Nova Scotia Photography Guide: 13 Best Places For Landscapes & Culture

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Many people wonder (including our friends from Western Canada) “What is Nova Scotia known for?” Lobster and scallops, for sure (our previous Nova Scotia foodie post will make you drooool). History, culture, and spectacular landscapes are also key reasons that bring visitors to Nova Scotia.

Peggy's Cove Nova Scotia
Peggy’s Cove

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If you want to capture the best of Nova Scotia, this post will be a great resource for you. Our friend Darcy Rhyno, a Nova Scotia-based writer/photographer, will share his top photo spots – along with some beautiful pictures of Nova Scotia – to help you to plan an epic photography trip to Nova Scotia! Follow along for suggestions on where to find the best views in Nova Scotia.

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Nova Scotia Photographer Guide

Best Places To Photograph In Nova Scotia

Finding photogenic locations in Nova Scotia is like picking strawberries in a field or cherries from a tree. They are plentiful, colourful and delicious.

The best advice for any eager amateur photographer is to wander freely and keep your eyes open for ripe, wild fruit. If you prefer u-picks to foraging, here are my favourite places to go in Nova Scotia to gather tasty pics.

13| Digby Neck

Digby Neck – Nova Scotia’s long, narrow finger peninsula – is stuck far into the Bay of Fundy as if testing the waters. Because of its shape, its isolation and its geological makeup, the neck and the two islands that are its extensions, Digby Neck, Long Island and Brier Island are unique in the province.

Because of its narrow shape and roughly north-south orientation, both sunrise and sunset are easily captured and provide contrasting lighting opportunities.

Western Light Brier Island Nova Scotia Scenery Lighthouse
Western Light, Brier Island / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia

Also worth mentioning is the whale watching opportunities you can get in this area. Tiverton, on the northeast tip of Long Island, is the home port for the best whale watching in Nova Scotia. Tours run from June to October.

East Ferry is another departure point for whale watching in Digby. You may also take a Brier Island whale watching cruise to get closer to the magnificent mammals!

Bay of Fundy Nova Scotia Whale Watching
Whale Watching in Bay of Fundy / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Drone photographer: SOAR

Oftentimes, on these whale watching tours, you will have a high chance to see birds soar above, especially during fall migration.

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12|The French Shore

On the mainland across the water from Digby Neck is the Clare region of Nova Scotia – sometimes called the French Shore because of its French Acadian roots.

Driving through this region, you’ll find some of the most charming towns in Nova Scotia. Here, Acadian culture, language and pride thrive. For example, pictured below is the great Saint Mary’s Church, aka the highest wooden church in North America.

Digby Neck Acadian Shore What to see in Nova Scotia
Digby Neck and Yarmouth & Acadian Shores / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

The region is home to some of the best Nova Scotia attractions. Make sure to stop by the picturesque Cape St. Mary’s for scenic ocean views and sunsets while overlooking the dramatic cliffs of St. Mary’s Bay. 

Smugglers Cove Best Views in Nova Scotia
Smuggler’s Cove / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Acorn Art Photography

Smuggler’s Cove is another great stop to hit when looking for what to see in Nova Scotia. The 1.5 km-long Mavillette Beach, surrounded by sand dunes, is one of the best beaches in Nova Scotia for kite-surfing.

Mavillette Beach Provincial Park Nova Scotia Acadian Shore
Mavillette Beach / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Acorn Art Photography

In addition, Clare, along with Yarmouth and Argyle, makes up the Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaw Lands Region. It is the first starlight reserve in North America to be certified by the UNESCO-backed Starlight Foundation, making it one of the best places to visit in Nova Scotia (and in Canada!) for stargazing and night sky photography.

Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaq Lands Starlight Reserve Nova Scotia Night Sky
Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaq Lands Starlight Reserve / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia

11| Landscape of Grand-Pré

The geographic and emotional heart of Nova Scotia for the French-speaking Acadian people is Grand Pré. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canada is located in the Annapolis Valley, encompassing a 13 square-km network of farmers’ fields, marshes, and dyke lands.

Landscape of Grand Pre Nova Scotia National Historic Site
Landscape of Grand Pre Nova Scotia, UNESCO World Heritage Site / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia

In the heart of Grand Pré lies the Grand Pré National Historic Site where an interpretive centre tells the 350-year history of these people.

