Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest province, a long, curving island of red cliffs, farmland and sand beaches, with Charlottetown as its small, walkable capital. This guide covers the capital and the island around it: Green Gables in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island National Park, the Confederation Bridge and the lighthouses. It is written for a first visit.
Know the seasons first
Much of what makes the island famous is seasonal, running roughly from June to October. Green Gables Heritage Place keeps a regular season from 1 May to 31 October, and in November it opens by appointment only. Prince Edward Island National Park stays open in winter, but Parks Canada closes visitor services and facilities from mid-October to mid-May, and the beach boardwalks, campgrounds and interpretation centres are summer-only. Many lighthouse interiors close after October, and the Harbour Hopper, the e-bike ride and other outdoor tours are best in the warm months. If you come in spring or late autumn, plan around the city, the arts centre, long coastal walks and the drive itself.
What to book ahead
In July and August, book your hotel, any private or small-group tour and anything with limited places before you leave home, because the island is busy and small. The walking tour and the food tour are the first things to reserve in Charlottetown. Green Gables, the beaches and the national park trails need no booking in season, but check the Parks Canada pages for hours and any fees. Out of season, email Green Gables if you want an appointment visit.
Getting around
Charlottetown is compact and walkable, with the waterfront, the historic district, the Confederation Centre of the Arts and most hotels within a short stroll. The rest of the island is spread out, and public transport is limited, so a rental car is the easiest way to reach Cavendish, the national park, the lighthouses and the south shore. If you do not drive, a small-group day tour to Cavendish or a private lighthouse tour fills the gap. Charlottetown Airport is about 8.7 km from the waterfront. If you drive in over the Confederation Bridge, remember that the toll is paid when you leave the island, not when you arrive. The bridge is 12.9 km long, takes about 12 minutes to cross and is open all year. A seasonal ferry from Nova Scotia is the alternative, so check its dates with the operator.
How many days
Three days is a good first visit. Spend the first day in Charlottetown with the walking tour, a visit to the Confederation Centre of the Arts and a seafood dinner on the waterfront. Spend the second day on the north shore, with Green Gables and the national park beaches, either by car or on a small-group tour. Use the third day for the coast: the south shore, the Confederation Bridge or a lighthouse day. A fourth day lets you slow down, add a food tour or an e-bike ride, or add a longer drive to the eastern or western end of the island.
Where the headline sights fit
Green Gables is the literary heart of the island and belongs with a north shore day. The national park is the scenic heart, with separate regions at Cavendish, Brackley-Dalvay and Greenwich, so choose one or two rather than trying to see all three. The Confederation Bridge is best treated as part of arriving or leaving, with a short stop at Borden-Carleton. The lighthouses are spread across the whole coast, so pick a region, such as Point Prim and Wood Islands in the east, rather than trying to see them all. Province House, the old legislature, reopened after a long restoration in October 2026, though visitor access was not yet clear when we checked, so look at Parks Canada's page before you plan around it.
Eating and evenings
The island is known for seafood, particularly mussels, oysters and lobster, and for potatoes and local produce. The easiest way to taste it in Charlottetown is on the food walking tour, and the waterfront restaurants are the natural place to continue. In summer the Confederation Centre's theatre season gives you an evening plan, and out of season the gallery and local restaurants carry the town.
Weather and packing
Wind off the water is constant, so pack a windproof layer even in summer, and expect cool evenings and fog on the shore. Sturdy shoes are useful for the trails, and swimwear for July and August. Allergies matter for the seafood-heavy food tours, so tell operators early.
