Over in Eastern Canada, Nova Scotia (also known as New Scotland in Latin), is one of the maritime provinces in the country. I visited Halifax, Nova Scotia many years back during a Princess Cruise to Canada and New England. Even when I was younger, it felt like Eastern Canada was very laid back and had a retirement vibe to it. Years later – and also wanting to show my husband around Canada – I thought I’d give Nova Scotia another shot and explore Halifax again as well as the surrounding areas. Nova Scotia is Canada’s second-smallest province and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, so although there may not be a lot to see, there is plenty of beautiful seascapes and fresh seafood!
Originally, when I planned this trip to Nova Scotia, I had allocated two days in Halifax, one day in Lunenberg and Mahone Bay, and one day back to Halifax. Lately, I found that even after doing much research and mapping out highly-rated locations and things to do – it’s not always as it seems. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve traveled so much or my standards are higher, but in smaller towns – 5-star ratings don’t always mean that. Especially compared to actual 5-start places such as restaurants or things to do. So, I think that’s something to keep in mind and I suggest doing additional research – especially in forums and reading as many reviews as you can possibly find if you’re unsure. Travel is always an experience and sometimes it can be a hit or miss – so that’s why I want to make it as easy and straightforward as possible for all of you reading my blog and provide all the information you need to get to the good stuff and have as good of a trip as you can.
So now after taking this particular trip, in hindsight, I’d redo my itinerary to the one I’m sharing with you below to make the best of your time in Nova Scotia and see the better spots that this province has to offer. So instead of 4 days in Nova Scotia, here is an itinerary for 3 days in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the surrounding areas.
When To Visit Nova Scotia
To get the best of the Nova Scotia weather, the best time to visit is between the months of May to October. As usual, you may also encounter a lot of tourists during this time and may face higher hotel prices. The weather gets a bit chilly towards the middle or end of October, but it’s also a great time to see the leaves change colors.
How To Get To Halifax, Nova Scotia
The best way to get to Halifax, Nova Scotia is to fly into the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. It’s only about a 2-hour flight away from Toronto or you can also drive if you want to do a cross-country road trip or live in any nearby provinces.
How To Get Around Halifax, Nova Scotia
Although there are plenty of transportation options, to save time, go according to your own schedule, and to see the coast, I suggest renting a car. We booked a car from Turo and it seems to always be cheaper than booking with a major rental car company so far. You can also pay a little extra for them to bring the car to your location, or you can meet them at their specified location for free which makes things really convenient especially if you don’t have a lot of time on your trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia considering it is only a 3-day trip. We got our car delivered to the airport so we can get going on our trip right away. Also, they do have some hilly roads in the Downtown area like Quebec City and San Francisco, so if you’re not used to it, be extra careful when you’re stopping at a red light as your car can roll back.
However, if you don’t want to rent a car, you can take a cab or Lyft (I find it cheaper than Uber a majority of the times), use public transit ($2.75 CAD for adults), use the Maritime Bus which has 50 stops throughout the Maritimes, or even take the Halifax Ferry.
Where To Stay In Halifax, Nova Scotia
I recommend staying in the Downtown Halifax and Waterfront area if you plan to spend a day in Halifax. The rest of the time, I would spend one night in Lunenberg so I can have two days in that area of Nova Scotia. This makes it more convenient in terms of driving and makes it easier for you to get to the next cities. Because by now you all know (if you read my itineraries), that I hate doubling back and wasting time and do my best to plan for a smooth trip. As usual, I prefer booking with Hotels.com since they have great prices (including secret prices if you’re a member) and the ability to redeem a free night’s stay after every 10 stays. I advise always shopping around for the best prices and the type of accommodations with the amenities you prefer, but since this is such a short trip and you won’t be in your hotel for long, this may not be a necessary thing to look for. But, here are the Best Ways To Save Money On Hotels For Your Next Vacation.
