Halifax

Understand

Halifax is the provincial and regional hub of Nova Scotia. It is, however, a small city by North American standards (2024 pop. 463,000). Rather than feeling relegated to 'second-fiddle' status, this dichotomy is celebrated by residents who take pride in their slower pace and warm hospitality.

History

The area around Halifax has been inhabited by native Mi'kmaq for millennia. Modern Halifax was founded on June 21, 1749 as a British military outpost. Easily defended and featuring the world's second largest natural harbour, Halifax proved its worth during the Seven Years' War against the French and later in the American Revolutionary War, and as the base grew in size and importance, a significant population of merchants and other civilians sprung up in its wake. On December 6, 1917, the collision of the SS Mont-Blanc, a freighter loaded with over 2,500 tons of explosives, and the SS Imo resulted in the Halifax Explosion, which killed over 2,000 people and levelled the northern half of the city. It was the largest artificial explosion before the invention of the nuclear bomb. There are numerous monuments around the city commemorating the explosion, including the Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower in the North End and a piece of the Mont-Blanc's anchor over 3 km away. The city was quickly rebuilt, and during World War II Halifax was busier than ever, with British supply convoys assembling to start their perilous journey across the Atlantic as German U-boats lurked offshore. After the war, over a million immigrants to Canada passed through Halifax.

Orientation

The city of Halifax is on Halifax Peninsula, on the west side of the harbour, with Dartmouth to the east. The main landmark is the Halifax Citadel, on a high hill above the city, and it divides the city into three districts: the South End, representing the older, wealthier urban core south of the Citadel; the North End, the grittier northern suburbs destroyed by the Explosion; and the largely residential West End. The downtown core is sandwiched between the Citadel and the sea, making navigation a snap. Inhabitants of the city are known as Haligonians.

Getting there

Airport

1 Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport (YHZ IATA) (35 km north of Halifax), ☏ +1 902-873-4422, info@hiaa.ca. It is the biggest airport in the maritime provinces. (updated May 2022)

Destinations

Direct flights to Halifax within Canada include from Calgary (4.75 hours), from Edmonton (4.5 hours), from Montreal (1.5-1.75 hours), from Ottawa (1.5 hours), from St. John's (2 hours), and from Toronto (2 hours). Direct flights to Halifax from destinations in the United States of America include from New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and limited service to a number of regional and holiday destinations. Direct flights to Halifax from Saint-Pierre (Saint Pierre and Miquelone) (1.5 hours). Direct flights to Halifax from Europe are provided from London (6.25 hours) by Air Canada, Dublin (seasonal) by Europe Airpost, Frankfurt/Main (May–October) only by Condor.

Airlines

Canadian airlines operating to Halifax:

Getting around

The Halifax Peninsula is quite dense and charming, owing to its 18th century street layout, however beyond the peninsula sprawl becomes more prominent. Public transit is limited and mostly impractical outside the peninsula. The downtown shopping and attractions will engage the average traveller for a day or two at most. Beyond this time frame, a car rental will significantly open up the surrounding area.

By foot

Founded in 1749, long before the automobile, Halifax is a very walkable city. The blocks are relatively small and the streets are mostly quite narrow, excellent for taking a comfortable stroll around the city's various neighbourhoods. The downtown and waterfront can (and should) be explored entirely on foot, there is an abundance of excellent shops, bars, and restaurants with patios, all catering primarily to pedestrians. Walking south of South Street (especially around the streets that branch off Inglis Street, South Park Street/Young Avenue) there are hundreds of Victorian homes and Registered Historic Properties which are best appreciated at a slow pace on foot. Further south you will reach Point Pleasant Park with 39 km of trails between dense forest and connecting National Historic Sites and various monuments. Walking is safe in Halifax, most drivers are used to giving way to pedestrians at intersections, although they may not stop if crossing mid-block. Crimes against pedestrians are uncommon, although panhandlers can be persistent and drunk students are always around and can be boisterous.

