If you’re looking for things to do in Halifax with kids, here are some fun suggestions to consider (plus a bonus for the parents)!
As a family that loves to travel, we research all of our trips in detail and share our experiences here on this blog. You’ll find our insights along with lessons learned from our adventures! Specializing in family travel, we provide tips, destination guides, itineraries, and practical advice tailored for those travelling as a family. We hope you join us on our journey!
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT HALIFAX
Halifax is a vibrant coastal city that perfectly blends rich history with a lively modern atmosphere, making it a fantastic destination for families to visit. One of the best things to do in Halifax is to explore its stunning waterfront. You can stroll along the boardwalk, enjoy fresh seafood, and take in gorgeous views of the harbor.
Beyond its scenic beauty, Halifax is full of history. From the iconic Halifax Citadel, which offers a glimpse into the city’s military past, to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, there’s plenty of opportunities for children to learn, whilst having fun.
Halifax also serves as a fantastic base for road trips, making it easy to explore nearby gems like Peggy’s Cove and Lunenburg. For an even more epic adventure, you can take a 2-3 day drive around the Cabot Trail, widely regarded as one of the best road trips in the world. This scenic route showcases breathtaking views of Cape Breton’s coastline and gives you the chance to discover charming small towns along the way.
If you are planning a trip yourself, you may also want to read our 2 day itinerary post: 2 Days in Halifax: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring the City with Kids or our 2 Week Atlantic Canada Road Trip: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island post for some more inspiration.
THINGS TO DO IN HALIFAX OVERVIEW
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So without further ado, here is our list of the 15 best things to do in Halifax, suitable for families with kids, starting with a map to show where everything is located.
MAP OF ATTRACTIONS IN HALIFAX
Whenever we plan a trip, we always start with Google Maps. It helps us visualize locations and create efficient itineraries. We’ve added all the sights and attractions to the map below to help you see where everything is and plan your own itinerary.
To use this map, click the tab in the top left corner to toggle between layers and for more details about each attraction. To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to “Your Places,” and find it under “Maps.”
THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN HALIFAX
The Waterfront Boardwalk
There is no better place to start your family adventure in Halifax than with a leisurely stroll along the picturesque waterfront. Enjoy the fresh sea breeze, watch the boats sail by, and take in the stunning views of the harbour. Kids will love clambering to the top of the iconic ‘wave’ monument and playing at the submarine inspired playground, which is one of the best playgrounds in Halifax. The boardwalk is a great place to pick up some lunch from the various food stalls, including some of the best ice cream in Halifax from Cows ice cream!
The Halifax Citadel Historic Site
The Halifax Citadel National Historic Site is an iconic fort that sits at the top of the hill overlooking the harbor. The citadel is still guarded by the impressive 78th Highlanders, who are dressed in full traditional uniform and conduct marching and band drills on the parade grounds. The kids will love hearing the BOOM of the cannon, also known as the 'noon gun,' go off at midday, although be warned, it is loud (so little ones may want to plug their ears)!
Visiting the citadel is one of the most kid-friendly activities in Halifax, as kids can pick up an Xplorer or Club Parka activity booklet from the information centre. These booklets are filled with fun activities designed to entertain and educate kids and it is a great way to keep them engaged while exploring. Remember to take the booklets back at the end of your visit so that your little ones can pick up their prize (a necklace dog tag).
For older kids, consider taking them on an after hours ghost tour around Halifax's historic fort and uncover the Citadel's haunted secrets! We didn’t do this as we thought our kids would be a bit too young, but it would be perfect for older kids.
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
One of the largest, and historically significant museums in Halifax is the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. As immigrants to Canada ourselves, it was really interesting, and quite moving, to learn about the journeys that over one million new Canadians took to start a new life in Canada between 1928 and 1971.
If you are worried that the museum might not be kid-friendly, then don’t be. I’ll be honest though, if it wasn’t for getting free entry into this museum via the Canoo app (read more about how here), then we wouldn’t necessarily have considered going. However, after spending a fantastic few hours exploring the museum, I can confidently say that its well worth a visit! The kids will have a great time, all while learning about Canada’s history. It turned out to be our kids favorite museum from our two week East coast trip!
