The Maritimes are renowned for wind-whipped shores, fishing heritage, and neighbours, friendly strangers. Beyond Halifax or Saint John, their small towns welcome guests with open arms to hospitality in warm chat, native foods, and down-home heritage. These towns, each with populations of fewer than 50,000, invite visitors to breathe deeply and get acquainted with residents who actually want you to feel at home. From coastal villages to country settlements, here are eight Maritime towns where hospitality’s not a platitude—it’s a way of life.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg is welcoming and courteous the moment you stroll down its harbor. The Atlantic Fisheries Museum features volunteers who will be more than happy to indulge you with individual fishing stories as well as what is on display. The Bluenose II drops into port regularly, and ship’s crew is happy to engage with anyone wishing to discuss Nova Scotia’s famous schooner. Grab a meal at Salt Shaker Deli and Inn, where seafood chowder and wood-fired pizzas are served with a smile. Strolling the UNESCO-listed streets lined with colorful wooden houses, you’ll find shopkeepers at places like Dots & Loops who take time to talk about their handmade goods. Lunenburg blends hospitality and history in equal doses, making it one of the most hospitable towns on the South Shore.
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Wolfville works because of the intersection of farmers, students, and winemakers, so it is a vibrant but welcoming town. The Wolfville Farmers’ Market is the pulse of town—vendors do not simply sell produce and baked goods, but recall your name on a return visit. On campus in Acadia University are the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens to stroll through at no cost, with staff dropping by to provide advice on native plants. Lunch is Mediterranean at Troy Restaurant, and staff greet strangers as friends. Gaspereau Vineyards provides tastings close by where the winemakers pour their own wine and discuss the valley’s terroir. Wolfville’s blend of agriculture, education, and tourism lends it a busy yet welcoming atmosphere.
Shediac, New Brunswick
Shediac is the “Lobster Capital of the World,” but also a hospitable town where good manners run as plentiful as the seafood. Parlee Beach is a seaside resort where residents exchange greetings as they stand in line for fries and fried clams at the canteen. In town, Adorable Chocolat makes boutique candies in small batches, and owners are delighted to walk you through their sweets. Giant Lobster statue as a souvenir attraction or not, volunteers around town will likely give directions or stories of Shediac’s fishing past. Maison Tait House Restaurant is a homey supper destination, where hosts welcome you as part of their family. Shediac has a penchant for hospitality served up with butter and lobster
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is smaller than Charlottetown but just as island-y, only on a friendlier scale. Credit Union Place is a community center for locals—employees there will generally point you in the direction of locals’ events, from hockey games to craft fairs. College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts has been known to let tourists in on rehearsals, where you can meet with students learning bagpipes and Highland dance. For a casual bite, South Central Kitchen & Provisions serves hearty fare with the warmth of dining in someone’s home. Along the water’s edge, Spinnaker’s Landing has lively shops where artisans tell about their work. Summerside is a community where culture meets genuine heart.
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is one of the oldest towns in Canada, but the greeting is timeless. Gardeners in Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens pause to enlighten visitors on the heritage roses or on the vegetable gardens. Fort Anne National Historic Site interpreters interleave centuries-old stories with passion, again now freshly spoken. Bistro East offers a cozy evening ambiance, where a region seafood-focused menu and waiters ready to give tips are offered. Saturday Farmers & Traders Market takes the downtown and turns it into a lively meeting point where everyone knows each other—but they’ll be willing to draw visitors in as well. Annapolis Royal’s compact size makes it easy to become acquainted, and locals seem eager to make sure that you’ll have a good time on your visit.
St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews, or St. Andrews by-the-Sea, as it is lovingly referred to, is warm at heart. Huntsman Marine Science Centre is so much a tourist spot—scientists and volunteers with smiles freely explain what they do with marine animals and provide hands-on learning. Water Street has shops like Crocker Hill Store, where owners talk as much as they make change. Kingsbrae Garden is a favorite among insiders, where gardeners and docents are always available to offer tips on the blooms. For dinner, The Gables Restaurant serves fresh seafood in comfortable settings, and hosts treat you like family. A combination of science, gardens, and good eating makes hospitality second nature in St. Andrews.
Alberton, Prince Edward Island
Alberton, northwest coast of PEI, is tight-knit but open-armed towards visitors. The Alberton Museum, in the old courthouse, usually has staff who add personal stories to the displays. Jacques Cartier Provincial Park is a quiet beach community where people gather for family picnics, and residents do not hesitate to provide picnic advice. At Tignish Heritage Inn & Gardens just outside town, staff members are inclined to offer unsolicited guided tours of the historic structure. In Alberton proper, Alberton Bakery and Cafe has a reputation for hearty breakfasts where the entire family can get together and enjoy some grub. Alberton may be small, but it warms up at once so that strangers become instant members of the family.
Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou, a “Birthplace of New Scotland,” has a hospitality rooted in history. Staff in the Hector Heritage Quay share stories about the ship Hector and its Scottish passengers with great enthusiasm, sometimes pausing to incorporate personal connections between the staff’s own families and the story. The deCoste Performing Arts Centre offers close-up concerts where performers and attendants mix with visitors. To dine, Harbour House Ales & Spirits is a pub and a community club, where a local will be delighted to suggest their favorite dish. Strolling along the Pictou Waterfront will introduce one to talking with fishermen or merchants. Maritime hospitality makes Pictou a town in which one is immediately family the moment one steps foot through the door.
The Maritimes are famous for being hospitable, but these towns institutionalize hospitality at its most personal form. Whether chocolatier in Shediac, gardener in Annapolis Royal, or fisherman in Pictou, they do not merely give a service but give themselves. With fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, these towns offer outsiders the chance to relax, chat with locals, and be immersed in society at its most complete form. To sense for yourself why the Maritimes are renowned for hospitality, start here.