Prince Edward Island holidays
Canada’s smallest province charms you with its rural beauty and rich maritime culture. It’s no wonder author LM Montgomery set her classic novel ‘Anne of Green Gables’ here. Holidays to Prince Edward Island can feel like a storybook. Explore everything from epic hiking trails to historic fishing villages and picturesque pocket beaches. And they don’t call it ‘Canada’s Food Island’ for nothing — prepare to eat well.
Top destinations in Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is an ideal base for exploring Prince Edward Island. Enjoy farm-to-table feasts, waterfront strolls and lively festivals in the capital of Canada’s smallest province.
Prince Edward Island: fast facts
Language
English
Currency
Canadian dollar (C$)
Time zone
Charlottetown - UTC−4 (AST) and UTC−3 (ADT)
High season
June – September
Low season
December – March
Prince Edward Island holiday highlights
Visit the local farms
Plot your meals carefully because every breakfast, lunch and dinner is an opportunity to be wowed. Local farms make up nearly half of the island, producing everything from milk and dairy products to potatoes and honey. Sample seasonal treats at markets and farm-to-table restaurants, or experience a working farm up close with a guided tour. Some farms even welcome overnight visitors.
Relive a famous novel
Published in 1908, ‘Anne of Green Gables’ continues to be adored by readers around the world. LM Montgomery drew from childhood memories of Prince Edward Island (PEI) to bring spirited Anne Shirley and her Avonlea community to life. Visit the sites that inspired the author, like the Green Gables Heritage Place, and see her literary legacy still thriving today.
Explore Indigenous cultures
Learning about the culture of the Mi’kmaq People, the region’s original stewards, is one of the most unique things to do on Prince Edward Island. Pay a visit to Lennox Island, home to Lennox Island First Nation. Here, you can try your hand at traditional Mi’kmaq crafts like quill work and taste traditional foods. Or take a guided walk along the Path of Our Forefathers trail.
Things to do in Prince Edward Island
Top attractions
Anne Shirley is one of Canada’s most beloved fictional characters. Her world comes to life at Green Gables Heritage Place. Climb East Point Lighthouse to watch the ‘meeting of the tides’ between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Fragile and fascinating, the Greenwich dunes in Prince Edward Island National Park are continually reshaped by wind and water.
Beaches
With over a thousand kilometres of shoreline and some of Canada’s warmest water, PEI is a beach lover’s paradise. On the island’s eastern coast, Singing Sands Beach (also known as Basin Head Beach) is famous for the sound the sand makes when you walk on it. Prince Edward Island National Park features several scenic beaches with cycling paths, wheelchair access and loads of wildlife.
Nature
For such a small region, PEI is packed with diverse natural beauty, from dense spruce and maple forests to salt marshes full of migratory birds and sweeping fields of wildflowers. The 273-kilometre Confederation Trail runs clear across the island, guiding walkers, cyclists and horse riders through some of the province’s most dramatic landscapes.
Cuisine
Be it produce or fish, local, seasonal ingredients loom large at the best restaurants on Prince Edward Island. In Charlottetown, the Culinary Institute of Canada trains the next generation of chefs. Lobster suppers and seafood chowder are staples you’ll find across the island. And local mussels and oysters are celebrated every September at the popular PEI Shellfish Festival.
Culture and museums
The museums on Prince Edward Island honour the island’s cultural heritage and traditional industries like fishing and shipbuilding. The PEI Heritage Passport offers admission to seven major sites, including the Acadian Museum and Eptek Art & Culture Centre. Step back in time at the Orwell Corner Historic Village, or enjoy a performance at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Nightlife
With live music every night of the week in summer, nightlife on Prince Edward Island comes with a terrific soundtrack. Check out local artists and traditional music at brewpubs in Summerside. In Charlottetown, make a beeline for the bars and clubs along Kent Street for dancing, karaoke and DJs. Venues like Trailside Music Hall feature touring bands and local acts.
Find the best time to visit Prince Edward Island
Weather in Prince Edward Island through the year
March – May: Spring arrives on the late side on PEI. Cool temperatures and occasional frost linger throughout April. May welcomes glorious wildflowers, but do pack a rain jacket.
June – August: Summer beach season is in full swing by July. Temperatures can occasionally top 30°C, but the warm waters of the Northumberland Strait are perfect for a refreshing dip.
September – October: Nights get colder in autumn, though afternoons can stay sunny and temperate throughout October. It’s a great time of year to hit the hiking trails.
November – February: You’ll find plenty of cold and snow on PEI. But the ocean makes winter here a lot warmer than in much of the rest of Canada.
Events in Prince Edward Island
Jack Frost Winterfest (February): Carnival games, snow slides and ice sculptures keep Charlottetown buzzing with family-friendly fun. Play in the snow or head indoors for crafts and magic shows.
Charlottetown Festival (June to August): Atlantic Canada’s largest theatre festival highlights Canadian talent. Catch a world premiere or watch ‘Anne of Green Gables: The Musical’, performed at the festival since 1965.
Gran Fondo PEI (August): This two-day bike tour takes amateurs and professional cyclists through the province’s most beautiful countryside. Pick an easy ride or a serious test of endurance.
Fall Flavours Food and Drink Festival (September to October): The island’s best chefs and food producers strut their stuff at this culinary showcase. Tasting menus highlight local ingredients and cultural traditions.
Know before you go
Getting around Prince Edward Island
Public transport
Buses: On weekdays, T3 Transit operates rural routes to destinations across the island, plus city buses in Charlottetown, Summerside, Cornwall and Stratford. Rural fares need to be booked in advance, and some buses run only a few times a day. But the price can’t be beaten.
Boats: The Confederation Bridge links PEI to New Brunswick, but the ferry makes for a scenic crossing. The leisurely 75-minute voyage between Caribou, Nova Scotia, and Woods Island on PEI runs every few hours during the high season.
Domestic flights
Air Canada schedules year-round flights to Charlottetown Airport from Toronto and Montreal. During the summer, Flair and Porter offer budget connections to Toronto. Still, flights into Charlottetown can be expensive. If you plan to hire a car, you may find better deals by flying into Moncton or Halifax. It’ll add a couple of hours to your trip, but the drive is beautiful.
Driving and car hire
It takes only a few hours to drive the whole length of the island, which is just 225 kilometres from tip to tip. But leave yourself plenty of time to stop off and enjoy the scenery without having to rush. Three scenic coastal drives take you through the island’s highlights.
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