Charlotte CampbellDo you have a taste for the supernatural and an appreciation for ghostly tales? Well, Halifax’s most haunted spots will surely send shivers down your spine.
Over the years, we’ve heard many stories of eerie apparitions from 19th-century spirits to chaotic poltergeists. However, we’ve yet to have a ghostly encounter.
Whether you’re a seasoned paranormal enthusiast or a curious skeptic, the city has a range of haunted places for you to explore.
Join us as we explore Halifax’s haunted places, where shadowy figures and unsettling sounds are just part of the experience.
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
Image credit: belinda.naugler.adams
Website: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/halifax
Location: 5425 Sackville St
Phone: +1 902 478 3878
Opening hours: Daily 9 am to 5 pm
Admission (Peak season): Adult $13.25, Youth FREE, Senior $11.25
The Halifax Citadel(Guide to Citadel Hill Halifax) is arguably the most haunted place in the entire city with nearly 40 documented sightings of the supernatural from staff and visitors alike.
That includes silhouettes of spectral soldiers and the so-called “Grey Lady,” who is said to wander the third floor, leaving the scent of roses in her way. Strange noises like unexplained footsteps and distant cannon fire also add to its haunted reputation.
Guided tours often delve into these spine-chilling tales, blending historical facts with accounts of supernatural phenomena.
| Pro Tip: To book a public ghost tour, you must buy tickets at the Eventbrite website. If you’re hoping to go on a private tour, get in touch with the Halifax Citadel Society at least 48 hours in advance. |
The Five Fishermen Restaurant
Image credit: maplerovers
Website: http://fivefishermen.com/
Location: 1740 Argyle Street
Phone: +1 902 422 4421
Opening hours: Daily 5 am to 10 pm
Other than its delicious seafood dishes, the Five Fishermen Restaurant is famous for its rich history and occasional poltergeist hauntings. One story I will never forget is the appearance of a ghost-like specter during a young dishwasher’s first night on the job.
Locals believe that the restless souls could be the passengers who died during the sinking of the Titanic or the victims of the Halifax explosion. Believe it or not, this was once a mortuary, where the deceased were brought before they were laid to rest.
Think you’re brave enough to enjoy a meal here? Despite its dark past, the restaurant has quite a swanky bar and an excellent menu, which should take your mind off any paranormal activities.
| Pro Tip: The Five Fishermen Restaurant is popular among locals and tourists, so make a reservation online before hitting up this spot. |
Alexander Keith’s Brewery
Image credit: alexander_keiths
Website: http://keiths.ca/
Location: 1496 Lower Water St #312, Halifax, NS B3J 1R9, Canada
Phone: +1 902 455 1474
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:30 am to 8 pm, Sun CLOSED
Ticket price: Adult $28.95, Student/Senior/Military $25.95, Youth (11-18 y/o) $12.95, and Children (10 y/o and under) FREE
Alexander Keith served as the 4th Mayor of Halifax and founded the namesake brewery locals know and love. Although he passed away in 1873, it seems like he’s still around, watching over his business and perhaps even brewing beer.
On several occasions, staff have heard footsteps underneath the shop, where Keith built a tunnel that led from his house to the brewery. Others have also noticed that music brings out the paranormal.
If you want to catch some paranormal activity as well, you should sign up for a tour. Whether or not you get the proof you want, you can always have good craft beer after your ghost-hunting adventure.
| Pro Tip: Brewery Tours are scheduled on Saturdays. Tickets run out fast so book them online in advance while you can. |
McNabs Island
Media credit: themaritimehistorian
Website: https://mcnabsisland.ca/
Location: McNabs Island
Operating hours: Open daily; hours may vary per tour
Tickets: Adult $40 (non-members), Youth $20 (16 y/o and under), and Kids FREE (3 y/o and under)
Lying abandoned just along the entrance to the harbor, McNabs Island is a picturesque spot known for its natural beauty. It’s easily one of the best places for paddleboarding in Halifax, but even its beautiful coves can’t hide its grim history.
When you go around the island, you’ll see shipwrecks, decaying Victorian houses, and old forts, which are eerie reminders of its former residents. However, none are as spine-chilling as Hangman’s Beach.
Here, the British hung the bodies of executed mutineers as a chilling warning to would-be wrongdoers. There have been countless sightings of restless spirits near the area, which is unsurprising given the bloody history of this site.
| Pro Tip: McNabs Island is only accessible by boat. There are guided tours that will take you around the island, but if you’re brave enough, you can explore it on your own. |
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
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Website: https://www.stpaulshalifax.org/
Location: 1749 Argyle Street
Phone: +1 902 429 2240
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9 am to 4:30 pm
Just one look at it and you won’t be surprised that St. Paul’s Anglican Church is haunted. Completed in 1750, this Georgian-style church is the oldest building in the entire city, and it’s still used as a place of worship.
Although it’s shrouded in mystery and ghostly tales, one story that all locals have heard is about the ill-fated deacon whose face is permanently etched in the church’s window. This was due to the explosion in 1917.
