Sponsored by Nova Scotia Tourism
Nova Scotia has long been known for its rugged coastlines, colorful fishing villages and small towns, and rich Acadian history, but did you know it’s also fast becoming a Nordic spa destination? With four distinctive spas blending hydrotherapy, saunas, and cold plunges with the province’s natural beauty, Nova Scotia is the ultimate destination for those wanting both relaxation and adventure.
Over one unforgettable week, in partnership with Nova Scotia tourism, we road-tripped from Halifax to Wolfville, stopping at all four Nordic spas, as well as exploring UNESCO towns, fishing villages, vineyards, and coastal hikes in between. What we discovered was a province that knows how to live well: vibrant city life, world-class coffee, incredible food, and a spa culture that invites you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with nature.
If you’re ready to soothe your soul and spark your sense of adventure, here’s how to spend seven days spa-ahhh-ing your way through Nova Scotia, complete with stops for lobster rolls, local wine, outdoor activities, and the freshest ocean air.
Introducing the Perfect Nova Scotia Itinerary
Nova Scotia is made for slow travel. It’s compact enough that you can drive between destinations in an hour or two, yet diverse enough that every stop feels like a completely new world.
In one week, you’ll wander vibrant city streets, relax in lakeside saunas, sip wine overlooking tidal vineyards, visit UNESCO-designated sites (there are 5 in the province), and stand on the edge of the Atlantic with nothing but wind and waves for company.
The following itinerary takes you along Highway 333, the main highway also known as Nova Scotia’s Lighthouse Route, which travels along the South Shore, starting in Halifax and ending in Yarmouth. As we only have 7 days, we don’t recommend driving all the way to Yarmouth, but cutting inland to visit Wolfville on the North Shore.
A main reason to visit this region is for the Nordic spas, which are spaced along Nova Scotia’s Lighthouse Route and capture a different side of this landscape. The four spas in Nova Scotia are:
Between spa visits, you’ll taste your way through Nova Scotia’s culinary trails, a delicious way to experience its culture:
- 🦞 The Lobster Trail highlights fresh catches from shacks and fine-dining restaurants alike. Don’t miss a lobster roll in Peggy’s Cove or Wolfville.
- 🍲 The Chowder Trail celebrates the province’s seafood heritage, with steaming bowls of comfort from the South Shore to the Annapolis Valley. If you’re gluten-free, trust that Nova Scotia will take care of you with gluten-free seafood chowder on the menu in some places.
- 🍷 The Good Cheer Trail connects over 50 wineries, cideries, breweries, and distilleries, each showcasing Nova Scotia’s terroir and creativity.
- 🌊 Tidal Bay Wine – Nova Scotia’s signature white wine – embodies the province itself: crisp, cool, aromatic, and coastal, made entirely from local grapes. It’s the first wine appellation of its kind in North America, created to reflect the province’s coastal terroir and cool climate.
These trails weave naturally through this 7-day itinerary. Collect your Good Cheer or Chowder Trail passport, meet local artisans, and pair your wellness journey with a taste of Nova Scotia’s good life.
Top tip: Nordic spas fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Make sure you book ahead online and arrive early to enjoy full cycles.
Map + Overview Itinerary
To use the map below, Click the top right button to open it in a full page. From there, click the top left drop down to make a copy of the map. Then you can adjust it as needed for your personal use. Or click the star next to the map, to add it to your Google Maps account. You’ll then find it under Your Places on the menu tab in google maps.
- Day 1: Arrival in Halifax
- Day 2: Nature Folk Spa (Dartmouth) + Halifax highlights
- Day 3: Halifax to Indian Harbour
- Day 4: Oceanstone Hydrothermal Spa + Peggy’s Cove
- Day 5: Chester + Sensea Nordic Spa
- Day 6: Lunenburg & Mahone Bay
- Day 7: Wolfville + Saltair Nordic Spa
- Day 8: Wolfville Farmers Market + Departure
Driving time between each stop: roughly 1–2 hours, with scenery that’s as restorative as the spas themselves. Roads are scenic and well-marked, and you’ll pass plenty of coffee stops and lookouts along the way.
