23 Things to Do in Halifax (By a Nova Scotia Local)

I’m a Halifax local, and I can tell you first-hand that it’s one of the best places to visit in Canada with a ton of great things to do.

Halifax is jam-packed with some of the best restaurants, pubs, and vibrant live music venues on Canada’s east coast. And don’t even get me started on our outdoor adventures, Halifax is scenic, to say the absolute least.

And what about Haligonians themselves? Speaking as a local who wrote a book on the best family adventures in Nova Scotia I can tell you that Haligonians are a friendly bunch.

With that, let’s get into the best things to do in Halifax.

23 Best Things to Do in Halifax

Lobster Roll

Sample a staple food of Nova Scotia.

A trip to Nova Scotia just isn’t complete without sampling one (or several) lobster rolls. These buttery rolls filled with mayo-y lobster salad practically scream Halifax.

Where should you sample one, you ask? I have a couple recommendations for you. First, The Bicycle Thief is one of the most famous restaurants in Halifax, period, and their lobster roll is to die for (also try their scallops, they practically melt in your mouth. Another fave is just down the road at Dave’s Lobster, located in The Salt Yard.

Halifax Donair

Devour one of Halifax’s most lauded foods.

📍 Google Maps

I know, when you think about Halifax, a donair might not be the first food that comes to mind. But trust me when I say that the Halifax donair is its own kind of delight. It’s a spicy, gyro-style wrap that’s garnished with onions and tomatoes and slathered in a sweet, sticky sauce.

I recommend grabbing this at the infamous Pizza Corner (a group of late-night fast food take-out restaurants on the corner of Grafton and Blowers Streets).

🍽️ Fun Fact: In a city full of lobster, you might be surprised to learn that this spicy-sweet middle-eastern import is the official food of Halifax!

Alexander Keith’s Brewery Tour

Sample local beer from this 200-year-old brewery.

Alexander Keith’s is one of the oldest breweries in North America, and taking a tour is the best way to experience it. As you stroll the halls of this 18th-century brewery, you’ll learn all about the legacy of Mr. Keith as well as the brewing process of the famous beer brand of the same name.

But the best part (in my humble opinion) of this tour is that it ends with not just a beer sampling in the cellar, but live trad music to accompany the sips.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Downtown Halifax is one of a kind.

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Halifax’s entertainment district includes busy Argyle Street, where The Carleton, one of Halifax’s oldest buildings, is transformed into a cozy, upmarket venue for great food and drinks.

For incredible Celtic sounds, head towards the waterfront to the Old Triangle Alehouse or the Split Crow where you can hear live music, ceilidhs, and jam sessions several nights a week.

Across Halifax harbor, in Dartmouth at New Scotland Brewing Company, you’ll see big names on a small stage.

Back in Halifax, make your way to Bearly’s House of Blues and Ribs or the Lower Deck for some wild late-night dancing, or for a taste of post-punk weirdness, check out the scene at Gus’ Pub on Agricola Street in Halifax’s hip North End.

Halifax Boardwalk

Go for a stroll alongside the harbor.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (902) 229-2628 | Website

Halifax Harbour is one of the oldest and most important connections for visitors, and strolling along the Halifax waterfront boardwalk is a great way to get a feel for the city.

Places to stop along the boardwalk include the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Bishop’s Landing, and The Stubborn Goat Gastropub.

At the end of the walk, you will find even more places to stop including Garrison Brewing, Halifax Seaport Farmers Market, The Discovery Centre, and Pier 21 Canadian Museum of Immigration.

🛏️ Where to Stay in Halifax: For downtown Halifax visitors, I always recommend the newly renovated Westin Nova Scotian because it’s just seconds away from the Seaport Market, the Halifax Harbourwalk, a grocery store, and a bus stop.

Cycle or Paddle

Try out one of these unique ways to get around Halifax.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 406 7774 | Website | Entrance: Tours start at $80

For some fun two-wheeling (with an electric assist), check out the 3-hour Best of Halifax e-Bike Tour, with I Heart Bikes Halifax, located on the waterfront. The tour, which runs June 1 to October 1, lets you learn all about the history of the city.

