James MartinTo do, or not to do the touristy stuff, that is the question.
Like every other traveler, this is our soliloquy whenever we’re planning a trip to a city for the first time.
Tourist hotspots have a reputation for notoriously long lines, kitschy souvenirs, and sky-high prices. But believe it or not, they’re not all that bad—at least in Halifax.
From their world-famous waterfront to their Victorian-era public gardens, there are a lot of tourist spots in town that are actually worth visiting. And of course, there are plenty of hidden gems that even travelers walking off the beaten path tend to overlook.
We’re here to make your planning a little easier. We’ve listed 15 attractions that you must absolutely visit in Halifax this weekend.
- 1. Stroll along Halifax’s waterfront.
- 2. Explore Citadel Hill.
- 3. Check out local goodies at the Seaport Farmers’ Market.
- 4. Have brunch at the Halifax Public Gardens.
- 5. Go on an easy hike in Point Pleasant Park.
- 6. Join a curated food tour around town.
- 7. Buy artisan goods at Halifax Brewery Farmers Market.
- 8. Set sail on the Tall Ship Silva.
- 9. Cruise aboard the Harbour Hopper.
- 10. Play with friends at The Board Room Games Cafe.
- 11. Put your wits to the test at Captured Escape Rooms.
- 12. Party at Hide+Seek.
- 13. Trace immigration stories at Pier 21.
- 14. Discover new animals at the Museum of Natural History.
- 15. Spend a fun-filled, educational day at Discovery Center.
1. Stroll along Halifax’s waterfront.
| Website | https://buildns.ca/visit/halifax/ |
| Location | Lower Water St |
| Hours of Operation | 24 Hours |
| Phone | +1 902-229-2628 |
A trip to Halifax is never complete without a stroll along the waterfront, which is the city’s most iconic location. When it’s warm, we like to soak up the sun and dip our toes in the water by Queen’s Landing, which is a set of granite stairs that lead into the harbor.
We also like relaxing on the bright orange hammocks on Salter Boulevard. They’re large enough to accommodate 2-4 people at a time and have pretty awesome harbor views.
Lined with cafes, beer gardens, local specialty shops, and art, Halifax’s waterfront is full of life—even at night. If you want to listen to live music with a cold beer in hand, you should come here after hours.
2. Explore Citadel Hill.
| Website | https://www.novascotia.com/see-do/attractions/halifax-citadel-national-historic-site/1440 |
| Location | 5425 Sackville St |
| Hours of Operation | Daily 9 am – 5 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-426-5080 |
Sitting on a hill in downtown Halifax, the Citadel is a star-shaped fortress with sweeping views of the harbor below. We often come here to picnic on its green slopes, but if you’ve yet to explore the fort, we recommend going on a tour (guided or not).
From the living quarters of its former inhabitants to the artillery they used back in the day, there’s much to see here. If not for the crowds of tourists, it would feel like a walk through Victorian-era Halifax.
Arguably, the best way to explore Citadel Hill is at night without all the tourists. Dubbed the ghost tour, this hair-raising experience took us around dimly lit corridors and prison cells while hearing paranormal stories that are now forever etched in our memories.
3. Check out local goodies at the Seaport Farmers’ Market.
| Website | https://halifaxfarmersmarket.com/ |
| Location | 961 Marginal Rd |
| Hours of Operation | Weekdays CLOSEDSaturday 8 am – 2 pmSunday 10 am – 2pm |
| Phone | +1 902-492-4043 |
Seaport Farmers’ Market serves up a slice of culinary heaven, highlighting seasonal fruits and veggies, baked goodies, and our favorite—fresh seafood! Since it’s only open for a few hours every weekend, spend as much time here as you can.
Before anything else, we always head straight to the food stalls. We usually get Korean BBQ hot dogs from Masita, steamed pork buns from Pinoy’s Best, and if we’re feeling a little fancy, oysters and scallops from Ocean to Plate.
We also like shopping here for gifts, artisanal crafts, and other meaningful knickknacks that embody the charm of this city. From scented candles and ceramics to jewelry, this weekend market has it all.
4. Have brunch at the Halifax Public Gardens.
| Website | https://www.halifaxpublicgardens.ca/ |
| Location | 5665 Spring Garden Rd. &, Summer St |
| Hours of Operation | Daily 8 am – 4 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-456-4552 |
If you’re looking for a fun, affordable yet memorable activity, go on a picnic at Halifax Public Gardens. Since they don’t allow jogging, biking, and even pets, we usually come here to get some peace and quiet.
In the old Horticultural Hall, you’ll find a quaint cafe, where you can get pastries, bread, coffee, and, of course, our favorite—hand-paddled ice cream. Although they do have deck seating, we’re a sucker for romantic picnics on the grass.
