On Bedeque Bay in the western part of the island, Summerside is Prince Edward Island's second city, a waterfront town of about 16,000. It calls itself the City by the Sea, and the boardwalk and shops at Spinnakers' Landing are where the summer crowds head. Slemon Park, the former air base, gives it an aerospace side that most island towns lack.
There is plenty for a visitor to do. The College of Piping runs ceilidhs and summer gatherings, the Lobster Carnival takes over in July, and Malpeque Bay is known for its oysters. Cavendish Beach and Green Gables are about 45 kilometers away, and the Confederation Bridge is a short drive. Living here is more expensive than it used to be. Rents have climbed fast with newcomers arriving, and vacancy is low. Crime is near the national average. Winters bring storms and freezing rain, and Hurricane Fiona in 2022 showed how exposed the coast can be.
Trip planning at a glance
Peak season
July to August, with the Lobster Carnival in July
Quieter season
Winter
Nearest airport
Charlottetown Airport (YYG), 70 km east (about 55 minutes by car
Highlights
Spinnakers' Landing waterfront with shops and boardwalk
College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada
Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.
5.2/10Fair
Connector Score6.8
13 worthwhile cities within three hours; reachable by road and intercity bus; lodging and sights for an overnight stop. Hey! En Route estimate
Safety7.8
Crime Severity Index around 65; the Canadian figure is about 80. Data-based
Affordability6.5
Cost of living index about 100, where the national average is 100. Data-based
Transportation4.5
Reachable by: road and intercity bus. Hey! En Route estimate
Car-free friendliness3.0
Intercity train or bus, plus local transit and walkability. Hey! En Route estimate
Walkability3.6
Estimated from city size and transit; no walkable downtown noted. Hey! En Route estimate
Things to do4.6
Known for 5 kinds of attraction, with 7 annual events listed. Hey! En Route estimate
Food & dining3.2
Estimated from city size and dining listings. Hey! En Route estimate
Places to stay4.7
Lodging at budget, mid-range and luxury prices. Hey! En Route estimate
Nature & outdoors5.0
Known for beaches, lakes & rivers. Hey! En Route estimate
Scenic value7.0
From its landscape: coast, mountains, lakes and parks. Hey! En Route estimate
Family friendliness5.1
Zoos, aquariums, theme parks and museums, weighted by safety. Hey! En Route estimate
Solo-traveler friendliness5.2
Safety, getting around without a car, hostels, and things to do. Hey! En Route estimate
Nightlife3.2
Estimated from city size and live music. Hey! En Route estimate
Remote-work friendliness4.5
City size, affordability, cafés and connections. Hey! En Route estimate
Road-trip convenience6.5
13 worthwhile cities within three hours’ drive, plus parking, EV charging and RV options. Hey! En Route estimate
Train-trip convenience1.0
No intercity train service noted. Hey! En Route estimate
Bus-trip convenience6.5
Intercity buses, with 18 nearby cities reachable by bus. Hey! En Route estimate
The City by the Sea; Prince Edward Island's second city; home of Credit Union Place and Spinnakers' Landing; former Silver Fox capital
Founded
1800s settlement in Bedeque Bay; 1877 incorporated as a town; 1995 incorporated as a city after amalgamation with St. Eleanors and Wilmot
Languages
English (dominant); French is an official federal language and Acadian communities are found in Evangeline and Tignish regions of western PEI, so French services exist but everyday use is limited; Mi'kmaq context: Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations, in Epekwitk (Mi'kmaq name for PEI); immigrant languages include Tagalog, Mandarin, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic and Spanish (newcomer recruitment)
Airports
Charlottetown Airport (YYG), about 70 km east (about 55 minutes by car; Air Canada, WestJet, Flair flights to Toronto, Halifax, Montreal); Summerside Airport (private and general aviation, no scheduled service, CYSU); Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International (YQM) about 90 km west via Confederation Bridge; Halifax Stanfield (YHZ) about 250 km east
Tipping
Restaurants 15-20% of the pre-tax bill (HST is added on top of listed prices, and tipping is on the pre-tax amount); bars $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of tab; taxis and rideshare 10-15%; hotel housekeeping $3-5 CAD per night; bellhops $2-5 CAD per bag; tour guides 10-15%; counter service optional (all amounts CAD; PEI HST is 15%, added on top of listed prices, plus a tourism levy on accommodations)
Community signals
Not enough responses yet to show a trend.
Summerside City Circle
For people considering Summerside, visiting soon, living there for a while, or comparing it with somewhere else.
