through New Brunswick, PEI, and Nova Scotia, or as a deeper dive that adds Newfoundland and Labrador. Here's everything you need to know before you go.

Best time to visit
The prime season runs from late May through mid-October. June is ideal for iceberg viewing in Newfoundland (bergs are at their peak) and puffin season. July and August offer the warmest weather and the full festival calendar. September is a sweet spot — summer crowds thin, the air is crisp, fall foliage begins in the highlands, and lobster season is in full swing. The Maritimes (NB, NS, PEI) can be visited comfortably from May to October; Newfoundland is best June through September.

How long do you need?
Allow at least 7 to 10 days for the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI). Add 5 to 7 days minimum for Newfoundland alone — the province is large and distances between highlights are substantial. A grand Atlantic Canada loop covering all four provinces comfortably takes 18 to 21 days. Anderson Vacations offers both multi-province tours and province-specific itineraries for every schedule and budget.

Getting there & getting around
Halifax (YHZ) is the main gateway to the Maritimes, with direct flights from major Canadian and US cities. St. John's (YYT) is the entry point for Newfoundland. A rental car is strongly recommended — most of the region's greatest experiences lie well beyond city limits and public transit is limited outside Halifax and Charlottetown. PEI is accessed via the 13-km Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick, or by ferry from Nova Scotia. Newfoundland requires either a short flight or a ferry crossing from North Sydney, Nova Scotia (6 to 7 hours to Port aux Basques; 16 hours to Argentia).

Time zones
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island operate on Atlantic Time (AT), one hour ahead of Eastern Time. Newfoundland and Labrador uses its own Newfoundland Time (NT) — 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic Time and 90 minutes ahead of Eastern. This unique half-hour zone is one of only a handful in the world, and a charming reminder that Newfoundland has always done things its own way.

What to eat
Eating in Atlantic Canada is one of the great pleasures of the trip. In the Maritimes, lobster is king — a traditional lobster supper in PEI or a pier-side lobster roll in Nova Scotia is non-negotiable. New Brunswick's Acadian Coast produces some of the world's best oysters and sea scallops. In Newfoundland, try toutons (pan-fried bread dough served with molasses), seal flipper pie, and fresh cod — and don't leave without tasting screech rum and getting officially "screeched in." Nova Scotia's wine country in the Annapolis Valley produces outstanding white wines, including the signature Tidal Bay appellation.

What to pack
Atlantic Canada's weather is famously variable — even in July. Always pack a waterproof jacket and a warm mid-layer (fleece or light down). Good waterproof walking shoes are essential for trails, tidal walks at Hopewell Rocks, and coastal paths. Binoculars are invaluable for whale watching, puffin spotting, and iceberg viewing. Sunscreen and insect repellent are recommended for summer hiking. For Newfoundland specifically, dress in layers — temperatures can change dramatically throughout a single day on the coast.

Don't-miss experiences by province
New Brunswick: Walk the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks; whale watch from St. Andrews. Nova Scotia: Drive the Cabot Trail; explore Halifax's waterfront; visit Peggy's Cove at dawn. PEI: Visit Green Gables Heritage Place; eat a lobster supper; cycle the Confederation Trail. Newfoundland: See the icebergs from Twillingate; hike Gros Morne; get screeched in on George Street in St. John's.

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Where the Ocean Tells the Story

Atlantic’s Canada Popular Destinations

Your complete guide to exploring New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island & Newfoundland

Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia)
Old Town Lunenburg (Nova Scotia)
Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland & Labrador)
Fredericton (New Brunswick)
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site (Newfoundland & Labrador)
Anne of Green Gables (Prince Edward Island)
West Point Lighthouse (Prince Edward Island)
The Bay of Fundy (New Brunswick)

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