Free
French Basin Trail
A short, free wetland loop at the edge of town, for birds and a look at the tidal basin.
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Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal
Canada's oldest European settlement still inhabited, on a Fundy tidal basin, with a free wetland trail, the earthworks of Fort Anne, a reconstructed Habitation at Port-Royal, and a historic garden in the middle of town.
Photo: The earthworks at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal, CP Hoffman from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Annapolis Royal sits on a bend of the Annapolis River where the Fundy tide fills a wide basin. The French Basin Trail is a short wetland loop at the edge of town. Fort Anne's earthworks rise above the river, and a few kilometres down the shore the reconstructed Habitation at Port-Royal recalls the settlement of 1605.
The Historic Gardens are a short walk from the old streets. On Saturday, the farmers' market fills a waterfront building that has been trading for decades. Kejimkujik National Park is about forty-five minutes south, in the inland lakes and forest.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail
A free coastal trail west of town, with loops through woods to the Bay of Fundy shore.
Free
Annapolis Royal waterfront
A boardwalk and wharf on the basin, a short walk from the old streets, with views across to Granville Ferry.
Cheap
Kejimkujik National Park
Inland lakes, canoe routes and forest trails about forty-five minutes south. A Parks Canada pass is required.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Historic downtown
A compact national historic district of wooden houses and shops along St. George Street, between the fort and the gardens.
Cheap
Fort Anne
Star-shaped earthworks and a museum on the site of a French, then British, fort. The grounds and trail are open year-round; the museum is seasonal.
Season Grounds are open year-round. The museum is open daily, mid-May to mid-October, until Thanksgiving Day (check before you go).
Cheap
Port-Royal National Historic Site
A reconstruction of the 1605 Habitation, a few kilometres down the basin at Lower Granville. The grounds are open year-round; the building is seasonal.
Season Grounds are open year-round. The Habitation is open daily, mid-May to mid-October, until Thanksgiving Day (check before you go).
Cheap
Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
Themed gardens and a restored Acadian cottage, in the middle of town.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Cheap
O'Dell House Museum
A mid-19th-century waterfront house museum, run by the Annapolis Heritage Society.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Cheap
Annapolis Heritage Society museums
Local history in a small cluster of house museums, including the Sinclair Inn, one of the oldest wooden buildings in Canada.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Annapolis Royal Farmers' Market
A long-running Saturday market in a waterfront building, with local produce, baking and crafts.
Free
St. George Street shops
Independent shops, cafés and galleries in the historic street between the fort and the market.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Fort Anne
Admission to the museum at Fort Anne National Historic Site. The grounds are open year-round.
Season Grounds are open year-round. The museum is open daily, mid-May to mid-October, until Thanksgiving Day (check before you go).
Port-Royal National Historic Site
Admission to the reconstructed Habitation. The grounds are open year-round.
Season Grounds are open year-round. The Habitation is open daily, mid-May to mid-October, until Thanksgiving Day (check before you go).
Kejimkujik National Park pass
A Parks Canada pass is required for the inland lakes and trails, about forty-five minutes south.
Part of our Annapolis Valley guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Fort Anne and Port-Royal are a morning and an afternoon, not a drive-by.
- The market is a Saturday morning; the gardens are better when you are not racing the next town.
- Kejimkujik is a full day in the woods and lakes, too far to add to a long highway run.
Nearby and worth the drive
Wolfville and Grand Préabout 80 min · Guide ↗
The Minas Basin, the dykelands of Grand-Pré and the Harvest Moon Trailway, about an hour east along the valley.
Halifaxabout 2 h · Guide ↗The harbour capital, about two hours east.
Digbyabout 25 min · Guide ↗The scallop fleet, Point Prim and the Fundy ferry to Saint John.
Ready-made trips with Annapolis Royal
2 days · Annapolis Royal
Annapolis Royal and the basin
A tidal-basin town, two national historic sites, and a day in the inland lakes.
2 days · Digby → Annapolis Royal
Digby and Annapolis Royal
A scallop-fleet harbour on the Annapolis Basin, and, 25 minutes east, the earthworks and Habitation of Annapolis Royal.
Good to know
- Tourism: annapolisroyal.com is the official town visitor site.
- Parks Canada: Fort Anne and Port-Royal charge admission when the buildings are open, usually mid-May to mid-October. The grounds at both sites are open year-round. Kejimkujik requires a park pass: parks.canada.ca/kejimkujik.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: The earthworks at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal, CP Hoffman from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: The Annapolis Basin shore at Annapolis Royal, CP Hoffman from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: The Annapolis Royal waterfront and lighthouse, Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: A lake trail in Kejimkujik National Park, Z3lvs, CC0
Photo: The reconstructed Habitation at Port-Royal, Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, André Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 2.0