The 15 BEST things to do in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Last updated on January 22nd, 2026

Want to experience the quaint small town charm of Prince Edward Island’s largest city? We’re sharing the best things to do in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island!

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island may be the smallest provincial capital in the country, but don’t let that fool you, it is BIG on history and charm!

The city is Canada’s “Birthplace of Confederation”, aka the birthplace of Canada (as we know it) itself! Back during the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and present day Ontario and Quebec joined together to be an independent country, called the Dominion of Canada. 

But beyond its history, what we loved most about Charlottetown is its charm. Here you’ll find a walkable waterfront downtown, full of Victorian style buildings, plus wonderful local restaurants and businesses. It may be a small city (its tallest building is a Cathedral after all!), but it is the perfect launching point for your Prince Edward Island adventure.

And if you’re looking for the best things to do in, we’ve gotcha covered! We’re sharing our favorite stops from our time in the city, plus some important logistics to help you plan your own trip!

The 15 best things to do in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

From a day trip to Prince Edward Island National Park, to historical tours, to delicious and unique local eats, there is a little something for everyone in Charlottetown. Below are some of the best things to do in Charlottetown, for all interests!

Looking for even more things to do on Prince Edward Island? Check out this blog post with over 32 fun ideas! And if you are continuing on to other provinces in Atlantic Canada, our Atlantic Canada Road Trip eBook is loaded with things to do, places to stay, and itinerary options!

1. Visit Confederation Landing

One of the most important places in Charlottetown is Confederation Landing. This is where the Fathers of Confederation landed for the Charlottetown Conference in 1864. Today, it’s a small park right on the water, with great views of the area and a small waterfront pathway you can walk!

2. Walk down Victoria Row

Victoria Row is the most famous street in Charlottetown. This cobblestone street is lined with Victorian era buildings that are filled with boutique shops and restaurants, like The Cork and Cast, plus cafes like Receiver Coffee, which has amazing coffee and food.

And during the summer months, the street is only open to pedestrians and restaurants offer seating out on the street, which makes for a fun atmosphere!

3. Grab coffee from Receiver Coffee

Not only can you find Receiver Coffee on Victoria Row, but you can also find a location closer to the water. Similar to the other location, you can grab coffee and food here. But what makes it unique is that it’s located in an old railroad brass shop! This is the perfect spot to grab a coffee and then walk around Confederation Landing and the waterfront.

4. Go inside St. Dunstan’s Basilica

Possibly the most iconic sight in Charlottetown is the St. Dunstan’s Basilica. The gothic cathedral that was built in the early 1900s and its spires are some of the highest points of the city’s skyline! 

It is very beautiful on the outside, but also fun to go inside. The public is allowed to enter whenever there is not a service happening. You can see their service schedule here!

5. Founders’ Food Hall & Market

The Founders’ Food Hall & Market was one of our favorite stops in Charlottetown! It’s an indoor market with over 18 local shops and restaurants inside. During our visit we grabbed food from Datcha, which is French Caribbean Street food. They make a sandwich using a bokit (a fried dough) that was top notch!

While at the market try some hot sauces at Maritime Madness. We also highly recommend picking up some potato fudge from Oh Fudge! You read that right, this fudge is made out of potatoes. It sounds really odd, but trust us – it is SO good (and you’d NEVER know)! And the best part about it is it has a fraction of the calories, so you can eat so much more guilt free!

6. Try Canada’s famous COWS Creamery

No trip to PEI is complete without a few scoops from Cows Creamery! This mega popular ice cream spot is headquartered on Prince Edward Island, but has a few locations across Canada. There are a few scoop shops around town, but we suggest visiting their factory to do a tour and also try ice cream. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Charlottetown!

Pro tip: Make sure to grab a bag of their chocolate covered potato chips before you leave for a sweet and salty snack for later!

