Lunenburg Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Lunenburg showing a house
Lunenburg
Chester featuring a lake or waterhole and a small town or village
Lunenburg showing a house and street scenes
Lunenburg

Hear tales of old sea voyages, see humpback whales, navigate waterways and appreciate the traditional architecture of this old port town.

Located on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Lunenburg is a port town with a past that stretches back more than 250 years. Explore the history of the town's fishing industry, see historic architecture and embark on a whale-watching cruise.

Lunenburg was a British colonial settlement founded in the middle of the 18th century. During the following century, the coastal community became a major fishing centre, which still flourishes today.

Learn about Lunenburg’s fishing heritage at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. Browse exhibits and explore ships moored on the dockside. Step onto Canada’s oldest salt bank schooner and listen to retired fishermen and captains tell stories of their voyages. The museum also houses one of the most extensive aquariums on the east coast of Canada. Among the animals you will see here are eels, crabs and giant lobsters.

Walk into the centre of town to see more of Lunenburg’s history. Look at the well-preserved old wooden buildings, some of which date back to the 18th century. Step inside Knaut-Rhuland House, built in 1793. The old wooden residence is now a museum dedicated to the early history of the town. See period furniture, Victorian artifacts and early 19th-century fireplace surroundings.

While you are in Lunenburg, spend some time on the water. Set sail for a maritime adventure by going on a boat cruise. From the deck of your vessel, enjoy the view of the town's brightly painted buildings and the lighthouse at the end of the breakwater. From June to October, head out to sea on a whale-watching tour and marvel at the pilot and humpback whales that pass by the area on their migration.

Lunenburg is approximately a 2-hour drive southwest of Halifax, where there is an international airport. Give yourself at least a few days to enjoy the town’s scenic beauty, history and waterways.

Where to stay in Lunenburg

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Old Town Lunenburg

If you're spending some time in Old Town Lunenburg, Lunenburg Opera House and St John's Anglican Church are top sights worth seeing.

Old Town Lunenburg
Smugglers Cove Inn
Smugglers Cove Inn
4 out of 5
139 Montague Street, Lunenburg, NS
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Lunenburg. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping and premium bedding. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (630 reviews)
"Great spot right in the middle of Lunenberg. Great large rooms, like an apartment! It’s not super modern or fancy but clean and comfortable. Perfect for our stay."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Smugglers Cove Inn
The Homeport Motel
The Homeport Motel
2 out of 5
167 Victoria Road, Lunenburg, NS
The price is £112 per night from 4 Jul to 5 Jul
£112
4 Jul - 5 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Lunenburg. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (385 reviews)
"Owner was great explaining where to go to visit sites and local restaurants Great place to stay"

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

The Homeport Motel
Atlantic View Motel and Cottages
Atlantic View Motel and Cottages
3 out of 5
230 Mason's Beach Road, RR#2, Lunenburg, NS
The price is £121 per night from 5 Jul to 6 Jul
£121
5 Jul - 6 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star beach motel in Lunenburg. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (461 reviews)
"Really nice room clean updated comfortable, would go back anytime"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Atlantic View Motel and Cottages
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Romantic Getaway w/ King Bed in Historic Lunenburg (Suite 4)
Romantic Getaway w/ King Bed in Historic Lunenburg (Suite 4)
Lunenburg
Stay at this apartment in Lunenburg. Popular attractions Pearl Theatre and Lunenburg Academy are located nearby.
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
Amazing place
"It was amazing clean and quiet will definatly be back in the summer"

Reviewed on 23 Feb 2025

Romantic Getaway w/ King Bed in Historic Lunenburg (Suite 4)
Cozy Garden View Suite near Lunenburg Waterfront (Suite 6)
Cozy Garden View Suite near Lunenburg Waterfront (Suite 6)
Lunenburg
Stay at this apartment in Lunenburg. Popular attractions Pearl Theatre and Lunenburg Academy are located nearby.
Cozy Garden View Suite near Lunenburg Waterfront (Suite 6)
Executive 1-Bedroom King Bed Suite in Lunenburg (Suite 5)
Executive 1-Bedroom King Bed Suite in Lunenburg (Suite 5)
Lunenburg
Stay at this apartment in Lunenburg. Popular attractions Pearl Theatre and Lunenburg Academy are located nearby.

Reviewed on 12 Jun 2025

Executive 1-Bedroom King Bed Suite in Lunenburg (Suite 5)
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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