3 Day Itinerary To Visit The Best Places In Halifax, Nova Scotia And The Surrounding Areas
First Day In Halifax, Nova Scotia
Although the first day may seem like a lot to tackle in Halifax, Nova Scotia, these are the best spots to visit in this city and as usual, feel free to remove stops that you’re not interested in! Plus, if you drive, it’ll make these a lot faster. Although sometimes finding parking in the Downtown area may be hard. Some of these stops may be a lot quicker than you think, or you would like to spend a little more time, but depending on your taste and what you’d like to see, you can actually pretty much hit up all of these places in one day. I’ve tried to add in a realistic time frame for each location from my experience as sometimes, it’s really just a quick pitstop and there isn’t too much to see. We stretched this out into two days because of my original itinerary and we just had so much free time that we tried to book an earlier flight to go home. I personally don’t like taking too much time in one place because I like to see as much as I can and don’t feel it’s necessary to overstay in certain areas once I’m done with what I went there to do. But if you love to really take your time, you can extend this into another half day if required.
1 – Titanic Grave Site
Time Spent – 20 minutes
Interesting Facts – As you head into the Downtown, Halifax area from the airport, your first stop will be passing through the Titanic Grave Site in the Fairview Lawn Cemetery. It is best known as the final resting place of over 100 Titanic victims. There’s also a grave marked J. Dawson (although probably not the Jack Dawson played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the Titanic), and many have left flowers and movie stubs are seeing the film.
2 – Tony’s Famous Donair Est. 1976
Time Spent – Take it with you to go or spend around 20 minutes eating here
Interesting Facts – The official food of Nova Scotia is donair so, of course, I had to try it out! It was actually created by a Greek man who emigrated to Canada in the 1950s. And when traditional gyros weren’t too well-liked by Canadians, he tweaked his recipe and created the donair. After trying donair, I don’t think I can ever go back to gyros! The meat is sliced much more thinly which makes it much easier to eat, but the sauce is also so different and tastes so much better in every way. The service at Tony’s was great and extremely fast and I just really couldn’t believe how yummy it was. This is a must-try if you’re visiting Nova Scotia!
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – The Halifax Public Gardens was established in 1867 and has 16 acres of land with 3 ponds, 140 species of trees, and multiple flower beds. It is a designated National Historic Site and one of the last few surviving Victorian gardens in Canada. It is a fairly decent park to take a walk through and enjoy nature and has free horticultural and historical tours 4 times a day. Surprisingly, we also heard a local say that this garden was much nicer than Central Park in New York (the shock!), which I highly doubt is true since Central Park is 843 acres of land and absolutely gorgeous.
4 – Camp Hill Cemetery – Alexander Keith’s Grave
Time Spent – 15 minutes
Interesting Facts – Just across the street from the Halifax Public Gardens is Camp Hill Cemetery and there lies Alexander Keith’s grave – I’m sure a lot of you have tried his beer! Yes, that’s the one. Coming from Scotland and learning about the brewery business at a young age, he started Alexander Keith in 1820. His grave is just a few minutes’ walk straight from the entrance on your right-hand side. You can also see the many beer cans and Alexander Keith merchandise left at his grave.
5 – Downtown Halifax
Time Spent – 1 hour (if you’re not stopping to eat)
Interesting Facts – Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia is where you will find most of the life of the party in this city. There are shops and boutiques, shopping malls (mini), bars and beer gardens, and many restaurants with different cuisines to choose from. You can also find many different events being held in the Downtown area of Nova Scotia and you can find them at this calendar. You will mostly find all of this on Spring Garden Road as you head towards the next stop.
6 – Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
Time Spent – 1 to 1.5 hours
Interesting Facts – Sitting on Citadel Hill is the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, also officially called Fort George. It overlooks the harbor below where the British founded the town in 1749 and used it as a fort to protect the city. The city started growing as the fort grew and a lot of Halifax dedicated their efforts to assist the soldiers with supplies and entertainment. It has a distinctive star shape if you see it from an aerial view like most 19th-century British forts. Today, you can still see re-enactments of the past through their uniforms, marching and band drills as well as the noon gun that is fired every day by the 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery since 1857. If you want, you can also take a ghost tour here at night.