Some other incredible homemade ice cream in Atlantic Canada is located on the Bonavista Peninsula in Newfoundland, so be sure to check that out if you’re visiting that province as well!

7. Go for a stroll at Victoria Park

Located on the southwestern end of town, Victoria Park makes for the perfect relaxing stroll. We loved walking Kona here!

At the park there are four historic squares, woodland walking trails, a swimming pool, boardwalk walking trail, and tons of beautiful flowers. It has great views of the water too!

8. Take a historical tour

With all of its historical significance, one of the best things to do in Charlottetown is to go on a historical tour! There are a handful of historic tours to choose from, which offer a slightly different experience.

This historic walking tour of Charlottetown will show you the best sights and provide lots of information along the way. 

Want to save some money on this tour or experience? Join Tripadvisor Rewards to earn 5% Trip Cash on any hotel or experience booking made in their app, which can be applied to future in-app bookings!

Secrets of Charlottetown offers a popular tour of the same name that shares lesser known stories, local folklore and legends led by a costumed guide. They also offer ghost tours!

The Heritage Players Historic tour focuses on the early history of PEI up until the Confederation of Canada. This tour is also led by a costumed guide! 

For a more rounded tour of the city, check out the small group Charlottetown Walking Tour or the Charlottetown City Highlights, which is on a double decker bus!

9. Visit the Beaconsfield Historic House

As you walk around Charlottetown you’ll notice the Victorian architecture all over the city. One of the most prominent and best preserved examples is the Beaconsfield Historic House near Victoria Park. This house was built in 1877 for shipbuilder James Peake and is open for tours year round. 

You can visit the PEI Museum and Heritage website for more info and tour booking info! 

10. Check out the Charlottetown Farmers Market

Prince Edward Island is known for its farmland, so visiting a farmers market is one of the top things to do in Charlottetown! The Charlottetown Farmers Market includes over 60 local vendors that offer fresh, local produce, delicious prepared lunches, artisan goods, and more! 

The market operates from 9 AM- 2 PM year round on Saturdays, as well as during the same times on Wednesdays from mid June to early October. 

11. Experience Anne of Green Gables

If you’re a fan of Anne of Green Gables then seeing Anne of Green Gables: The Musical at the Confederation Centre of the Arts is a must! 

The musical tells the story of Anne Shirley as she arrives unexpectedly in a small farming community and quickly wins over her newfound family and community. Based on the legendary story created by author L.M. Montgomery, the musical is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest running annual musical theatre production. 

Before you watch the show, make sure to head to the Anne of Green Gables Chocolate shop to get some sweet treats and a raspberry cordial soda. And afterwards, take a day trip out to tour the Green Gables Shore, the setting of the story and home of the author. 

12. Go on a boat tour of the Charlottetown Harbour

Charlottetown isn’t only a sight to see from your feet, but also from the water! A sail through the harbor at sunset is a bucket list experience. Peake’s Wharf Boat Tours offer multiple sailing trips throughout the day. On these sailings you’ll learn about lobster trapping, the city, and have a good chance of seeing wildlife!  

A few other boat tour options are Ride Solar (a solar powered boat!) and the Harbour Hippo. The Harbour Hippo is a tour from land and sea! This amphibious vehicle can drive through the streets and then drive into the water for a harbour tour! 

Looking for other great boat tours in Atlantic Canada? Head to the Twillingate Islands in Newfoundland, one of the best places to visit in Newfoundland, for Iceberg and whale watching boat tours! Alternatively, hop in a Kayak at the Hopewell Rocks for another fun boating experience!

13. Take a day trip to Prince Edward Island National Park

One of our favorite spots on Prince Edward Island was Prince Edward Island National Park. This park is located on the northern side of the island and is broken into three regions: Cavendish-North Rustico, Brackley-Dalvay, and Greenwich. All of which are less than 1 hour from the city, making it easily one of the best things to do in Charlottetown! 