Very little is known about this incident at the church but we know that the man’s outline is permanently imprinted on the widow.
| Pro Tip: Call the church’s staff before your visit to confirm they’re open to the public. From Mondays to Fridays, you can go on self-guided tours, or you can join Halifax’s Ghost Walk at night. |
Halifax Memorial Library
Image credit: axel_vice_
Location: 1500 Brunswick Street
Opening hours: Permanently closed as a library
Growing up in Halifax, I heard all sorts of ghost sightings near the old library, which was built on the burial grounds of the poor. Thousands were buried in shallow, unmarked graves at this site, including soldiers, indigenous, and victims of the cholera outbreak.
From its construction in 1949, several bodies have been unearthed and disinterred, which some believe to be the cause of the ghostly apparitions.
The Memorial Library is no longer in use and has been moved across the street, so you can no longer enter it. However, you can still walk around the site—at night if you’re brave enough.
| Pro Tip: If you want to delve into the dark history of Halifax’s old library and listen to stories of paranormal activity, sign up for a Ghost Walk Tour. It takes place at night, but you’ll be traveling in a group so it won’t be as terrifying. |
The Old Burying Ground
Image credit: momara_75
Website: https://oldburyingground.ca/
Location: 1541 Barrington Street
Phone: +1 902 826 2630
Admission: FREE
Established in 1749, the Old Burying Ground is Halifax’s first cemetery, which is the final resting place of many early settlers. Its centuries-old gravestones and weathered monuments have become a backdrop for chilling ghostly encounters.
Locals, as well as paranormal enthusiasts from far and wide, have reported seeing shadowy figures wandering among the graves. They’ve heard disembodied whispers and experienced sudden drops in temperature while exploring the cemetery.
Its long history and somber beauty only add to its reputation as a hotspot for spectral activity. This is also why believers like to convene here for the annual Halifax Paranormal Symposium.
| Pro Tip: There are private tours that will take you around the Old Burying Grounds. With a blend of dramatic storytelling, historical context, and occasional spine-tingling moments, your guide will show you a darker side of Halifax’s past. |
The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Image credit: heycharmainee
Website: http://thepressgang.ca/
Location: 5218 Prince Street
Phone: +1 902 423 8816
Opening hours: Tue-Wed 5 pm to 10 pm, Thu-Sat 5 pm to 11 pm
Housed in a 19th-century building, The Press Gang Restaurant is renowned not only for its exquisite seafood menu but also for its rich naval heritage. Everything from its food to its atmosphere is influenced by the city’s history of seafaring.
Even its name is derived from a dark chapter in our maritime past—press gangs were groups of officers tasked to coerce men into joining the Navy. Perhaps the resident ghost causing the flickering lights and loud footsteps was a victim of these practices.
With its dimly lit, vintage interior, complete with original brick walls and antique furnishings, this restaurant has a haunted ambiance you will not easily forget.
| Pro Tip: The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar is popular among tourists and locals. Book a reservation if you intend to experience a slice of Halifax’s haunted past. |
Top Ghost Tours in Halifax
Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour
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Website: https://halifaxcitadel.ca/services/the-halifax-citadel-ghost-tour.html
Location: 5425 Sackville St
Phone: +1 902 478 3878
Availability: All year-round private tours (except for special holidays) and seasonal public tours (in the summer and fall)
Ticket prices: $16.49 per person + taxes + Eventbrite processing fees
Group sizes: 25 people maximum
The best way to explore the Halifax Citadel is through a guided tour called the Ghost Tour. It’s one of the best things you can do in Halifax at night, but be warned: it’s not for the faint of heart!
Fully dressed in a Citadel guard uniform, your guide will take you on a 70-minute spine-thrilling adventure with only lanterns lighting up your way. You will go through historic tunnels and prison cells while your guide recounts stories of the paranormal.
Halifax Ghost Walk
Image credit: says_samanthawu
Location: Old Town Clock, 1766 Brunswick Street
Phone: +1 902 478 3878
Tour hours: 8 pm to 10:30 pm
Ticket prices: Adult $25, Youth/Seniors $20, Kids (12-5) $10
The Ghost Walk is a 1.5-hour tour around the most historic sites in downtown Halifax. Expert guides, all skilled in the art of storytelling, will lead the way, sharing spine-chilling accounts and historical insights of the most haunted sites.
From ancient cemeteries to haunted buildings, the tour offers a blend of history and the supernatural, perfect for thrill-seekers and history buffs alike. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the Ghost Walk Tour provides an unforgettable glimpse into Halifax’s rich history.
Ghost Ship Cruise
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Website: https://www.ambassatours.com/ghost-ship-cruise
Location: Cable Wharf, 1751 Lower Water Street
Phone: +1 902 420 1015
Ticket price: $31.50
Another interesting tour in Halifax is the Ghost Ship Cruise, which will take you on an unforgettable evening on the high seas.
With the city’s skyline fading into the background and the sound of the waves adding to the eerie ambiance, the Tall Ship Silva becomes a stage for spine-tingling stories. That includes tales about shipwrecks, pirates, and maybe hanging or two.
You have to be at least 19 years old to participate in this one.