7 – Maritime Museum Of The Atlantic
Time Spent – 2 hours
Interesting Facts – This is the oldest and largest Maritime Museum in Canada. You can also see relics from the Titanic as well as 30,000 other artifacts that represent the rich heritage of Nova Scotia. From World War to the present day, you’ll learn about the history, events, and people that shaped this province. I visited this museum the first time I visited Halifax, Nova Scotia and I think at that time, what interested me the most was seeing what was left of the Titanic.
8 – Halifax Waterfront And Board Walk
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – The Halifax Waterfront was probably my favorite part of this city just because I love the water so much. It is one of the world’s longest urban boardwalks by the water that spans 4 kilometres. You also get a beautiful view of the ocean while dining on the waterfront or browsing the shops, or just simply taking a leisurely stroll. Across from the boardwalk, you can see Georges Island National Historic Site with a lighthouse at the end which has only recently opened to visitors in 2020. You can take a tour of the historic tunnels and also learn about the future plans of this island.
Time Spent – 1.5 hours
Interesting Facts – I would absolutely say if you go to one restaurant here, visit the Black Sheep Restaurant! This is a New American-style restaurant with delicious seafood – do yourself a favor and order the Seafood Board! The seafood is so unique and fresh and every single bite was just so delicious I could order another one. I haven’t found anything else quite like it everywhere I’ve been and we thought it made this place pretty unique. It’s not just a typical fried plate of seafood. We had the Lobster Ravioli and the Atlantic Beef as our mains and we loved it. The food is high quality and the service is top-notch as well.
10 – Alexander Keith’s
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Just beside the Black Sheep Restaurant, you’ll find the Alexander Keith brewery. It is one of the oldest working breweries in North America and they are dedicated to crafting small-batch brews. You can take a tour of this brewery, learn about the history of Alexander Keith, see how the brewing process is done and sample small batch and limited edition beers.
Time Spent – 15 to 20 minutes
Interesting Facts – Just take a quick walk through this National Historic Site and you’ll see the many interesting headstone art in this graveyard. You’ll find skulls with wings, and crossbones, and much more that were hand-carved. It is a historic cemetery founded in 1749 and was Halifax’s first burial ground. Although there were over 12,000 buried here including members of the British Army, the Royal Navy, seafarers, and more, there are only about 1,300 headstones.
12 – Point Pleasant Park
Time Spent – Up to 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Located right on the ocean, Point Pleasant Park has many trails, preserved ruins of historic military fortifications, performances by Shakespeare by the Sea theatre group, a self-guided cultural walking tour, and a small beach.
Note: If you happen to go through Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, visit Fisherman’s Cove Heritage Centre to see the wharf and colorful cabins of shops, dining, and enjoy the boardwalk. Also if you have time, take a ferry to Fort McNab National Historic Site. It’s literally right across from Downtown Halifax and is on the way to and from the airport.
Second Day In Halifax, Nova Scotia And The Surrounding Areas – Mahone Bay and Lunenburg
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – There are over 160 lighthouses throughout Nova Scotia and Peggy’s Point Lighthouse (also known as Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse) is one of the iconic landmarks of Canada is the most photographed lighthouse in Canada and it was built in 1915. It is located in Peggy’s Cove fishing village along the South Shore and is the most famous attraction along the Lighthouse Trail’s scenic drive. This lighthouse’s popularity is largely due to its picturesque and beautiful representation of the Eastern Coast of Canada. You can explore the rocks here, but be careful as the waters around there are quite dangerous.
2 – Swiss Air Flight 111 Memorial
Time Spent – 15 to 20 minutes
Interesting Facts – On September 2, 1998, Swiss Air Flight 111 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean just an hour after take-off due to faulty electrics that caused a fire on board. There were no survivors but the locals of Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Peggy Cove area pitched in to help with the recovery. I didn’t know about this story until we randomly passed by this memorial and then read more about what happened. It was a traumatic time for the locals who saw the devastation that night and it impacted many people in Nova Scotia as well as the families and friends of the victims aboard the flight.
3 – Mahone Bay
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours
Interesting Facts – As you head into Mahone Bay, you’ll pass by their 3 famous steeple churches right across a scenic bay that leads into the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of Canada’s top 10 most beautiful towns and I always find small towns are so interesting to explore with their own characteristics. Since we visited in the early week of October, they were having a scarecrow festival and every single property (churches, restaurants, storefronts, houses, etc.) all were decorated with all types of scarecrows, albeit not scary, but more creative. There are many quaint boutiques, breweries, and museums and you can feel the blasé vibes of this town.