We visited a handful of areas in the park and our favorites were Cavendish Beach (40 minutes from Charlottetown) and the Greenwich Dunes Trail (50 minutes from Charlottetown). Due to weather, we didn’t make it to Brackley-Dalvay, but here you can find Brackley Beach, Covehead Harbour Lighthouse, and the Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site.

14. Drive the Coastal Drives

Prince Edward Island is home to three scenic coastal drives, the Central Coastal Drive, Points East, and North Cape. And Charlottetown (which is located on the Central Coastal Drive) is a great starting point to experience all three! 

There are countless things to do along these drives, including delicious local restaurants, lighthouses, beaches, hikes, unique bottle houses, and so much more. To learn much more about these coastal drives, check out our guide to 32+ FUN things to do on PEI. But here are a few of our top highlights!

Central Coastal Drive

On the Central Coastal Drive we really enjoyed the French River overlook, Cavendish Beach, and raspberry cream cheese pie from Prince Edward Island Preserve Company!

Points East Coastal Drive

On the Points East Coastal Drive we loved walking the boardwalk and eating at Evergreen Cafe in the town of Souris, hiking the Greenwich Dunes Trail, Basin Head Provincial Park, and Hannah’s Bottle Village. 

North Cape Coastal Drive

And on the North Cape Coastal Drive, our top spots were Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour, the Cape Egmont Lighthouse, North Cape Nature Trail, and Backwoods Burger for Fries With The Works!

To learn much more about these coastal drives and everything we recommend to do on Prince Edward Island, check out our guide to 32+ FUN things to do on PEI!

15. Bike the Confederation Trail

If you’re a cyclist, then one of your bucket list things to do in Charlottetown should be to ride a portion or all of The Confederation Trail. This trail is a 273 km (169 mile) trail that is built on a decommissioned railroad line. It travels from one end of the island all the way to the other, from Tignish (km 0) to Elmira (km 273). 

It’s a trail for all ability levels, as the trail grade never rises above 2%. And the trail can be hiked, biked, and in some sections, experienced by horseback.

Along the way you can find plenty of accommodations and resupply points, making it easy to go on your own. But you can also go on a fully supported tour, with accommodations and meals planned as well as a shuttle back to the start. If you’d prefer to do a tour, check out PEI Cycling Tours or MacQueen’s Bike Shop (which also has rentals). 

This is such a fun way to get to experience the island. And next time we’re in Prince Edward Island we will definitely ride this with our own bikes!

Planning your trip to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

How to get to Charlottetown

Prince Edward Island lies in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, east of New Brunswick and north of Nova Scotia. Although it’s an island, it is easy to get to by either car, ferry or plane. And no matter how you enter the province, Charlottetown is convenient to get to!

Driving to Charlottetown

To reach Charlottetown by car you will cross the Confederation Bridge. This bridge is 12.9 km (8 miles) long and goes over the Northumberland Strait, ending at Borden-Carleton, west of Charlottetown. From there it’s a 45 minute drive to Charlottetown. 

They recently lowered the toll to $20 (round trip) for two axle vehicles, which is a huge decrease from before! You pay the toll when you leave Prince Edward Island, so don’t be confused when you drive onto the island and don’t see a place to pay. The fee can be paid by cash or card. 

Flying to Charlottetown

If you want to fly to PEI, your only option is the very tiny Charlottetown Airport. This airport is located a few minutes north of town and is serviced by AirCanada, WestJet, Flair, and Porter, with non-stop destinations from Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and a few other Canadian destinations. It’s not as easy to get here from Newfoundland, you’d have to get to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia first.

Once arriving at the airport, you definitely will want to rent a car to explore Prince Edward Island!

Ferrying to Charlottetown

If you’re visiting Charlottetown from Nova Scotia, the ferry is a fun option! The Northumberland ferry runs from Caribou, Nova Scotia to Wood Islands, PEI, on the east side of the island. The sailing takes 75 minutes and runs from May to just before Christmas. 