7 Day Nova Scotia Itinerary
For each destination and spa below, we have more in-depth information, photos, and itinerary ideas. Click on the links for those guides to learn more. Each destination guide will also have its own map with more pinned locations than the overview map above.
Day 1: Arrival in Halifax
- Getting there: Halifax Stanfield International Airport is located 30 minutes outside of Halifax city centre.
- Where to stay: Sutton Place Hotel. We stayed in an Executive King suite that looked straight out over the Halifax Citadel, the kind of city view that glows at sunset. The hotel’s modern luxury was balanced by warmth with valet parking, plush robes, and even a patio hot tub for guests to unwind after a day of exploring.
We touched down in Halifax with that giddy first-day-of-a-road-trip feeling. I’d imagined a small, quiet city – almost the size of our hometown of Raleigh – but what we found was pure vibrancy.
Spend your first day getting orientated. Get your hire car sorted and relax after your journey. Depending on what time you arrive, you may want to check out the sights if you land in the morning. Some historic sights worth checking out are the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, if you’re into museums, or the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, which has a daily noon gun.
We arrived in the afternoon, so we opted for a stroll along Halifax waterfront, which pulsed with life: street buskers, food trucks, patio bars, and art installations all set against the glinting harbor. You can explore it all along the 3.8 km waterfront boardwalk. The air smelled of salt and summer, and the view stretched across to George’s Island and Dartmouth, where we’d begin our spa journey the next morning.
We checked into the Sutton Place Hotel, our downtown base, and then headed for dinner that evening on Argyle Street, one of Halifax’s liveliest dining and nightlife hubs lined with restaurants, patios, and glowing string lights. We settled in at The Stubborn Goat, a cozy and creative eatery serving fresh, locally inspired dishes that felt both nourishing and indulgent, including gluten-free seafood chowder. It was the perfect welcome meal after a day of travel.
👉 Read our full things to do in Halifax guide for murals, music, and can’t-miss coffee shops.
Day 2: Dartmouth & Downtown Halifax
Our first morning coffee in Nova Scotia was across the Bedford Basin in Dartmouth, at Café Goodluck, and it instantly felt like home. Australians are picky about coffee, and this one passed the test with flying colors —smooth espresso, creamy foam, perfectly balanced. The bacon and egg breakfast sandwich was simple yet elevated, the kind of humble perfection we adore back home.
Just a few blocks away, past some fun Portland St murals, sits Nature Folk Nordic Spa, our first stop on the spa circuit. Set in a restored urban building across the harbor from Halifax, Nature Folk feels like a secret sanctuary for city dwellers. Inside, cedar saunas and a cool plunge pool invite you into the Nordic cycle, while a private infrared sauna lets you reset in silence.
This spa was where we fell in love with the Nordic spa concept, which invites you to rotate between hot, cold, and rest to rejuvenate body and mind. By the time we emerged, our stress had melted away, and our energy felt reset for the rest of the trip.
👉 Read our full Nature Folk Spa review.
Nordic spa-ing works up an appetite, so we headed straight back to Halifax for lunch on the patio under the warm sun in Durty Nelly’s. Craig had their award-winning seafood chowder with Guinness brown bread – a must-do for anyone following Nova Scotia’s Chowder Trail – and I tucked into a deeply savory cottage pie with a beautiful herb note.
Then we picked up another perfect coffee – our favorite in Halifax from Weird Harbour Espresso Bar before we set out for the afternoon explorations.
We explored the historic Halifax Citadel on the hill, the flower-filled Halifax Public Gardens, and the stunning Halifax Central Library, often called “Halifax’s Living Room.” From the rooftop café, you can sip coffee overlooking Spring Garden Road and the distant fortress, grateful for a city that values both design and community.
We capped the day with a waterfront stroll among public art installations at the Queen’s Marquee, watching the lights shift with the tides. Dinner at BG Halifax Garden came with live music, views of the harbor, and poutine! This was Nova Scotia living at its best. And we finished the day with live music back at Durty Nelly’s!