Population 16,001 (city) and 18,157 (Summerside census agglomeration) are 2021 Census figures via Wikipedia (fetched; StatCan pages not opened). Area 28.2 sq km, incorporation dates and coordinates from Wikipedia; elevation (0 to 29 m) is approximate at about 10 m. Visitor URL is Explore Summerside (city tourism site) seen in search, and its events page seen in search; not load-tested, and the Tourism PEI Summerside page is an alternative. Web search gave links only; event months, hotel ranges, tipping, cost-of-living, crime index, rent, home prices and airport distances are approximate or from general knowledge and not verified. All money in CAD.
Last verified September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·
Neighborhoods
8 areas to know, and who each one suits.
Downtown Summerside and Water Street
Central
Spinnakers' Landing
Waterfront
Wilmot
West, business park
Ross Road area
Slemon Park
Former air base, aerospace
St. Eleanors
East, residential
Foxley Road
Retail
Miscouche
Nearby village
No neighborhood matches that.
Where to base yourself
Downtown Summerside and Spinnakers' Landing for waterfront, restaurants and walkability
along Water Street and the Trans-Canada near Ross Road for road-trip hotels
Miscouche for quieter stays
Slemon Park area for airport-adjacent stays. Tiers: motels, cottages and B&Bs
mid-range chain hotels (Quality Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western)
few luxury options, with waterfront inns such as the Loyalist Country Inn
Suburbs and neighboring towns
Miscouche (8 km; car); Bedeque (10 km; car); Central Bedeque (12 km; car); Slemon Park (5 km; car); Wilmot Valley (10 km; car); Kensington (25 km; car)
What a visit costs
Per person per day, with a room shared by two. Change anything below to fit your trip.
Budget
$111/day
Lodging about CA$135 a night
Mid-range
$157/day
Lodging about CA$195 a night
Luxury
$250/day
Lodging about CA$290 a night
Budget calculator
Vehicle
mpg
These are estimates from typical prices, not quotes. Real costs vary with season, events, booking time and your own habits; taxes and fees are approximate.
Cost of living
For longer stays and relocation.
Cost of living index
100 (national average = 100)
Typical 1-bedroom rent
CA$1,500a month
Median home price
CA$385,000
Research notes
Roughly 5% below to near the Canadian average, with rising rents, and about 15-20% below the average of large US cities (approximate, from common indices); typical 1BR rent about $1,300-1,700 CAD per month (approximate; PEI rents have risen fast)
Real estate
Buying or renting long-term: prices, trends and the rules.
Median home
CA$385,000
Mortgage calculator
Average home price roughly $350,000-420,000 CAD (approximate, PEI Real Estate Association, not verified); average 1BR rent about $1,300-1,700 CAD; market trend: strong growth since 2020 from in-migration and low vacancy, cooling in some months (not verified this pass)
Research notes on prices and seasons
Hotels per night (CAD, before 15% HST plus 4% tourism levy at some properties): budget $110-160; mid-range $160-230; luxury $230-350 (few options). Peak season is July to August, with the Lobster Carnival in July; September and early October are busy and cheaper than July; winter is cheapest. Rough daily visitor budget excluding lodging: $90-160 CAD
Where to stay
Which part of town suits which kind of trip.
Downtown Summerside and Spinnakers' Landing for waterfront, restaurants and walkability
along Water Street and the Trans-Canada near Ross Road for road-trip hotels
Miscouche for quieter stays
Slemon Park area for airport-adjacent stays. Tiers: motels, cottages and B&Bs
mid-range chain hotels (Quality Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western)
few luxury options, with waterfront inns such as the Loyalist Country Inn
Safety information is a guide from public data and our research, not a guarantee. Conditions change; check local news and official advice before you go.
7.8
Very good · Data-based
Crime Severity Index around 65; the Canadian figure is about 80.
Safety overview
Summerside Police Services reports a Crime Severity Index below or near the national average (approximate, Statistics Canada; not verified); main visitor risks are theft from vehicles and some property crime, with violent crime uncommon. Health care: PEI Health PEI does not cover visitors, so travel health insurance is advisable. Hospitals: Prince County Hospital (Summerside, emergency department); Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown (main referral hospital), about 70 km. Hazards: winter storms and freezing rain, post-tropical storms and hurricane remnants (for example Fiona in 2022, which caused major coastal damage), coastal flooding and erosion, storm surge, sea ice, fog, and strong winds on the Confederation Bridge (bridge may close in high winds). Emergency 911
Local notes
Specific places where extra care is worthwhile, especially at night. Most visits are trouble-free.
No areas are widely avoided by visitors. Use ordinary caution late at night near some downtown bars and in parts of the downtown core where property crime and drug-related incidents are reported. Roads can be icy in winter, and beaches on the north shore have strong rip currents and red-tide warnings some summers; obey posted beach warnings
Times marked “est.” are estimates: drives use typical road distances at highway speeds, and train or bus times assume both cities have service. Always check a route planner and timetables before you travel.
Route ideas
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