4 – Second Peninsula Provincial Park
Time Spent – 30 minutes to 1 hour
Interesting Facts – If you love the beach to wind down and enjoy nature or want to spend some time basking in the sun, you can visit Second Peninsula Provincial Park. There is also plenty of space to have a picnic if you wish.
Your next stop will be heading into Lunenburg and it is actually my favorite part of this Halifax, Nova Scotia trip. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is named one of the most beautiful small towns in Canada. With its rich history, unique and colorful architecture, it is also home to some of the best and freshest seafood – after all, they are a seaside village and perfectly depicts Nova Scotia.
5 – Blue Rocks Common Trail
Time Spent – 35 minutes
Interesting Facts – This out-and-back trail is an easy trail and great to hike any time of the year. You get excellent coastal views and you can see many tiny islands from here. However, there is no signage here on the trails but you won’t be getting lost here. We had also tried to hike in the Halifax, Nova Scotia area but because of the lack of signage or direction, we didn’t feel comfortable to continue traversing through the very confusing forest. I thought hiking in Ontario was bad with their lack of signs, but Nova Scotia surprised me.
6 – Hillcrest Cemetery (Gallow’s Hill) and Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance
Time Spent – 15 to 20 minutes
Interesting Facts – Hillcrest Cemetery on Gallow’s Hill is one of the two oldest cemeteries in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The earliest known marker in this cemetery is from 1761 and they used to do public hangings here. Right across the cemetery is the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance and it a designated National Historic Site for its distinctive Second Empire architectural features. There is also a haunting tale that goes along with this school and if you’re interested, you can go on a ghost tour to learn more about the stories of this small town.
7 – St. John’s Anglican Church
Time Spent – 10 to 15 minutes
Interesting Facts – This was the first church established in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and is Canada’s second oldest Protestant church dated 1753. The architecture and design of the church is very unique and you can also take some great photos here.
8 – Grand Banker Bar And Grill
Time Spent – 1.5 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – I recommend getting a table on their small patio if you can for a perfect view of the Lunenburg Waterfront while enjoying delicious fresh seafood. I have to say, this was exactly what visiting Nova Scotia should be. Plus, the seafood tastes a lot better than some of the more popular seafood restaurants in Halifax (hence why I didn’t share the Halifax ones). We ordered the seafood chowder (it was perfect!), the white wine garlic mussels, the Lunenburger, and a Lobster Poutine. I would also recommend ordering a Lobster Roll since they’re ginormous and packed with lobster! You can also get great local beer here.
Third Day In Halifax, Nova Scotia And The Surrounding Areas – Mahone Bay and Lunenburg
1 – South Shore Fish Shack
Time Spent – 1.5 hours
Interesting Facts – Locally sourced with seaside favorites, the South Shore Fish Shack is also very well-known for its quality seafood and also a great view of the Waterfront. They have a small menu but you will get an authentic East Coast experience here.
2 – Ironworks Distillery
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – This distillery is in an old marine blacksmith’s workshop and was created by a couple that wanted to create their own liquors that used as much of Nova Scotia’s raw ingredients as possible. They also ferment longer than most distilleries which gives their products a richer taste that’s unique to the Nova Scotia region. You can also take a 45-minute guided tour here.
3 – Ovens Natural Park
Time Spent – 2 to 2.5 hours
Interesting Facts – This is a stop you can’t miss. Head to the Ovens Natural Park to see the spectacular cliffs overlooking the famous sea caves or “ovens”. You can also learn about the park’s gold rush history, geology, and coastal environment on a self-guided tour. You can visit Tucker’s Tunnel, the Indian Cave, and the Cannon Cave where you can hear the boom of the waves as they enter the cave.
After your 3 days in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the surrounding areas in Mahone Bay and Lunenburg, you can head back towards Halifax and back home or to your next destination!
Although Nova Scotia is quite small and you can see a majority of this province in a short amount of time, I do hope to visit Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in the future and spend a couple of days there.