Amherst

Make Amherst home base for all of your Cumberland adventures!

Make Amherst home base for exploring everything the Cumberland Region has to offer. With a full range of accommodations, dining, shopping, and cultural attractions, Amherst makes it easy to settle in and take memorable day trips across the region.

view of downtown street in Amherst

Day Trip & Experiences
From Amherst, you can tour the depths of a historic coal mine in Springhill, hunt for 300-million-year-old fossils along the Fundy shore in the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark, swim at Nova Scotia’s warmest ocean beaches, and enjoy fresh seafood along the coast, all within an easy drive.

Arts, Culture & Shopping
Amherst is also a hub for arts, culture, and creativity. Browse work from more than 100 local artisans at Maritime Mosaic and the Amherst Artisan Gallery. Take a rug hooking workshop at Deanne Fitzpatrick Studio or stock up on quilting fabrics at Mrs. Pugsley’s Emporium. Stroll through streets lined with one of Canada’s most impressive collections of sandstone buildings, then cap off the day with live music and local entertainment.

Location & Accessibility
Conveniently located, Amherst is just a two-hour drive from Halifax, 90 minutes from Halifax Stanfield International Airport, about an hour from Prince Edward Island, and 40 minutes from Moncton, New Brunswick.

VIA Rail Canada provides passenger rail service to Amherst, making it one of the most accessible communities in Cumberland for travellers arriving without a car or looking to reduce driving time.

Amherst is served by VIA Rail’s Ocean route, which connects:

  • Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Moncton, New Brunswick
  • Miramichi, New Brunswick
  • Campbellton, New Brunswick
  • Montréal, Quebec

From the Amherst station, visitors can easily access local accommodations, dining, and services, or use Amherst as a convenient base for exploring the wider Cumberland region by car rental.

Downloadable Guides Section

Staying in Amherst means you do not have to go far to experience the best of Cumberland, whether you are exploring nearby or enjoying everything the community has to offer right at your doorstep.