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a great way for kids to learn about the history of Halifax's port and its significant involvement with the Titanic disaster. As Halifax was the closest port of substantial size to the tragic site where the Titanic sank, Halifax played a vital role in the aftermath of the tragedy. The museum is not just focused on the titanic though; there are artefacts, stories, and interactive displays about the Royal Canadian Navy, World War II convoys and the Halifax Explosion of 1917!
Make the most of your visit by taking advantage of the museum's free admission on Tuesdays from 5 to 8pm. It's an excellent opportunity to explore the museum without any cost.
The Halifax Public Gardens
The Halifax Public Gardens is a Victorian era park that is conveniently located to the southwest of the citadel. Its a beautiful park filled with flowers, charming gazebos, and a delightful duck pond full of friendly ducks. It is a great spot to take a picnic blanket for lunch or to relax after a busy day exploring the city, and what’s more, it’s a free activity!
There are also lots of great food options close to the gardens, in and around the Spring Garden Road area, if you want to tie in a visit with lunch or dinner. I highly recommend a lovely Italian café called Pane e Circo that served excellent coffee and made some of the most beautiful desserts that I have ever seen!
Take a Harbour Hopper Tour
Just like many other cities, Halifax offers its own version of an amphibious hopper tour - the Harbour Hopper Tour. These tours are not only enjoyable for kids but also provide a fantastic way to explore the main attractions while learning some interesting Hali-facts (excuse the Dad joke!).
Take the Alderney Ferry to Dartmouth
Catching the Alderney Ferry across to Dartmouth is only a 15 minute ride and is a great way to take in some of the best views of Halifax harbour. The ferry ride is very reasonably priced as it only costs $2.75 return for adults and is free for kids. it’s worth noting that you need to give exact change in cash, although they do have change machines in the terminal.
However the stunning views of Halifax isn’t the only reason you should visit Dartmouth. It has some of the best playgrounds, both indoor and outdoor, suitable for all ages. There are two indoor options; the Get Air Trampoline Park and the Kids Fun Factory, which are great options for when the weather is rainy. There is also a splash park and playground at the Dartmouth-Cole harbour for when the sun decides to come out as well.
Dartmouth is also a great place to eat and drink, as it has an up-and-coming craft beer scene and exciting food culture. We ate our last meal of our trip at Canteen on Portland, and the food was some of the best that we ate on our trip and we would highly recommend it.
The Discovery Centre
The Discovery Centre is hands down one of the best indoor attractions for kids in Halifax. Our kids had an absolute blast! We stayed there around 3 hours and we could have stayed much longer - neither of them wanted to leave! With four floors of interactive hands-on learning experiences, the Discovery Centre aims to bring science, technology, engineering, arts and maths to life for kids of all ages.
Our kids' favourite section was the ‘RBC Someday Street’ on the 4th floor, which is an immersive play area, where they could try their hand out at ‘real jobs’ such as working on a construction site, in a pharmacy, or in a supermarket. They also loved the innovation lab, where they could play with electrical circuits and lightbulbs. While it isn’t cheap, it’s worth noting that it is free for kids aged 2 and under.
Visit Point Pleasant Park
If you are looking to escape the city buzz and explore the natural side of the city, or take the kids on a short hike, then a visit to Point Pleasant Park is a great option, close to Pier 21. This quiet park offers scenic walking trails, picnic areas, and ample space for kids to run and play. We found it a great spot for a picnic lunch!
If you are considering a short hike, there is a park loop around the perimeter which is 3.4km that mixes in waterfront paths as well as wooded areas for some well needed shade. You can even swim at Black Rock Beach, if you dare (it's cold)!
It is easy to park and parking is free, making this one of the best free things to do in Halifax.
Try the Local Food
No visit to Halifax would be complete without sampling some of the delicious local seafood. I can honestly say that during our 2 Week East Coast Canada Road Trip that the seafood was some of the best that I’ve ever had. Whether you want to try the famous lobster rolls, eat fish and chips along the boardwalk, or my personal favourite, pan fried scallops, there are plenty of options.
Even if they resist, try to encourage the kids to try everything you eat at least once, as you never know what they will end up liking. Our youngest daughter ended up loving seafood chowder and even ordered it on our last night from the kids menu!
