The Canadian Province of Nova Scotia is a beautiful and fun destination to explore, especially the area of Peggy’s Cove. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend six days in Peggy’s Cove with my boyfriend, parents and sister and we all fell in love with the area!

There is a special and unique charm to Peggy’s Cove and the surrounding areas. Quaint fishing villages along Nova Scotia’s amazing coastline. Nice locals and tourists, the long, slow, relaxing days. The amazing views in almost every direction, the most clean and cared for destination I’ve ever traveled to. The calm coves perfect for paddling in and the delicious food.

My experience in Peggy’s Cove was a 10/10, I cannot recommend it enough! In this guide, I am going to share with you my full list of recommendations! Accommodations, restaurants, cafes, villages to explore and everything you want to know before you visit!

Where is Peggy’s Cove located?

A quaint fishing village, Peggy’s Cove is located along Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Peggy’s Cove sits on the Eastern part of St. Margarets Bay, about a one hour drive from Halifax, the closest major city.

Is Peggy’s Cove worth visiting?

Yes yes yes!! If you are interested in visiting a relaxing and picturesque part of Canada along the ocean, you will love it. There is a lot to see and do as well as in the surrounding areas nearby which I will talk about later!

It’s so worth venturing out to this special part of Nova Scotia, you will fall in love with the charming fishing villages!

When is the best time to visit Peggy’s Cove?

May through September is the best time to visit to fully enjoy everything Peggy’s Cove has to offer. The Summer months allow you to be outside all day long in comfortable weather! Weekdays will be less crowded, but if you find yourself visiting on a weekend, just start your day early to beat the crowds.

Spring and Fall are nice times of the year to explore Peggy’s Cove if you want to avoid Summer crowds. Wether can still be enjoyable to walk around but the ocean will be chilly!

Winter is beautiful in Peggy’s Cove, it is very quiet. Not even nearly half of the restaurants and shops stay open for winter. So if you are looking for a quiet place to go relax in the winter, this is perfect! They do get a little bit of snow but more rain being right on the coast.

Your Full Guide to Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

How to get to Peggy’s Cove?

Depending on where you are coming from, you have a few options. I traveled to Peggy’s Cove from Seacoast New Hampshire. For us, it made the most sense to drive all the way there (about 10 hours). The drive is quiet and enjoyable, we never ran into any traffic and the boarder crossing was fast and smooth. We crossed in up in Calais, Maine. If you do decide to make it a road trip, stop and check out Hopewell Rocks in the Bay of Fundy. Here is my full blog post- Road Trip to The Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, CA.

Another option you have is to take The CAT Ferry! The route is from Bar Harbor, Maine to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This means you will still have some driving to do once you arrive on Nova Scotia to get to Peggy’s Cove but a good amount of the drive is cut out by taking The CAT.

Halifax has an airport (Halifax Intl Airport) which is only an hour away from Peggy’s Cove. If you are coming from afar fly into Halifax! This airport is in a great location to easily access Peggy’s Cove.

What is so special about Peggy’s Cove?

Peggy’s Cove is a coastal gem. One of the most picturesque destinations I’ve ever visited. Peggy’s Cove has a charm to it like nowhere else. The way the colorful houses are perched on the cliffs along the ocean with the large slabs of granite and tall pine trees make for a uniquely beautiful surrounding. The locals are friendly and welcoming and there is lots to explore. Photographers and artists have flocked here for years and once you arrive you will see why!

The best places to stay near Peggy’s Cove

Peggy’s Cove doesn’t have a very touristy vibe to it which means not many big hotels and resorts. The places they do have are clean and well taken care of.

My top picks for accommodations near Peggy’s Cove

Indian Harbour Cliffhanger Airbnb This is where my family and I stayed for our trip to Peggy’s Cove. Located just five minutes down the road from Peggy’s Cove is where you can find the Cliffhanger House in Indian Harbour. I cannot say enough positive things about this Airbnb. The privacy, view, beach, design, space, kitchen, comfy beds, sunset views, sea glass beach, perfect cove for paddling and more. We all fell in love with this house and I know you will too! There were five of us and we had plenty of room here. If you are traveling with a group, rent this house!! Everything about it is amazing, the host responds quickly, you will never want to leave the property…it’s that special. If you have further questions about this Airbnb please ask, I could talk about it all day.