Afterwards, we wandered back to Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub, where live music spilled out into the street and locals sang along between pints. And if you want more pub life, Halifax has more per capita than any other city in Canada! No wonder it reminded us of Ireland and England! Halifax had already surprised us, small in scale but big in spirit, with a cultural pulse that hums long after sunset.
Day 3: Halifax to Indian Harbour
- Distance from last stop: 40 minute drive
- Where to stay: Oceanstone Seaside Resort, Indian Harbour, nestled right by the Atlantic. We stayed in the resort’s Oceanvista Suite overlooked the water.
Our morning started at Bluenose II Diner, a Halifax classic serving hearty, nostalgic breakfasts. Fueled up, we joined a one-hour Halifax Harbour Tour in the The Violet Mac, an all-electric, environmentally-friendly 1930s-style harbour launch. We glided past naval ships, historic docks, and the fortified shoreline learning so much about Halifax’s history. It was peaceful, informative, and offered a new perspective on the city’s maritime soul.
Before heading out, we explored the Hydrostone District in the North End, an area rebuilt after the Halifax Explosion, now filled with cafés and boutiques. We did a self-guided mural tour, grabbed gluten-free fish and chips from Williams (since 1946!) and, if it were open (closed Mondays), we would have gotten an espresso to go from Espresso 46 (they get great reviews).
By mid-afternoon, we were cruising toward Indian Harbour, a scenic 1-hour drive. We checked into the Oceanstone Resort and spent the evening sipping wine on the balcony, with a pre-ordered meal of bacon-wrapped pork, watching the sky blush over the bay.
👉 Read our Oceanstone Resort experience + nearby Peggy’s Cove guide.
Day 4: Oceanstone Hydrothermal Spa + Peggy’s Cove
Oceanstone’s Hydrothermal Spa redefines coastal wellness. The spa’s circuit includes saunas, steam rooms, and outdoor thermal pools, all designed to immerse you in the sounds and scents of the sea. What made it magical was being able to dip directly into the Atlantic Ocean as part of the cold cycle – reviving, exhilarating, and deeply calming all at once.
Between circuits, we relaxed by a fire pit, sipping a turmeric-pear smoothie and nibbling on morning glory muffins and protein power balls. Every detail felt intentional, from the nourishing snacks to the ocean air that made every deep breath a meditation.
Afterwards, we drove to Peggy’s Cove, just a few minutes away, to visit its world-famous lighthouse and rugged granite shorelines. First, we enjoyed a short peaceful hike away along the Polly’s Cove Trail along the cliff’s edge with spectacular ocean views and no one else around! A stark difference to the tourism hotspot that is Peggy’s Cove!
There are over 150 lighthouses in Nova Scotia, but Peggy’s is the most photographed (in the world, apparently!). The light was golden and soft, a perfect backdrop for photos and quiet reflection. We loved the small Six by the Sea village here with cafes, ice cream, and souvenirs inside historic buildings and the cute 100-year-old red schoolhouse. We’d planned to try the renowned lobster rolls at Tom’s Lobster Shack, but they’d just sold out – a Nova Scotia heartbreak! (Tip: make this your lunch stop, not dinner.)
Day 5: Chester & Sensea Nordic Spa
We left early for Chester, less than an hour’s drive west through charming fishing villages. Chester itself is postcard-pretty with sailboats bobbing in the harbor, cafés spilling onto flower-lined streets.
Chester is only small, so we had a very relaxed couple of hours wandering the streets, popping into art galleries and small boutique stores.
We had well-crafted coffee and cake at the Kiwi Café – well, okay, maybe two cups. Of course, the coffee would be good, the café is owned by a Kiwi!
We had lunch at Fo’c’sle, Nova Scotia’s oldest pub, where Craig had a delicious serving of fish and chips, and my most wonderful treat – gluten-free calamari, the best I’ve had outside of Australia. We then popped into the small Tanner Brewing for a pint of their mead in the sun.
Now it was time for our afternoon of bliss: Sensea Nordic Spa. Nestled in a forest clearing beside a still lake, Sensea is widely considered the crown jewel of Nova Scotia’s Nordic spa scene.
