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Canadian provincial capital
Photo: Chris Campbell from Wolfville, Canada, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Halifax is the capital city of Nova Scotia and the largest city in Atlantic Canada. The city's origins and rich maritime history derive from a strategic location and one of the world's great natural harbours. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Halifax was the entry point for European immigration to Canada. Today, Halifax is a busy Atlantic seaport and the economic and cultural hub of Atlantic Canada.
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The graveyard was in use from 1749 to 1843 and there are moderately informative plaques and signs throughout.
Historic St. Paul's on the Grand Parade
St. Paul's is the oldest building in Halifax and the oldest existing Protestant place of worship in Canada. Founded by proclamation of King George II in 1749, the building was erected in the summer of 1750. On September 2, 1750 the Reverend William Tutty held the first service inside what was, according to Mr. Tutty, "not completely fitted up". The architectural plans were based on St. Peter's Church, Vere Street, London which was designed in 1722 by James Gibbs, a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren. The resemblance between the two churches is remarkable despite the addition of St. Paul's vestibule and steeple, 1812, the side wings, 1868, and the chancel, 1872. The timbers of St. Paul's were cut in Saco, Maine and shipped to Halifax. Most of the materials including the bricks to line the walls were made locally. Over 2½ centuries later, the original wooden structure remains as sound as the day it was built. Charles Inglis, first overseas Bishop of the Church of England, arrived in 1787 making St. Paul's his cathedral. Until the construction of a garrison chapel in 1844, St. Paul's was also the first garrison church in Halifax.
Home to Canada's oldest provincial legislature and of Britain's first overseas self-government. A fine example of Georgian architecture, the building was opened in 1842. Visitors can learn about the history of the site and the current Legislative Assembly through guided tours, displays and an audio-visual presentation. Province House is open year-round.
After decades of planning, the new Central Library finally opened in December 2014. The striking architecture, said to resemble a stack of books, garnered international attention. The building is unique in Halifax for its bold modernity, standing in attractive contrast to the stately School of Architecture and Planning building next door. Visitors can enjoy a bite at the cafes housed within, peruse the local history section, and enjoy views of Citadel Hill and Halifax Harbour from the freely accessible rooftop patio.
An old fort on a hill overlooking the city and the harbour. The citadel is a national historic site and home to a museum and a small ceremonial garrison. A must-see, especially during Canada Day (1 July) celebrations. The museum is open only May-Oct, but the grounds are open all year around (for free in this case). The famous 'Noon-Gun' fires at noon every day of the year (except Christmas) as it has since the 1830s. Visitors are welcome to watch the firings at any point through the year.
Canadian Museum of Immigration
Canada's equivalent of New York's Ellis Island, this historic waterfront building processed over a million immigrants. It has been converted into a modern museum with extensive exhibits related to Canadian immigration. Typical visit 90 minutes including 30-minute film and 30-minute free guided tour.
The collection includes exhibits and artifacts related to the sinking of the RMS Titanic and the devastating 1917 Halifax explosion. The CSS Acadia, a hydrographic survey ship built in 1913, is an ongoing conservation project. The Acadia is moored a few meters from the museum building; tours are available during the summer. Also, behind the museum is the HMCS Sackville, the last remaining Flower Class escort Corvettes from the convoys of World War II (also open for guided and non-guided tours).
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is moderate in size but does a fine job of highlighting the works of famous local artists such as Maud Lewis (folk) and Alex Colville (hyperrealist), in addition to Mik'maq (Aboriginal) art. Check the website for travelling exhibitions.
Halifax science centre covers several aspects of science in a playful way, thanks to its hands-on exhibitions. There are sections dedicated to space, flight, ocean, and energy. It is mainly conceived as a museum for children, but adults as well will find interesting things to do. Most of the exhibits are hands-on and use some sort of technological support.
Approximately two dozen aircraft on display, including a V-1 flying bomb. A flight simulator (Boeing 737NG) is available for use.
Home of Gus, the oldest known gopher tortoise.
A beautiful Victorian-era garden occupying a large city block. There are ponds, flowers, ducks, geese, and sometimes music in the gazebo.
A large peaceful park that serves as a vantage point to see the mouth of the harbour and into the Atlantic Ocean. It used to be a dense wood, but was left with patches of devastation and clear-cut from Hurricane Juan in 2003. It remains a popular place to walk dogs and stroll. The park contains some preserved historic military fortifications such as the 18th-century Martello tower, and ruins of several other fortifications.
A sprawling complex of forts from 1790s to 1940s. Plan to spend hours exploring tunnels, caves, cliffs, cannons, bunkers, trails, and views of the harbour. 1-hour bus ride from downtown.
A large public space open to everyone. In the summer, you can find residents and visitors playing sports, picnicking, and exercising. A permanent skating oval has been installed for public use.
