FREE THINGS TO DO IN HALIFAX

  • 1. Halifax Public Gardens – Welcome to Halifax’s greatest natural and national treasure and most visited site in Halifax, Nova Scotia– a timeless oasis in an ever changing world. A beautiful Victorian-inspired garden open to the public since 1867. 16 acres in the Victorian Gardenesque style; Scroll beds shaped in an E for the reigning monarch, Serpentine beds, raised carpet beds and a profusion of colour through the artistry of our Gardeners. The Victorian Gardens were all about symmetry and there is grand harmony throughout. The majestic trees, 240 varieties, nurture and shelter and many are original. The Victorians were all about education and introduced many new species to Nova Scotia. Check our What’s Blooming on our website to discover the highlights of each month. Horticultural Hall, circa 1837, the original meeting place of the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society houses a coffee shop.
  • 2. Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk – Busy hub with a working port & 1 of the world’s longest downtown boardwalks, plus eateries & stores.
  • 3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery – The final and noteworthy resting place for many of the victims of the Titanic.
  • 4 – Point Pleasant Park – Have a picnic with sweeping ocean views or hike through 186 acres of forest in one of Halifax’s most cherished parks.
  • 5 – Halifax Central Library – The Halifax Central Library is a public library in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street in Downtown Halifax. It serves as the flagship library of the Halifax Public Libraries, replacing the Spring Garden Road Memorial Library.
  • 6 – Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market – The Halifax Farmers’ Market was created by Royal Proclamation in June of 1750, a year after the founding of Halifax. The Governor and Council designated a site for the Market – the present day Bank of Montreal building. For 50 years this flesh, meat or cattle market, as it was known, sold produce as well as livestock delivered from Acadian farms in the Annapolis Valley and from local farm production. In 1848 the City of Halifax was incorporated and the original City Charter conveyed the Country Market property to the city “for the public and common benefit and use of the City of Halifax according to the true interest and meaning of the original grant.” The Market has operated in several locations across the city since its inception in 1750, but moved to the Halifax Seaport in 2010 where it is now known as the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market – the longest continuously running Market in North America and proudly hosting over 250 vendors! Halifax Seaport The Halifax Seaport is a vibrant arts and cultural district found at the south end of the Halifax waterfront. Extending from Piers 19 to 23, you will find artisans, retailers, cruise terminals, event facilities, cafes, galleries, offices, a museum, a university and the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market. This district has been redeveloped to showcase local talent and is now a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
  • 7. Harbourside Market – The Halifax Farmers’ Market is the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in North America, having been founded in 1750. Over the years the market has been held in many locations around Halifax, Nova Scotia, including Keith’s Brewery Building on 1496 Lower Water Street.
  • 8. St. Mary’s Basilica – St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica is a Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral located in the downtown core of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. It is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth and is the largest Catholic church in the Archdiocese.
  • 9. Old Burying Ground – Established in 1749, this is Halifax’s first cemetery.
  • 10. Old Town Clock – The Town Clock on Citadel Hill in Halifax is a faithful reconstruction of an early 19th century Palladian structure. Clad in white wood clapboard and shingles, the building consists of a symmetrical rectangular base supporting a three-tiered octagonal tower, and features typical classical elements and details. The tower is composed of a round-plan colonnade, which supports the octagonal clock storey, which in turn supports an octagonal arcaded storey and is crowned by a copper dome and a balustrade and copper ball. The structure still contains the original functional clock mechanism, which has been operating since October 20, 1803. It is set on the grassed eastern glacis of the Halifax Citadel, fronting onto Brunswick Street. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

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