Here, time doesn’t exist. Literally – there’s no set time limit. Guests are encouraged to linger, move through the saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, and cold plunges at their own pace, and simply be.
We joined a guided hammam ritual with eucalyptus steam, mud masks, towel twirling, and breathwork, which was a deeply cleansing, meditative experience. Between cycles, we dozed in teardrop hammocks under the trees, relaxed in the private barrel sauna overlooking the lake, and enjoyed a cozy meal inside a yurt restaurant serving hearty, healthy fare.
By evening, we drove a short distance to Oak Island Resort, where we ended the day with happy hour drinks and live music as the sun dipped behind the hills.
👉 Read our full Sensea Nordic Spa review and what to do in Chester.
Day 6: Lunenburg & Mahone Bay
This day was pure charm and color. Old town Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dazzles with its rainbow harborfront and heritage architecture. We joined the Lunenburg walking tour, learning how the shipbuilding legacy shaped the town was shaped through history starting with the original inhabitants through to the pilgrims and their shipbuilding legacy and seeing the iconic Bluenose II schooner up close.
Lunch was at South Shore Fish Shack on their outdoor deck overlooking the water, where we ate delicious fish and chips and poutine – you’re just not in Canada unless you eat it. In keeping with our quest to enjoy Nova Scotia’s Good Cheer Trail, we tasted rum and whiskey at Ironworks Distillery, housed in a former marine blacksmith’s shop, and then a refreshing peach seltzer with a view looking back over the Lunenburg Waterfront from Lightship Brewery.
In the afternoon, we drove 15 minutes to Mahone Bay, famed for its trio of historic churches and artisan boutiques. The BernArt Maze was a quirky surprise: a kilometer-long labyrinth of colorful mosaics, sculptures, and murals that celebrate creativity at every turn.
We grabbed coffee at The Barn and browsed Amos Pewter, where local craftsmanship shines, watching artisans make pewter Christmas ornaments, and picking up one ourselves as a memory-inducing souvenir. If the weather was warmer, we would love to have tried homemade ice cream from Sweet Treasures Confectionery.
That evening, we checked into Planters Ridge Winery, our lodging in the Annapolis Valley. Watching the sunset over rows of vines with a chilled glass of Tidal Bay, a charcuterie board, and salmon bruschetta was the definition of tranquility.
ALTERNATIVE: Before setting off to Wolfville, if you want a beautiful sunrise spot, head to Blue Rocks in Lunenburg, where you might even see seals swimming among the kelp forest there. You can also go kayaking with them with Pleasant Paddling.
👉 Read our Lunenburg + Mahone Bay guide and our guide to the Lunenberg Walking Tour.
Day 7: Wolfville & Saltair Nordic Spa
- Distance from last stop: 30-minute drive
- Where to stay: Planters Ridge Winery
The final leg of our spa journey took us to Saltair Nordic Spa & Wellness near Baxters Harbour, overlooking the legendary Bay of Fundy, home to the world’s highest tides and is a great place for whale watching (May to October). They can rise as high as 54 feet and change at an average distance of 11.6 m. We have a very special connection to this, as we once worked on a pearl farm in Australia, home to the second biggest tidal movements in the world. I was thrilled to finally check Number 1 off my bucket list.
We began with a guided “All the Feels” class, combining breathwork and mindful movement before cycling through the saunas, steam room, and cold plunges. The salty Fundy air and sweeping ocean views made each cycle feel like a meditation in motion.
Afterward, we drove a short way to Hall’s Harbour Lobster Pound, where, if you time your visit right, you can enjoy your meal with the changing tides. Watching fishing boats rest on mudflats that were only a few hours ago under meters of water will be surreal. I obviously can’t read a tidal chart right and will be relying on your photographs to show me! (You have two opportunities a day to walk on the ocean floor.)
