Halifax

Halifax is a waterfront city on the edge of Nova Scotia’s vast wilderness. The biggest city in the Canadian province, Halifax has a thriving arts and music culture, a growing craft brewing scene and gastronomic highlights including some of the world’s best lobster. Use it as a base to explore the hiking trails and natural beauty of McNabs Island or stay and discover the city’s history while admiring its heritage buildings. Just make sure you’re back at the waterfront for dusk to see the sun turn the sky pink.

Looking for Halifax hostels? You can stay in a seaside house with an expansive garden, complete with a fire pit. Toast marshmallows over a campfire or fix yourself something more substantial in a fully equipped kitchen. Choose from private or dorm rooms, and get cosy in a large communal living space where you can listen to the ocean’s crashing waves. You'll also find hostels in Halifax that have on-site cafés serving organic Fairtrade coffee, or ones that organise social events like barbecues, dance nights and frisbee competitions.

The 4km harbourwalk running along the Halifax waterfront is one of the longest downtown boardwalks in the world. It will take you through the Historic Properties district, where you'll find warehouses and Victorian-era buildings converted into popular dining and shopping spots. Just behind, the 18th-century Citadel is a star-shaped fort overlooking the harbour. The North End is known for the hippy cafés, boutique shops and modern restaurants that line Agricola Street. Neighbouring Hydrostone is considered to be a slice of Europe, with quaint cafés, German breweries and bistro-style eateries. 

For a dose of history, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 tells the stories of the people who arrived in Canada in the 20th century. Nearby, the Seaport Farmers’ Market is North America's longest continuously operating market and a great place to stop for a mouthwatering lobster roll. Halifax is also home to several breweries, including one of the oldest in North America, which run daily tours, tastings and traditional Celtic-style singalongs. 

Walking is the easiest way to navigate downtown Halifax, but if you prefer you can make use of the city's fantastic bike trails. Arriving at Halifax Stanfield Airport, you can catch the MetroX bus to downtown Halifax, as well as nearby towns Fall River and Dartmouth. Halifax's train station is close to the waterfront, and connects with Montreal, plus destinations in Western Canada and some US cities. Next door, the Maritime Bus Station has routes to Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Quebec.