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. At some lights, there is an "advanced green", or flashing green light, which means that you can proceed left, straight, or right at your leisure. Green arrow lights are rare. Pedestrians are king. People will often cross a road in the middle of the block, and cars often stop for them. U-turns are legal (de facto anywhere a left turn is allowed, de jure), barring a no U-turn sign. It's very important that you give buses the right of way, give them enough room to turn in intersections, and avoid passing them on one-lane streets like Barrington.

See

1 Old Burying Ground, Barrington St and Spring Garden Rd. The graveyard was in use from 1749 to 1843 and there are moderately informative plaques and signs throughout. 2 St. Paul's Anglican Church (Historic St. Paul's on the Grand Parade), 1749 Argyle St (across the street from the Old Burial Grounds), ☏ +1 902-429-2240, office@stpaulshalifax.org. open to the pub­lic for self-directed vis­its from 9AM-4:30PM. 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. Free. (updated Sep 2015) 3 Province House, 1726 Hollis St, ☏ +1 902-424-4661. Jul-Aug: M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su and holidays 10AM-4PM; rest of year M-F 9AM-4PM. 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. Free. 4 Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Rd at Queen St, ☏ +1 902-490-5700. M-Th 9AM-9PM; F Sa 9AM-6PM; Su noon-6PM. 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. Free. (updated May 2017)

Museums

5 The Halifax Citadel. 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. Adult $11.70, senior $10, youth $5.80. Fees are about one-third lower in May and mid-September to the end of October. (updated May 2017) 6 Pier 21 (Canadian Museum of Immigration), 1055 Marginal Rd, ☏ +1 902-425-7770. May-Oct: 9:30AM-5:30PM daily; Nov: 9:30AM-5PM daily; Dec-Mar: Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Apr: M-Sa 10AM-5PM. 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. $10 adults, $8.75 seniors (60+), $7 students (w/ ID), $5.75 children (6-16), free for children under 5. Family rate $25 (two adults, three children, additional children $3 each).

7 The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water Street (on the downtown waterfront), ☏ +1 902-424-7490. 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). (updated May 2018) 8 Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 1723 Hollis St, ☏ +1 902-424-5280. Tu W F Sa 10AM-5PM, Th 10AM-9PM, Su noon-5PM. 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. $12 adults, $10 seniors 60+, $7 students, $5 youth 6-17, $25 families (2 adults and 3 youth), children 5 and under free. Free for everyone Th after 5PM. 9 Discovery Centre, 1215 Lower Water St, ☏ +1 902-492-4422. Daily 10AM-5PM. 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. $12 adults; $10 children & seniors. (updated Nov 2018) 10 Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum, 20 Sky Blvd (opposite Halifax Stanfield International Airport), ☏ +1 902 873-3773, info@ACAMuseum.ca. Mid-May to Aug: daily 9AM-5PM; Sep to mid-May: W-Sa 10AM-4PM. Approximately two dozen aircraft on display, including a V-1 flying bomb. A flight simulator (Boeing 737NG) is available for use. Admission by donation ($10 recommended). (updated Mar 2026) 11 Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, ☏ +1 902-424-7353. 9:30AM-4:30PM. Home of Gus, the oldest known gopher tortoise. C$6.25. (updated Nov 2025)

Do

1 Waterfront. 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. (updated Jul 2023) 2 Harbour Hopper, 1549 Lower Water St (in lot on north side of Salter St at the waterfront), ☏ +1 902 916-0040. 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. Adult $37.61, senior 65+ $34.39, youth (7-15) $24.87, child (2-6) $16.91, infant (0-1) free. (updated Sep 2022) 3 Boat Tours, ☏ +1 902-420-1015. Open seven days a week May-October. 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. (updated Apr 2016) 4 Canoe the Northwest Arm (St. Mary's Boat Club), 1641 Fairfield Road (off Jubilee), ☏ +1 902-490-4688. Sa Su 11AM-7PM. 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. Rent a canoe for $8/hour. (updated Apr 2016) 5 Halifax Mooseheads ice hockey. 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. Tickets are $8-15, and are available at the Metro Centre box office. (updated Apr 2016) 6 HFX Wanderers FC, Wanderers Grounds. Professional soccer. HFX Wanderers play as one of the founding members of the Canadian Premier League in a new stadium built near downtown. 7 Alexander Keith's Brewery Tour, 1475 Hollis Street. 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. Hiking trails. 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.

