Prince Edward Island | Voyager Destination Guides

Overview of Prince Edward Island

Known as the birthplace of the Canadian Confederation and often referred to as the 'Garden of the Gulf', Prince Edward Island is situated on the east coast of Canada and is the country's smallest province.

Next to agriculture, tourism is the province's largest industry and visitors flock to visit the home of Anne of Green Gables, the beloved novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, which was inspired by the island's landscape and people. One of the world's longest continuous multi-span bridges, the Confederation Bridge connects Prince Edward Island to the mainland at New Brunswick. Stretching over a body of shimmering ocean, the bridge is a spectacular point of arrival, although many still prefer to reach the island by ferry, which allows for a more leisurely approach.

With its distinctive red soil and diverse landscape, Prince Edward Island is both beautiful and captivating. The charming and compact capital, Charlottetown, proudly lays claim to its heritage as the birthplace of the Confederation, and boasts other popular attractions such as Founders Hall, the Confederation Centre of the Arts and Province House. There are plenty of other activities in Charlottetown too, and visitors can stroll along the historic waterfront boardwalks, shop or dine at Peake's Wharf or even enjoy a tour with historic reenactment group, the Confederation Players.

There is plenty to do on the rest of the island, from deep-sea fishing and windsurfing to golf, skiing and cycling. The north shore has a number of beautiful unspoilt beaches, such as Brackley Beach and Cavendish, both located in Prince Edward Island National Park. For the less active inclined, there are scenic drives, intriguing museums to visit and plenty of fine dining eateries. A particular delicacy is the island's famous shellfish, celebrated at the International Shellfish Festival in the Charlottetown Waterfront each September.

The landscape is diverse: rolling farmland contrasts with sand dunes and sandstone cliffs, while sandy beaches compete with evergreen forests and saltwater marshes, meaning there is always something new to explore. Although locals refer to those not born and bred on Prince Edward Island as being 'from away', they are always happy to welcome travellers to their picturesque province with a smile. And those who visit will certainly leave with one.

Key Facts

Language:

The official languages are English and French (spoken predominantly in Quebec).

Passport/Visa:

All visitors must hold a valid passport. We recommend that passports always be valid for six months after intended period of travel. Visitors are required to hold onward or return tickets, all documents needed for the next destination and sufficient funds to cover the period of intended stay.

Travellers from most visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada by air need to fill in an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) form online prior to travel to Canada. This is a new requirement implemented on 28 September 2016 and is applicable to all but U.S citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers travelling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel documents to enter or re-enter the United States. If departing from the USA a valid passport will be required by immigration authorities.

Currency:

The currency used is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). Banks and bureaux de change will change cash, as will some hotels. Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are widespread. US Dollars are widely accepted.

Electricity:

Electrical current is 120 volts, 60Hz. American-style flat two-pin plugs and a plug with a third round grounding pin are standard.

Travel to Prince Edward Island

Climate

The Prince Edward Island climate is mild, tempered by the warm Gulf of St Lawrence waters. Summers, between June and August, tend to be warm, with very low humidity and average temperatures ranging between 70°F (21°C) and 79°F (26°C), sometimes reaching 90°F (32°C), with July and August being the warmest months. Winters can be cold and snow is common from November to April. Temperatures range from 26°F (-3°C) to 11°F (-11°C) and storms in winter can be severe. Spring and autumn are great times to travel to Prince Edward Island as both seasons bring a riot of colour to the island and temperatures are moderate.

Health Notes when travelling to Canada

No vaccinations are necessary for travel to Canada. Medical care is excellent but expensive, so medical insurance is advised.

Safety Notes when travelling to Canada

Most visits to Canada are trouble-free. The country is politically stable but does share the common international risk of terrorism. The crime rate is low but travellers are advised to take sensible precautions to safeguard their belongings, as they would anywhere. Canada is prone to tornadoes between May and September.

Customs in Canada

Smoking bans have been implemented in Canada in enclosed public places such as restaurants, bars, and shopping malls.

