Halifax Overview

A city of trees, clean air and ocean winds, Halifax reflects and honors 250 years of history. Its outskirts demand exploration; beaches, lakes, lighthouses and fishing villages are within minutes of the bustling, modern city core.

Districts

Visitors and locals alike often refer to Halifax, and indeed all of Nova Scotia, as the "best-kept secret" in Canada. With one of the largest natural harbors in the world, Nova Scotia's capital is the biggest and most cosmopolitan city in Atlantic Canada's four provinces.

Located on the southeastern coast of Nova Scotia, Halifax's city center sits on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. “The Peninsula" refers to old Halifax, the area enclosed by the Bedford Basin on the east, the Atlantic Ocean on the south, and the Northwest Arm on the west.

The South End is the ritzy part of the peninsula. Canopied by ancient trees, wide avenues give view to palatial homes constructed in various architectural styles, with grounds that are beautifully groomed and well planned. A drive through these leafy streets will take you to the southernmost part of the community, Point Pleasant Park, which boasts one hundred and eighty-five acres of old trees, quiet trails a large, grassy area on the ocean that's perfect for picnics, and an underground bunker.

Downtown Halifax is where the action is. As an important shipping center, the commercial part of the harbor is busy year-round. Vessels from Russia, South America and Europe float next to stern, gray submarines. During the summer, huge luxury liners dock near the neck of the harbor and are a popular tourist destination. The shopping is good, the galleries are great, the history is everywhere, and the food is fabulous.

You're never lost in downtown Halifax. If you're going downhill, you'll end up at the waterfront. If you're walking uphill, you'll arrive at the city's largest and most famous landmark, the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.
Dartmouth is a quiet bedroom community across the harbor from Halifax, via the ferry or one of the city's two suspension bridges. But the 10-minute ferry ride from Halifax's waterfront across the picturesque harbor—home to luxury yachts, recreational boats and gigantic container ships heading for the open sea—is a must, just for the view.

Entertainment

Halifax is always hopping, especially on the waterfront during summer. With almost 100 lakes within its boundaries, beautiful downtown parks, and some of the oldest architectural structures in the country, it's a great place to enjoy the out-of-doors without going out of town.

Music
Music is, simply put, big in Halifax. From mournful Celtic fiddles, to Irish-pub sing-alongs, to the thumping bass of blues bands and cool stylings of jazz, music is everywhere. Symphony Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Jazz Festival draw large audiences while the downtown Halifax Metro Centre hosts the big acts.

Shopping
Famous for its rug-hooking, antiques and local crafts, Halifax is home to several big markets. The Sackville Flea Market (20 minutes north of downtown) is a huge outdoor market where you can find lost items from your childhood, antiques, or fresh produce. The Halifax Farmers' Market, every weekend, offers classy handcrafts, wheels of locally made cheese and any number of delectable items. The Saturday-morning market at The Forum, in central Halifax, is a treasure chest of jewelry, crafts, glass, and antique clothing. Downtown, the hot shopping spots are the boutiques in the Historic Properties, which showcase unique clothing, pewter, keepsakes and high-end souvenirs.

Outdoor Activities
Boasting five yacht clubs, 12 golf clubs, 171 parks, and dozens of lakes, Halifax bustles with sporting events and celebrations. With its mild climate, Halifax doesn't have a single outdoor ice rink, and the snow on Martock ski hill located outside the city, is man-made. Most of the outdoor fun is water-related, and there are dozens of spectacular beaches within a half-hour drive of the city.

Dining and Drinking

While not a huge city, Halifax has often been described as "having at least one of everything," which makes it a place of many choices. This is especially true of the city's dining and drinking establishments.

From beautifully-designed sushi to fresh lobster, seafood is offered everywhere. Even the most down-to-earth tavern provides crisp fish and chips made from fresh haddock or cod and potatoes that were round and brown only hours earlier.

The city's British heritage and the presence of seven universities ensures that pub fare is top-quality. From a Ploughman's Lunch accompanied by an imported beer to an Eggs Benedict plate with complimentary Bloody Mary, all palates are served. Halifax has a large Lebanese population, which means that fine Middle Eastern fare is readily available.

The downtown core is divided into two areas. Spring Garden Road is the major artery serving the westernmost area. It begins at Barrington Street and travels uphill to South Park Street. On that avenue are many of the city's finest restaurants and pubs, alongside some of the best shopping.

While there is a multitude of restaurants, taverns, coffee shops and boutiques on Spring Garden Road, be sure to check out the waterfront area. Bordered on the north by Barrington Street, the area is chockablock with fine dining. Greek, Lebanese, Japanese, French, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Czechoslovakian and West African cuisine can all be found in this district. Smoke-free restaurants abound, as do "half-and-halfs" in which smokers dine on one floor and non-smokers on another.

Haligonians love to party, and you won't be able to go more than a few steps through the downtown area without passing a lively pub or lounge. In warmer months, from June to October, rooftop patios are filled with patrons enjoying the sea breeze and cold drinks; Spring Garden Road and the waterfront area are packed to overflow.

Where To Stay

Downtown
For most business travelers, the choice of accommodation in any major centre is limited to chain hotels, which they select for their proximity to a city's commercial core. While most of the big-chain hotels are found in Halifax's downtown, the city is also home to some very quaint hotels. Many are housed in historic buildings that have been modernized to suit the most discerning traveler. Bed and breakfast establishments abound in the city, both near the center and in its outlying areas. For travelers with some free time and a rental car, B&Bs and charming country inns outside the city are the way to go.

Dartmouth
For those doing business across the harbor, the Dartmouth Holiday Inn is a popular venue and is 15 minutes from the airport. The nearby Burnside Industrial Park is home to many commercial head offices for the Atlantic region, and business travelers will find dozens of chain hotels within minutes of the sprawling park.

Airport
The 151-room Airport Hotel Halifax is the only on-site accommodation, but major hotels provide frequent and reasonable limousine and bus service to and fro.

Halifax by the Numbers

Population: 370,000
Elevation: 476 feet

Average Winter Temperature: 22 degrees F
Average Summer Temperature: 65 degrees F

Electricity: 110 volts, 50 cycles, AC
Time Zone: GMT-4

Country Dialing Code: 1
Area Code: 902

Did You Know?

A port city, Halifax has a longtime military history and was a key navel base during World War I and World War II. In 1917 the majority of the city was destroyed when the "Mont Blanc," a cargo ship carrying a glut of explosives, collided with the Belgium relief ship "Imo."

Orientation/Geography

Halifax is located on the eastern tip of Canada in the Province of Nova Scotia. It is located approximately 2 hours by air from both New York and Toronto.


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