We may have missed out on the tides, but we did not miss out on delicious lobster – say YES to the lobster poutine. Note: If you can’t time the tidal movements, to save time with the detour to Hall;s Harbour you may wish to skip it and go back to explore Wolfville area in more depth. (Craig found an excellent lobster roll there … see below)
The afternoon explorations included a couple of Wolfville’s Good Cheer Trail stops:
- Just Us Coffee Roasters: Fueling up for the afternoon with an excellent flat white at Canada’s first fair trade organic coffee roaster.
- Tangled Garden, where herb-infused vinegars and jellies are handcrafted in a whimsical garden setting that feels very tangled and wild!
- Domaine de Grand Pré Winery, a pioneer in the Tidal Bay appellation as the oldest farm winery in Atlantic Canada. Their wine flights showcased the diversity of Nova Scotia varietals, from crisp whites to bold reds, all in a convivial atmosphere.
- Annapolis Cider Company, for crisp, refreshing cider flights. While we’re not usually cider drinkers, we couldn’t resist stopping by after learning they’d just won Canadian Cidermaker of the Year. Their tasting flight included a Geneva crab rosé, a traditional Gravenstein, and a hopped pear — light, fruity, and surprisingly complex.
We then wrapped up a great day in Wolfville with dinner at the Church Brewing Company, set inside a restored stone Presbyterian church, which took me back to living in London and visiting a few pubs in churches. The soaring architecture, landscaped outdoor patio, and elevated pub food made it a highlight of the trip.
And then some live music in the small upstairs bar at The Library Pub, a cozy tavern where shelves of ale replace shelves of books. We really enjoyed the Wolfville area -it reminded me so much of wine life in Australia.
👉 Read our full Saltair Nordic Spa review + Wolfville guide.
Day 8: Wolfville Farmers Market + Departure
Our final morning began at the Wolfville Farmers Market as we browsed stalls overflowing with produce, baked goods, and artisan crafts. It was the perfect reminder of Nova Scotia’s community spirit and local pride. We then wandered the main street of Downtown Wolfville, enjoying some local stores and a coffee at T.A.N. Coffee, a local roaster committed to fair trade and sustainability. Their flat white was spot-on.
We couldn’t have imagined a better way to wrap up such a special week. After the farmers market, we headed to Luckett Vineyards, where something even more memorable than the views unfolded – we finally met longtime online friends in real life. The conversation flowed with delicious tacos, lobster rolls, and crisp chardonnay. It felt like the perfect full-circle moment: sharing stories, laughter, and glasses of Tidal Bay among the vines, overlooking the patchwork fields of the Annapolis Valley.
It was a reminder that travel is the portal that leads us to connection, serendipity, and the simple joy of being exactly where you’re meant to be.
Best time to visit Nova Scotia
The best time to visit Nova Scotia is from late Spring to early Autumn, as the weather is the most pleasant.
Summer (June–September) brings warm days, open trails, and festival energy. We had near-perfect weather for the week – warm, sunny days, and evenings requiring a light sweater.
Fall (October) is the season for vineyard colors and cozy spa days. Winter (November–March) may not be the busiest time of year to travel, but it’s no less beautiful. Visit for snow-dusted serenity and steaming saunas under the stars.
What to pack for a Nova Scotia road trip
- Swimsuit + flip-flops / shower shoes (for spa circuits)
- Cozy robe or cover-up – although most of the spas provide robes at no extra cost.
- Water bottle
- Layers for changing weather
- Trail passports (Good Cheer, Lobster, Chowder)
- Walking shoes
Why you’ll love Nova Scotia
This 7-day Nova Scotia spa road trip is about balance – incorporating wellness and wonder, luxury and simplicity, stillness and adventure.
You’ll float between saunas and sea air, between fine wine and humble lobster shacks, between city buzz and quiet coves. You’ll meet locals who greet you like old friends and discover that in Nova Scotia, self-care and celebration are beautifully intertwined.
For us, it wasn’t just a week of spa therapy; it was a reminder to slow down, breathe deeply, and let nature do the healing.
If you’re craving a journey that leaves you both rested and renewed, let Nova Scotia’s spas, trails, and tides show you the way. It’s not called Canada’s Ocean Playground for nothing.
More Nova Scotia Travel Tips
Original Article on yTravel Blog