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Bay of Fundy

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Home to world's highest tides

The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia showcases dramatic tides that rise and fall more than 50 feet each day. The water shifts so dramatically it creates unique beaches, salt marshes and rocky shores. Visitors can watch whales feed offshore or explore historic fishing villages along the coast. Trails wind through forests and wetlands where birds gather during migration seasons. Tidal pools reveal marine life in shallow waters while lighthouses stand guard over busy shipping lanes. The region supports both wildlife and small towns that rely on sustainable tourism for their economy.

Region in Canada
Climate zone: Warm continental

Warm continental: Humid continental climates with warm summers, cold winters and evenly distributed precipitation, typical of northern interior mid-latitudes.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 5.8
General Safety:5
Health & medical:7
Accessibility:5
Tap water:9
Read details
Tourist English: 5/5
English is widely spoken throughout the Bay of Fundy region, with virtually all tourism services, accommodations, and attractions operating in English. In New Brunswick, you'll also hear French, but language barriers are extremely rare for English speaker
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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Bay of Fundy Summary

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Famous for the world’s highest tides. Walk ocean floors at low tide, kayak dramatic coastlines, watch whales and explore coastal parks.
Place score
7.6
Best at:
Natural sites
10
Sea
9
Spotless
8
Guided tours
8
Wildlife
8
Personal score
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Suited for
👶 8
Families
🧓 7
Seniors
❤️ 9
Couples
♻️ 9
Sustainability
Canada – Quick facts
Power Grid: 120 V, 60 Hz
Plug: Type A , Type B
Type A:
Diagram of a Type A power plug
Type B:
Diagram of a Type B power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
£1 ≈ CA$1.87
Cashless info: Rating 5/5
Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in urban areas. Most businesses accept credit and debit cards, and mobile payment options like Apple Pay are popular.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is customary in Canada, with a typical tip of 10-20% in restaurants. Tipping is also expected in taxis and for hotel staff, usually 1-2 CAD for bellhops and housekeepers.
Public drinking: Public drinking laws vary by province, but it's often allowed in designated areas such as festivals or certain parks.
Public smoking: Smoking is prohibited indoors in public spaces and in most outdoor spaces in urban areas. Some provinces have stricter laws than others.
Canada Day
(July)
The country celebrates with fireworks and festivals. Expect crowded tourist spots and high demand for accommodations.
Thanksgiving
(October)
A major family holiday with many businesses closed, especially in rural areas.
Christmas
(December)
Festive markets and winter activities are popular, but expect higher accommodation prices and busy cities.
Emergency contact: Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps: Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Other: Canada is vast, so be prepared for long distances between cities and varying weather conditions depending on the region.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Bay of Fundy, Canada
🌨️
Jan
🌬️
Feb
🌬️
Mar
🌥️
Apr
🌤️
May
🌤️
Jun
🌤️
Jul
☀️
Aug
🌤️
Sep
🌤️
Oct
🌬️
Nov
🌬️
Dec
High season: July - Sep.
Shoulder season: May - June, Oct.
Crowdedness: 5 (Moderate tourist numbers)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Tourism season mid May to mid October, many attractions, tours and accommodations close outside it
Whale watching tours run June to October, best sightings July to September
Highest tides around new and full moon, always check tide times before ocean-floor walks

Why travel to Bay of Fundy?

