Nov 27, 2023 鈥 6 min read
How you can drive, fly, float, cycle and more around Nova Scotia
Apr 28, 2024 鈥 7 min read
Driving is a wonderful way to take in Nova Scotia鈥檚 natural beauty 漏 Rainer Grosskopf / Getty Images
On the shores of the blustery North Atlantic, Nova Scotia is one of Canada鈥檚 trio of Maritime Provinces. But you don鈥檛 (necessarily) need a boat to get around.
Exploring the beautiful province is easiest if you have your own set of wheels. Yet plenty of other transport options can add spice to your journey, including scenic ferry rides, once-in-a-lifetime helicopter charters and world-class bicycle routes.
Here鈥檚 our guide to traversing this wonderful, wild region on Canada鈥檚 east coast.
Start your Nova Scotia trip by flying into Halifax
Known to the Indigenous Mi鈥檏maq people as 鈥淜鈥檍ipuktuk鈥 (Great Harbor), Halifax is the largest Canadian city east of 惭辞苍迟谤茅补濒, with daily flight connections to major cities across Canada and the eastern USA, as well as direct service to Europe (London is roughly 5 hours away). The main air hub, (YHZ), is a major full-service airport that offers car-rental facilities, restaurants, hotels and a helpful tourist information desk.
It鈥檚 easy to get from the airport to downtown Halifax if you don鈥檛 have a car. Ask for help at the located just after the arrivals area. Your choices are a taxi or airport limousine (the same standard flat rate applies for both); a public bus (Metro X ), (a reliable door-to-door rideshare service popular with students and budget travelers); and .
Admire the dramatic coast from above in a private air charter
It sounds extravagant 鈥 and it is. If you have a group of friends and a few loonies to spare, a helicopter ride is an unforgettable way to experience the drama of Nova Scotia鈥檚 coastline and islands. Halifax airport鈥揵ased offers a 鈥渉eli-picnic鈥 island-escape package (C$650 per person) in addition to private charters, while , based at in Sydney, provides private charters and transport to Cape Breton Island鈥檚 most exclusive lodges, retreats and golf courses.
You can take the train from 惭辞苍迟谤茅补濒 to Halifax
There is one way to reach Nova Scotia by train: a VIA Rail Halifax鈥摬汛遣猿侔┎贡 service called , which takes approximately 21 hours. Many of the former rail beds in Maritime Canada have been replaced as part of a 鈥溾 project. A walk or bike ride along these trails is one of the best free things to do in Nova Scotia.
Hail a taxi (and maybe a rideshare) in Halifax
Halifax has a good selection of taxi operators who use an old-fashioned meter system and accept credit and debit cards, as well as old-fashioned cash. Although rideshare services are popular in other world cities, heavily regulated Halifax was slow to embrace the trend. Finally, in November 2020, rideshare services got the green light, despite protests from traditional taxi firms. You may notice that 鈥済rabbing an Uber鈥 doesn鈥檛 quite roll off the tongue in Halifax as easily as in other cities.
Bring your car onto one of Nova Scotia鈥檚 many ferry services
One of the nicest ways to arrive in or bid farewell to Nova Scotia is by sea. operate between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Bar Harbor, Maine (3.5 hours); Digby, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick (2 hours, 15 minutes); and Caribou, Nova Scotia to Wood Islands, part of Prince Edward Island (1 hour, 15 minutes). All travel times are approximate and vary with the weather.
If you really like being at sea, you can also take the between Sydney in Cape Breton and two ports in Newfoundland: Port Aux Basques (7 hours) and Argentia (16 hours.)
Within Nova Scotia, small car ferries often substitute for bridges or causeways. These charming, blue, flat-decked ferries fill up quickly and take only a few minutes to complete their crossing 鈥 and the fare is free. You鈥檒l find throughout Nova Scotia. Seek them out to add some extra maritime flavor to your trip.