Events

Busker Festival. 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. The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. 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. Tall Ships Festival. 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. Halifax Canada Day. July 1. Celebration of Canada's national holiday in Halifax on the waterfront.

Shopping

Shopping areas

1 Barrington Street (between Cogswell and Morris). 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'. (updated Apr 2016) 2 Brewery Farmers' Market, 1496 Lower Water St. 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. 3 Quinpool Road (between Connaught and Robie). Quinpool Road is lined with streets selling bicycles, tropical fish, dresses, movies, and more. The definite Main Street of Central Halifax. (updated Apr 2016) 4 Seaport Farmers' Market, 1209 Marginal Rd. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 7AM-4PM, Su 8AM-4PM. 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. 5 Spring Garden Road (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! 6 Halifax Shopping Centre (Mumford Rd), 7001 Mumford Rd, ☏ +1 902 454-8666. M-Sa 9:30AM-9PM, Su noon-5PM. 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. (updated Aug 2026) 7 Bayers Lake Business Park (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). (updated Jul 2021)

Stores

8 Black Market Boutique, 1545 Grafton St, ☏ +1 902-423-5724. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 11AM-6PM. A variety of interesting trinkets, accessories, textiles and items from around the world. (updated Mar 2016) 9 Bookmark, 5686 Spring Garden Rd, ☏ +1 902-423-0419. M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 11AM-6PM. The last independent general interest (new) bookstore on the peninsula. A huge selection in a small space; special orders are their specialty. (updated Mar 2016) 10 Canook Trading, 1669 Barrington St, ☏ +1 902-420-1297. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 11AM-5PM. High-end clothing made and designed in Canada. (updated Jan 2016) 11 Dress in Time, 5670 Spring Garden Rd. 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. 12 Fifty Hats, 1086 Queen Street. A humble and interesting collection of used items. (Hats are in particular abundance!) 13 Freak Lunchbox, 1729 Barrington St, ☏ +1 902-420-9151. Su-Th 10AM-11PM, F Sa 10AM-midnight (open at 9AM M-Sa during summer). A quirky and unique store with an array of candy (by weight), unique and hilarious trinkets. (updated Mar 2016) 14 Mary Jane's Smoke Shop, 1549 Grafton St, ☏ +1 902-492-8653. M-W Sa 10AM-8PM, Th F 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM. Small head shop on Grafton Street. (updated Mar 2016) 15 Rock Candy, 5189 Prince Street. An assortment of especially rock- and pop-related music items: shirts, pins, stickets, buttons, and more. 16 Strange Adventures, 5110 Prince St, ☏ +1 902-425-2140. M-Tu Th-F 10AM-6PM, W 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Quirky store that sells comics, toys, board games, et al. 17 Sugah!, Lower Water Street. A unique chocolate store selling a variety of interesting treats. 18 Venus Envy, 1598 Barrington St. Specializes in books and other items pertaining to gender and sexuality. If you forgot to buy lobster in the city, you can still pick one up at the airport. A store called Clearwater Seafood sells both live and cooked lobster to you to bring onto the flight. (It's legal to bring live and cooked lobster onboard a domestic flight.)