Another unique Halifax experience is to kayak around Halifax harbour and its islands.

Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry

This ferry is the second-oldest saltwater ferry in the world.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 835-6428 | Website | Hours: 6:30 am – 11:30 pm except on holidays | Entrance: $3 adults, Free ages 12 & under

One of the first things local Haligonians will tell their visitors is: “You must take a ride on the ferry!” The Halifax-Dartmouth ferry is the oldest saltwater ferry in North America, and the second oldest in the world.

A ride on the ferry costs the price of a bus ticket and takes about 15 minutes to travel to Dartmouth, with views of Halifax, Dartmouth, the Bedford Basin, the two bridges, and the harbor’s islands.

👉 My Local Tip? Ask for a transfer (a small slip of paper). This gets you a free return journey within an hour, so you can spend some time on the Alderney Landing waterfront (or just hop back on the ferry back to Halifax!)

Dartmouth

Explore Halifax’s twin city, just across the water.

📍 Google Maps

Across the harbor from Halifax, Dartmouth is known as “Halifax’s Brooklyn”, and it’s definitely worth a stop on your Nova Scotia itinerary.

If you’re in Dartmouth on a weekend, the Alderney Landing Market is a good place to start. Then, heading uphill, away from the harbor, there is a mass of Dartmouth-proud restaurants and bars.

Leading from Alderney Landing all the way to Eastern Passage is the Dartmouth Harbourwalk Trail, it’s perfect for a short cycle or a long walk.

📚 Did You Know? In days gone by, Halifax and Dartmouth were separate cities each with their own mayor, police force, and school board. Now they are both in “Halifax”, much to the annoyance of proud Dartmouth residents!

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

Trace your roots at this unique museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (902) 425-7770 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed-Sun | Entrance: $19 adults, discounts for youth and seniors, Free ages 5 & under

At the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, you can learn about Canada’s rich immigrant history and potentially trace your own family roots through the museum’s collection of immigration records. One in every five Canadians is related to someone who passed through Pier 21.

If you know anyone who emigrated to Canada between the years of 1865 and 1935, chances are you will find a record of their arrival at the Scotiabank Family History Centre.

Pier 21 is similar to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba in that it provides a meaningful examination of what it means to be a world citizen, through a Canadian lens.

Titanic Graves

Visit the Fairview Lawn Cemetery and pay your respects to those who lost their lives on the Titanic.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 424 7491 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm Wed-Mon, until 8 pm Tuesdays | Entrance: $5.15 – $9.40 adults, $3.00 – $5.15 youth, Free for children

⚠️ Closure Note: This attraction is temporarily closed.

Halifax is very closely connected to the tragic story of the Titanic since the ships that recovered both the survivors and the victims came to Halifax, the nearest port.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has a permanent collection of Titanic Artifacts and graves of the victims of the Titanic are buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery and Mount Olivet Cemetery.

While you can go to Fairview Lawn Cemetery for free, entrance to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is $5.15 November 1 – April 30 and $9.40 May 1 – October 31.

📚 Local knowledge: Sadly, the Titanic is just one of the major disasters of the 20th century that fell upon Halifax’s shores. Other tragedies where Halifax provided assistance and recovery include the 1917 Halifax Explosion, the 1998 Swissair disaster, and the terror attack of September 11th, 2001.

Halifax Central Library

Sip coffee with a view.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (902) 490-5700 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 9 pm Mon – Thu, 9 am – 6 pm Fri & Sat, 12 pm – 6 pm Sundays

The new Halifax Central Library, at the bottom of the popular shopping district of Spring Garden Road, has won awards for its architecture.

For visitors, one of the best things to do is to go for coffee at the library’s outdoor rooftop café, which has a great view of Spring Garden road, and the South End of Halifax.

Citadel Hill

Get fired up with military re-enactments and historical tours.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 426 5080 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Mon-Fri; 9 am – 4 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: $22 adults, Free for youth 17 & under

If you want to get up close and personal with some Halifax gunpowder, enlist yourself in the army through the Soldier for a Day program, a 3-hour long Canadian Signature Experience, where you will be immersed in the life of a 19th-century soldier.

