How to Spend a Day in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Located on the eastern coast of Canada on the Nova Scotia peninsula, Halifax is a port stop for many cruise ships on their way to Quebec City down the St. Lawrence River. Most visitors who arrive this way can explore the downtown waterfront on foot or by harbor tours. As an historic shipping port and naval station during the British Empire, Halifax offers a variety of museums, art galleries, arts and crafts shops, dining venues, architecture and cultural tastes that span hundreds of years. Separated from the mainland by Barrington Passage, visitors can also reach the peninsula by car via bridges and ferries, and by air.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- City map and guides
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Weather appropriate clothing
- Camera
Instructions
-
-
1
Take a downtown walking tour that takes two to three hours on a pleasant day or the Halifax Harbourwalk. You'll note that some of the buildings have historic plaques on them and go back to the late 1700s and early 1800s. You might consider taking a guided harbor tour on the Theodore Too. Back on land, stop and visit colorful little shops that offer handcrafted jewelry, glass, silver, clothing, antiques, linens and souvenirs along with cafes and bistros that serve local fare including fresh seafood.
-
2
Do some shopping at the Pier 22 Pavilion along the waterfront where you'll see glass blowers and other crafts people working and selling their creations. Also stop in at the Nova Scotia Center for Craft and Design and the Scotia Square, an indoor mall with many shops in the same area. You'll find a Visitor Information Center there if you need help getting around. Other landmarks to visit are the 1813 Privateers Wharf and Warehouse and Pier 21, a museum for Canadian immigrants from 1928 to 1971.
-
-
3
Visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic located in the historic waterfront.district. It features exhibits and artifacts from the "Titanic" that sank in 1912 and the story of the town's participation in the rescue and burial of its passengers. If you have a car, drive, or take a guided bus tour, to Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the largest cemetery for these passengers. If time permits, visit Halifax Common, Canada's oldest city park, the Museum of Natural History and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada, a hilltop fort that offers a spectacular view of the harbor.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The best time to visit is from mid May to late October.
There are bridges and car ferries between Dartmouth and Nova Scotia for vehicle access.
Bring some warm clothes for layering--it can get cold.
Visitor centers are located around the downtown district for assistance and can help with city tours including Titanic cemeteries.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos by Natasha Lawrence
More Like This
Comments
-
paula2198
Aug 03, 2009
As a local tour guide I'd like to correct one misconception printed above.....there are bridges and passenger ferries across Halifax Harbour to the city of Dartmouth. There are car/passenger ferries between PEI, Newfoundland and Bar Harbor, Maine all travelling into/out of Nova Scotia. Halifax is an exciting, contemporary, hip, well educated and historic city of 379,000 people. We have an international airport, 8 degree granting facilities within the city limits, Victorian parks, great pubs/bars and nightlife (Tim McGraw,Rolling Stones, Elton John, KISS recently to name but a few), loads of museums, historic churches, wonderful shopping, over 600 festivals and celebrations...You could pass days here....shopping, touring and eating the local seafood......you'd be welcome!!