To see the most up to date schedule and fares, check the ferry website. Reservations are highly recommended!

When is the best time to visit Charlottetown?

The peak tourist season for Charlottetown is from late spring through early fall. This is when many attractions will be in full swing, most businesses will be open, and the weather will be pleasant. Many of the best things to do in Charlottetown and on PEI are outdoor activities, so warmer weather will make your trip more enjoyable!

Additionally, this is the time of year when there are some fun festivals, including Cavendish Beach Music Festival (early July) and the Shellfish Festival (late September).

We personally visited Prince Edward Island in early August. Despite it being summer, we did encounter quite a bit of rain, so don’t fully expect sunny skies everyday. But the temperatures were mild and there was still a lot to do, even if we couldn’t bask in the sunshine at the beaches.

Where to stay in Charlottetown

Charlottetown has a variety of lodging options, for all types of travelers. Below are some options, including where we stayed!

Hotels: The Holman Grand Hotel, The Great George, and Hampton Inn & Suites

Vacation Rentals: Waterfront Loft, Lovely one-bedroom in Charlottetown, and Bright and lovely one-bedroom apartment

Campgrounds: Cornwall/Charlottetown KOA

Boondocking: Unfortunately the lighthouse we boondocked at is no longer allowed. However, this parking lot near the Founders’ Food Hall is common for vans to stay over night for a fee. You can also stay at the Red Shores Racetrack & Casino if you’re a larger rig.

What to bring to Charlottetown

Unsure what to bring to Charlottetown? Here are some specific items that we highly recommend bringing. For a more general packing list, you can download our go-to packing list here!

Hiking Gear

While you won’t need hiking gear in Charlottetown, if you venture to other parts of the island for a hike you’ll want the proper gear. This includes good shoes and water storage (like a Camelbak). We also always suggest having the 10 essentials on you, just in case!

Offline Maps

We had cell service most of the time on Prince Edward Island, but at times in the interior parts it became spotty. Make sure to download offline AllTrails and Google Maps to navigate on the road and on hikes.

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails Plus membership? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!

We use AllTrails Plus on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

Beach shoes

Make sure to bring some good shoes for the beach! We love our Chacos, which make it easy to walk on the beach, but are also quick to take off if you want to get in the water.

Layers

The weather can change quickly on Prince Edward Island. We had a couple days with some crazy wind, so we always recommend bringing layers!

Rain Jacket

During our time on Prince Edward Island we did experience a decent amount of rain. So make sure to bring a rain jacket!

Sun protection

You’ll likely be spending some time at one of Prince Edward Island’s many gorgeous beaches. Bring along a hat, sunscreen, and your sunglasses! 

Passport

If you are visiting from the US or another country, make sure to pack your passport! While you won’t need it to enter Prince Edward Island specifically, you may need it for another leg of your journey.

How much time do you need in Charlottetown?

We spent a full day in Charlottetown and thought it was enough to see a few of the highlights. Two-three days would give you the chance to take more tours, check out the musical, plus venture out for a day trip. 

For detailed Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island itineraries, check out our Atlantic Canada eBook! We not only share itinerary options for PEI, but also itineraries to road trip around multiple Atlantic Canada provinces.

Do you need a car to explore Charlottetown?

A car isn’t required to explore Charlottetown, but since most visitors also go and explore the nearby Coastal Drives, we’d recommend renting a car or driving your own. A car is definitely needed to explore the rest of the province!

Is it worth it to visit Charlottetown?

As lovers of smaller “big” cities, we really enjoyed our time in Charlottetown. Not only are there some fun things to do in Charlottetown, but also a short drive away, which makes it a great basecamp or launching point to explore the rest of Prince Edward Island. Some other cities we love in Atlantic Canada are Halifax, Nova Scotia, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Saint John, New Brunswick.

Ready to explore Charlottetown?

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