Eat

Many restaurants in Halifax specialize in seafood dishes. Seafood is generally not much cheaper in the Maritimes than elsewhere, with the exception of mussels, which are generally good quality, cheap, and found on many appetizer menus. Another seafood worth having is scallops, as they are generally higher quality than the ones you get in many parts of North America (good scallops are the size of a golf ball or larger, and do not taste fishy). "Sea pie" is often a good deal when available, as are hearty eats like fish and chips or seafood chowder. Lobster in a restaurant will be expensive, so your best cheap bets are to buy one at the store and cook one yourself, or attend any of the numerous lobster dinners that are hosted by churches and community groups throughout the warmer months. Buying lobster from the various fishermans markets or directly from the fisherman themselves (who will often sell street side out of a car) will get you the best deal. A plethora of foods that are native to Nova Scotia are easy to find in Halifax: one is the Halifax donair, which is similar to but distinct from the Turkish doner kebab. It is prepared using thinly sliced beef meatloaf and a sweet condensed milk garlic sauce and garnished with diced tomatoes and white onions. Other specialties include hodge podge (a creamy soup of fresh baby vegetables; rarely found in restaurants); blueberry grunt (blueberry baked with a sweet dumpling topping); and deep fried pepperoni (a bar snack often dipped in honey mustard sauce). Restaurants in Halifax and indeed Atlantic Canada offer a donair pizza featuring all the Halifax donair ingredients served on a pizza crust. In addition, one can normally find donair meat used in such offerings as donair sausage; donair egg rolls (an egg roll casing stuffed with donair meat); donair pogos (donair meat on a stick, battered and deep-fried, similar to a corn dog); donair calzones/panzerottis; and in donair poutine (an Atlantic adaptation of the Quebec snack dish). It is customary for bar and pub-goers to flock to pizzerias once all the bars, clubs, and pubs close on Friday and Saturday nights for a bite of pizza, or especially donair. Garlic fingers are an Atlantic Canadian dish similar to a pizza in shape and size and made with the same type of dough. Instead of the traditional tomato sauce and toppings, garlic fingers consist of pizza dough topped with garlic butter, parsley, and cheese, cooked until the cheese is melted. Bacon bits are sometimes added. They are typically eaten as a side dish with pizza and often dipped in donair or marinara sauce. They are presented in thin strips (or "fingers") as opposed to triangular slices. Garlic fingers and the Halifax donair are relatively unknown outside the Maritimes, but can sometimes be found in restaurants in other provinces.

Budget

Many of the cheap eats in town are along Spring Garden Road. Also consider local pubs (see Drink), many of which serve up great food.

1 Trident Café, 1256 Hollis St, ☏ +1 902-423-7100. 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. 2 Steve-O-Reno's, 1536 Brunswick St (Just off Spring Garden Road on Brunswick), ☏ +1 902-429-3034. Open 'til 6PM every day. Specialty coffees, teas, cold drinks, and baked goods. Get there before 1PM and order an 'Egg-O-Reno' breakfast sandwich, among other prepared fare. 3 The Ardmore Tea Room, 6499 Quinpool Rd. 4AM-8PM. 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. 4 Pizza Corner (intersection of Blowers Street & Grafton Street). 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. (updated Aug 2019) 5 Shiraz, 1240 Hollis St, ☏ +1 902-404-3300. Daily 11AM-8:30PM. 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! (updated Aug 2026) 6 Willy's, 5239 Blower St (ordering window at eye-level). M 10PM-4AM, Tu-Sa noon-4AM, Su 6PM-4AM. 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. Small poutine: $6.75, large poutine $9.13. (updated Sep 2022)

Drink

There are a large number of good cafes, pubs, and other eateries all throughout downtown. Mostly clustered around the downtown, especially Argyle Street, and waterfront, but there are also excellent options across the harbour in Dartmouth and in the city's North End Liquor purchases for private consumption are regulated by the provincially owned liquor monopoly called the NSLC (Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation). Stores can be found in stand-alone locations, malls, and grocery stores. Selection is often surprisingly large, but be prepared to pay: a 12-pack of beer can range from $17-20, and a pint of rum or vodka will set you back $12-14. All prices quoted include taxes and recycling deposits. Most stores close at 10PM Monday to Saturday and 5PM on Sundays. Stores are closed for holidays. The exception has been the sole drive-through outlet near the Dartmouth end of the MacDonald Bridge; it is frequently open holidays, but for drive-through service only. Port of Wines and several other micro-breweries are also permitted to sell their products from their outlets.