And while you're enjoying the local cuisine, don't forget the traditional Halifax Donair! It’s definitely a unique taste, and not for everyone, but I really liked it. The difference to regular donairs is that it comes with a sweet sauce made out of condensed milk (sounds strange I know). My kids weren’t huge fans of the donair meat, but they enjoyed dipping their pizza crusts in the sweet sauce! One of the best places to try a donair is Tony’s Famous Donairs located on Robie Street, or at ‘Pizza Corner’ at the junction of Blowers Street and Grafton Street (which is where I ate mine).
The Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History in Halifax is one of the best museums for families, as it has clearly been designed with kids in mind. Our kids loved seeing the pilot whale skeleton and the jaw of a great white shark! However, the highlight of our visit, especially for our girls, was the opportunity to meet Gus, the museum's resident 100+ year-old gopher tortoise that wanders around the museum! At 100 years old, hopefully he still has a few years left in him.
Remember to ask for the kids scavenger hunt activity book from the front desk.
The Halifax Central Library
The Halifax Central Library is a must-visit for its awe-inspiring architecture alone. The library has been designed to resemble a stack of books, and is definitely one of the most modern buildings in Halifax. Although we didn't have the chance to explore the interior as we passed by after hours, the library is an ideal destination if you're looking to unwind with your kids, enjoy a good book, or seek shelter from the rain or heat. It’s a shame as we had hoped to grab a coffee at the library’s outdoor rooftop café, as it has some great views of the South end of Halifax.
BONUS: Treat the Parents: Visit Alexander Keith’s Brewery
Perhaps a tour around the Alexander Keith’s Brewery doesn’t really fall into the category of ‘kid friendly’..... but sometimes the kids can’t have all the fun! If you enjoy a beer or are just interested in how beer is made, you can take a guided tour through this historic brewery and learn about the brewing process. Of course it wouldn’t be a very good tour if you couldn't sample a variety of beers and soak in the lively atmosphere!
EXPLORING BEYOND HALIFAX
Buy Souvenirs at Fisherman’s Cove
Fisherman's Cove is a charming 200 year old working fishing village that is just a 15 minute drive from Halifax, making it a perfect place to experience a different side of Nova Scotia, even if you are on a tight schedule.
There is a lovely boardwalk with colourful shops, and it is a great place to pick up some souvenirs to remember your trip.
Just along the boardwalk there is MacCormack’s Beach, which is a great shallow and sandy beach that is perfect for little ones as in some places the water is only an inch deep with no waves. It is well worth a visit, especially on a sunny day.
Take a Day Trip to Peggy’s Cove
Peggy's Cove Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, and given its close proximity to the city, Peggy's Cove makes for one of the most popular day trips from Halifax.
The kids will have fun clambering all over the granite rocks surrounding the lighthouse (during heavy seas and storms, the waves can crash up over the rocks so be careful). In addition to the lighthouse, there are several restaurants and gift shops at the site, although its a great spot to have a picnic lunch on the rocks too.
The Historic Town of Lunenburg
Another popular day trip from Halifax is a trip to take a trip to the pretty town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is one of the prettiest towns in Nova Scotia. Built in the 1700s, Lunenburg is a charming town with colourful historical buildings, a gorgeous waterfront and interesting local shops to browse through.
Once in Lunenburg, you can take a visit to St. John’s Anglican Church, or tour the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, where you can learn about the history of this charming fishing village. If you are looking to snap that classic view of Lunenburg, or to watch the sun go down, head over to the other side of Lunenburg Harbor on Cove Road leading up to the Bluenose Golf Course for the best viewpoint.
BEACHES CLOSE TO HALIFAX
With its stunning coastline, Halifax boasts a number of beautiful beaches for a great family day out. From sandy shores perfect for building sandcastles, rocky coves begging to be explored, to the perfect surf beach, Halifax's beaches offer something for everyone. Here is a list of some of the best beaches in the local area:
To use this map, click the tab in the top left corner to toggle between layers and for more details about each attraction. To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to “Your Places,” and find it under “Maps.”
