Prince Edward Island Holidays

Charlottetown, Summerside and Victoria-by-the-Sea form a trio of towns along Prince Edward Island’s South Coast. It’s a place where easy modern culture sits beside quaint, historic charm. You can visit Province House, where the idea of Canada was born. Stroll down the waterfront at Summerside, or head inland to uncover the lives of early settlers at the Acadian Museum.

Bookworms should check out the streets and buildings that inspired the fictional adventures of Anne of Green Gables, from rural Cavendish to the themed Avonlea Village. You can see Lucy Maud Montgomery’s personal scrapbooks, stories and poems in New London, or take a carriage ride at the Campbell Homestead around the author’s model for the Lake of Shining Waters.

Elsewhere, you can explore beaches and coves among the wildlife of Prince Edward Island National Park. Wander the boardwalk trail over dune-backed beaches. Or take a fishing trip from any of the island’s many harbours.

Charlottetown is a must-visit during your trip to Prince Edward Island. You can walk the halls of Province House, where the idea of uniting Canada was born at the Charlottetown Conference in 1864.

Grab a drink on Victoria Row, as people bustle along the cobbles into Victorian red-brick houses, which are now filled with art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants. Visit the ornate and historic St Dunstan's Basilica and grand Beaconsfield House.

Be inspired at the Confederation Centre of the Arts – Charlottetown’s cultural hub – where there’s a gallery, museum, and theatre. In summer, you can also catch a performance of the Anne of Green Gables musical.

For a taste of history, visit in June and July. At this time, you can tour the streets with ghosts of the past, as Fathers and Ladies of Confederation offer guided tours. And you can stroll past the cannons lining Victoria Park Boardwalk, leading to the fortifications of Prince Edward Battery at the water’s edge.

We’d really recommend hiring a car, so you can explore Canada's smallest province by getting out on the road. The winding Points East Coastal Drive takes you on a scenic journey past six clifftop beacons, from East Point Lighthouse in the north, to Wood Islands Lighthouse in the south. In-between, you’ll find the island’s oldest lighthouses and Cape Bear Lighthouse, which was the first land station to receive a distress signal from the Titanic.

You can travel back to the late 19th century at Orwell Corner Historic Village, and see island transport of the past at Elmira Railway Museum. Or shuffle through the “Singing Sands” of Basin Head, where miles of sand means there’s a beach spot for everyone. Or drive along the roads of West Prince Edward Island’s 200-mile Cape Coastal Drive. You can take a seafood tour of the small towns and fishing villages, dotted between eroded sandstone cliffs and quiet sandy beaches.

Summer brings Prince Edward Island to life with festivals and events across the island. Temperatures between 20°C and 25°C make June to August the best time to visit, as you can expect pleasant weather and warm waters for swimming. Actors bring history to life on the streets of Charlottetown, while Summerside becomes home to outdoor concerts of Celtic music and dance.

If you’d prefer to visit at a quieter time, consider going in spring or autumn. Plus, in if you go in September, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the International Shellfish Festival, held in Charlottetown.

Winter temperatures can fall below freezing, so the island is much quieter between November and February. Some attractions close for the season. But, if you’re happy to wrap up warm, you’ll be able to see the island’s beautiful towns dressed in Christmas lights, and relish the opportunity to travel the Confederation Trail by snowmobile.