Hotels in Cape Breton

Cape Breton: Highland Roads and Atlantic Shoreline

Cape Breton Island sits at the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia, connected to the mainland by the Canso Causeway, which opened in 1955. The island is best known for the Cabot Trail, a 298-kilometre highway loop that circles Cape Breton Highlands National Park — 948 square kilometres of boreal forest and sea cliffs rising over 400 metres above the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Sydney serves as the island's largest urban centre, while Baddeck on Bras d'Or Lake draws visitors to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, where Bell spent his summers from 1885 until his death in 1922.

Where to Stay

Accommodations cluster around Baddeck, Ingonish, and Cheticamp along the Cabot Trail corridor, and in Sydney for those attending events at the Centre 200 arena or the Membertou district. The Ceilidh Trail on the island's west coast anchors the Cape Breton Scottish heritage scene, with live fiddle music drawing visitors each July during the Celtic Colours International Festival (held annually since 1997).

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Sydney's J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport receives Air Canada flights from Halifax (45 min) and Toronto.
• Driving: Allow two to three days to complete the full Cabot Trail loop without rushing.
• Season: Peak season runs late June through October; the park's Skyline Trail can be crowded in August — arrive before 9 a.m.
• Ferry: A seasonal ferry links Englishtown to Jersey Cove, cutting 45 km off the northern loop.