11 Most Breathtaking Towns In The Maritimes
Washed by the Atlantic Ocean and shaped by centuries of shipbuilding, fishing, and seafaring, the Maritimes are Canada's easternmost provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. This region blends rugged coastlines and red sandstone cliffs with quiet, little harbors, weathered lighthouses, and towns that feel untouched by modernity. Today, the Maritimes remain a place where nature and history meet at the water's edge in truly visually beautiful ways. Here are the most breathtaking towns in the Maritimes.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
On the South Shore of Nova Scotia, about an hour from Halifax, Lunenburg rises steeply from the Atlantic Ocean with rows of candy-colored wooden homes. A mix of architectural styles, including Colonial, Gothic Revival, and Victorian, matches the bold colors. Together, they create a collage of stunning texture. It's one of the only two urban UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North America, and it earns that title with every slanted street and salt-stained wharf.
Down by the water, the Bluenose II, Canada's most famous schooner, bobs in the harbor like it never left the 1920s. Step aboard or catch it sailing past the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, where the region's fishing legacy comes vividly to life. The ship and the museum both sit on the edge of the breathtaking Lunenburg Harbour, which is framed by the green courses of Bluenose Golf Club on one point and Battery Point on the other, the latter home to walking trails, a rocky beach, and a historic lighthouse.
Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia
People from all over the world come to Peggy's Cove to take in its breathtaking beauty. It's a place where the Atlantic Ocean crashes against ancient granite and a working fishing village clings to the rock itself. About 40 minutes southwest of Halifax, Peggy's Cove is a small but unforgettable destination, its weathered shingled homes circling a narrow inlet filled with lobster boats. The Peggy's Point Lighthouse, built in 1915, stands guard over St. Margaret's Bay, drawing photographers to its wave-battered perch. Wander the surrounding Peggy's Cove Preservation Area, a 1,000-acre expanse of glacier-carved rock and delicate coastal flora, or follow the accessible viewing deck that overlooks the sea. A few restaurants, such as Sou'Wester Gift & Restaurant Company, are sprinkled amongst homes along the rocky cliffs, but they are sparse. Above anything else, this is a town where nature is the star attraction.
St. Andrews-By-The-Sea, New Brunswick
St. Andrews-By-The-Sea sits on a peninsula across the Western Channel from the American state of Maine. On the other side, the Passamaquoddy Bay surrounds Minister's Island, though at low tide the ocean pulls back to reveal a gravel bar that connects the picturesque tourist attraction with the mainland. The town of St. Andrews itself is engulfed by nature, and most of the star businesses have been tailored to it. This includes Island Quest Marine, which takes visitors into the Bay to spot minke and humpback whales surfacing beyond the wharf, and Kingsbrae Garden, a 27-acre public garden and living exhibition of horticultural artistry with themed sections, sculptures, fountains, and even roaming alpacas and peacocks. Then there's Algonquin Resort, which rises gracefully near Katy's Cove Beach, a historic and luxurious accommodation that is as breathtaking as the nature that surrounds it.
Sussex, New Brunswick
The Maritimes, which is one of the five regions of Canada, is known for its seaside beauty, but Sussex proves it's not limited to the coast. Nestled among rolling green hills and dairy farms, this inland New Brunswick town turns streets into open-air galleries, thanks to its murals, which have earned it the title of Atlantic Canada's Mural Capital. Kings County's iconic covered bridges, including Vaughan Creek Covered Bridge, wind through the surrounding countryside, framing farm fields and forests in wooden artistry. Seasonal events bring the landscape to life, including the Atlantic International Balloon Fiesta each September. The multi-day event sees dozens of vibrantly-colored hot-air balloons launch against the sky above Princess Louise Park, while the Kings Country Agricultural Fair in August fills the town with livestock, rides, and local flavors. Nature trails like the Sussex Bluff Trail and the Sussex Nature Trail give residents and tourists more intimate opportunities to get in touch with this breathtaking place.
North Rustico, Prince Edward Island
North Rustico on Prince Edward Island is a hotspot for those who want to experience a fishing village that feels alive with the Atlantic right at its doorstep. Locally known as "The Crick", the town's harbor is the heartbeat of daily life, where fishermen unload lobster and cod as the sun glints off brightly painted boats. The North Rustico Harbour Trail leads residents and visitors past The Blue Mussel Cafe (one of the town's star seafood restaurants), open May to October, and onto North Rustico Beach, a popular swimming spot in the summer months. Adventurers can kayak with Outside Expeditions, sail with Atlantic Sailing, or join a deep-sea fishing excursion with outfits like Bearded Skipper, all of which throw you into the magnificent beauty of this rugged region.