Duty Free in Canada

Travellers to Canada are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring custom duties: gifts to the value of C$60 per recipient (excluding advertising material, tobacco and alcoholic beverages); 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos and 200g of tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks; 1.14 litres of liquor or wine or 24 x 355ml bottles or cans of beer or ale. There are strict regulations governing the import of the following: explosives, endangered animal and plant species, items of heritage, fresh foodstuffs and weapons. The plant Qhat (Khat) is illegal in Canada and prison sentences are heavy.

Doing Business in Canada

Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal are the main business centres. English is the language of business except in French-speaking Quebec, where all written material and business cards should be in French. Business cards are not traditionally exchanged during an initial meeting, but at some appropriate time thereafter; it is best to wait for the host to offer theirs first.

A firm handshake is used by way of greeting, and meetings tend to begin on time so punctuality should be taken seriously, as should appearance. Canadians dress conservatively and smartly for business meetings and suits are the norm. Gifts can be given in conclusion to celebrate a deal, but should be understated; taking someone out for a meal is a popular way to conclude business dealings.

Canadians are reserved and frown on emotional outbursts. Business is based on facts and figures rather than relationships, so it is best to be as prepared as possible for meetings. Hours of business are usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Communication in Canada

The international access code for Canada is +1. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code. The outgoing code is not necessary for calls to the US and the Caribbean. Hotels, cafes and restaurants offering free wifi are widely available. As international roaming costs can be high, purchasing a local prepaid SIM card can be a cheaper option.

Tipping in Canada

There is no service charge added to restaurant bills in Canada and staff expect a tip of around 15 percent. Hairdressers and taxi drivers are also usually tipped at the same rate, while bellhops, doormen, porters, and similar service providers at hotels, airports, and stations are generally paid at the customer's discretion. It has become more common for places with counter service to display tip jars, but in such cases tipping is not necessary.

Passport/Visa Note

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for Americans:

US travellers should have a valid passport if departing from the USA, otherwise other proof of citizenship is accepted in the form of a birth certificate, a US certificate of citizenship, or US certificate of naturalisation. More suggestions would include a NEXUS card. A visa is not required for a stay of up to six months.

Entry requirements for UK nationals:

UK nationals must have a passport valid for the period of intended stay. A visa is not required for a stay of up to six months. However, the individual must have Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Entry requirements for Australians:

Australians must hold passports valid for period of intended stay. Nationals of Australia with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 6 months.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals:

Irish nationals must hold a passport valid for the period of intended stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to six months. However, the individual must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Entry requirements for New Zealanders:

New Zealanders require a passport valid for the period of the intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 6 months. However, the traveller requires an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Entry requirements for South Africans:

South African nationals must be in possession of a passport valid for the period of intended stay. A visa is required. South African temporary passports are not recognised. Passports, identity or travel documents of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei and Venda are not accepted.