When the weather is warm, we like to head off to the Family Lawn at the Southwest corner of the gardens. We’ll spread out a picnic blanket, munch on our homemade charcuterie board, and maybe read for an hour or two.
5. Go on an easy hike in Point Pleasant Park.
Media credit: miles2travel_n_memories2make
| Website | https://www.halifax.ca/parks-recreation/parks-trails-gardens/parks-outdoor-spaces/point-pleasant-park |
| Location | 5530 Point Pleasant Dr |
| Hours of Operation | Daily 5 am – 12 am |
| Phone | +1 902-490-4700 |
Point Pleasant Park is a 185-acre wooded area tucked away on the southern tip of Halifax. With 39 km of trails, many of which are wheelchair-accessible, it’s our go-to spot for off-leash dog walks, easy hikes, and bike rides with the family.
Huge and sprawling, the park has a lush forest of mature trees, historical ruins, and a beach, which you can access for free all year round.
The best part is that it’s only a 6-minute drive away from the waterfront! So if you’re staying in the downtown area, it will be close to your hotel and other popular attractions.
6. Join a curated food tour around town.
| Website | https://www.curatedfoodtours.ca/ |
| Location | 2131 Maitland St |
| Hours of Operation | Wed – Sat 3 pm – 6 pm |
| Contact | [email protected] |
Whether you’re a local or a first-time visitor, a curated food tour around Halifax is always a great idea. Rain or shine, a resident foodie will take you to a hand-picked selection of restaurants, showcasing the vibrant culinary scene of the city.
Since the stops have been carefully chosen for the tour, you won’t have to worry about bad meals. On our tour, we didn’t expect hearty portions of beef curry, scallops, and lobster, so we definitely recommend coming with an empty stomach.
Most of the curated food tours fall on weekdays, but they do have Saturday slots for the Best of Downtown Halifax or the Best of Spring Garden Road tours. Prices vary per tour, costing at least $100 per head—but totally worth it.
7. Buy artisan goods at Halifax Brewery Farmers Market.
| Website | https://www.halifaxbrewerymarket.com |
| Location | 1496 Lower Water St |
| Hours of Operation | Saturday 8 am – 1 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-329-3276 |
Although it’s smaller than Seaport, Halifax Brewery Farmers Market draws in crowds of patrons every Saturday. It’s a great place to get locally-grown seasonal produce, freshly baked bread, and artisan gourmet goods, especially if you can’t endure the long lines.
We like that they use their own currency called Market Money, which really comes in handy if we don’t have cash on hand.
Instead of going all the way to the bank, we can buy Market Money at the info booth using a debit/credit card, and then use it to pay vendors.
Due to its proximity to the waterfront and the rest of downtown Halifax, you can start your morning here with baked goods, sweet treats, and other prepared foods before heading off to nearby tourist attractions.
8. Set sail on the Tall Ship Silva.
| Website | https://www.ambassatours.com/ |
| Location | 1751 Lower Water St |
| Hours of Operation | Daily 4pm-6pmSat-Sun 4 pm-6 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-420-1015 |
To enjoy breathtaking views of the Halifax coastline, go onboard the Tall Ship Silva, a historic, three-masted schooner. When it set sail at sunset, we were in for two hours of scenic views, live music, and cold beer.
They only allow a handful of people at a time, so it’s never too crowded or stuffy. Since they’ve got a spacious deck, there was plenty of room for us to dance around and socialize.
If the conditions are favorable, they even let passengers help raise the sails. It was one of the most exciting and memorable parts of our trip, especially for the little ones.
9. Cruise aboard the Harbour Hopper.
| Website | https://amospewter.com/ |
| Location | 1751 Lower Water St |
| Hours of Operation | Daily (time slots may vary) |
| Phone | +1 902-420-1015 |
The Harbour Hopper is the fastest way to see Halifax on land and sea. Just for 55 minutes of your day, an amphibious vehicle will take you all the way to the Citadel and other attractions we mentioned in this guide.
We’ve tried it once just to see what the fuss was all about and were pleasantly surprised by our guide. Even for a local, the lesser-known stories about the city, the historical facts, and the witty commentary were very entertaining.
Our favorite part was splashing into the water and cruising along the harbor. It’s truly an unforgettable experience, which is best shared with friends and loved ones.
10. Play with friends at The Board Room Games Cafe.
| Website | https://boardroomgames.wixsite.com/tbrgc |
| Location | 1256 Barrington St |
| Hours of Operation | Tue-Thu 3 pm – 12 amFri-Sat 12 pm – 1 amSun 12 pm – 12 am |
| Phone | +1 902-423-7545 |
For a fun night out without dancing and loud DJ music, head off to The Board Room Games Cafe. With a collection of 600+ games, we like that they have a little bit of everything for different groups of friends and families.
