Places to Stay in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on the South Shore of the province is one of the most popular towns to visit. The UNESCO World Heritage town is full of character and charm. Known for its brightly coloured historic buildings, gorgeous waterfront, and being the home of the Bluenose II. There are a lot of great restaurants, cute boutiques, and tons of places to stay in Lunenburg. From hotels to motels and endless historic Lunenburg Bed and Breakfasts. I have had a chance to stay in quite a few of these accommodations so the below are my personal recommendations of the best places to stay in Lunenburg.

Smugglers Cove Inn

Located right in the middle of Lunenburg is the Smugglers Cove Inn. This hotel has 17 nicely appointed rooms and is the second largest hotel in Lunenburg. I have stayed here a few times and have always enjoyed my stay. The rooms are nice and clean, the shower pressure is intense and again you can’t beat the location. The hotel is located only minutes from the waterfront and is steps away from some of the best restaurants in Lunenburg. My favourite thing might be the fresh baked cookies available daily in the lobby.

Brigantine Inn & Suites

The Brigantine Inn and Suites is a small seven room Inn in Lunenburg located above the Grand Banker restaurant. You actually check-in to your room with the waitress’s at the bar. The Inn is a bit outdated but clean and some of the rooms have the best views of the Lunenburg harbour and waterfront. The Inn has great unobstructed views of Bluenose Drive and even the Bluenose II when in port. Each of the rooms is named after a different sailing ship from history. One of the rooms called the Brigantine Romance room actually includes a private jacuzzi pool room overlooking the waterfront.

The hotel rooms have direct access to the restaurant so you don’t even need to step foot outside for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In May 2023 the owners also opened up the new Shipwright Brewing Company Taproom & Pizza located right next door. Be sure to go there for a bite during your stay.

Bluenose Lodge

The Bluenose Lodge is located on the corner of Falkland Street and Dufferin Street (Station lane) right as you enter the town of Lunenburg. Describing themselves as a Boutique Inn and gracious home it is quite a welcoming accommodation. The Bluenose Lodge has 12 guest rooms and has been in operation for the past 75 years with new owners taking over in 2020. The lodge is a quick walk to the Lunenburg waterfront but is also located right by the popular Knot Pub and Dory Mates Seafood Shop.

One of the best places to dine near the lodge is in their very own dining room. The Dining Room at the Bluenose Lodge is actually a hidden gem in the town that not enough people know about. They serve lodge guests breakfast and are open to the public for dinner, brunch, a Sunday schnitzel feature and have recently started offering what looks like an amazing afternoon tea.

Ivy House

Another historic home turned AirB&B or as they call it a boutique hotel in the heart of Lunenburg. The owner Tara and her daughter Ivy actually live on the main floor and have turned the upstairs into two stunning hotel guest rooms and a lounge area. On the main floor there is also another lounge for guests. The rooms are modern and simply decorated in the nicest way and the bathrooms have gorgeous finishes. One room even features a tub right by the window.

In the upstairs lounge area there is a stocked mini fridge and you can also often find delicious cookies made by Tara. Having originally owned the popular Two If By Sea Cafe in Dartmouth, she definitely knows how to bake some tasty treats. The house is located at the top of Lunenburg so you do have to climb some hills if walking back from the waterfront. However the property does have some gorgeous views with this location.

Alicion Bed & Breakfast

Located just a a couple streets from one of the main roads in Lunenburg the Alicion Bed and Breakfast is nestled amongst some of the local homes in the area. The bed and breakfast features four rooms that are filled with historic charm and modern comforts. The rooms are quite large and have lovely scent free and eco friendly bath products. Two of the bathrooms also have hydrotherapy tubs and showers so you can truly relax.

The owners Christopher and Joe are extremely welcoming and friendly people. I was unable to make it for breakfast so they kindly prepared some to go items for me to take as I departed. The bed and breakfast is located only a 10 minute walk to the Lunenburg waterfront and five minutes to the Thursday Farmers market. The owners are also AirBnB Superhosts for their carriage house on property that sleeps up to four. The carriage house is perfect cottage getaway in Lunenburg and ideal for longer stays.

Ashlea House Bed & Breakfast

Another great Lunenburg bed and breakfast is the Ashlea House Bed & Breakfast located just a block down from the Bluenose Lodge. The Ashlea House has five guests rooms and on the main floor a large lounge area for guests. The rooms are clean with very comfortable beds and linens all with their own small ensuites. One of the coolest things about this property is the widows walk on the 4th floor that gives you a stunning view of the Lunenburg Harbour. There are even stools to sit at as you enjoy the view and sunset perhaps with a nightcap.

The front yard of the B&B is filled with gorgeous gardens as well as a gazebo to relax in.This property also has a gym that guests can use and I think that might be the first gym I’ve ever seen in a B&B. Another cool feature is that there is keyless entry to the main door and your room. All you need is your own private code and you can come and go as you please.

Wheelhouse Motel

The Wheelhouse Motel is not my top pick of places to stay in Lunenburg but its probably the best value you will find. The property is clean but just outdated. The staff are very friendly and this is most likely the closest accommodation you will find near the Lightship Beer Garden and Boathouse Bites. If you are just looking for a place to sleep and shower for a good rate then this is the place to stay in Lunenburg for you.

Lunenburg Arms Hotel & Spa

I have yet to have had the chance to stay at the Lunenburg Arms Hotel and Spa. It is the largest hotel in Lunenburg with 27 rooms and offers a full service spa as well. For the 2023 season the property added four new suites and now has a total of nine suites with kitchenettes, perfect for longer stays. The Lunenburg Arms Hotel is located up the hill and right in the middle of town and is only a few minutes walk away from some of the best restaurants and shops. They are also have their own designated parking lot where many other accommodations in town are not able to offer this.

Hotels in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

There are several other hotels and Bed and Breakfasts in Lunenburg that I haven’t had the chance to stay in yet. People also enjoy the Inn at the Salt Shaker Deli, the Rum Runners Inn, and B2 Lofts. For the more budget conscious travellers Lunenburg also offers the Lunenburg RV Park and Campground on top of the Blockhouse Hill overlooking the Lunenburg Harbour.

I am extremely excited that there are also luxury Geodesic Glamping Domes coming soon to Lunenburg! Be sure to follow @LunenburgLuxuryDomes on instagram for updates and stay tuned here for my review coming soon!

I also implore you to only book AirBnB’s in Lunenburg if they are in the primary owners residence like the Ivy House. This town like many others in Nova Scotia is suffering from a housing shortage for locals. Part of this is due to people buying homes and only renting them on AirBnB making the town unliveable for many. Please support local business operators when you can.

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