Cape Breton Island vacation rentals
Book unique cottages, vacation rentals, and more on Airbnb
Top-rated vacation rentals in Cape Breton Island
Guests agree: these vacation rentals are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.
Vacation rentals for every style
Get the amount of space that is right for you
Popular amenities for Cape Breton Island vacation rentals
Cape Breton Island house rentals
Cape Breton Island cottage rentals
Your guide to Cape Breton Island
All About Cape Breton Island
Located in the turbulent Atlantic waters off the eastern shores of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island is known for its rolling forested hills, fishing villages, the expansive and brackish Bras d’Or Lake, and rugged, dramatic coastlines. The remote island has attracted generations of hikers, flyfishers, and kayakers to its vast hinterlands and sprawling seaboards — wild landscapes that shelter enormous populations of moose, black bears, and seasonal migratory whales. Cape Breton’s human residents cluster in several dozen communities scattered across the island, Sydney being the largest.
Museums and art galleries keep the island’s cultural scene current, and several heritage sites invite visitors to learn about the Mi’kmaq people and other Indigenous communities. The island is also famous for its seafood, and you’ll find many restaurants serving up lobster and other locally caught shellfish. As Cape Breton connects easily to the mainland via the Canso Causeway, the broader offerings of Nova Scotia are within reach.
The best time to stay in a vacation rental in Cape Breton Island
Eastern Canada and the North Atlantic waters around Cape Breton Island are subject to a varied climate, with drastic swings in conditions between the seasons. Summers are warm and pleasant, with regular rain showers that create lush, vibrant landscapes. These months are great for hiking, exploring the inland areas, and enjoying the cultural offerings of the local communities. Winters bring frigid temperatures that often fall well below freezing, with heavy snowfall accumulating from November through March. These colder months can still be excellent times to book vacation rentals on Cape Breton Island, as there are plenty of opportunities for cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and nestling up in a cozy cottage in front of a fire.
Most of the island’s festivities and events occur during the summer, when it is comfortable to be outside. All summer long, the Patio Lanterns Festival sees makeshift stages pop up throughout Nova Scotia for free live music and food on patios lit with twinkling lights.
Top things to do in Cape Breton Island
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
This 25-acre historic site in the town of Baddeck perches above the Atlantic waters; its angular architecture and expansive glass walls merit a visit alone. Inside, the museum showcases artifacts, re-creations of historic aircraft, underwater submersibles, the world’s first patented telephone, and other achievements from the life of the famed inventor.
The Big Fiddle
This 60-foot statue honors Nova Scotia’s strong Celtic community and its proud musical traditions. It stands in front of the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in Sydney, which hosts concerts throughout the year. The Port Sydney area offers plenty of options for shopping and dining, as well as a waterfront promenade that provides expansive ocean vistas.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
This expansive national park and recreation area sits amid Cape Breton’s northern highlands, coniferous forests, and rugged coasts. Miles of hiking trails through the undulating hills bring travelers to the tops of towering peaks, along winding creeks, and to the beaches of secluded mountain lakes. Flyfishing is one of the park’s popular activities, in addition to spotting eagles, moose, and whales in the wild.
Destinations to explore
- SydneyVacation rentals
- Les Îles-de-la-MadeleineVacation rentals
- InvernessVacation rentals
- AntigonishVacation rentals
- ChéticampVacation rentals
- New GlasgowVacation rentals
- Cape Breton HighlandsVacation rentals
- BaddeckVacation rentals
- Glace BayVacation rentals
- SourisVacation rentals
- HalifaxVacation rentals
- MonctonVacation rentals
- Rentals with beach accessCape Breton Island
- Dome rentalsCape Breton Island
- Monthly RentalsCape Breton Island
- Events allowed rentalsCape Breton Island
- Rentals with a hot tubCape Breton Island
- Kid-friendly rentalsCape Breton Island
- Rentals with lake accessCape Breton Island
- Cabin rentalsCape Breton Island
- Pet-friendly rentalsCape Breton Island
- Private suite rentalsCape Breton Island
- Tiny house rentalsCape Breton Island
- Rentals with a fireplaceCape Breton Island
- Family-friendly rentalsCape Breton Island
- Rentals with poolsCape Breton Island
- Rentals with a fire pitCape Breton Island
- Rentals with a patioCape Breton Island
- Rentals with a kayakCape Breton Island
- Beachfront rentalsCape Breton Island
- Waterfront rentalsCape Breton Island
- Rentals with breakfastCape Breton Island
- Rentals with a washer and dryerCape Breton Island
- Apartment rentalsCape Breton Island
- Bed and breakfastsCape Breton Island
- Boutique hotel rentalsCape Breton Island
- Cottage rentalsCape Breton Island
- Chalet rentalsCape Breton Island
- House rentalsCape Breton Island
- Rentals with outdoor seatingCape Breton Island
- Yurt RentalsUnited States
- Yurt RentalsUnited Kingdom
- Castle RentalsUnited States
- HouseboatsUnited States
- Holiday CaravansUnited Kingdom
- Private Island RentalsUnited States
- Farm HousesUnited States
- Farm CottagesUnited Kingdom
- Cabin RentalsAustralia
- Luxury CabinsUnited Kingdom
- Luxury CabinsUnited States
- Holiday ChaletsUnited Kingdom
- Cottage RentalsUnited States
- Holiday CottagesUnited Kingdom
- Mansion RentalsUnited States
- Villa RentalsUnited Kingdom
- Holiday BungalowsUnited Kingdom
- Bungalow RentalsUnited States
- Condo RentalsUnited States
- Holiday ApartmentsAustralia
- Holiday HousesUnited States
- Holiday HousesUnited Kingdom
- Private Holiday RentalsUnited Kingdom
- Big House RentalsUnited States
- Big CottagesAustralia
- Large VillasUnited Kingdom
- House Rentals with a PoolUnited States
- Cabin Rentals with a PoolUnited States
- Villas with a PoolUnited Kingdom
- Apartments with a Hot TubUnited States
- Holiday Cottages with a Hot TubUnited Kingdom
- Beach CabinsUnited States
- Beach CondosUnited States
- Beachfront RentalsUnited States
- Beach HousesUnited Kingdom
- Beach VillasUnited Kingdom
- Coastal CottagesUnited Kingdom
- Pet-Friendly Vacation RentalsUnited States
- Pet-Friendly Beach RentalsUnited States
- Pet-Friendly Cabin RentalsUnited States
- Dog-Friendly CottagesUnited Kingdom
- Luxury Dog-Friendly CottagesUnited Kingdom