Places to Go on Our Island
Culture and heritage have carved our communities along stunning vistas, highland crests, and historic sites. Follow the lively sounds of fiddles to Canada’s Musical Coast. Discover the rugged beauty and cliff-hugging curves of the world-famous Cabot Trail. Leave your heart in each corner of our Island.
Cabot Trail
Where the mountains meet the sea, you’ll find iconic ocean views, hiking trails, colourful fishing villages, and secluded beaches accessible only by kayak and sheer will.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Journey to a place where trails marble the forest and the locals have fins. This coastal park wraps adventure in rugged wilderness to offer peaks, waterfalls, golf, beaches and so much more.
Louisbourg Area
Untouched by time, embraced by history. Step back into 18th-century colonial France to experience Île Royale and walk the grounds of North America’s largest historical reconstruction.
Canada’s Musical Coast
Here, music is written into the story of our Celtic culture, the very fabric of this stunning coastline dotted by beaches, highlands, world-famous pubs, quaint inns, and weekly Ceilidhs.
Cape Breton’s South Coast
Cape Breton Island’s capes, keys and coves region. Where “Bienvenue” means welcome and Acadian culture flourishes along the coast, revealing the historic St. Peter’s Canal, lively fishing communities, a championship golf course, and the Island’s best surf.
Bras d’Or Lake
Fog-free waters. Secluded anchorages. And, hundreds of coves and islands—chart a course on Canada’s largest inland sea and UNESCO Biosphere to discover our boater’s paradise steeped in history.
Sydney Area/Marconi Trail
Bustling ports and hidden beaches. Modern industries and ancient peoples. Folk art communities and world-famous technological discoveries. Experience an Island capital defined by parallels, forged by centuries of history and innovation.
Locals Know Blogs
10 Cultural Experiences on Cape Breton Island
Looking to learn more about your family roots? Check out 10 of our cultural experiences that are available to you this summer!
10 Most Instagrammable Locations on Cape Breton Island
Want to show off your Cape Breton adventure? Read through this blog to find your new favourite instagram hot spot this summer. Trust us, nothing says natural more than a nature photo.
5 Amazing Waterfalls in Cape Breton
Looking to visit some super epic waterfalls this summer as part of your escape to Cape Breton? Well we’ve got just the five for you to explore.
7 Boat Tours & Charters on Cape Breton Island
Chart your own course for adventure. Sail the fog-free waters of the Cape Breton’s inland sea. Marina hop from port to port along the Island’s exquisite coast.
10 Unique Places to Stay on Cape Breton Island
Looking for the camping experience, but don't want to have to sacrifice the conveniences? If so, these glamping sites and one-of-a-kind cabins are for you!
Take a Picture. Leave your heart. #VisitCapeBreton
Cape Breton Travel Guide
Cape Breton Travel Offers Celtic Culture, Music and Seafood Galore.
Cape Breton is an island at the tip of Nova Scotia - one of the Maritime provinces in Eastern Canada. Although Cape Breton is part of Nova Scotia, it has a distinct identity. Today, Cape Breton is an island famous for its Celtic heritage, which visitors may enjoy through the music, food and charm of the people. Cape Breton is also home to one of the world's most beautiful drives: the Cabot Trail.
Getting to Cape Breton
Most travelers to Cape Breton arrive via Halifax, Nova Scotia's capital. If flying into Halifax International Airport, you can rent a car and drive three hours to the island of Cape Breton. Access to the island is via the Causeway, which is a short bridge from mainland Nova Scotia to the island of Cape Breton. Sydney, a city on the island's southeast side, also has a small airport.
Cape Breton Weather and Climate / When to Visit
The most popular time to visit is July, August and September; however, spring and late fall still see tourist activity - especially the week in October when the Celtic Colours Festival takes place. Weather can be unpredictable at any time and it's best to pack clothes that can be layered and suitable for different conditions. It can also change quickly; one Cape Bretoner joked to me that it's possible to experience four seasons in a day. Summers tend to be hot and humid, but fog, high winds and cold spells are also common. Fall is a gorgeous time to visit because of the fall foliage, which is vivid and expansive, especially along the Cabot Trail. Spring and winter are less popular, and thus offer travelers the potential for budget travel.
Cape Breton Highlights
Cape Breton has a lot more than just the Cabot Trail and Louisbourg to offer visitors; however, these two are probably the most famous. Nature lovers can whale watch and explore the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Foodies can gorge on fresh seafood like lobster and crab and other local fare. Music lovers will be surprised at the high quality of entertainment at even the smallest venue. There's also golf, shopping and more.
