Planning a Trip

Getting There

Coming from New Brunswick and the west, the most direct route is via Route 102 from Truro; allow about 2 to 2 1/2 hours from the provincial border at Amherst.

Halifax International Airport (www.hiaa.com) is 34km (21 miles) north of downtown Halifax in Elmsdale; take Route 102 to Exit 6. Nova Scotia's notorious fogs make it advisable to call before heading out to the airport to reconfirm flight times. Airlines serving Halifax include Air Canada and its commuter airline Jazz, WestJet, American Eagle, and CanJet. The Airporter (tel. 902/873-2091) offers frequent shuttles from the airport to major downtown hotels daily from 6:30am to 11:15pm. The rate is C$18 (US$16/£9) one-way.

VIA Rail (tel. 888/842-7245) offers train service 6 days a week between Halifax and Montréal. The entire trip takes between 18 and 21 hours, depending on direction. Stops include Moncton and Campbellton (with bus connections to Québec). Halifax's train station, at Barrington and Cornwallis streets, is within walking distance of downtown attractions.

Visitor Information

Halifax's two main visitor centers are conveniently located downtown, and both are open year-round. The info booth in Scotia Square (tel. 902/490-5963) and the VIC by the waterfront at Sackville Landing (tel. 902/424-4248) are each open daily from 8:30am to 9pm in summer (and until 5pm in winter). They're staffed with friendly folks who will point you in the right direction or help you make room reservations in a pinch. A third year-round VIC is located in the domestic arrivals area of the main terminal of the airport (tel. 902/873-1223), open 9am to 9pm daily. From mid-May to mid-October, still another VIC opens downtown at 1598 Argyle St. (at the corner of Sackville). Also during the summer, travel counselors cruise the waterfront and boardwalk on Segway scooters. For online information about Halifax, visit www.halifaxinfo.com.

Getting Around

Parking in Halifax can be problematic. Long-term metered spaces are in high demand downtown, and many of the parking lots and garages fill up fast. If you're headed downtown for a brief visit, you can usually find a 2-hour meter. But if you're looking to spend a day, I'd suggest venturing out early to ensure a spot at a parking lot. The city's most extensive parking (fee charged) is available near Sackville Landing. Or try along Lower Water Street, south of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, where you can park all day for around C$6 (US$5.40/£3).

Metro Transit operates buses throughout the city. Route and timetable information is available at the information centers or by phone (tel. 902/490-4000). Bus fare is C$2 (US$1.80/£1) adults, C$1.25 (US$1.15/65p) seniors and children.

Daily throughout the summer (early July through late Oct), a bright green bus named FRED (tel. 902/490-4000) cruises a loop through the downtown, passing each stop about every 30 minutes from 10:30am until 5:30pm. It's free. Stops include the Maritime Museum, Water Street, the Grand Parade, the Citadel, and Barrington Place. Request a schedule and map at the visitor center. FRED, by the way, stands for Free Rides Everywhere Downtown. But it's still a cool name.

Events

The annual Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (tel. 902/420-1114; www.nstattoo.ca) features military and marching bands totaling some 2,000-plus military and civilian performers. This rousing event takes place over the course of a week in early July and is held indoors at the Halifax Metro Center. Tickets are C$18 to C$50 (US$16-US$45/£9-£25).

The annual Atlantic Jazz Festival (tel. 902/492-2225 or 800/567-5277; www.jazzeast.com) has performances ranging from global and avant-garde to local and traditional music each July. Venues include area nightclubs and outdoor stages, and prices vary considerably; consult the website for the latest details and specifics of performance and price.

In early August, expect to see a profusion of street performers ranging from fire-eaters to comic jugglers. They descend on Halifax each summer for the 10-day Halifax International Busker Festival (tel. 902/429-3910 or 866/773-0655; www.buskers.ca). Performances take place along the waterfront walkway all day long and are often quite remarkable. The festival is free, though donations are requested.

The Atlantic Film Festival (tel. 902/422-3456; www.atlanticfilm.com) offers screenings of more than 150 films in mid-September. The focus is largely on Canadian filmmaking, with an emphasis on independent productions and shorts. Panel discussions with industry players are also part of the festival. Some films are free, while others cost about C$5 to C$15 (US$4.50-US$14/£2.50-£7.50) each.