Beds of Whimsy: Unusual Places to Stay in Charlottetown That Would Make a Lobster Blush

The Delightfully Odd Gallery of Unusual Places to Stay in Charlottetown

Charlottetown’s landscape of unique accommodations resembles an eccentric aunt’s living room—full of conversation pieces with unexpected stories behind them. From historical buildings reimagined to floating accommodations that rock you to sleep on harbor waters, these unusual places to stay in Charlottetown offer experiences that standard hotels simply can’t match, regardless of how many pillows they offer on their pillow menus.

Historical Buildings With New Purposes

The Point Prim Lighthouse BandB stands as the perfect example of architectural reincarnation. Built in 1845 as PEI’s oldest lighthouse, it now welcomes guests ($175-225/night) to play lighthouse keeper without the responsibility of preventing shipwrecks. The 60-step circular climb to the top rewards visitors with panoramic views of the Northumberland Strait, where on clear days, Nova Scotia appears as a smudge on the horizon. Breakfast features maritime-themed offerings like lobster scramble and dulse (seaweed) bread that would make a fisherman weep with recognition. The rooms maintain their historical character—meaning doorways designed for shorter 19th-century humans and floorboards that creak with maritime ghost stories.

Meanwhile, The Great George Hotel’s Hideaway Suites ($180-300/night) occupy a collection of 17 restored heritage buildings from the 1800s that collectively resemble a colonial village having an identity crisis. Each suite boasts its own personality disorder—the “Smuggler’s Suite” features hidden compartments inspired by Prohibition-era rum runners, while the “Merchant’s Quarters” showcases the opulent tastes of Charlottetown’s historical business elite. Despite the period furnishings that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a historical reenactment, modern amenities (high-speed WiFi, rainfall showers, and espresso machines) prevent the time-travel experience from becoming too authentic. These buildings hosted discussions that led to Canadian Confederation, meaning guests sleep where history was quite literally made—though now with significantly better mattresses.

Floating Accommodations That Rock You to Sleep

For those who find land accommodations too stationary, Charlottetown Harbor Houseboats ($250-350/night) offer 500 square feet of gently rocking living space moored directly in the harbor. These floating tiny homes feature panoramic windows that transform the harbor into an ever-changing living painting. At sunset, the water becomes “a melted creamsicle spilled across the horizon,” while morning brings the bustle of fishing vessels and the occasional curious harbor seal. The compact kitchens come stocked with local ingredients, though cooking during high tide requires a sailor’s balance and a forgiving attitude toward slightly tilted omelets.

The Floating Seafood Shack BandB takes maritime lodging even further by converting a former fishing vessel into a floating three-room accommodation ($150-200/night). The owners—a retired fishing couple with hands permanently weathered into the texture of sailcloth—serve breakfast caught that very morning, often while telling tales of 30-foot waves that make the harbor’s gentle rocking seem laughably tame. The cabins maintain their nautical dimensions (translation: they’re small), but the experience of watching harbor life from what was once a working fishing boat offers authentic immersion impossible to replicate. A word of caution: those prone to motion sickness should consider this experience carefully, as the gentle rocking that charms most guests might transform others into slightly greener versions of themselves.

Farm and Country Retreats Just Minutes From Downtown

Lavender Hills Farm Stay proves that unusual places to stay in Charlottetown don’t require sacrificing comfort for novelty. This working lavender farm ($90-140/night) features converted barn lofts surrounded by 12 acres of purple fields that look like a Provençal landscape painting that took a wrong turn and ended up in the Maritimes. Guests can participate in hands-on experiences like harvesting or distilling essential oils, or simply enjoy lavender-infused meals prepared with ingredients from their one-acre vegetable garden. The rooms feature rustic-chic décor with exposed beams, luxury linens scented with house-made lavender oil, and windows that frame postcard-worthy rural views despite being just 10 minutes from downtown Charlottetown.

For travelers seeking accommodations with more fantastical flair, The Hobbit Houses of Eastern PEI ($150-220/night) offer earth-sheltered lodgings built directly into hillsides just 15 minutes from downtown. These semi-subterranean dwellings maintain steady 68F temperatures year-round regardless of whether outside temperatures are soaring in July or plummeting in February. Their sustainability credentials impress even the most dedicated environmentalists—using 90% less energy than conventional buildings while providing unexpectedly luxurious interiors featuring heated stone floors, custom round doorways, and skylights that flood the spaces with natural light. Despite their compact footprint (around 600 square feet), clever design creates spaces that feel surprisingly spacious, if occasionally challenging for guests over six feet tall.

Eco-Friendly Innovations That Don’t Sacrifice Comfort

The Red Sands Treehouse Village elevates the concept of sustainable lodging—quite literally—with a collection of treehouses ($200-400/night) built using local timber and powered entirely by renewable energy. Perched 15 feet above the ground, these arboreal accommodations provide views across Charlottetown harbor that conventional hotels would charge suite prices to match. The outdoor rainwater showers and composting toilets sound alarmingly rustic until you experience them—the showers offer better pressure than most hotel bathrooms, and the composting facilities are “surprisingly un-rustic” thanks to ventilation systems that would impress NASA engineers. Each treehouse features a different theme connected to PEI ecology: the “Eagle’s Nest” showcases birds of prey, while the “Tidal Pool” incorporates elements recovered from the shoreline.

The Shipping Container Hotel takes recycling to architectural extremes, transforming discarded shipping containers into a sleek boutique hotel ($120-180/night) that would make minimalist designers weep with joy. The industrial origins of these structures disappear beneath floor-to-ceiling windows, rooftop gardens, and interiors that feel like “nautical cabins designed by Scandinavian minimalists.” Each container offers approximately 320 square feet of living space that maximizes functionality without inducing claustrophobia. The hotel’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its upcycled structure to include gray water recycling systems, solar heating, and furniture crafted from reclaimed materials. The rooftop common area transforms into a community gathering space during summer evenings, hosting live music and serving local craft beers beneath string lights.

Budget-Friendly Quirky Options That Won’t Empty Your Wallet

The Communal Artist’s Loft above a working art gallery provides affordable accommodations ($75-95/night) that double as a cultural immersion. Guests sleep surrounded by local artwork in a shared loft space divided by movable screens rather than permanent walls. The communal kitchen frequently becomes an impromptu gathering space where travelers exchange recommendations while preparing meals with ingredients from the nearby farmers’ market. Evening workshops offer everything from printmaking to poetry slams, providing entertainment that costs considerably less than theater tickets. While privacy seekers might find the setup challenging, social travelers often depart with new friendships alongside their souvenirs.

The Railway Car BandB preserves a piece of transportation history in its converted 1914 railway dining car ($110-140/night) now permanently stationed near downtown Charlottetown. The original Art Deco details—brass fixtures, mahogany paneling, and vintage lighting—remain intact, while subtle modernizations prevent the experience from feeling like a museum exhibit with beds. Measuring just 85 feet long by 10 feet wide, the space uses every inch efficiently, much like the compact efficiency of yacht interiors. Breakfast features recipes from the original rail service, including maritime-inspired dishes that once fed passengers traveling between Halifax and Montreal. The owners—train enthusiasts with encyclopedic knowledge of Canadian railway history—provide context that transforms a quirky overnight stay into a historical journey without leaving the station.