You can hardly visit Halifax without taking a day trip to Peggy’s Cove, you’d be doing yourself an incredible disservice. This little piece of heaving on the East coast of Canada is a must-see for anyone in the area. The best part is it’s really easy to get to so you basically have no excuse.
Despite what you might think, Peggy’s Cove is the name of the small town, not the name of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is actually called Peggy’s Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1915 hand has become one of the most iconic symbols for Canada.
If you plan on visiting Nova Scotia, taking a tour around is definitely recommended! That being said, the small rural town of Peggy’s Cove is not something you should miss either. There are only a handful of houses and they’re located along the main road as you drive in.
I’ve now visited Peggy’s Cove twice. Once in the summer and once in the fall, while both times were fantastic, I am partial to my time there in the autumn months because of all of the beautiful colours.
How do I get to Peggy’s Cove?
Unfortunately, there are no public transit options for getting to Peggy’s Cove. You either have to rent a car or take a group tour either one is a great option. If you are planning on driving, it’s about an hour away. The main road to get in has never been very busy when I’ve taken it and the scenery can be quite beautiful.
There are a couple of group tours available to take you as well if you don’t feel comfortable. Often they will include lunch or something a little extra. The only downside I’ll say about group tours is that you can’t stop where you want to, if you want to take photos but if you’re okay with that then great!
Do I have to pay to get to the lighthouse?
Nope! The best part about a day trip to Peggy’s Cove is that it doesn’t cost anything to get to the actual lighthouse, of course besides your travel to get there. There are a couple of parking lots available as you enter the small town. I can’t recall if you need to pay for parking but during busy season I can imagine the parking lots can get really full.
When should I visit Peggy’s Cove?
If you plan on doing a day trip to Peggy’s Cove you are best to get there first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds. Plus, you’ll be able to get much nicer photos this way with very few people in them!
In terms of seasonality, I would avoid visiting in the height of summer if you can. From what I’ve read it can get incredibly busy. The first time I visited it was over Labour Day weekend and there were quite a few people about. The second time was in October on a random weekday and it made such a difference. Plus, as I mentioned the fall colours made it even better!
Is there anything to do at Peggy’s Cove?
Besides walking around and taking in the amazing sights, you can dine or shop in Peggy’s Cove. There are a couple of spots to grab food although I personally have never indulged. There are some shops as well where you can get souvenirs but honestly I found them so completely overpriced it wasn’t really worth getting anything.
So there you have it, hopefully that’s everything you need to know to enjoy your day trip to Peggy’s Cove!