The Cabot Trail
Named for explorer John Cabot, the Cabot Trail winds around the northern end of Cape Breton island. Drivers or hardy cyclists begin and end at many points in the circuit, but typically tourists do so at the town of Baddeck. The 300 km (185 mi.) long Cabot Trail is famous for the vistas it offers of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Atlantic Ocean and lush landscapes, particularly spectacular in fall. The Cape Breton National Highlands Park is at the trail's most northern points and where the trail reaches its highest elevation. The trail takes a few hours to drive, but tourists generally spend a day or two, stopping in at one or two of the towns along the way.
Accommodation in Cape Breton
The only hotel chains on Cape Breton are in Sydney, which, outside of Halifax, is Nova Scotia's only other city: everyplace else is deemed a town or village. So, visitors for the most part stay at Bed and Breakfasts or local hotels, mostly small to mid-size and privately run. Some accommodation may strike you as on the rustic side and you may find clunky pipes or thin walls, but generally the charm of the proprietor will let you overlook the shortcomings. Visitors will also encounter elegant resorts, like the Keltic Lodge in Ingonish Beach just off the Cabot Trail.
Another recommendation is the Normaway Inn in the beautiful Margaree River Valley. Set on 250 acres of land, visitors may stay in the inn or one of the chalets or cottages. All are within stumbling distance from the Barn, where musicians take to the stage frequently from June through October.
Eating in Cape Breton
If you like lobster, you can eat it morning, noon and night in Cape Breton. McDonalds even serves up a McLobster sandwich, which is a cold, real-lobster sandwich. Other local favorites include crab cakes, seafood chowder (try the Glenora Distillery's), and oat cakes at breakfast or tea. Try a Nova Scotia wine, such as L'Acadie with dinner.
Cape Breton Maps, Pictures and Guidebooks
- Map locating Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
- Cape Breton and Cabot Trail Map
- The Cabot Trail Companion is a CD that gives insider information on the area and its real-life inhabitants.
Cape Breton Events and Festivals
Cape Breton's biggest festival is the Celtic Colours Festival where folks gather to play music and enjoy Celtic culture as well as the fall foliage. Lopsterpalooza is a month-long seafood and lobster extravaganza along the Cabot Trail. The Stan Rogers Festival , also known as Stanfest, celebrates the Maritime-loving musician with a lineup of folk, rock, Celtic and other musical acts.
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Here, you’ll find a lifetime of adventure packed on our 175-kilometre-long Island. Iconic topography gives way to a living history, where each cove and inlet reveals welcoming communities, distinct cultures, stunning wilderness, and more of the story.
Cape Breton Island is renowned for its Cabot Trail, its dramatic coastal views, variety of hiking trails, world-class golf, and Celtic culture. See more.
Culture and heritage have carved our communities along stunning vistas, highland crests, and historic sites. Follow the lively sounds of fiddles to Canada’s Musical Coast. Discover the rugged beauty and cliff-hugging curves of the world-famous Cabot Trail. Leave your heart in each corner of our Island. Explore Cape Breton Island.
Top Things to Do in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia: See Tripadvisor's 81,509 traveller reviews and photos of Cape Breton Island tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in June. We have reviews of the best places to see in Cape Breton Island. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
Brimming with vibrant culture and embracing its rugged coastline, Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island beckons explorers. We hold our traditions dear and love sharing them with our visitors.
Rich with Celtic, Mi'kmaq and Acadian heritage, Cape Breton is a delight for history buffs, music lovers and explorers of nature. Immerse yourself in 18th-century life at the Fortress of Louisbourg, explore the winding roads and Atlantic vistas of the Cabot Trail, and seek out a local Ceilidh for a lively and rousing experience.
Rich with Celtic, Mi'kmaq and Acadian heritage, Cape Breton is a delight for history buffs, music lovers and explorers of nature. Immerse yourself in 18th-century life at the Fortress of Louisbourg, explore the winding roads and Atlantic vistas of the Cabot Trail, and seek out a local Ceilidh for a lively and rousing experience. Read more.
Cape Breton has a lot more than just the Cabot Trail and Louisbourg to offer visitors; however, these two are probably the most famous. Nature lovers can whale watch and explore the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Foodies can gorge on fresh seafood like lobster and crab and other local fare.