Pubs

Until a couple of decades ago, Halifax retained old British laws about the serving of alcoholic beverages. For example, if an establishment served hard liquor, it had to provide live entertainment; if it served draft beer, it also had to serve food. The heritage of those laws is a great deal of live entertainment and some very good deals on "pub food" which is priced low to get people in the door. Most "pub food" originates not far from the grill and deep fryer. Pubs that specialize in traditional-style music have "open mic" nights. Performers who attend will bring in their fiddles and bagpipes to jam---they are paid in drinks and food.

1 The Pint Public House, 1575 Argyle St, ☏ +1 902-492-8844. 2 Bearly's House of Blues and Ribs, 1269 Barrington Street. A mellow and low-key pub. Great live music! 3 East of Grafton, 1580 Argyle St, ☏ +1 902-428-5680. Tavern with pub fare, beer. 4 The Foggy Goggle, 2057 Gottingen St, ☏ +1 902-444-1414. M-Th 11:30AM-midnight, F 11:30AM-2AM, Sa noon-2AM, Su noon-midnight. A relaxed establishment serving local and international beers. Bluegrass night every Wednesday, no cover. (updated Jun 2019) 5 Gus's Pub, 2605 Agricola St (North End). No-nonsense local pub with hockey on the TV and cheap beer, but they also host a remarkably eclectic selection of local live bands. 6 The Halifax Alehouse, 1717 Brunswick St, ☏ +1 902-423-6113. A traditional and popular pub, usually with live music starting at midnight. Features staff in period costumes. 7 The Henry House (Formerly known as the Granite Brewery.), 1222 Barrington Street. 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. 8 The Lower Deck, 1887 Upper Water St (in the waterfront Historic Properties). 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. 9 Maxwell's Plum English Pub, 1600 Grafton St, ☏ +1 902-423-5090. "Pub food" priced food and sixty kinds of imported beer. Voted "Best Beer Selection" for several years. 10 The Old Triangle, 5136 Prince St. 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. 11 The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen St, ☏ +1 902-423-7200. Halifax's oldest extant tavern. 12 The Split Crow (Splitties), 1855 Granville St, ☏ +1 902-422-4366. Su-W 11AM-12:30AM, Th-Sa 11AM-1AM. 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). (updated Sep 2022) 13 Your Father's Moustache, 5686 Spring Garden Rd, ☏ +1 902-423-6766. Su-W 10AM-midnight, Th-Sa 10AM-1AM. For a good atmosphere and decently priced food.

Sleep

Budget

1 Halifax Backpacker's Hostel, 2193 Gottingen St, ☏ +1 902-431-3170, toll-free: +1-888-431-3170, info@halifaxbackpackers.com. 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. $20 dorms, $57.50 private rooms, $80 family rooms. 2 Halifax Heritage House Hostel (HI-Halifax), 1253 Barrington St, ☏ +1 902-422-3863, fax: +1 902 422-0116. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. 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. Dorms at $30 members, $35 non-members. Private rooms at $57-68. Dalhousie University Dorm Rooms, ☏ +1 902-494-8840, toll-free: +1-888-271-9222. 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. Singles $48.50 nightly, $290 weekly; doubles $75 nightly, $448 weekly. 3 Gerard Hall, 5303 Morris St. Early May to late August. 4 Howe Hall, 6230 Coburg Rd. Late July to late August. 5 Shirreff Hall, 6385 South St. Early May to late July. 6 Risley Hall, 1233 LeMarchant St. Early June to late August. Single accommodations only. 7 Mount Saint Vincent University Dorm Rooms, 166 Bedford Hwy, ☏ +1 902-457-6777. Single and double rooms, apartment style accommodations. Available from May 1st to August. Rooms start at $41.

