I have visited this charming east coast Canadian town twice, i.e., in 2006 and in 2021.  Although the town is compact, I stayed overnight on both trips to enjoy it at a more leisurely pace and to also use the town as a base to explore the picturesque the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

Lunenburg is touristy, but it still maintains an aura of authenticity and continues to capture Nova Scotian's famous down-to-earth personality.  The existence of a non-tourism industry, such as the High Liner Foods plant, is helpful in this regard.

Although regional variations in architecture do exist in Canada, it is rare for a town to have a distinct architectural look as Lunenburg does.  On both of my visits, I had a fun time simply strolling around the streets of Lunenburg and admiring the houses. 

Lunenburg also has a number of fine 18th and 19th century churches, all of which are of different denominations.  My personal favourite is St. John's Anglican Church, which is built in Carpenter Gothic style and painted in all white except for its smart black trims.  First constructed in 1754, the church suffered significant damage during a fire in 2001.  The restoration of the church used as much of the salvageable pre-2001 materials possible. 

There are two museums in Lunenburg.  The more substantial of the two museums is the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.  The second museum is the Knault-Rhuland House.  The 2.5-storey house, built in 1793, offers free admissions.

There is also much to see around Lunenburg.  Within easy driving distances are other pretty towns and villages such as Mahone Bay (with its photogenic three churches), Chester (clapboard seaside village), and Peggy's Cove (with its famous iconic lighthouse).  I also highly recommend going on a kayaking excursion along the South Shore coast.  The excursions, which are for all skill levels, take you to beautiful, tranquil spots along the coastline. Many of the kayak tours start at Blue Rocks, which is a 10-minute drive from Lunenburg.

Note: This small province of Nova Scotia is blessed with two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are Joggins Fossil Cliffs and Grand Pré.