It was developed as a non-denominational cemetery from 1893, on what had been farm smallholdings, when the Camp Hill Cemetery was running out of room. It was privately run until 1944 when the city took it over. So it holds a large collection of the city's residents, with a Greek and a Chinese section, but is best known as the burial place of 121 of the victims of RMS Titanic. Their graves are in three lines with simple low grey-granite markers: the lines follow the contour so they resemble the curving structure of a ship. Those unidentified have just a number and date. Several were later identified, notably the "Unknown Child", now known to be the 19 month old Sidney Leslie Goodwin of Wiltshire in England. The rest of his family were not found: they were emigrating to Niagara Falls where the hydroelectric power plant needed labour. After the 1997 film Titanic, there was a flurry of tourist visits to the grave of J Dawson: "Jack Dawson" was the character played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The grave actually holds Joe Dawson, an Irish coal-trimmer, so he had one of the worst jobs on Titanic even in normal conditions. These 73 fellows laboured mightily during the sinking to feed coal to the boilers to maintain the ship's power, pumps and lighting; only 20 of them survived.
A beautiful 4.5 km boardwalk that runs from Pier 21 to Casino Nova Scotia is lined with historic buildings, shops, restaurants, art installations and other entertainment. The CSS Acadia, a former hydrographic surveying and oceanographic research ship, the World War II-era corvette HMCS Sackville, and a variety of other ships line the harbour. There are a multitude of boat tour options that launch from here during the summer months.
Guided tour of Halifax and harbour in an amphibious vehicle. Very informative and highlights major points of interest in the city in fun-filled hour.
Murphy's the Cable Wharf is in the heart of the Halifax waterfront and offers a variety of boat tours including nature and whale watching, tall ship sailing, deep sea fishing, historical harbour tours and dinner cruises.
St. Mary's Boat Club
Take a trip up the beautiful Northwest Arm to see the historic Dingle tower in Flemming Park, watch the numerous sailboats out for a weekend cruise or catch a regatta if you're lucky. Gawk at some of the mansions that line the water or for the ambitious, head all the way up to Point Pleasant Park, where the Northwest Arm meets Halifax Harbour. While swimming in parts of the harbour was briefly possible due to the installation of sewage treatment plants, they are down for repair and swimming is again not recommended unless a trip to hospital after is desired.
This Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team plays from October to April at the Scotiabank Centre. Rough, highly-skilled games are combined with a near-NHL level of presentation. See Ice hockey in North America for context.
Professional soccer. HFX Wanderers play as one of the founding members of the Canadian Premier League in a new stadium built near downtown.
Immersive tour of Alexander Keith's original brewery as it supposedly was in 1863, complete with tour guide actors in period garb singing songs, dancing jigs, relaying a bit of the history of the brewery and Keith himself, and promoting the crisp, refreshing taste of Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale. You do get the chance to sample two mugs of the stuff at the end. Tours on the hour and half-hour but limited opening hours outside summer, check the website for details. If you are an Air Miles collector, you can redeem your miles here for free tickets.
Halifax has lots of the great outdoors. Scenic urban parks, protected areas, and coastline trails are all close to the city. Some are well known, others are off the beaten track, all are beautiful.
Visit in August for the festival of street performers along the waterfront. It's a must-see, with amazing acts, some grand and awe-inspiring, some quaint, others funny (both intentionally and unintentionally). A very lively time of year along the harbourfront, with music and stalls selling food and the standard run of touristy souvenirs.
Happening every July, the Tattoo is the world's largest annual indoor show. Its unique combination of music, dance, drama, gymnastics, comedy, military displays, and competitions.
Every few years, Halifax hosts up to 30 historic and unique (and usually massive) maritime sailing vessels from around the world. The next festival has not yet been scheduled.
July 1. Celebration of Canada's national holiday in Halifax on the waterfront.
Pick up any book to read in this bookshop café, then either purchase it or put it back. Beans are roasted in store twice a week.
Specialty coffees, teas, cold drinks, and baked goods. Get there before 1PM and order an 'Egg-O-Reno' breakfast sandwich, among other prepared fare.
Virtually unchanged since 1956, and often voted the best diner in Halifax, and quite cheap. In addition to standard diner fare, they have a few Atlantic favourites such as "Newfoundland Steak" (a.k.a. fried baloney), and cod fish cakes with baked beans for breakfast.
3 different pizza restaurants at corner of Blowers and Grafton. Good cheap pizza and donairs. However, this area can descend into anarchy when the bars let out, and the restaurants often lock their washrooms, even to customers. If you are looking for a more authentic pizza taste head up Gottingen or Agricola into Little Italy, where numerous "mum and pop" places abound.
