Halifax isn't especially high on anyone's sightseeing priority list but it should be. offering numerous outdoor activities like whale-watching and boat tours to uninhabited islands, it is the ideal destination for an adventurous family holiday. Whether you're marvelling at artefacts from the wreck of the Titanic at the Maritime Museum, sampling food at the Farmer's Market or just getting joyfully lost amid the colourful Victorian architecture, you will find plenty to see and do. Our collection of the best places to stay in Halifax range from grand hotels to chic contemporary boutiques.

Halifax has a vibrant and colourful waterfront. Once the heart of Atlantic trading, Halifax was the closest port to the Titanic when it sank and as such, boasts an impressive array of its artefacts, as well as a haunting memorial to the nameless dead who were returned unidentified to Halifax.

Walking along the boardwalk of the waterfront, you are reminded of Halifax's rich and varied history: Edwardian and Victorian houses, lovingly restored, line the walk with their colourful facades.

The islands surrounding Halifax are, for the most part, wild, beautiful and uninhabited. Sable Island is one such example: uninhabited, lying off the coast of the city, it is the home of countless wild horses roaming free, and you can take boat trips out to see it. McNab's Island, on the other hand, is an eerie open-air museum boasting three abandoned military forts, a former soda factory, a former Edwardian playground and a stretch of beach where Redcoats used to hang deserters. While no guided tour ever ventures that far out, if you call local sailor Captain Mike - in nearby Fisherman's Cove - he'll sail you there armed with a map.

What not to miss

• Book a guided tour of the Alexander Keith brewery, founded in 1820.
• Check out the Farmer's Market on the boardwalk.
• Hire a boat and head out to Sable Island to see the wild horses.
• Immerse yourself in local history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and while you're there, marvel at the artefacts from the Titanic.
• For a ghoulish afternoon excursion, be sure to check out the "face in the window" at St. Paul's Church, allegedly that of a deacon whose face was etched into history forever during a gigantic explosion in 1917. Despite many attempts at cleaning this facial outline, it has remained there to this day.

Halifax is perfect for a fun-packed family holiday. Browse through our collection of the best places to stay in Halifax in order to start planning your trip.

The best places to stay in Halifax

Downtown chic

• Cambridge Suites Hotel: situated in downtown Halifax, this effortlessly cool hotel offers stylish and spacious suites, a fitness centre and an on-site bar and restaurant. Enjoy stunning evening skies from the rooftop.

Grand hotel

• Lord Nelson Hotel: a green oasis in the heart of downtown Halifax. The first of its kind in the city, this early 20th century grand hotel offers bright, airy and modern rooms and a fine-dining restaurant. Great value for money!

Value for money

• The Halliburton: a beautifully furnished boutique property set in an old townhouse and part of a fine-dining inn. The rooms are clean, comfortable and contemporary, and it is ideally located to all the sights of the city.

For an apartment or villa

• Our partner Booking.com has a wide range of villas and apartments in the nearby area.

Travel information

• Fly to Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
• If you want to rent a car we recommend contacting our partner Rentalcars.
• The best time to go is during July when the temperature averages at around 19 degrees.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in Nova Scotia,
• or Canada,
• or contact one of our Gurus for advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Halifax, NS