Behind the centre stands the statue of a fictional character named Evangeline and a stone church that’s not really a church, but interesting nonetheless.

The American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow created Evangeline to tell the tragic true story of the Grand Derangement or Expulsion of the Acadians by the British in 1755 from these lands and all of Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Like so many others, the fictional Evangeline was separated from her home, her family, and her lover, with whom she would seek reunion until the end of her life.

While you’re at Grand Pré National Historic Site, don’t forget to explore the landscape on the new Harvest Moon Trailway. Majestic willow trees and old Victorian gardens offer a perfect place to picnic AND photograph in the summer!

Grand Pre National Historic Site Nova Scotia
Photo Credit: Grand-Pré National Historic Site / Lieu historique national de Grand-Pré

The green fields and the dyke lands that cradle the farmland like praying hands against the terracotta sea beyond are a photographer’s dream.

The photo below is of the cross in Grand Pré that marks the very tuft of ground where many Acadians in Nova Scotia and surrounding areas were forced onto British ships and deported.

Grand Pre Nova Scotia UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canada
Deportation Cross / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

10| Halifax

Halifax is Nava Scotia’s Capital city and the largest in eastern Canada, so shooting locations abound – Citadel Hill, the Public Gardens, Point Pleasant Park, nightlife, festivals, food and the ferries that cross the harbour many times a day.

Halifax Nova Scotia Tourist Attractions
Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno
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My personal favourite location is the Halifax waterfront, which is also one of the most photographed Nova Scotia tourist attractions. Walking along the Halifax waterfront boardwalk, you’ll find that the area is often buzzing with activity because the city has worked hard to link the many parts of the waterfront like piers and streets into one coherent and easily navigated whole.

Halifax Waterfront Nova Scotia Pictures
Halifax Waterfront / Photo Credit: Destination Canada

The city’s public art program has helped animate what was once a drab part of downtown. The pier with the drunken lampposts is a magnet for photographers, especially when something is happening there like group yoga or the Busker Festival. Opportunities to capture appealing images of Halifax are limitless!

Buskers Festival, Halifax Nova Scotia Images
Busker’s Festival / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Patrick Rojo
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9| LaHave

One of the most overlooked places to visit in Nova Scotia, the LaHave area begs visitors to get out in a boat of any kind. Paddle, motor or sail among the LaHave Islands and around the mouth of the LaHave River for endless photography subjects.

Cape LaHave Islands Nova Scotia Landscape Photography
LaHave / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Patrick Rojo

The calm waters of protected coves, beaches and bays make for stress-free boating. They’re also perfect for capturing attractive Nova Scotia scenery from whatever boat you are in, especially when the waters are glassy smooth.

In the photo below, I was able to set the paddle aside and leave the work to my first mate while I captured the moment, gliding over mirror-smooth waters past old fishing shacks and wharves on stilts.

LaHave Places to visit in Nova Scotia
LaHave / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno
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Best Photo Spots in Nova Scotia

8| 100 Wild Islands

Among all the places to see in Nova Scotia, the 100 Wild Islands is a unique one. This is a recently completed project to protect a huge network of uninhabited islands just off Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore to the northeast of Halifax.

The 100 part is really just a nickname. By one count, the area includes 758 islands. The area is ideal for exploring by sea kayak, but there are other ways to get around so the photographer can see more corners of this vast oceanic preserve.

100 Wild Islands Where to go in Nova Scotia
100 Wild Islands / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

At Murphy’s Camping on the Ocean, Captain Ryan Murphy will rent you a kayak or take you out on his little converted lobster boat for a 5 km tour, highlighting a few of the preserve’s coves, beaches, rocky bluffs. Along the way, you’re almost guaranteed to spot wildlife like seals, osprey, ducks and even porpoise. I took this image (above) of an interesting bluff on Captain Murphy’s tour. 

So if you ever wonder where to go in Nova Scotia to capture remote natural beauty (and wildlife!), remember the 100 Wild Islands.

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7| Living History Villages

The best places in Nova Scotia to get in touch with its rich history and culture are the living history villages.

On the Eastern Shore, there’s a 1940’s living history village called Memory Lane. I could spend all day here, happily snapping pics of chickens scratching in the grass, antique cars, artifacts from the ‘40s, interpreters in costume and buildings from the recent past.