Rainbow Haven Beach Cow Bay - 35 min drive from downtown Halifax This is a lovely sheltered beach that has plenty of picnic areas, boardwalks, changing rooms, and showers. The perfect spot for a relaxing beach day with the kids.
Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park - 40 min drive from downtown Halifax Crystal Crescent Beach consists of three lovely white sand beaches and a 10-kilometre loop trail along the coastline - great if you want to have a little stroll as well as some beach time.
Martinique Beach East Petpeswick - 60 min drive from downtown Halifax Martinique Beach is one of the most popular beaches to visit, and is the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia. They also do surf lessons there if you want to try something new!
Taylor Head Provincial Park - 90 min drive from downtown Halifax A beautiful sandy beach with some lovely turquoise waters of Psyche Cove Beach. The water is a also a bit warmer than other beaches in the area and the ocean waters are calm so another great beach for kids.
Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park - 35 min drive from downtown Halifax A nice beach close to Halifax but more of a surfing beach so if you have little ones that want to play in the water there might be better options.
Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park - 60 min drive from downtown Halifax A long sandy beach that is also home of the annual clam harbour beach sandcastle competition if you happen to be in town! (August 13th 2023). It also is one of the warmer beaches for swimming.
Conrad's Beach - 25 min drive from downtown Halifax Conrads is one of the nicest sandy beaches in the area for kids, as the sand slowly drops away from the beach. Its also a great spot best spots to try paddle boarding. Only downside is the parking is limited, so get there early.
WHERE TO STAY IN HALIFAX
Luxury Hotels in Halifax
The Muir Hotel - If you are looking for a luxury hotel stay, that is perfectly located right on the waterfront, look no further than the Muir Hotel. The hotel is part of the Marriott hotel chain so we were able to use 'points' to stay there for free. We stayed here for our daughters birthday and we loved our stay here so much that we wrote a full review here. Another high end option is the Sutton Place Hotel, which is located mid way up the hill towards the citadel.
Mid Range Hotels in Halifax
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel - this is another Marriott hotel that is conveniently located along the waterfront (near the Historic Properties), but at a more reasonable price. Susie stayed here last year as part of a conference she was attending and was impressed with the rooms and facilities. If you are considering a stay on the Dartmouth side of the harbour, the Courtyard by Marriott is a fairly new hotel, that is clean and has a fantastic slide that the kids loved.
Budget Hotels in Halifax
Halifax Backpackers is well located in the North End of Halifax, and while we haven't stayed there personally, I have heard some excellent things from a friend who lived in Halifax and often had people staying there when visiting on a budget.
These are just a handful of the great family-friendly hotels in Halifax.
HOW TO GET AROUND
From the Airport
If you're arriving at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), getting to downtown Halifax is pretty straightforward. You have a few options: renting a car, taking a shuttle, or using a taxi or rideshare service. The airport is about a 30-minute drive from the city, so it’s not too long a drive to get to the hotels in downtown.
For shuttle services, several companies operate direct routes to downtown Halifax, and many of the hotels also offer their own service. Taxis are readily available at the airport, and you can expect to pay around CAD 70 to CAD 80 for a ride into downtown. If you prefer rideshare options, Uber is also available and can be a bit cheaper than traditional taxis.
Getting Around Downtown
The downtown area is compact and walkable, with many attractions, shops, and restaurants all within easy reach. However, Halifax is quite hilly, so a walk from the waterfront up to the Citadel can be a bit challenging, especially if you have a stroller or young kids. Thankfully, taxis and Ubers are readily available to make getting around easier. Additionally, you can find e-scooter rentals throughout the city, which are a fun and convenient way to tackle those hills without breaking a sweat!
Hiring a Car
If you plan to explore beyond downtown Halifax—like visiting Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, or the stunning Cabot Trail—renting a car is a great option. Having your own vehicle allows you the freedom to create your own itinerary and soak in the beautiful landscapes at your own pace.
When it comes to car rentals, you can choose from well-known companies like Avis, Enterprise, or Hertz. Alternatively, you might find competitive rates on platforms like discovercars.com, which can help you snag the best deals for your road trip adventures!
ENJOY YOUR VISIT TO HALIFAX
We hope you found this blog post useful and that you have a great time exploring Halifax and the surrounding areas!
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