Lunenburg Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Lunenburg which includes a house
Lunenburg
Chester featuring a lake or waterhole and a small town or village
Lunenburg showing street scenes and a house
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 artefacts 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
The Homeport Motel

The Homeport Motel

2 out of 5
167 Victoria Road, Lunenburg, NS
The price is AU$133 per night from 3 Nov to 4 Nov
AU$133
3 Nov - 4 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Lunenburg. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (525 reviews)
"It was unbelievably clean. We felt like the first guests the room was modern and beds comfortable! The pillows were a bit too big otherwise I can think of nothing that could be better. Good price too!"

Reviewed on 18 Oct 2025

The Homeport Motel
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 WiFi, daily housekeeping, and premium bedding. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (747 reviews)
"Lunenburg is such a special place and we couldn’t have stayed in a better location. Steps from the harbour and all the shops and restaurants you could ever need. The room was clean and cozy and the staff were very friendly and helpful."

Reviewed on 21 Oct 2025

Smugglers Cove Inn
Atlantic View Motel and Cottages

Atlantic View Motel and Cottages

3 out of 5
230 Mason's Beach Road, RR#2, Lunenburg, NS
Stay at this 3-star beach motel in Lunenburg. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a private beach. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (556 reviews)
"Our cottage was small but cozy and had everything we needed. Would stay here again."

Reviewed on 15 Oct 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.
Lunenburg's Cupcake House

Lunenburg's Cupcake House

Lunenburg
Stay at this vacation home in Lunenburg. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Lunenburg Academy and St John's Anglican Church ...
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
"Our host was the best ever !!! This sweet home is perfection and the location is wonderful ."

Reviewed on 4 Oct 2025

Lunenburg's Cupcake House
Remodelled historic suite w/nautical boho decor, in the UNESCO Town of Lunenburg

Remodelled historic suite w/nautical boho decor, in the UNESCO Town of Lunenburg

Lunenburg
Stay at this vacation home in Lunenburg. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and tennis courts. Popular attractions Pearl Theatre and Fisheries Museum of the ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (16 reviews)
"Lovely, spacious, upstairs living though not suitable for anyone who is challenged by steep stairs, or can’t step out of a high bathtub or maneuver between raised floor thresholds. Light, airy rooms, comfortable beds and peaceful outside deck."

Reviewed on 21 Sept 2025

Remodelled historic suite w/nautical boho decor, in the UNESCO Town of Lunenburg
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. Enjoy air conditioning. Popular attractions Pearl Theatre and Lunenburg Academy are located nearby.
9/10 Wonderful! (6 reviews)
"Close to town , clean and comfortable"

Reviewed on 6 Sept 2025

Romantic Getaway w/ King Bed in Historic Lunenburg (Suite 4)
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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