Grand Manan, New Brunswick
The island of Grand Manan sits in the Bay of Fundy. Here, every road seems to end in a cliff or a cover. The whole thing is cinematic and positively breathtaking. The first thing you'll spot after the ferry docks at North Head is the Swallowtail Lighthouse, perched dramatically on its own headland since 1860 and reached by a narrow footbridge over the waves. Below it, the harbor curls into coves where fishing boats stack with lobster traps. The pebbly Stanley Beach sits right there in Flagg Cove, but it's far from the only swimming spot on the island, which encompasses multiple small villages that make up greater Grand Manan.
The spectacular Hole-in-the-Wall rock formation is near the northern tip of the island and is accessed via boat or trail. Without a doubt, it is one of the island's most photographed features. From late spring through fall, the surrounding waters erupt with life: finbacks, humpbacks, and the elusive North Atlantic right whale can all be seen from the decks of local outfitters like Sea Watch Tours.
Ingonish, Nova Scotia
Where the mountains plunge straight into the Atlantic, Ingonish sits on the northeastern edge of Cape Breton Island and feels carved from the landscape itself. Cape Breton Highlands National Park borders nearly every inch of the town, wrapping it in forest, cliffs, and the raw pulse of the sea. Ingonish Beach is the park's natural showpiece, half saltwater, half freshwater, separated by a thin strip of sand where waves crash on one side and still water mirrors the sky on the other. From there, the Highlands Links Golf Course rolls through valleys along the sea, often called the world's most scenic courses for a reason that's easy to see in person.
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
The 6.5 km Baywalk Boardwalk hugs the harbor in Summerside, offering uninterrupted ocean views and a front-row seat to Atlantic sunsets, while passing the vibrant shops and eateries of Spinnaker's Landing, a recreated traditional fishing village. Summerside is just an hour away from Charlottetown and provides access to a ton of stunning scenery both within and just outside of the town's limits. At Green's Shore Beach, the town's sandy shoreline unfolds beside the boardwalk, a favorite spot for sunset swims and beach picnics. From there, the white-and-red Summerside Outer Range Front Lighthouse sits above the harbor, a working beacon that feels like a structure against the sky.
Shediac, New Brunswick
Shediac sits on New Brunswick's eastern shore, its harbor brimming with life. The Giant Lobster statue greets everyone who enters. It's a 90-tonne ode to the sea that's impossible to ignore. From there, everything in Shediac leads to water. Parlee Beach Provincial Park is the town's natural showpiece, with the warmest saltwater in Canada (in the summer), certified Blue Flag-clean and framed by golden sand. A short walk from the sand, Pointe-du-Chene Wharf strings together marinas and patios where sailboats slide past at dusk and photographers line the rail for sunset. Summer folds into festival season on Main Street during the Shediac Lobster Festival, when lobster feasts and harborfront energy make the place utterly breathtaking.
Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island
Victoria-by-the-Sea on Prince Edward Island's south shore is a historic fishing village alive with color and creativity. The Palmers Range Light doubles as the Victoria Seaport Museum, where the Keepers of the Light exhibit tells the story of the town's maritime past. On the waterfront, By the Sea Kayaking offers guided paddles or clam-digging tours through the protected waters, giving a hands-on view of coastal life. One of the most visually breathtaking features of Victoria-by-the-Sea is easily the red-tinted sand that separates the town from Victoria Harbor and the Westmoreland River. Just outside of town, you can blissfully get lost in the trails of the stunning Westmoreland River Nature Park.
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Wolfville sits in the heart of Nova Scotia's breathtakingly beautiful wine country; its Main Street is flanked by vineyards and green fields rising toward the Minas Basin's red cliffs at Cape Blomidon. The acclaimed Luckett Vineyards is just minutes from town and offers wine tastings, hillside views over vines, gardens, and food best enjoyed outdoors. Right off Main Street, however, are Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards and Raven Hill Vineyards. Waterfront Park, on Front Street, lets you watch the tide roll in and out of the Basin while picnic tables wait under trees. Then there's the nearby Reservoir Park, which provides trails circling two former ponds and a little beach.
In the Maritimes, the land meets the sea in striking ways: waves lap against rugged cliffs, tides sweep across wide bays, and forests edge quiet rivers. Salt air carries the scent of the ocean, and fields of green stretch into the distance. Every shoreline, every hill, and every waterway in tiny towns in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia offer a moment of clarity, a sense of space, and a beauty that can only be described as 'breathtaking'.
