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Things to do in Downtown Halifax

Our most recommended things to do in Downtown Halifax

Halifax: City Segway Tour

1. Halifax: City Segway Tour

Climb aboard a Segway and make seeing Halifax’s sights a breeze as you glide effortlessly up the city’s many hills. There are two tour lengths to choose from to suit your sightseeing plans and schedule. Both tours include training, stops for pictures, and time to enjoy the visited sites. Check-in at the kiosk on the Halifax Waterfront, sign the waiver and be kitted out with the safety equipment. Prepare for your Segway adventure with 30-minutes of comprehensive training including ample practice time. Then, follow your expert guide along the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk before heading into the city to see the sights. Benefit from the local insights of your guides and enjoy stops for photo opportunities. Your tour duration depends on your selected option. The most popular is the 3-hour City Tour that takes you into the heart of Halifax to see some of the highlights of downtown. The 2-hour City Spin Tour is a shortened version of the 3-hour tour and will take you along the Halifax Waterfront up to Argyle Street and Citadel Hill. Get to know where things are and how the city is laid out so that you can explore further on your own.

Halifax: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Admission

2. Halifax: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Admission

Book in advance and enjoy flexible admission for the Canadian Museum of Immigration. Plan your visit around the weather and your travel schedule with a ticket allowing you to visit within 7 days either side of your booked date. The museum is located on Halifax's waterfront in the national historic site of Pier 21.. Step into the past and experience what it was like to immigrate to Canada. Join a passionate guide for a tour in English or French of the Pier 21 Story Exhibition. Your admission includes access to all exhibitions. Follow the evolution of immigration to Canada in the Canadian Immigration Story Exhibition. Dive into first-hand accounts of newcomers to Canada’s culture, economy, and way of life - from the past to the present. Watch an original 20-minute documentary 'In Canada' for compelling stories of journey and belonging. One of the museum's expert researchers can help you uncover your family's journey at the Scotiabank Family History Centre. You can also shop Canadian treasures at the museum's one-of-a-kind gift shop.

Halifax: Small Group Tour with Peggy's Cove Sunset Express

3. Halifax: Small Group Tour with Peggy's Cove Sunset Express

Discover Halifax at night with a local guide who will take you to witness the best views of the sunset at the famous Peggy's Cove. Take in beautiful, bustling downtown Halifax lit up at night and see key attractions on a guided tour that includes pickup, drop-off, and transportation. After hotel pickup, enjoy a scenic drive to Peggy's Cove just in time to watch the dazzling sunset. Marvel at the view as you watch the sky change color with the famous Peggy's Cove Lighthouse (also known as Peggy's Point Lighthouse) overlooking the Atlantic Ocean as your backdrop. Once the sun has set, be driven back towards the bustling downtown core. Listen to your guide's narration as you pass points of interest, such as Point Pleasant Park, Halifax Port, and Pier 21. Then, take in Halifax Seaport Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in North America. Next, see the bustling Halifax Waterfront, Alexander Keith's iconic brewery, Dalhousie and Saint Mary's universities, and the beautiful City Gardens. Take in Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the final resting place for over 100 victims of the sinking of the Titanic. Finally, return to your hotel.

Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour

4. Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour

Discover the Port of Halifax with this smartphone tour. Find historical sites and artifacts from as early as the 1700’s on this 1.5 kilometer route. Be transported to when privateers grew rich off their daring escapades at sea on this informative tour. Follow the development of this area through the ages as this boisterous port of call grew into a vibrant, modern city. Start at Pier 21 where so many immigrants first stepped foot in Canada to begin new lives. Stroll past monuments, statues, and sculptures honoring those who helped make Halifax the city it is today. Walk along the one of the longest boardwalks in the world at your own pace. Save your data with an offline tour. Visit marine museums and walk on the deck of an Edwardian steamship the CSS Acadian. From late June to October the HMCS Sackville, Canada’s oldest warship welcomes visitors on board. Finish at the Market Mall where you can do some shopping.

Halifax: Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour

5. Halifax: Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour

Explore Halifax's landmarks on a self-guided walking tour. Listen to hands-free audio narration and interact with what you see with an attraction-based trivia game. Have the freedom to explore the city at your own pace with a convenient tour that be paused and resumed. Walk through the city's first graveyard at Camp Hill. Delve into stories behind the Holy Cross Cemetery, and the Old Burying Grounds. Admire the impressive architecture of the Cathedral Church of All Saints, and St. Paul's Church. Immerse yourself in history at the the Halifax Armoury and the City Hall. Venture to Victoria Park to find out what makes it Victorian. Go to the heart of the city to see the Halifax Public Gardens and Canada's oldest urban park, the Halifax Common. Dive into tales of the many people that made Halifax what it is today. Take away the stress of looking at a map with the GPS function that will direct you to places like the Museum of Natural History. Hear automatic commentary play as you approach places like the Old Town clock.

Halifax: Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum

6. Halifax: Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum

Your tour begins with your friendly local guide meeting you outside of Uncommon Grounds Café in the Halifax Public Gardens. From there, you will begin your walk through the gardens. Halifax Public Gardens is one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian garden in North America. They were founded by the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society in 1836 and were recognized as a National Historic Site in 1984. You will love the peaceful stroll through the grounds, passing by stunning floral foliage. From there you will also get a chance to see the historic Camp Hill Cemetery, The Halifax Common - Canada’s oldest urban park -, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. As you continue along, you will pass the Citadel National Historic Site. The large hill of the site led the British military to found the town there in 1749. Among the first buildings constructed was a wooden guardhouse on top of what would eventually be called Citadel Hill, with Halifax’s first settlers building their homes at the base of the hill. Today, the Citadel continues to watch over the city’s downtown core as a reminder of Halifax’s past. This historical location will definitely peak your interest. After walking past this site, you will come upon the Halifax Clock Tower before heading to City Hall and St. Paul’s Anglican Church. You will continue along to the beautiful waterfront, passing the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on the way. You will love the Halifax Waterfront - a bustling hotspot in the city with one of the world’s longest urban boardwalks spanning the length of the waterfront for 4km (2.5 miles). As you walk along the boardwalk you’ll get the chance to see the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Discovery Centre, and dozens of amazing restaurants and stores. As you reach The Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21, your tour will come to a close. Feel free to explore the incredible museum on your own, or continue to wander along the boardwalk, stopping by any restaurants or shops that catch your eye. You won’t want to miss this incredible Halifax experience!

Other Sightseeing Options in Downtown Halifax

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What people are saying about Downtown Halifax

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 66 reviews

I liked this tour. I appreciated that the app allowed downloading and I was able to listen offline, as we were out of the country and had no cell service. The ability to go at your own pace and see each of the stops was nice. Also seeing the map up front and being able to listen out of order if we travelled a different path was helpful. Would recommend.

I liked this tour. I appreciated that the app allowed downloading and I was able to listen offline, as we were out of the country and had no cell service. The ability to go at your own pace and see each of the stops was nice. Would recommend.

Very easy to follow the guide. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff everywhere. Very good archives. Library helped me find relatives, took the time to do it. Overall great experience. I was an immigrant who came through those doors

Fascinating history. Stories our guide shared were interesting and heart warming. A woman in our group immigrated from Italy in 1960. It was a moving experience for her and an honour for us to meet her.

Well worth a visit. Loved the photography exhibition and the journey thru time, learnt something new