Elsewhere, the 15-minute ferry ride between Halifax and Dartmouth is the oldest saltwater ferry in North America, and costs no more than a bus fare for a return journey. Grab a front seat on the upper deck and take in the views. If you are adventurous, consider returning on foot across the MacDonald Bridge.
For those who love traveling off the beaten track, runs an affordable McNabs Island ferry service using a RHIB (rigid hulled inflatable boat) 鈥 a thrilling way to explore Halifax Harbor and the Northwest Arm.
When is the best time to visit Nova Scotia?
Your own car or motorcycle will let you take in the most of Nova Scotia
An extensive highway system links most towns and cities in Nova Scotia, making cars and motorcycles the most convenient way of getting around the province.
Larger Nova Scotia highways are referred to as 鈥100-series鈥 highways (101, 103, etc); these main routes circumnavigate and cross the province. As a sightseer, though, you may prefer to take an 鈥渙ld road鈥 (for example, Hwy 1 or Hwy 3). You never know what you鈥檒l find along the way, from beaches and coves to yard sales to antique shops. You might even see some fruit and vegetable stands that use an 鈥渉onesty box鈥 system for payment (it鈥檚 a good idea to keep some change handy.)
Conveniently, Tourism Nova Scotia has created catchy names for some of the best scenic drives in Nova Scotia, such as the Lighthouse Route or the Glooscap Trail (each one has distinct signage). You can reliably follow these using the . You can get free paper copies at the airport and at Nova Scotia tourist information centers.
If you鈥檙e driving in winter in Nova Scotia, it鈥檚 advisable to have winter tires. And if you hear a forecast for freezing rain, stay off the roads altogether. The provincial government publishes a useful that shows construction and roads made impassable by snow or ice.
Hop on a bus for a budget-friendly ride around Nova Scotia
is a coach service that serves over 50 locations throughout the Maritimes. It鈥檚 a favorite of students and budget travelers, and used by locals as a way to convey large packages at a cheaper rate than using the post office. In Halifax, the Maritime Bus station is located next to the VIA rail train station, steps away from the Halifax waterfront.
Within Halifax, has bus routes that thread through the city. You can pay your fare in cash (exact change required), or using the .
Best places to visit in Nova Scotia
A long bike ride is a fabulous way to see Nova Scotia鈥檚 scenery
Bike trails unfurl throughout Nova Scotia. The rails-to-trails network includes such routes as the (Lunenburg to Halifax), the (Annapolis Royal to 骋谤补苍诲-笔谤茅) and the (Port Hastings to Inverness).
Whether you鈥檙e taking a guided tour or a solo trip, can help with trip planning, resources and GPS downloads. In Halifax, you can rent bikes and e-bikes from on the Halifax waterfront.
If you visit Nova Scotia in September, join over 1000 cyclists who participate in the , an up-to-128k (80-mile) ride through the Municipality of Clare in southwest Nova Scotia...that ends with a lobster dinner for participants.
Accessible transportation in Nova Scotia
Alas, Nova Scotia has a long way to go in terms of accessibility 鈥 with options for accessible accommodations especially few in rural parts of the province. In Halifax, the waterfront boardwalk is accessible 鈥 but the streets that leading up to the famous Halifax Citadel are steep.
Most taxi companies in Halifax have wheelchair-accessible vans (only bookable in advance), while Halifax Transit buses have spaces for wheelchair users. (The driver will lower the bus for each passenger with a disability, then secure their chair using straps.)
One of Nova Scotia鈥檚 most recent accessible 鈥渨ins鈥: a viewing deck at Peggy鈥檚 Cove, which allows wheelchair users to enjoy a close-up view of the lighthouse and rocks. In Cape Breton, is aiming to become the most accessible beach in Nova Scotia, with two beach wheelchairs, floating chairs and sand mats that make it easier to walk on the sand.
Parasport Nova Scotia has a good list of , while local YouTube channel provides no-nonsense (and sometimes up close and personal) video accounts that document the challenges of getting around in Nova Scotia as a quadriplegic.
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