A tiny restaurant set up in an old taxi stand. Great authentic Iranian cuisine at an affordable price. Famous for their hot sauce, a must try with a samosa!
Hole in the wall specializing in poutine and fresh cut fries, a Halifax institution and an essential stop after a night of drinking. The best poutine one can get by many accounts.
Down a little alley on the citadel end of Dresden Row. Best sushi in the city with a lovely atmosphere and proper inset Japanese tables. Get miso soup, salad, a maki roll and 5 nigiri for only $12 at lunch.
Meals are reasonably priced, atmosphere is cosy and everything on the menu is worth eating. The cocktail menu is discounted on Martini Mondays.
Behind the bizarre name lies a stunningly decorated and sprawing complex incorporating everything from chandeliers to lush indoor gardens. Extensive menu. Go on jazz night (usually Monday) and eat nachos.
Located within the Westin Nova Scotian hotel, Elements is the winner of a Wine Spectator 2010 Award of Excellence and features contemporary global cuisine. Elements offers many seasonal menus with fresh, local ingredients.
Grafton St. veggie & vegan friendly bistro featuring local, organic and macrobiotic food and drink. Kid's menu available. Su-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM.
Seafood restaurant on the waterfront. Casual patio dining downstairs, fancier setting upstairs. Can get very busy on summer evenings. Reservations recommended.
Vegetarian, organic and extremely good. Lunch and dinner menu, soups, salads, entrees, desserts. M-Sa 10AM-8PM.
A world-renowned Italian restaurant located on Lower Water St. inside the Brewery Market.
Lobster, scallops, and other seafood dishes.
Small plates and full meals. Try the deep-fried deviled eggs!
"North American Food - Italian Soul". Long established as one of the finest restaurants in the city, and deserving of this reputation. If you are looking to impress a date or local, this is the place to go.
A mellow and low-key pub. Great live music!
Tavern with pub fare, beer.
A relaxed establishment serving local and international beers. Bluegrass night every Wednesday, no cover.
No-nonsense local pub with hockey on the TV and cheap beer, but they also host a remarkably eclectic selection of local live bands.
A traditional and popular pub, usually with live music starting at midnight. Features staff in period costumes.
Formerly known as the Granite Brewery.
Offers a wide range of local micro-brewery beer (originally Granite Ales, but now carries a much wider stock). Excellent food in an English pub-type atmosphere.
Has live music reliably, almost seven nights a week usually starting at 9PM. The style of music tends to be popular not traditional. Beautiful interior.
"Pub food" priced food and sixty kinds of imported beer. Voted "Best Beer Selection" for several years.
A set of three pubs connected by a split level staircase. There is live music in the lower level frequently, starting at 8PM The music style tends to be traditional Irish/Scottish ballad. The "open" night is often surprisingly good.
Halifax's oldest extant tavern.
Splitties
Long-standing pub with late week and weekend entertainment and cheap food. "Power Hour" brings in the crowds for cheaps drinks (2 middies for $5).
For a good atmosphere and decently priced food.
Also known as the Dirty Dome. Two establishments linked together. Customers pay cover at the doors to one of the two bars and gain access to both. Cheers is a bar atmosphere which features live bands. The Dome is a standard nightclub with a large dance floor, famous for cheap drinks and infamous for brawls. Wednesdays are student nights, with cover waived if you show a student card.
A relatively more up-scale establishment, catering to a diverse crowd.
A busy club, catering especially to the LGBT community. Their busiest night, by far, is Saturday where the cover charge enters the double digits. Electronic, techno and house mix, depending on the night.
This is Halifax's most upscale nightclub with a strict dress-code and expensive drink menu. However, if you're looking for a place that attracts a classier crowd than the Dome or the Palace then Taboo is a must-see.
Garrison
Brewers of fine beers and makers of fine craft nonalcohol sodas.
Rum distilled on-premises, in white, gold, spiced, and black varieties (and a variety of "cream" liqueur). The rum is available in bottles on-premises or at the NSLC, under the "J.D. Shore" label. As of early-2026, they are renovating and only open to the public by appointment.
Good Robot
Excellent craft beers brewed on site, all on tap, mingling ground for North End residents, dog-friendly patio.
Easily accessible by train or bus, this hostel offers rooms starting from $20. Free internet service and free towel rentals available. Located a bit from the "downtown" area. Its location is a bit sketchier, but more authentic. Cafe on the front makes great food.
HI-Halifax
Located in the heart of downtown Halifax, this hostel offers free Wi-Fi to its guests and has a kitchen. The hostel is easily accessed by bus, metro, or train.
Dorm and apartment-style accommodation From late May to late August. Limited availability (1 of 2 suites in Howe Hall) during the school year. Single and double accommodations available; doubles contain two single beds. Shared washroom facilities down the halls, free high-speed internet. Check-in is at whichever building you're staying at.