The best shots are, of course, when some of these things come together as in the above photo of two volunteers in costume standing next to an old red truck with vintage buildings in the background. I love the contrasting looks on their faces and the bold colours. Even more, I love the feel of nostalgia such photos evoke.

Living History Museums Things To See in Nova Scotia
Memory Lane / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

The province’s other top heritage villages are Sherbrooke Village also on the Eastern Shore, Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse in Pubnico, and Highland Village in Cape Breton. Watching the costumed interpreters bring history to life is one of the most fascinating things to see in Nova Scotia, not to mention the villages make for great photo hunting grounds.

Highland Village Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia
Highland Village Cape Breton / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
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6| Blue Rocks

Old Town Lunenburg regularly tops the list of what to see in Nova Scotia. But for those seeking some peace and quiet and a low-key Nova Scotia sightseeing location, I recommend Blue Rocks.

Although it has become overcrowded by Nova Scotia standards, the end of a coastal road near the equally photogenic town of Lunenburg attracts visitors in search of old Nova Scotia and scenic coastline.

Blue Rocks South Shore Nova Scotia Landscapes
Blue Rocks / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia

Blue Rocks in South Shore, Nova Scotia is named for the grey-blue slate bedrock exposed and carved by the ocean. Once a poor fishing village, this lonely spot is as much about modest vacation homes, seaside leisure and photography opportunities as it is about making a living on the sea these days.

The combination of dramatic rocky coastline, quaint fishing village and spectacular sunrises is unbeatable.

If you can get into a kayak, it’s also a jumping-off point for some excellent paddling, offering views from the water that provide unique perspectives in an already photogenic location.

Blue Rocks Nova Scotia sightseeing
Blue Rocks / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

5| Peggy’s Cove Area

Some of the best places to see in Nova Scotia are located just an hour or so from Halifax.

The tiny, rugged port of Peggy’s Cove is often considered a Nova Scotia must see. More photos are taken of its lighthouse perched atop the granite bedrock worn smooth by the relentless pounding of the ocean than any other site in the province. In face, if you’re planning a Nova Scotia road trip and want to see as many amazing sites as possible, we recommend Peggy’s Cove area as your first stop.

Peggys Cove South Shore Nova Scotia Must See
Peggy’s Cove / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Acorn Art Photography

Bus tour after bus tour pulls in here, offloading tourists who are seeking that iconic photo. But patience pays off for the visiting photographer because the much quieter waters of the little cove, the typical Nova Scotia houses there, the people and their working life are even more photogenic than the lighthouse.

peggys cove fishing village Nova Scotia
Peggy’s Cove Village / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Acorn Art Photography

Nearby, other equally charming, but far less often visited fishing villages like Dover and Prospect also offer magical photo ops.

Prospect in Winter Halifax Day Trip
Prospect in Winter / Photo Credit: Discover Halifax / Photographer: Acorn Art Photography

This photo below of sea kayaks pulled up at an angle to Lower Prospect’s working fishing wharf loaded with colourful ropes and buoys provided alternative subject matter. 

Peggy’s Cove Nova Scotia Top Tourist Attractions
Lower Prospect / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

4| Cape Split

Possibly the most dynamic location in all of Nova Scotia is Cape Split, now a provincial park reserve.

The drive to the Cape Split hiking trail is across beautiful farmland, up to a high bluff for dramatic look offs, then to Scot’s Bay provide bonus photo subjects.

Ranked one of the top things to do in Nova Scotia, the four-hour, 12 km round trip hike provides only a few opportunities for pics. However, that enjoyable Cape Split hike gets the photographer to the mother lode, a grassy field perched atop 60 m-high sheer cliffs that drop to the raging, roiling waters of the Bay of Fundy.

In its struggle to empty and fill twice daily in and out of the arrow-shaped bay, these waters create the world’s highest tides. The cliff is continuously eroded here, carving jagged pinnacles past where the tides roar.

Cape Split Best of Nova Scotia
Cape Split / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

Seagulls soar overhead riding the winds over the cliffs. There’s a trail down to the rugged beach as well for a different perspective at low tide. Sunset here is usually an explosion of orange or sometimes, as Nova Scotians say, sky blue pink. But beware – a two-hour walk back to the parking lot in near darkness can be tricky.

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3| Louisbourg

North America’s largest historical reconstruction project is on the fringes of Cape Breton Island. Louisbourg is a treasure chest of photographic potential. And they know it.