VRBO VRBO is great option, especially if you are traveling with your family or a larger group. The houses VRBO offers in the Peggy’s Cove area are amazing. Try and book your rental as early as possible that way you have your choice of all the options the area offers!

Oceanstone Seaside Resort This resort is absolutely beautiful. We spent some time here at their restaurant Rhubarb. The way the property is setup is well thought out. Everything looks newly renovated. You have great views with stunning accommodations. If you are looking for a resort-style stay when visiting Peggy’s Cove, this is where you want to be! The Oceanstone is located just outside of Peggy’s Cove, less than five minutes away.

King Neptune Campground A campground located right on the coast with the most beautiful views. We drove past this campground often and made comments each time how amazing their views are. Book early to secure your spot! If you plan on camping for your trip to Nova Scotia, this is where you want to be!!

Clifty Cove Motel Great location with the most amazing views! If you are looking for a simple and clean option for your stay this is the place for you. A fairly small motel with only a handful of rooms (book ahead!) that overlooks the ocean. The Clifty Cove is in the perfect location just minutes outside of Peggy’s Cove!

Top things to do in Peggy’s Cove (and nearby)

Peggy’s Point Lighthouse

A must do activity!! Peggy’s Point Lighthouse is amazing. This is probably Peggy’s Cove #1 tourist attraction, and some say the most photographed Lighthouse in all of Canada! The Lighthouse is surrounded with soft, smooth rocks that give the Lighthouse a more unique look than many others. The rocks go a good distance around the Lighthouse out to the ocean, leaving plenty of room for visitors to walk around and get the best views! 

I recommend going to see the Lighthouse earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon to beat the crowds! 

This is a free activity with parking nearby.

Walk around the Village of Peggy’s Cove

On a nice day, set aside a couple hours and walk around the Village of Peggy’s Cove. Don’t forget your camera!! This is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever been.

You will find a free parking lot right next to the Village. The Village is kept pristine, it’s really enjoyable to explore. Shops, restaurants, coastal views, art galleries and more.

Paddle board, kayak & swim

Boat cruise

Take a boat tour out of Peggy’s Cove! There is something for everyone: Lighthouse sightseeing, sunset cruise, bird watching tour, puffin and marine wildlife tours and more! Peggy’s Cove Boat Tours will pick you up and drop you off right in the Village.

Swissair Flight 111 Memorial

Stop by the The Swissair Flight 111 Memorial. On September 8, 1998 a Swissair plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and all 229 people on board didn’t make it. The crash site was only five miles from the shore of Peggy’s Cove. 

A short walking trail leads you down to the memorial site.

Longboard

Bring your skateboard/longboard with you to Canada!! The roads all around Peggy’s Cove are PERFECT for it. Long, smooth, and quiet. 

We went out around 8-9am and only ever saw a few cars. We spent most of our time riding on Prospect Road (near the Polly’s Cove Trail). There is a small parking lot where some people camp. Park your car there and then walk over to the road with your board and enjoy!!

Day trip to Lunenburg

Day trip to Blue Rocks

While visiting Lunenburg, be sure to head over to the small town of Blue Rocks before heading back to Peggy’s Cove. 

Blue Rocks is less than a 10 minute drive from Lunenburg and is the most charming and beautiful, tiny coastal town. 

The community at Blue Rocks keeps their town looking pristine (like the rest of Nova Scotia does). The feel of Blue Rocks is like you went back in time and nothing has changed at all. 

If you like photography, you are going to want to bring your cameras with you here!! Give yourself about an hour to drive through the small town, take photos, see all the views, and stop at the local galleries and hidden gems!

Day trip to Halifax

The drive from Peggy’s Cove to Halifax is only 45 minutes! Spend a day exploring the major city nearby! Restaurants, shops, bars, coastal views, boat trips, and more. If you like cities, be sure to give yourself a day to explore this one.

