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Sydney, Canada

Cape Breton is fabled as a magical travel destination and the Port of Sydney is the gateway. Known for its beauty and unique Celtic music and culture, Sydney puts some of the Island's greatest sights and attractions at your fingertips when you disembark into the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.

The dockside pavilion offers an array of Shopping Boutiques, a Craft Market and the World's Largest Fiddle. You will also find wireless Internet services, a Visitor Information Centre, and the Cape Breton Island Exhibition Centre featuring artifacts, images and an overview of the rich culture and heritage of this historic Island.

The city of Sydney has a deep history and was originally founded in 1785 by British Loyalists fleeing the perils of the American Revolution. The rich natural resources led these new settlers to establish prosperous coal and steel industries, which attracted immigrants from a myriad of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. To this day, Sydney remains a haven of multiculturalism.

The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion is just a short drive from the community of Baddeck and the breathtaking Bras d'Or Lake where Alexander Graham Bell lived, worked and studied. On the east coast of Cape Breton lies the largest historic reconstruction in North America, the Fortress of Louisbourg. The Fortress is a Parks Canada National Historic Site and is described as a Williamsburg-style attraction that is not to be missed.

Points of Interest

  • Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
  • Bras d'Or Lake
  • Baddeck
  • Celtic Heritage
  • Cape Breton Highlands National Park
  • Highland Village & Museum
  • Cabot Trail
  • Fortress of Louisbourg

More about Sydney, Canada Points of Interest

  • Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site -

    Located in Baddeck, the museum's three exhibit halls contain the largest collection of Bell's inventions including replicas of the first telephone. From the complex's rooftop gardens you can see Bell's 132-room estate Beinn Breagh.

  • Bras d'Or Lake -

    Named by the French meaning "arm of gold," this sparkling lake is known for its gentle, fog-free waters, hundreds of coves and islands, and surrounded almost entirely by high hills and low mountains.

  • Baddeck -

    In the heart of Cape Breton on the beautiful Bras d'Or Lake, this charming coastal town is home to Alexander Graham Bell's summer mansion, which sits majestically watching over Baddeck Bay.

  • Celtic Heritage -

    Cape Breton is the only place in North America where Gaelic is still spoken, and its music, dancing and storytelling have remained a legacy of those who emigrated from the Scottish highlands 200 years ago.

  • Cape Breton Highlands National Park -

    This 366 square-mile park features stunning mountains, verdant valleys and forests, crystal clear waterfalls, rocky coastlines and the tundra-like plateau known as the Cape Breton Highlands.

  • Highland Village & Museum -

    A 43-acre living history museum that celebrates the Gaelic experience in Nova Scotia during the mid-18th century. Period buildings, rare farm animals, exhibits and costumed guides provide a fun and enjoyable journey through history.

  • Cabot Trail -

    This scenic roadway loops around the Cape Breton Highlands and follows the rugged coastline before passing along picturesque Bras d'Or Lake.

  • Fortress of Louisbourg -

    The largest reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town in North America and a National Historic Site of Canada. Costumed guides, historic buildings and demonstrations create an exciting and entertaining lesson in history.

13 Excursions

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Sydney, Canada

Easy Sydney Highlights & Coastal Drive

Average Guest Rating
3 hours
Easy Activity
from $84.95
Sydney, Canada

Celtic Heritage: Sounds of Cape Breton

Average Guest Rating
1.5 hours
Wheelchair Accessible
Easy Activity
from $74.95
Sydney, Canada

Best of Cape Breton: Bell Museum, Baddeck & Bras d'Or Lake

Average Guest Rating
4 hours
Easy Activity
from $104.95
Sydney, Canada

Local Connections: Waterfront Lobster Boil

Average Guest Rating
1.5 hours
Easy Activity
from $144.95
Sydney, Canada

Local Connections: Mussels & Music - A Cape Breton Pub Session

Average Guest Rating
1.5 hours
Easy Activity
from $104.95
Sydney, Canada

Local Connections: Sydney Pub & Cider House Tour

Average Guest Rating
3 hours
Easy Activity
from $104.95
Sydney, Canada

Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

Average Guest Rating
3.5 hours
Moderate Activity
from $104.95
Sydney, Canada

Highland Village and Museum & Gaelic Experience

Average Guest Rating
3.5 hours
Moderate Activity
from $94.95
Sydney, Canada

Ultimate Cape Breton: Highland Village, Bell Museum & Baddeck

Average Guest Rating
7 hours
Moderate Activity
from $209.95
Sydney, Canada

Road Trip Along the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton

Average Guest Rating
7.5 hours
Moderate Activity
from $189.95
Sydney, Canada

Local Connections: Eskasoni Cultural Experience

Average Guest Rating
3.75 hours
Moderate Activity
from $169.95
Sydney, Canada

Sydney Old Town Walking Tour & Celtic Experience

Average Guest Rating
2 hours
Moderate Activity
from $49.95
Sydney, Canada

Spirited Sydney - A Historic Walking Tour

Average Guest Rating
1.5 hours
Moderate Activity
from $39.95