Plan to spend half a day at the Citadel National Historic Site. It’s a living museum with galleries, live re-enactments, interactive experiences, and even a sweet café that serves coffee and snacks.

Also, if you happen to be in downtown Halifax at midday, check your watch – and wait for the BOOM! The British colonial tradition of firing a noontime gun has remained in Halifax, where a cannon is fired from the Citadel every day except Christmas.

Ghost Tours

Hunt for ghosts in Downtown Halifax.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 478 3878 | Website | Hours: 6 pm – 10:30 pm daily | Entrance: $30 adults, $20 youth, students, & seniors, $15 ages 5-12

Beware! Halifax has its fair share of ghosts, including those that haunt the Citadel.

The Halifax Ghost Walk claims to be the oldest ghost walk in North America. Book your slot and meet at the Old Town Clock at the base of Citadel Hill at 8:30 on scheduled nights. Prepare to be scared with tales of ghouls, pirates, and buried treasures.

👻 Fun fact: The current storyteller for Halifax Ghost Walk is also an accomplished Halifax singer and songwriter. On the nights he’s not scaring you silly, you might find Dusty Keheler entertaining crowds at the Carleton!

Africville

Learn about Halifax’s Black history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 422 1116 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Mon-Fri, Closed Sat-Sun | Entrance: $10 adults, $9 students & seniors, Free ages 5 & under

Of the 52 separate historic black settlements in Nova Scotia, the community of Africville was located on a beautiful piece of land overlooking the water. In the 1960s, “experts” declared Africville a slum, and forcibly moved its residents to public housing. The decision was later declared a violation of human rights.

The Africville Museum, housed in a replica of the community’s destroyed church, is one of the most important places to visit in Halifax.

Africville is easy to reach by taxi. It’s about a five-minute drive or a $10 cab ride from downtown Halifax.

Hydrostone District

A historic district with plenty of shopping.

📍 Google Maps | Website

Stop at the historic Hydrostone District for a boutique shopping, dining, and gallery experience in Halifax. To get there, walk from downtown Halifax (about 30 minutes), or take a short ride on the #7 bus. The Hydrostone was built in Garden City style in the aftermath of the 1917 Halifax Explosion.

There is a free art gallery in the Hydrostone District, hidden in plain sight! 14 Bells Fine Art Gallery has a beautiful collection of affordable paintings by local artists. Look for the doorway in between Uptown Spa and the olive oil shop to find this hidden gem. 

Public Gardens

Enjoy a relaxing ice cream.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 456 4552 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 8 pm daily | Entrance: Free

The Halifax Public Gardens is one of downtown Halifax’s beautiful treasures – a 16-acre Victorian city garden, with a rich variety of plants and trees, a beautiful cast iron bandstand, and even a place to buy ice cream.

The best time to visit the Public Gardens is when there is some music happening. During the summer, this is usually on Sundays at 2 pm. Check the Halifax Public Gardens event calendar for listings and tours.

The Oval

Go skating in Halifax.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 490 2347 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Mon-Fri, 12 – 9 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: Free

The Halifax Oval is a skating rink that was built for the 2011 Canada Winter Games. It was originally designed to be temporary, but residents loved it so much that it stayed!

In the winter, you can borrow ice skates. During the summer, you can borrow roller skates, bikes and scooters – all for free (just show a government ID). After your skate, head to Dee Dee’s Ice Cream on Cornwallis Street, open year round. The Mexican chocolate ice cream is totally amazing!

🚴‍♀️ Fun Fact: The lady on the bicycle (photo above) is Michelle Strum, owner of Halifax’s only independent youth hostel, the Halifax Backpackers, and its cool café and bar, Alteregos.

Museum of Natural History

See Gus the Tortoise and other creatures.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 424 7353 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm daily | Entrance: $10 adults, discounts for youth, seniors, and students, Free ages 5 & under

A few steps from the Oval (this area is part of land known as the Halifax Commons), you will see the Museum of Natural History – a small but sweet local museum that kids really love.

