Prince Edward Island Travel Guide
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada’s smallest province at just 139 miles long and 40 miles wide. But there’s nothing small about PEI’s beauty and potential for adventure. We took an unforgettable road trip around PEI, and it gave us so much scope for the imagination! We’re happy to share our Prince Edward Island travel guide with 8 things we recommend doing when you visit this lovely Canadian island province.
1. visit victoria-by-the-sea
Victoria-by-the-Sea is a small, historic fishing village on PEI’s south shore. When you’re there, stop by Island Chocolates to see the chocolates being made by hand. Also, be sure to check out the lighthouse. The lighthouse, in addition to being a fully operational lighthouse, serves as a museum. Here, the exhibit Keepers Of The Light traces the village’s history through the golden era of seafaring commerce. If you’re hungry, grab a bite to eat at Landmark Oyster House. PEI exports its oysters all over the world, and Landmark Oyster House serves many of PEI’s best brands—some of the freshest oysters in the world!
2. explore thunder cove beach
Thunder Cove Beach is located in Darnley on PEI’s northern coast between Cabot Beach Provincial Park and Cavendish Beach. The red sandstone cliff sides, caves, and sea stacks tell an age-old story of wind and water sculpting the landscape in dramatic ways. Here, you’ll find Teacup Rock, one of the island’s most photographed sites. Even though it’s a popular place for photographers, relatively few people visit Thunder Cove Beach, so you just might get the chance to explore these natural wonders all by yourself!
3. take an aerial tour
One of the highlights of our trip was an aerial tour of the island with FD Air Tours. On a sunny day, our pilot took us up in a single-engine four-seater plane to view PEI’s beautiful green pastures and dramatic coastline from above. Seeing the island from this perspective gave us some really unique photo and video opportunities, not to mention an awe-inspiring experience. The pilot even taught us about the plane’s controls and let Tom fly the plane for a while! Unfortunately, FD Air Tours is no longer in operation, but you can book a helicopter tour through Green Isle Air based in Charlottetown.
4. watch sunset at cape tryon light
Attention lighthouse lovers: As you might imagine, there are lots of lighthouses in PEI, so you absolutely have to see at least a few of them while you’re there! We chose to spend one evening at Cape Tryon Lighthouse. It’s not easy to find this place though—you have to drive down a long dirt road between two farm fields that can be muddy and slippery, especially if it’s rained recently. But the effort and time required to get there are totally worth it. The lighthouse stands on top of a tall red sandstone cliff overlooking the Atlantic. The views here are spectacular—a great spot to enjoy a summer sunset!
5. eat all the food
Prince Edward Island is well-known as a “foodie” haven. It’s home to fresh seafood, world-famous potatoes, blueberries, cheese, and lots more. The food culture is so amazing that it’s pretty much impossible to have a bad meal!
If you time your trip right, there are several food festivals worth attending—Fall Flavours Festival, the PEI International Shellfish Festival, The PEI Festival of Wines. You can also learn how to cook at one of PEI’s Culinary Boot Camps.
6. visit anne of green gables heritage place
If you’ve never watched Anne with an “E” on Netflix, then close your computer, put down your phone, and go turn it on RIGHT NOW! This show, based on the book Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, tells the heart-warming story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative, passionate, red-haired orphan girl adopted by two elderly siblings in a farming community on PEI’s north shore.
Even if you haven’t read the book or watched the show, you should definitely visit Green Gables Heritage Place in Prince Edward Island National Park. The museum showcases Anne’s adventures at Green Gables, the place that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s story and characters.
Open May through September.
7. spend an afternoon on cavendish beach
Cavendish Beach is located within Prince Edward Island National Park and is one of the most well-known beaches in PEI. A beautiful wooden boardwalk leads you from the parking lot to the beach, which has a supervised swimming area. Here, you’ll find long stretches with sand dunes, cliffs, and wetlands. You’ll also find amazing views of PEI’s signature red sands and the Atlantic Ocean. Pretty cool if you ask us.
8. explore charlottetown
Charlottetown is the capital city of PEI. Here, you’ll find lots of historic buildings, great little cafes, and unique shops. Before you head out to explore the streets, make sure to grab coffee from Receiver Coffee Co. Another stop worth making is St. Dunstan’s Basilica. It’ll give you a good idea of Charlottetown’s Victorian heritage. From here you can stroll around the city’s Victorian neighborhoods and take in the fascinating architecture.
Victoria Row is lined with lots of cool shops. One of them—the Anne of Green Gables Shop—is an absolute must-visit for anyone who’s read the book or watched Netlflix’s Anne with an “E.” (We repeat, if you’ve read this far and haven’t dropped all responsibilities to go watch Anne with an “E”, do this now or we won’t be friends with you anymore.) Lastly, head down to Peak’s Wharf and check out this pleasant waterfront area with shops, restaurants, boat tours, and lovely views of the harbor.
