Is Sydney, Nova Scotia worth visiting? (Exploring the heart of Cape Breton Island) | Canada 🇨🇦

You've probably never heard of Sydney, Nova Scotia. I can't blame you - it's remote location on its namesake harbour on the north coast of Cape Breton Island makes it one of the most hard-to-reach locations in Atlantic Canada. A long five hour drive from Halifax, this small town is technically the province’s second-largest city (now called the Cape Breton Regional Municipality), and is without a doubt the beating heart of Cape Breton Island. Here, the accents are almost Irish, with locals sounding closer to Newfoundlanders rather than their fellow Nova Scotians. This place is "far off the beaten path", defined, and that seclusion and remoteness has only contributed to their unique culture, accent, and way of life.

Despite not having nearly the same bustle and cosmopolitan charm of Nova Scotia's capital city of Halifax, Sydney instead offers visitors its charming harbour, plenty of historic homes (some dating back to the 1700s!), excellent seafood and fish & chips, as well as oddities like the world’s largest fiddle, if you’re a fan of quirky roadside attractions. The surrounding area boasts green pastures, winding coastal drives, and amazing ocean vistas along with plenty of adorable B&Bs and guesthouses to relax at after a long day of sightseeing.

In this video, I take you on a short (and foggy!) tour around this small Nova Scotian town, taking in the idyllic harbourfront boardwalk before taking a walking tour around the town's historical streets. I also check out one of Sydney's most famous local cafes - Doktor Luke's - before winding my way back down to the water. The island is also home to some of the kindest locals on Earth, including one fellow who insisted that he drive me to neighbouring North Sydney, even though he wasn't going in that direction. Maritime hospitality at its finest, and those who have visited here will know that comes as no surprise.

Have you been to Sydney & Cape Breton Island? Have questions about travelling here? Let me know in the comments below!

00:00 Intro
00:54 Sydney Airport to town
01:48 Holiday Inn Sydney Waterfront
02:39 Harbourfront Boardwalk
03:42 The Lord Fin Fish & Chips
04:32 The Big Fiddle / Cruise Terminal
06:03 Historic District
09:28 Doktor Luke's Coffee
10:00 Downtown walk
12:38 Sydney Sign
13:54 Drive to North Sydney
14:26 North Sydney AirBNB
15:41 Outro

Episode 196 | #NorthAmerica #Canada #NovaScotia | #CapeBreton #SydneyNS | Filmed September 2023

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Future Vibes by Qeeo
Gift of Time by Rune Dale
Lobster Polska by Rune Dale

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