Early May to late August.
Late July to late August.
Early May to late July.
Early June to late August. Single accommodations only.
Single and double rooms, apartment style accommodations. Available from May 1st to August.
The hotel is comfortably located in the Bayers Lake Business Park. Rooms start from $100 and include breakfast and internet. The hotel also houses an exercise room and indoor pool.
This inn is in the heart of downtown Halifax. It consists of 23 air-conditioned rooms with private baths. Rooms start from $99 and vary with the season. The friendly staff can help you make reservations and suggest new places to visit.
Unique 19th-century property downtown, filled with antiques. Rooms start from $109, and vary according to the season.
Local calls; high speed internet, both wired and wireless; bottled water; in-room umbrellas. Located in downtown Halifax within walking distance of all major attractions.
Directly connected to Casino Nova Scotia by indoor skyway, the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel offers unique restaurants, the exquisite full-service Interlude Spa and spectacular views of the Halifax Harbour.
Lovely views overlooking the Public Gardens just below the Citadel.
The Prince George Hotel offers guests 189 rooms. There is a restaurant on the premises.
One of Canada's grand railway hotels, built by the Canadian National Railway. 310 nicely appointed rooms, many of which overlook the harbour.
Comfortable, clean rooms with fridge and microwave. Continental-style breakfast is included in the room price, and served until 10AM. There is a small fitness centre (weights, hot tub, and sauna) on the top floor available for use by guests at no extra charge, with an excellent view of the harbour. Guest laundry facilities are available. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the harbour - but, because of the steep slope, not so easy a walk back. They have indoor parking at an additional charge.
Barrington Street is an up-and-coming area in the heart of the Central Business District. Beautiful buildings mixed with the growing number of new stores make this definitely a nice place to 'hit up'.
This was the site of the Halifax Farmers' Market prior to its relocation to the newly constructed Seaport building at Pier 20. However, some vendors have remained or have opened a second location here open Saturdays from 7AM-1PM.
Quinpool Road is lined with streets selling bicycles, tropical fish, dresses, movies, and more. The definite Main Street of Central Halifax.
This is the oldest running farmers' market in North America. It runs year-round. Saturdays are by far the busiest with the most vendors, but the market is open every day of the week. Along with local produce, milk, bread, meat, and preserves, you'll find a diversity of local and ethnic prepared foods, plants, artwork, clothing, and all sorts of other interesting stuff that you may not expect for find at a Farmers' Market. Buskers play music both inside and out of the building.
between Barrington and Robie
Definitely the city's main shopping district and is full of all kinds of unique stores and in buildings from all kinds of eras. Definitely very lively and a must see!
Mumford Rd
Largest enclosed shopping centre in Atlantic Canada. Stores include Walmart, Sobeys, Winners, H&M, Zara, Sport Chek, Sephora, and Atlantic Canada's only Apple Store.
Chain Lake Dr, off Route 102 Exit 2A (Lacewood Dr)
Power centre with big box stores, including Walmart, Atlantic Superstore (owned by Loblaws), and Canadian Tire, as well as restaurants and a 17-screen movie theatre (Scotiabank Theatre, which contains one IMAX screen).
A variety of interesting trinkets, accessories, textiles and items from around the world.
The last independent general interest (new) bookstore on the peninsula. A huge selection in a small space; special orders are their specialty.
High-end clothing made and designed in Canada.
Often referred to wrongly as "Dressed in Time", located in the district of Spring Garden Road, sells quality vintage, quirky, and unique clothing at reasonable prices.
A humble and interesting collection of used items. (Hats are in particular abundance!)
A quirky and unique store with an array of candy (by weight), unique and hilarious trinkets.
Small head shop on Grafton Street.
An assortment of especially rock- and pop-related music items: shirts, pins, stickets, buttons, and more.
Quirky store that sells comics, toys, board games, et al.
A unique chocolate store selling a variety of interesting treats.
Specializes in books and other items pertaining to gender and sexuality.
By train
By car
Halifax is connected to the rest of Canada by provincial highways 102 and 104. Highway 102 runs between Halifax and Truro, where it connects to Highway 104 (the Trans-Canada Highway).
By bus
By boat
Carnival Cruise Lines and other major cruise lines operate cruises to Halifax.
By foot
Founded in 1749, long before the automobile, Halifax is a very walkable city.
By car
There are no photo radar or red light cameras in Nova Scotia. If you are caught, it'll be by a live officer.
By public transit
Halifax Transit operates two ferry routes that stop at Halifax ferry terminal.
By taxi
There are a number of taxi services in the city, although flagging a taxi down may be difficult in certain areas. Calling and reserving cabs is rarely an issue.
By ride hailing
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
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