Interpreters in period regalia pose everywhere you look among many historic buildings and on the cobbled streets. They take their re-enactments seriously here.

Farm animals poke about in back yards. Meals are prepared and served as they would have been in the 17th century. An authentic rum punch recipe is served with an interpreter guiding drinkers through the historical significance of the five-ingredient refreshment.

The photo below is of the local goose whisperer who walks her charges about the grounds for the likes of us photographers. 

Louisbourg Top Places To Go In Nova Scotia
Louisbourg / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

Louisbourg is home to some of the most incredible hiking trails in Nova Scotia. If time permits, take the chance to explore Louisbourg Lighthouse Trail. The 3 km loop follows the rugged coastline through coniferous forest, providing splendid views of the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.

Louisbourg Lighthouse Cape Breton Island Night Sky
Louisbourg Lighthouse at Night / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Acorn Art Photography

Gooseberry Cove is a hidden gem for those feeling adventurous. The area is known to have witnessed at least two shipwrecks, from as far back as the 1700’s. Rough and unmarked, the trail skirts the coastal cliffs and opens up to scenery reminiscent of the Irish coasts.

2| The Cabot Trail

Cape Breton Island is nearly a separate province. It’s one quarter the size of the mainland, mountainous in parts and culturally distinctive.

There was once a comedian whose shtick was separation from Nova Scotia. He played the fictional General John Cabot Trail, leader of the Cape Breton Liberation Army. So it almost goes without saying that this beautiful island deserves its own post. However, as part of Nova Scotia, choices must be made.

Cabot Trail Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia Top Places To See
Cabot Trail / Photo Credit: Destination Cape Breton Association

My absolute must see for any visiting photographer is the Cabot Trail, a 300 km loop that runs through scenic villages, crosses tabletop mountains, includes Cape Breton Highlands National Park and offers sky-to-sea views at 26 pull-offs. (Click here for the Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia map)

Numerous Nova Scotia top attractions can be found as you drive along the Cabot Trail:

⇢ Keltic Lodge (pictured below) is one of the trail’s great landmarks and accommodations, as well as home to a world-class golf course.   

Cabot Trail Cape Breton Hiking Trails
Keltic Lodge on Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno

⇢ Skyline Trail is one of the most well-known Cape Breton hiking trails. The 8.2 km loop leads you atop French Mountain, revealing jaw-dropping views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Skyline Trail Cape Breton Highlands National Park Nova Scotia Hiking Trails
Skyline Trail / Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia

⇢ Aside from the French Mountain, scenic look offs can also be discovered on two other Nova Scotia mountains – MacKenzie Mountain and North Mountain. For the world-famous view of the western coastline, head over to Veteran’s Monument.

⇢ Some of the most beautiful Cape Breton waterfalls to explore include Indian Brook Falls, Beulach Ban Falls, Mary Ann Falls, and North River Falls (Nova Scotia’s highest waterfall!).

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1| Any Fishing Cove

Any little cove with a wharf and a few fishing boats will likely offer all the material a visiting photographer would ever desire. The most bountiful harvest of Nova Scotia photos will be found by simply following rural roads down to the sea. Many of them end in small fishing villages where fishing boats bob at their moorings or are tied up at wharves.

For the best shots, wait for a few fishermen to tend to their boats or their fishing gear. Fishermen are often busy early in the morning, and, of course, sunrise provides some of the best light of the day.

Below is my shot of an old storage shed next to a tiny wharf in a village called Little Harbour on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. It’s taken at sunset, and as you can see the sunset in Nova Scotia can be spectacular.

Fishing Villages Places to see in Nova Scotia
Little Harbour, Nova Scotia Fishing Village in the South Shore / Photo Credit: Darcy Rhyno
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Of course, there are more beautiful spots in Nova Scotia like Cape Forchu, Kejimkujik National Park, Mahone Bay, and Five Islands Provincial Park (which we will feature in another post). But this list of locations will give you an overview of Nova Scotia has to offer and get you fall in love with its legendary landscapes and vibrant culture!

Plan your Nova Scotia trip with these tools!