Inside the museum is one of Halifax’s best-loved residents, Gus the Tortoise, who turned 102 years old in 2024, making him the oldest known living gopher tortoise in the world. In 2018, weekly newspaper and listings guide, The Coast, even nominated Gus for the Order of Nova Scotia, saying “he is the bedrock foundation of Halifax’s identity.”

Weekend Markets

Grab unique & local souvenirs.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 492 4043 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 2 pm Sat; 10 am – 2 pm Sun

Whether you are a local or a visitor, shopping at the Halifax Seaport Market is one of everyone’s favorite things to do here. Located in between the harbor boardwalk and Pier 21, the market is one of Canada’s oldest, housed in a stunning new glass-sided building with amazing harbor views.

For a more boutique market experience, head to the old Brewery Market on a Saturday morning. Just as nice, but smaller, it’s a hidden treasure where locals like to go.

Fisherman’s Cove

Kayak at sunset and take in the views at this colorful cove.

📍 Google Maps | Website

At Fisherman’s Cove, colorful shacks and ice cream shops share the docks with working lobster fishermen and fish distribution factories. Walk along the boardwalk and you will discover MacCormack’s Beach – one of Nova Scotia’s smallest provincial parks.

One of the best ways to explore this part of Halifax is by kayak with Kattuk Expeditions which offers morning and sunset kayak tours.

Note that Fisherman’s Cove can be reached by the #60 bus, which leaves from the Dartmouth Terminal, but it’s probably better to rent a car, and make this stop part of a mini-road trip.

Peggy’s Cove

Devour a lobster roll & view of an iconic lighthouse by the sea.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: Free | 👉 Book a Peggy’s Cove tour with transportation from downtown Halifax on Viator

Peggy’s Cove is number one on most people’s must-see lists. If you’re in the city even for a short time, you must go see the stunning scenery, and crashing waves at the most photographed lighthouse in Canada. I even included Peggy’s Cove on my Nova Scotia road trip itinerary!

A plea from the locals: Please be careful! Some tourists have drowned because they were snapping selfies too close to the waves. A rule of thumb is to stay off the black (wet) rocks.

A favorite thing to do at Peggy’s Cove is to devour a delicious lobster roll. We recommend Peggy’s Cove’s U-Cook-Lobster. Look for the van on the left-hand side as you drive up the road to the lighthouse.

Atlantic Surfing

Some of the best surfing in the province is just 30 minutes from downtown Halifax.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 800 565-2224 | Website

If you’re up for some adventure, the Eastern Shore beaches have some of the best surf in the province. East Coast Surf School offers lessons on beautiful Lawrencetown Beach, about 30 minutes from downtown.

You can also rent your own gear (wetsuits, surfboards or body boards) from East Coast Surf School, Happy Dudes Surf Emporium or Kannon Beach Surf Shop in Lawrencetown.

Shore Club, Hubbards

Dine & rock out in this quaint community.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 902 857 9555 | Website

40 minutes away from downtown Halifax in the community of Hubbards is the Shore Club. It’s just within the Halifax city borders… but you will feel like you are in another world!

In the late afternoon, The Shore Club begins serving delicious lobster suppers with an all-you-can-eat salad and mussel bar. When the lights go down, the tables are removed and the stage comes alive with big-name weekend performers.

The nighttime vibe at The Shore Club is somewhere between a high school party and a really good Irish wedding. The springy wooden dance floor literally pumps with energy!

I recommend staying overnight in Hubbards and spending the next day exploring the beautiful Queensland and St. Margaret’s Bay region.

🚗 Rent a Car: The last few items in our list are located outside the downtown core of Halifax, so my suggestion is to get your own set of wheels! We suggest using Discover Car Hire to compare agencies for the best prices on car rental in Halifax.

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Thanks for reading and enjoy Halifax! Oh, and be sure to bookmark our Nova Scotia Travel Guide for more free articles and tips to maximize your vacation. Safe travels!

–Taylor Herperger contributed to this post.