Situated on the easterly seashore of Canada on one of the largest natural harbors in the earth, Halifax is the capital of the state of Nova Scotia and the largest metropolitan sphere on Canada ’ s Atlantic Coast .
Where Do Cruise Ships Dock in Halifax ?
A popular port of visit on Canada and New England cruises, ships dock at piers 20 and 22 near the downtown area — providing passengers convenient ship-to-shore access .
Visitors can easily set out to explore Halifax ’ s compendious business district area on foot, or connect with public exile, cab, or rideshares at the terminal .
If multiple cruise ships are in larboard, they may dock at lower berths and passengers will be shuttled to the concluding .
Background/History of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax has a retentive history as a military outpost thanks to its strategic position on Canada ’ s eastern coast. The sphere was in the first place occupied by the Mi ’ kmaq people, who inhabited much of contemporary Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The city was officially established by the british in 1749 and named after George Montagu-Dunk, the 2nd earl of Halifax .
Halifax is best known for its character in the aftermath of the sinking of the Titanic. At first, it was thought that the damaged Titanic would sail to Halifax since it was the closest major port to the ship .
Within hours of the Titanic slump, Halifax sent out several of the city ’ s ships to help in recovery efforts, and so the city became the final rest seat for many of the Titanic ’ s victims .
One hundred fifty dollar bill bodies recovered from the Titanic were buried in three of the city ’ second cemeteries, all marked with black granite headstones inscribed with the same date, April 15, 1912 .
unfortunately, Halifax was besides the locate of one of the worst maritime disasters in history. In December of 1917, a french munitions transport collided with a norwegian vessel in the harbor and the explosion resulted in the loss of over 2,000 lives and leveled much of the northerly goal of the city .
From the debris, a booming economic and cultural hub was rebuilt and Fort Needham Memorial Park honors the memory of the victims of this awful incidental today .
Linked with calamity, another tragic accident was swiss Air flight 111 that crashed five miles off the slide of Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 2, 1998 .
A memorial was erected at the park paying tribute to the 229 souls that perished that night. Visitors to the memorial frequently lay a rose in presence of the stone .
local Food and Beverages in Halifax
Renowned for its seafood, you ’ ll find everything from pisces and chips shacks to upscale eateries scattered throughout the downtown area. Halifax besides has more pubs and clubs, per head, than any early city in Canada .
The Halifax Seaport Farmers ’ Market is open daily during the summer months and is the longest endlessly operate marketplace in all of North America .
The market is located along the waterfront, good a short walk from the cruise terminal, and features bracing seafood, grow, baked goods, and bread .
There are besides vendors serving lobster rolls, seafood chowders, kebabs, and more. You ’ ll find excellent views of the seaport from the market ’ s rooftop patio.
Read more: Maritime search and rescue – Documentary
Continue along the Harbourwalk, which at over 4 kilometers is one of the longest continuous boardwalks in the global. You ’ ll besides find Alexander Keith ’ s — Nova Scotia ’ s oldest brewery — right across from the boardwalk, which is open for tours .
The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse is a local ’ sulfur favorite and frequently hosts live traditional irish music sessions .
No visit to Halifax is complete without trying donair, the official food of Halifax. This late-night favorite consists of zest establish gripe, tomatoes, and onions served on a broiled pita and smothered in its signature sugary sauce .
You can find donairs in most pizza shops and you ’ ll besides find donair-inspired donuts, testis rolls, poutine, and more around town .
Shopping in Halifax
You ’ ll find plenty of boutique shops and mugwump retailers downtown and along the waterfront .
For alone Nova Scotian goods, check out the handcraft gift shops at Pavillion 22 or pick up a rum patty from the Rum Runners Rum Cake Factory .
Halifax is besides known for its exquisite mouth-blown, hand-cut crystal. Located along the Halifax waterfront, NovaScotian Crystal is both a workshop and showroom where you can watch master craftsmen melting and shaping crystal into very well works of artwork .
cultural Attractions in Halifax
History buffs won ’ t want to miss a visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The museum covers everything from the region ’ second foremost shipbuilders and tragic shipwrecks to the city ’ s engagement in the World Wars, the Halifax explosion, and the slump of the Titanic .
Highlights include artifacts recovered from the Titanic, carved pieces of carpentry found near the wreckage, and a beautiful mahogany cabinet that survived the sink .
For lovers of art, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is home to an across-the-board collection of local and canadian art .
The drift is the largest of its kind in Atlantic Canada and displays historic and mod Nova Scotian paintings, photography, and sculptures a well as rotating exhibits by external artists .
Another popular downtown Halifax drawing card, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 pays tribute to Canada ’ s immigration history .
Pier 21 was the interface of introduction for over a million immigrants from 1928 through 1971 and is now a museum featuring photos, personal artifacts, and the stories of immigrants who traveled to Canada during this clock. The center field besides features a huge library and archives for visitors matter to in researching their class history .
top Halifax Cruise Excursions
here are some things to do if your cruise ship stops in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For more things to do, check out 5 Things To Do in Halifax .
Best of Halifax City Sightseeing Tours
To ensure you see all the top Halifax city sights, consider booking a guide city sightseeing tour. Tours visit such area attractions like the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, the Old Town Clock, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and more .
Tours include commodious round-trip fare from the cruise port and concern comment about the city ’ s historical, cultural, and political significance from a local scout .
You can besides opt for bicycle or Segway city tours .
Nova Scotia’s Peggy’s Cove Tours
The picturesque red and white beacon at Peggy ’ s Cove is one of Nova Scotia ’ s quintessential sights. Peggy ’ south Cove day trip options are bountiful and you can choose between steer hikes, coastal cruises, and tours that besides include the Halifax city highlights .
There are besides food trucks, a dine-in restaurant, and a coffee shop class by the beacon, so you won ’ thyroxine go athirst .
Annapolis Valley Wine Tours
Nova Scotia ’ mho prolific land and singular maritime climate make it an ideal position for producing wine. Located only an hour outside of Halifax, the Annapolis Valley is home to respective award-winning wineries and respective wine taste tours are available for cruise ship passengers .
Harbour Hopper Tours
Hop onboard one of the amphibious Harbour Hopper vehicles for a tour around Halifax by both land and sea. Landside sights that visitors will see along the way include the Halifax Public Gardens, Citadel Hill National Historic Site, and St. Paul ’ s Church .
once the vehicle splashes into the sea, the driver becomes the captain, who takes passengers for a bouncy ride around the harbor to learn about Halifax ’ s connection to the Titanic, the Halifax Explosion, and the history of the Canadian Naval dockyards. Sights along the travel include Georges Island, Cable Wharf, the waterfront boardwalk, and the Historic Properties.
An Insider ’ s Perspective
If you ’ rhenium looking for more of an off-the-beaten-path experience, head across the Halifax waterfront to Fisherman ’ mho Cove, a quiet and quaint 200-year-old fish greenwich village. You ’ ll find a handful of colored shops along the waterfront, enough of seafood joints, and methamphetamine cream shops. You can tied rent a kayak and explore the slide on your own or join a lead trip out to McNabs Island .
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