Mid-range

8 Coastal Inn, 98 Chain Lake Dr, ☏ +1 902-450-3020, toll-free: +1-855-603-8999. 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. 9 The Garden South Park Inn, 1263 South Park St, ☏ +1 902-492-8577, toll-free: +1-877-414-8577. 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. 10 Waverley Inn, 1266 Barrington St, ☏ +1 902-423-9346, toll-free: +1-800-565-9346. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Unique 19th-century property downtown, filled with antiques. Rooms start from $109, and vary according to the season. 11 Four Points by Sheraton, 1496 Hollis St, ☏ +1 902-423-4444, toll-free: +1 866-444-9494, fax: +1 902-423-2327. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. 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. From $150.

Splurge

12 Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water St, ☏ +1 902-421-1700, toll-free: +1-800-228-9290. 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. From $169. (updated Aug 2026) 13 The Lord Nelson, 1515 South Park St, ☏ +1 902-423-6331, toll-free: +1-800-565-2020, ask@lordnelsonhotel.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Lovely views overlooking the Public Gardens just below the Citadel. From $169. (updated Aug 2026) 14 Prince George, 1725 Market St, ☏ +1 902-425-1986, toll-free: +1-800-565-1567, reservations@princegeorgehotel.com. The Prince George Hotel offers guests 189 rooms. There is a restaurant on the premises. From $300. (updated Aug 2026) 15 The Westin Nova Scotian, 1181 Hollis St (immediately north of the VIA station), ☏ +1 902-421-1000, toll-free: +1-866-761-3513, fax: +1 902-496-7979. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. One of Canada's grand railway hotels, built by the Canadian National Railway. 310 nicely appointed rooms, many of which overlook the harbour. (updated Aug 2026) 16 Cambridge Suites Hotels Halifax, 1583 Brunswick Street (across the southeast corner from the Halifax Citadel), ☏ +1 902-420-0555, toll-free: +1-800-565-1263. 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. From $245. (updated Aug 2026)

Stay safe

Halifax is a generally safe city, but you should be aware when walking around certain areas of the city at night. The North End, including the Gottingen Street area, is relatively safe by international standards but has something of a rough reputation locally. In most cases, common sense should suffice. Pedestrian crosswalks are highly respected by drivers in Halifax, and crossings can occur just about anywhere. This provides a double danger: for drivers to keep on the ball watching out for pedestrians; and for pedestrians to not be lulled into a false sense of security while crossing. Rapidly changing weather means that black ice abounds in winter, and it's particularly nasty when combined with the city's hilly topography. Choose your steps and drive carefully.

Go next

St. Margaret's Bay is only half an hour away; a gorgeous bay, almost as big as the harbour itself, but without the cities. Instead, it is dotted with islands and small towns. In its northwestern corner there are beautiful beaches, such as Queensland, Cleveland, Black Point and others, just before the town of Hubbards. Maybe the best known destination there is Peggys Cove: stunning bare granite rocks and cliffs with its historic and still-used lighthouse. While sunsets are gorgeous and peaceful on clear summer evenings; the best times to see Peggy's Cove are the stormier days, when the waves crashing against the cliffs send salt spray high into the air. Better to get out there early in the day to avoid tour buses. If you have a car, there are plenty of historical towns within a couple of hours' drive of Halifax that are worth visiting, such as Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, and Wolfville. Located just before Wolfville is Grand-Pré National Historic Site and UNESCO heritage site. It was founded as an Acadian settlement in 1682, and occupied by the British in 1755 as part of the Expulsion of the Acadians. It is surrounded by large dykes built by the Acadians for farming that remain intact and are used today. The drive along the two-lane coastal Highway 3 is an attraction in itself, twisting and turning through the beautifully scenic landscape it's especially nice on summer days. Charter flights leave from Halifax to Sable Island, 300 km offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. You can also fly to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a group of islands south of Newfoundland and Labrador that still belongs to France.

More pictures of Halifax

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.