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South Shore, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg and Mahone Bay
A UNESCO World Heritage fishing town laid out in 1753, with brightly painted buildings climbing from the harbour, the Fisheries Museum, the schooner Bluenose II, and Mahone Bay's three churches nearby.
Photo: The Lunenburg waterfront, CP Hoffman from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Old Town Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved British colonial settlements in North America, with a grid of streets laid out in 1753 and painted houses climbing the hill.
The schooner Bluenose II, a replica of the famous racing schooner on the Canadian dime, sails from here in summer. Mahone Bay, with its three waterfront churches, is 15 minutes away.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Old Town Lunenburg
A UNESCO-listed grid of colourful 18th- and 19th-century buildings.
St. John's Anglican Church
A Carpenter Gothic church, rebuilt after a 2001 fire.
Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Fishing schooners, an aquarium and the story of the fishery.
Bluenose II
Harbour sails on the famous schooner replica, when she's in port.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
A summer folk music festival.
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.
Lunenburg walking tours
Guided walks through the UNESCO old town.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic Tickets
- Bluenose II Cruise
Part of our Nova Scotia coast guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Harbour sails and the museum fill a day.
- Blue Rocks and Mahone Bay are best early or late.
- Waterfront dinners make the summer evenings.
Nearby and worth the drive
The harbour capital and Peggy's Cove.
Three churches on the water.
Ready-made trips with Lunenburg and Mahone Bay
Good to know
- Tourism: lunenburgns.com.
- 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 Lunenburg waterfront, CP Hoffman from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Colourful buildings along the Lunenburg waterfront, Madereugeneandrew, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lunenburg Academy, Wladyslaw, Edit: Waugsberg (Lichter abgemildert), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bluenose II under sail, Gordon Leggett, CC BY 4.0