Search for sea glass

Nova Scotia has sea glass to be found!! Lots of it. The sea glass here is soft, smooth and big. I love searching for sea glass and left this trip with more than I have found anywhere else before. Each day we would go down to our beach in Indian Harbour (5 minutes away from Peggy’s Cove) and found the tide would bring more and more in everyday! 

The beach where we found all our sea glass is private to the Airbnb guest and one other home so I cannot recommend that one unless you want to rent the house! Which I linked above. But I noticed that pretty much any sandy beach has sea glass… explore as many as you can!

Micou’s Island

A small island that is accessible by a sand bar. When you arrive at Micou’s Island park along the street and plan to visit around low tide.

A local recommended Micou’s Island to us, we had a lot of fun exploring it. We saw a handful of locals relaxing on the sand enjoying the calm ocean. A great place for a beach day. 

There is also a short walking trail once you get onto the island. A fun and lesser known area to explore that’s about 25 minutes from Peggy’s Cove.

Hikes near Peggy’s Cove

H.R.M. CROW’S NEST Antiques

One of the coolest antique stores I’ve ever been to! The owner has done an amazing job with this store. His collection is amazing…there is so much to look at. If you liked antiquing, be sure to stop at this store while visiting Peggy’s Cove! Located just a few minutes from Peggy’s Cove.

Watch the sunset

The sunsets here are stunning. The colors the sky makes with the sun going down over the ocean are amazing. Check for a clear night and make sure to catch at least one sunset during your time here! 

Once we saw how amazing the sunsets are on our first night, my family and I were sure to be by the ocean the rest of the week at sunset. 

Even better if you can get on the water for it!

Best restaurants in Peggy’s Cove

We tried as many restaurants in the area as possible while in Peggy’s Cove. There are a lot of delicious places…here are our favorites from Peggy’s Cove and the surrounding areas-

Where to get breakfast in Peggy’s Cove (& coffee!)

• Labor Day Picnic – laid back cafe with delicious breakfast + lunch
• The Finer Diner – (only weekends for breakfast) full sit down style breakfast
• Train Station Bike & Bean – great grab & go!
• Crab Apple Cookery & Cafe – baked goods & lite breakfast options!

Where to get lunch in Peggy’s Cove

• Bubba Magoos & BISTRO – delicious food with awesome views
• The Finer Diner – traditional seafood with optional deck seating
• White Sails Bakery & Deli – amazing sandwiches with picnic tables by the water
• Peggy’s Dogs – hotdog stand in Peggy’s Cove Village

Where to get dinner in Peggy’s Cove

• Rhubarb –  best restaurant in town! Make reservations.
• Sou’Wester –  all the seafood options!
• Recardo’s Takeout – pizza, subs, burgers, chicken and more that delivers!

Ice cream/dessert in Peggy’s Cove

• Bubba Magoos – candy, ice cream sandwiches, baked goods, and more!
• The Whale’s Back – ice cream

Grocery and liquor stores near Peggy’s Cove

Peggy’s Cove travel tips

• Currency is the Canadian dollar 
• Everyone speaks English 
• Campfires are only allowed if the part of the Island you are staying on is in yellow or green – you can check this online
• Weather changes fast! Bright and sunny can go to dark and foggy in minutes 
• Locals are friendly 
• Buy your beer, wine & liquor before 5pm on Sunday at an NSLC 
• No convenience stores sell beer, wine and/or liquor 
• If you are from the US your phone plan will work in Canada 
• Cannabis is legal in Nova Scotia 
• You can purchase Cannabis at an NSLC 
• No real nightlife in the Peggy’s Cove area

If you have any questions about Peggy’s Cove, the surrounding area, traveling there or whatever else, please ask me in the comments below!! Have you visited the beautiful Peggy’s Cove? Tell me about your experience! 

I loved this trip so much…very picturesque, relaxing, and fun. There is lots to explore but all the opportunities to relax! I highly recommend traveling to this beautiful hidden gem in Nova Scotia. 

If you are interested in exploring more of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island is where you want to go next! Here is my full guide on Cape Breton Island!!

Follow along with me on Instagram where I am most active sharing reels + photos! And check out my Printable Travel Planner to help plan your trip to Peggy’s Cove!