Traveling to the Bay of Fundy offers a chance to witness one of Earth's most impressive natural phenomena. The sheer power of these massive tides creates a constantly changing landscape that feels almost magical – you can explore sea caves and walk around towering sea stacks at low tide, then watch as the rushing waters completely transform the scenery. The tides are so powerful they even create reversing waterfalls and tidal bores that you can actually surf or raft on. Beyond the tides, the Fundy region offers incredible biodiversity with opportunities to spot up to 12 species of whales in summer, explore fossil-rich cliffs that tell the story of life 300 million years ago and hike through pristine Acadian forests to hidden waterfalls. The area perfectly balances natural wonders with charming coastal villages, scenic lighthouses and unique experiences like dining on the ocean floor or paddling through rising waters. Just be prepared for the region's variable weather and plan your visits carefully around tide schedules to fully experience what makes this place so special.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Fundy Trail Parkway
  • 2 Grand Manan Island
  • 3 Roosevelt Campobello International Park
  • 4 Serenity By The Sea Salon & Spa
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Alma Street East
  • 2 Broadleaf Guest Ranch
  • 3 Fundy National Park of Canada
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Cape Enrage
  • 2 Frye Island
  • 3 Partridge Island
  • 4 Reversing Falls
  • 5 St. Martins Sea Caves
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Alma Lobster Shop
  • 2 St. Andrews Outdoor Farmer's Market
  • 3 Studio on the Marsh
🎈Events
  • Not Since Moses Run
  • Dining on the Ocean Floor
  • Fundy Tidal Bore Festival
  • Winter Camping at Fundy National Park
  • Bay of Fundy Marathon
  • Fundy Adventure Racing
  • Conservation Week Activities
  • Local Agricultural Shows
  • Whale Watching Season
  • Seasonal Glamping Events

Knowledge before you go

  • Check tide charts daily. Extreme tides up to 16 meters change access rapidly.
  • Walk ocean floor at low tide at Hopewell Rocks or Burntcoat Head for unique views.
  • Book whale watching tours from July to October; seals and humpbacks frequent coastal waters.
  • Drive Fundy Trail Parkway for dramatic cliffs and lookouts; stop at Walton Glen Gorge for secluded hikes.

How to travel to Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy region is accessible via several entry points. Most international visitors fly into Halifax (Nova Scotia) or Moncton (New Brunswick) airports, then rent a car to explore the coastline. Saint John Airport in New Brunswick is another option closer to the western part of the bay. The region is also accessible by car from major cities like Montreal (about 8 hours to the western shore) or Boston (about 7 hours to the Nova Scotia side).

Access summary

  • From Saint John Airport (YSJ): Drive or shuttle to coastal sites, 30–90 minutes.
  • From Halifax: Drive to Nova Scotia Fundy spots (e.g., Wolfville), around 1–3 hours.
  • Saint John–Digby ferry: Vehicle/passenger ferry across Bay of Fundy, about 2–2.5 hours.

Where to stay in Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy offers diverse accommodation options ranging from campgrounds and rustic cabins to B&Bs and boutique hotels. Fundy National Park provides both serviced and unserviced camping with amenities like showers and fire pits. For those seeking more comfort, coastal communities like Alma, St. Andrews and St. Martins offer charming inns and lodges. Unique options include lighthouse glamping at Broadleaf Ranch. Accommodations can fill quickly during summer months, so advance booking is recommended.

How to get around Bay of Fundy

Getting around the Bay of Fundy requires a vehicle as the attractions are spread out along the coastline of both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Public transportation is limited in this rural area, so renting a car is the most practical option. Some tour operators offer shuttle services between major attractions, particularly in more visited areas like Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-18 %
Daily expenses in the region are around 18% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-10 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to CAD) is 10% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£64
£144
£340
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£30
£75
£150
🍝 Food per day
£28
£62
£170
🚕 Transportation per day
£7
£7
£20
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£24
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£14
🍟 Fast food combo
£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£10
☕ Cappuccino
£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£3.70
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£1.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£11.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£0.90
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£27
🤧 Cold medication
£7
💇 Basic haircut
£9.50

Safety information overview

General safety
5
The Bay of Fundy is generally very safe for tourists, but visitors should exercise caution around the tides. Never explore sea caves or walk on the ocean floor without checking tide schedules, as waters can rise rapidly and cut off escape routes.
Health & Medical
7
Medical facilities are available in larger towns but can be limited in rural areas. The nearest hospitals are in cities like Saint John, Moncton and Truro. Visitors with existing health conditions should identify the closest medical facilities to their planned activities.
Accessi­bility
5
Accessibility varies throughout the region. Major attractions like Hopewell Rocks have made efforts to improve accessibility with boardwalks and viewing platforms, but many natural sites involve uneven terrain. Fundy National Park offers some accessible trails and facilities, but the region's rugged nature presents challenges.
Tap water
9
Tap water is generally safe to drink throughout developed areas around the Bay of Fundy. In more remote locations or smaller communities, it's advisable to check with local accommodations. Carrying water is recommended when hiking or exploring, as public drinking fountains are limited.

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