Currency

Exchange rate for 1 CAD - Canadian Dollar
0.76 BMD Bermudan Dollar	0.68 EUR Euro	0.76 USD U.S. Dollar	0.53 GBP U.K. Pound Sterling	83.23 JPY Japanese Yen	0.76 CHF Swiss Franc
1.06 AUD Australian Dollar	19.19 UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia	258.11 KZT Kazakhstani Tenge	1,150.93 LBP Lebanese Pound	0.54 LYD Libyan Dinar	5.24 BOB Bolivian Boliviano
82.45 NPR Nepalese Rupee	0.29 OMR Omani Rial	2.78 QAR Qatari Rial	1.05 SGD Singapore Dollar	6.33 SEK Swedish Krona	5.07 TTD Trinidad Tobago Dollar
7.63 VEF Venezuelan Bolivar	35.03 DOP Dominican Peso	5.14 HRK Croatian Kuna	14.24 MXN Mexican Peso	448.12 XOF West African CFA Franc	2.42 PGK Papua New Guinean kina
0.77 BSD Bahamian Dollar	1.61 FJD Fiji Dollar	17.30 HNL Honduran Lempira	84.48 DZD Algerian Dinar	910.53 MMK Myanma Kyat	8.55 BWP Botswana Pula
2.58 PEN Peruvian Nuevo Sol	530.07 CLP Chilean Peso	365.42 AMD Armenia Dram	18.48 CZK Czech Koruna	15.27 MDL Moldova Lei	94.99 ISK Icelandic Krona
2,246.12 UZS Uzbekistan Sum	2.95 ILS Israeli New Sheqel	0.54 JOD Jordanian Dinar	0.23 KWD Kuwaiti Dinar	23.96 UYU Uruguayan Peso	27.15 MUR Mauritian Rupee
21.79 NIO Nicaraguan Córdoba	6.38 NOK Norwegian Krone	3.00 PLN Polish Zloty	2.87 SAR Saudi Riyal	111.60 LKR Sri Lanka Rupee	27.22 THB Thai Baht
2.81 AED U.A.E Dirham	2.75 BRL Brazilian Real	3.09 RON Romanian New Leu	5.94 HKD Hong Kong Dollar	449.13 XAF Central African CFA Franc	17,177.63 VND Vietnamese Dong
10.66 ARS Argentine Peso	2.06 XCD East Caribbean Dollar	5.99 GTQ Guatemalan Quetzal	7.47 MAD Moroccan Dirham	0.29 BHD Bahrain Dinar	0.77 PAB Panamanian Balboa
1.14 AZN Azerbaijan Manat	2,382.97 COP Colombian Peso	52.20 KGS Kyrgyzstan Som	213.82 HUF Hungarian Forint	6.02 TJS Tajikistan Ruble	10,458.13 IDR Indonesian Rupiah
6.79 EGP Egyptian Pound	910.37 KRW South Korean Won	4,333.19 PYG Paraguayan Guaraní	3.18 MYR Malaysian Ringgit	411.77 CRC Costa Rican Colón	1.12 NZD New Zealand Dollar
80.05 PKR Pakistani Rupee	51.05 RUB Russian Rouble	11.93 ZAR South African Rand	1.62 TND Tunisian Dinar	1.53 BBD Barbadian Dollar	1.34 BGN Bulgarian Lev
2.25 TRY Turkish Lira	35.63 PHP Philippine Peso	24.93 TWD New Taiwan Dollar	150.19 NGN Nigerian Naira	81.90 XPF CFP Franc	2.99 GHS Ghanaian Cedi
95.48 JMD Jamaican Dollar	1.38 ANG Neth. Antillean Guilder	1.05 BND Brunei Dollar	84.50 RSD Serbian Dinar	5.03 CNY Chinese Yuan	15,208.62 BYR Belarussian Ruble
5.08 DKK Danish Krone	2.63 TMT New Turkmenistan Manat	51.41 INR Indian Rupee

Exchange Rate for
U.S. Dollar to Canadian Dollar

1 USD = 1.31 CAD

Exchange Rate for
Euro to Canadian Dollar

1 EUR = 1.46 CAD

Exchange Rate for
U.K. Pound Sterling to Canadian Dollar

1 GBP = 1.89 CAD

Exchange Rate for
Australian Dollar to Canadian Dollar

1 AUD = 0.95 CAD

Exchange Rate for
New Zealand Dollar to Canadian Dollar

1 NZD = 0.89 CAD

Exchange Rate for
South African Rand to Canadian Dollar

1 ZAR = 0.08 CAD

Airports in Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown

The capital of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown is a small but bustling city and the site of the Charlottetown Conference, where Canadian statespeople met to first debate the Canadian Confederation. It's unsurprising that most of its most popular sights and attractions hark back to this historical epoch, with the majority of locals employed in the public sector.

Roundly celebrated for its clean air and sound urban planning policies, Charlottetown is easily navigable and picturesque. Victorian-era buildings dominate the scenic downtown area, while an ongoing waterfront redevelopment project seeks to convert industrial areas into parks and outdoor hiking trails.