They’ve got all-time classics like Jenga, Battleship, and Monopoly. But we love their tabletop role-playing games the most, such as Dungeons and Dragons, NewEdo, and White Lies.
Since some games last for hours, we usually just dine here as they also have a huge selection of meals and snacks. Best of all, they’ve got good coffee, milkshakes, and booze.
11. Put your wits to the test at Captured Escape Rooms.
| Website | https://capturedescaperooms.com/ |
| Location | 1684 Barrington St Suite 400 |
| Hours of Operation | Tue-Fri 4 pm – 10 pmSat 12 pm – 10 pmSun 12 pm – 8 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-422-2224 |
Captured Escape Rooms has 8 uniquely themed rooms that will surely put our problem-solving skills to the test. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, they’ve got a variety of challenges to suit your skill level.
If you’re all in for hair-raising thrills and bone-chilling surprises, step into the world of Scalpels and Saws where you need to uncover the mystery of the missing students. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s surprisingly not the most difficult puzzle here.
Prohibition: The Last Call was perhaps the most challenging. Although not as scary, it was very thrilling, engaging, and fun pretending to be framed for the biggest booze smuggling operation on the East Coast.
12. Party at Hide+Seek.
| Website | https://www.hideseekhfx.com/ |
| Location | 1737 Grafton St |
| Hours of Operation | Fri and Sat 10:30 pm – 3:30 am |
| Phone | +1 902-414-9486 |
Halifax might be known for its laid-back, coastal lifestyle, but we know how to party here as well. One of the trendiest spots in town is Hide+Seek, which is well-loved for its rustic urban loft vibe that kind of makes it feel like a big house party.
It’s a hotspot for local talent, but they also invite DJs from all over the country and the world. They blast a wide range of genres here, including hip hop, R&B, and afro beats, so there’s a little bit of something for everyone.
Drop by before midnight so you can have free admission. Depending on the occasion, they might have dress codes in place, so follow their socials to stay up to date.
13. Trace immigration stories at Pier 21.
| Website | https://pier21.ca/ |
| Location | 1055 Marginal Rd |
| Hours of Operation | Daily 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-425-7770 |
If you’ve yet to trace your family’s story of immigration, The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is the best place to do this. With the help of their staff, you can go over records, passenger lists, and manifests to trace your roots.
But even if you already know your family’s history, it’s still a great way to learn about others’ unique stories. As you step into historic replicas of ships and trains, you can vividly imagine what it was like for immigrants to reach our shores.
Plus, you can step into their shoes (literally). We like dressing up in period costumes and packing our trunks for the Customs Challenge just to see which of our items would be confiscated or allowed.
14. Discover new animals at the Museum of Natural History.
| Website | https://naturalhistory.novascotia.ca/ |
| Location | 1747 Summer St |
| Hours of Operation | Daily 9:30 am – 4:30 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-424-7353 |
The Museum of Natural History has loads of fun and educational activities that your entire family will love. From the coast to the forest, they’ve got live animals and exhibits that you can interact with to gain a deeper understanding of Nova Scotia’s wildlife.
What we look forward to every time we visit is their temporary exhibits, which bring us face-to-face with creatures that we’ll never get to see in our lifetime. Dinosaur fossils are our all-time favorite, and we might never grow tired of seeing them up close.
While we were there, we also enjoyed playing scavenger hunt with the kids. And, of course, we didn’t miss a chance to say hi to Gus, the museum’s beloved 101-year-old gopher tortoise.
15. Spend a fun-filled, educational day at Discovery Center.
Media credit: navyaranisaiva
| Website | https://thediscoverycentre.ca/ |
| Location | 1215 Lower Water St |
| Hours of Operation | Wed-Sun 9 am – 4 pm |
| Phone | +1 902-492-4422 |
If you’re hesitant to take your kids to museums because they’re pretty hands-on with the exhibits, then take them to the Discovery Center instead. We’re sure they’ll love the immersive and interactive displays, which they’re allowed to touch!
Here, your kids can run wild and free while learning about the ocean, health, energy, and aviation. And, you won’t have to worry about getting the stink-eye from museum staff and guests.
Our absolute favorite is the Dome Theater. By projecting 360-degree images onto a massive dome overhead instead of a large flat screen, it offers a more immersive experience than traditional cinema.
Whether we’re watching Sesame Street or a live star show, it always feels like we’re part of the scenes unfolding before us.
