Canada’s harbour city is an easy one to enjoy. With a young and trendy cosmopolitan feel, not to mention plenty of historic sites, green space and an enviable harbour, Halifax is the sort of city where you’ll feel right at home as soon as you arrive. Don’t plan on spending big bucks to take in the city, either: Check out our guide to enjoying Halifax, Nova Scotia on the cheap.
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Hotels in Halifax typically run on the higher end, but you can keep your hotel costs on the affordable side with a stay at the Commons Inn. While it doesn’t have the whole range of perks (such as a gym or pool), the location of Commons Inn can’t be beat for the price. You’ll be within walking distance of downtown, the waterfront and the historic site of Citadel Hill, plus you’ll enjoy free continental breakfast, Wi-Fi and two rooftop patios. Rooms here start at around $100 for the summer season (less in the colder months).
Chebucto Inn is located 10 minutes from downtown Halifax and double rooms start at $109 (singles start at $79). The family run motel offers free parking and free Wi-Fi, a communal balcony, recently renovated rooms and an on-site restaurant.
Best Western Plus Chocolate Lake Hotel has rooms that start at around $120 and that gets you a well-located, pet-friendly hotel with an indoor saltwater pool, gym, games room, free Wi-Fi and an on-site restaurant and bar with a patio offering great views of the lake.
If you’re not giving points for style, another affordable option is the Wedgewood Motel where each room has a kitchenette making it easy to save even more money by doing some meals in the room. Rooms start at $80 and the motel offers free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast, and has a kids’ playground, but it’s about 15 minutes outside of downtown Halifax.
A quick search on Airbnb also reveals that there are a variety of apartments and lofts to be rented for between $75 and $130 if you’d prefer to skip the hotel or motel option.
Eat
It’s not hard to find affordable eats in Halifax no matter what you’re craving. If you’re in the mood for a burrito head to Burrito Jax (with locations throughout the Maritimes) where you’ll have the choice of six options (including chicken, pepper steak and pulled pork) all for under $7 for the small size. Small quesadillas will all run you under $8.
Alternatively, (or in addition to), you can also try the harbour town’s local fish for less than $10 at Fredie’s Fantastic Fishhouse, where it’s $9.99 for two pieces of battered haddock with hand cut fries. If you’re looking for an even cheaper option, get the fish burger sans chips for just $5.99 or an order of poutine, also under $6.
At Asian-fusion spot Indochine Banh Mi you can fill up at budget-friendly prices on, as the name would suggest, hearty banh mi sandwiches. Three vegetarian options and seven with meat will run you just $7.78, while a small pho noodle soup is $5.95. If tacos are more your speed, they’ve got some unique fusion flavours like bulgogi beef or tofu for $4 each or $7.50 for two
Another must-try for the budget eater in Halifax is The Maxwell’s Plum, a British pub serving classics like steaks, sandwiches and the city’s supposed best burger platter for less than $10 (and a steal at $5.99 until 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday). Weekly specials include $5.99 steak and eggs on Saturdays, a pound of blue mussels for $2.99 on Sundays with the purchase of a drink, and chicken quesadillas for $5.99 on Tuesdays. They also have drink specials should you feel like imbibing.
Some other spots to seek out for cost-effective eating include Oasis Sports Bar where you can sip on $10 pitchers of Bud and nosh on a $7.99 burger or a $5.99 plate of poutine, and Scotia Square where there are several affordable meal options in the food court.
Do
Halifax boasts a number of free and cheap things to do, which is perfect for budget-conscious travellers who still want to get a good feel for the city. Start with a visit to Fisherman’s Cove, a quaint 200-year-old fishing village that is only 20 minutes from downtown Halifax. Here you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants along the Fisherman’s Cove boardwalk as well as an art gallery featuring work by local artists. This is a great spot to find souvenirs.
One of the city’s most prized green spaces, the Halifax Public Gardens are well worth an afternoon stroll amid the blooming flowers, towering trees and charming fountains. This Victorian-inspired garden is free to visit and is open from dawn to dusk, April through November. Speaking of beautiful green spaces, don’t miss the trails, beaches and gardens of Point Pleasant Park, also free to visit. There’s a total of 39 kilometres of winding trails and the beach is swimmable if you feel like taking a dip. While you’re there, you can take a look into Halifax’s past through monuments, fort ruins and the Prince of Wales Tower.
Active travellers can head to the Emera Oval in Halifax’s North Common. Open year-round the site offers ice skating in the winter and inline skating in spring and summer – and both skating and equipment rentals (including helmets) are free so long as you have valid government ID.
A ride on the Halifax Ferry is just $2.50. Hop on for a low-cost way to get out onto the water and hop off at Alderney Landing in downtown Dartmouth, a community cultural centre where there’s an art gallery, the Norman Newman Market (open seven days a week) and a weekend farmers’ market which has live entertainment on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If the ferry ride wasn’t enough time being near the water, it’s free to explore Halifax’s beautiful waterfront where you’ll find shops, restaurants and galleries all worth a visit. If you go, make sure to make time for the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, the longest continuously running Market in North America with a whopping 250 vendors to check out.
Featured image: istock.com/MikeClarke