The city's maritime position exerts a moderating influence on its climate, with temperatures never dropping as low, or climbing as high, as other Canadian cities of similar latitude. Its premier tourist drawcard is by far and away the Green Gables House, tucked away in the beautiful Prince Edward Island National Park, but there is plenty more to see and do for just about everyone in Charlottetown, a place bursting at the seams with entertainment and culture.

Sightseeing in Charlottetown

The main allure of Prince Edward Island for travellers is the fact that the little province inspired and formed the setting for the beloved Anne of Green Gables novels. But Green Gables House is actually situated in the Prince Edward National Park in Cavendish, making it more of an excursion for those on holiday in Charlottetown. The Confederation Centre for the Arts, within the city, also owes some of its popularity with visitors to L.M. Montgomery's novels, as a number of Anne-themed musicals and plays draw fans into the theatres of the complex. Other worthwhile tourist attractions in Charlottetown include St Dunstan's Basilica, a National Historic Site of Canada; Founder's Hall, which proudly traces the history of Prince Edward Island and the country as a whole; and the lovely Victoria Park. Charlottetown's appeal is its old-fashioned charm, perhaps epitomised by attractions like the 1950's-style Brackley Drive In Theatre.

Charlottetown Attractions

Green Gables House

Nestled in the Prince Edward Island National Park is the charming and picturesque Green Gables House that, in the early 1900s, inspired author Lucy Maud Montgomery to write her celebrated novel Anne of Green Gables. Tourists flock here every year to ramble around the famous house, which served as a setting for the treasured tale, and to also enjoy the beautiful park that houses Green Gables. The house itself is filled with interesting displays, and also contains the charming Butter Churn Café and a visitors centre with restored rooms. There are trails to be explored (fans of the book will recognise Lovers Lane and the Haunted Wood), guided evening walks, children's activities, restored gardens and many other treasures to be enjoyed.

Address: 2 Palmers Lane, Cavendish

Website: www.gov.pe.ca/greengables

Confederation Centre for the Arts

Founded in 1964 as a National Memorial to the Fathers of the Confederation, the centre is a celebration of the diversity, talent and character of Canada and its history. Situated on the site of the old Charlottetown marketplace, it takes up a city block and is home to an art gallery, several theatres and a restaurant. A celebration of theatre and comedy, the annual Charlottetown Festival has spawned several highly successful productions, including the immensely popular Anne of Green Gables, Canada's longest running musical. The Confederation Centre Art Gallery has more than 15,000 pieces of contemporary, modern and historical Canadian art, and is well worth a visit.

Address: 145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown

Website: www.confederationcentre.com

Confederation Trail

The Confederation Trail stretches from tip to tip of Prince Edward Island, traversing through forests, wetlands, villages and waterways, for 173 miles (279km). Almost entirely flat with a finely crushed gravel surface, the trail is perfect for walkers, cyclists and even those in wheelchairs. Visitors enjoy the island's natural splendour, lush flora and abundant flora in peace and tranquillity.

In winter, the trail is a favourite with snowmobilers and provides a picturesque route through the province, from Tignish to Elmira. The less adventurous can choose to follow the trail for some of the way and stop off to rest and grab a bite in one of the many villages connected by the trail.

Website: www.islandtrails.ca

Founder's Hall

Founder's Hall is one of the more popular attractions on Prince Edward Island, located in a restored 1906 building on the Historic Charlottetown Waterfront. It incorporates history with state-of-the-art technology, allowing visitors to enjoy interactive exhibits, holovisuals and an absorbing 'Time Travel Tunnel' which traces the development of Canada and its provinces. The aim of Founder's Hall is to celebrate the spirit of cooperation shown by the Fathers of the Confederation, and to educate the public on the country's heritage. Far from the usual museum fare, it also contains a boutique shop selling island crafts, memorabilia and souvenirs.