Prince Edward Island — Canada's Garden Island

Prince Edward Island (PEI) — Canada's smallest province — is a gem that most European tourists overlook. And that's exactly what makes it so appealing: gently rolling landscapes, red sandstone cliffs that drop directly into the turquoise sea, endless green fields, and the friendliest people you can imagine. PEI is Canada in miniature — just without the wilderness and with significantly more charm.

The island is famous for three things: Anne of Green Gables (the children's book classic by Lucy Maud Montgomery, which has sold over 50 million copies worldwide and is cultishly revered in Japan), the best mussels and lobster in Canada (PEI mussels are a mark of quality), and the red sand beaches, often deserted on the north coast.

Top Highlights

• Green Gables Heritage Place: The farmhouse that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables." A pilgrimage site for fans, and for everyone else: a charming insight into 19th-century rural Canada. 8 CAD.
• Charlottetown: PEI's charming capital (population: ~36,000), "Cradle of Confederation" — where the founding of Canada was decided in 1864. Victorian architecture, the island's best restaurants, and a surprisingly vibrant theater and music scene.
• PEI National Park: Red sandstone cliffs, dunes, endless beaches, and hiking trails on the north coast. The Greenwich section with its wandering dunes is a natural wonder. Day pass: 8.50 CAD.
• Confederation Bridge: The 12.9 km long bridge connects PEI with the mainland (New Brunswick). One of the longest bridges in the world over ice-covered water. Toll only upon departure: 50 CAD.
• Lobster Suppers: "Community Lobster Suppers" are served in community halls and church basements — a whole cooked lobster with sides for 40–55 CAD. New Glasgow, Fisherman's Wharf, and St. Ann's are the best addresses.