Book plane tickets: with Expedia
Compare hotel prices: on TripAdvisor
Book hotels: on Agoda | Expedia
Rent a car: with Europcar
Trip Planning Resources: Lonely Planet Travel Guide | Moon Atlantic Canada Travel Guide
Photography Gear: Shop on Amazon | Peak Design
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Best Places to Take Pictures Nova Scotia
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14 Comments Leave a Comment »

  1. I didn’t even know about Nova Scotia until I read this blog. It looks like a lovely offbeat destination. I liked LaHave area. It looks stunning. And so does 100 Wild Island. Island hopping must be exciting here! My favourite however is the Living History Village. What better way to engage with the past than to wander through the heritage vintage buildings!

  2. And to think that I didn’t even know what or where Nova Scotia is, what a pity and how embarrassing for me! I love photography guides because you can totally follow them and find such amazing spots and I love capturing beautiful pictures myself. Cape St Mary and Smuggler’s Cove seem like my favourite places, I absolutely love water views. Also, whale watching in Bay of Fundy looks amazing! Nova Scotia seems absolutely charming.

  3. I’ve been recently trying my hand in night sky photography, and it looks like Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaw Lands Region and Louisbourg Lighthouse would just fit the bill perfectly! The way the Milkyway looks here is just so magnificent! I didn’t know about the Starlight Foundation so far. I’m gonna head to Google to read more about that! Need to find which other sites are listed under it!.
    La Have and 100 Wild Islands are so fascinating! Indeed its a hidden gem.. Grand Pré, being a UNESCO Site, I wouldn’t miss it!

  4. You have indeed showcased some amazing photos.  And introduced me to some spots we have not yet visited in Nova Scotia.  We were sad we missed whale watching season on our last visit.  What a great shot from the sky!  We will definitely have to visit LaHave on our next trip.  And head out on the water for sure.  And a trip to Cape Breton needs to be added too.  What a great post to get us to put Nova Scotia on our travel planning board.  Pinned too for future reference.  

  5. Hoping to be in this part of the world next year as I just discovered I got family in this part of Canada (I am from England, UK) so I cant wait to go out there and check out this part of the world. 🙂 I would love to do Peggy’s Cove whilst out there. I always fall in love with a great lighthouse photo shot.

  6. I have long wanted to visit Nova Scotia without having any idea why, but these pictures — the sights — that’s why I want to go! Darcy’s photographs are absolutely stunning. She truly makes me feel like I’m there and getting a feel for the place. I love the picture of the woman with ducks. I doubt I’d see that myself while I’m there, but the lighthouse, the churches, the landscape — I’m going!!! (The lobster and scallops had already convinced me. 🙂 )

  7. Looks like Nova Scotia has some beautiful landscapes and lots of great places to visit. This post definitely makes me want to visit! Peggy’s cove village looks so quaint. I can imagine the people and their lives would be great to photograph too. Memory Lane sounds like a really cool place to visit. I like the idea of a historical village from the 1940s, because many historical villages cover earlier times and not that time period.

  8. We’ve always dreamed of going on a long bike tour through Nova Scotia. The scenery there is simply amazing. The dark sky photography would make Jenn very happy too. We’re going to have to make it up there someday.

  9. Such beautiful and rugged landscape. I like that a lot. The Louisbourg Lighthouse at night is something I would love to visit to photograph that picture. Blue Rocks and Smuggler’s Cove are definitely on my list as well.

  10. Nova Scotia is high on my Canada bucketlist. Can you believe for such a small island I know 2 people from there?! This region is right up my alley in terms od landscape and nature, I hope by moving to the East Coast of the US I can get there now!

  11. Nova Scotia has been in my list to visit since the first time I saw Getty Images from this part of Canada back in the early 1990s. And now you are torturing me with these amazing pictures and info about the locations. I don’t know how you could ranked them because I think each of them has an equal beauty.

  12. Ahhh it all looks so dreamy! My grandfather had a thing for lighthouses, so I would definitely want to go visit those! It all looks so beautiful!

  13. Absolutely beautiful pictures and tips of Nova Scotia! After finally visiting New Brunswick, I’m really craving getting back to the Eastern side of Canada. I’d love to do Nova Scotia, Montreal, and PEI.

  14. Defiantly one of the 3 Top Provinces in Canada to photograph. This is my second year here in NS and I don’t regret the move from Ontario for one second. I love this province, not only because I am a photographer and everything is in front of my house, the people (the soul of the land) are super friendly and nice. Thank you for this helpful guide!

    Patrick J. Boening
    Photographer

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