Between the impressive waterfront and colorful, bustling streets, Halifax is a picturesque city. Soak up the scenery and dive into the city’s rich history with visits to its most beautiful buildings.
Halifax City Hall
Building
Courtesy of Destination Halifax
Opened to Council and the public in 1890, Halifax’s City Hall is a gorgeous, statuesque building overlooking the Parade Square. Take in the view from one of the square’s many picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, and be sure to look at the north-facing clock—it’s permanently set to 9:04 am, the time of the Halifax Explosion in 1917.
It’s not just Haligonians that love the new downtown library: it recently placed ninth on Wiredmagazine’s 10 most beautiful libraries in the world, and the lead architecture firm, Fowler Bauld & Mitchell, won a Governor General medal for the building’s design.
One look at the beautiful stone Historic Properties will transport you back to Halifax’s early days. Three city blocks of Canada’s oldest surviving waterfront warehouses line the waterfront boardwalk and house a variety of boutiques, services, restaurants, and bars.
Old Town Clock
Courtesy of Destination Halifax
One of the most recognized landmarks in Halifax, the Old Town Clock was originally installed in 1803, and while it underwent restoration in the 1960s, the original clockwork remains intact!
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Art Gallery
Courtesy of Destination Halifax
Beautiful inside and out, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia sits in the city’s historic Dominion Building, constructed in 1865. The building is right next to Province House and features a gorgeous exterior and picturesque courtyard.
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Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica
Cathedral, Church
The Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in downtown Halifax was consecrated in 1899 and boasts the tallest granite spire in North America. Guided tours are available year-round.
The Province House is the seat of the Nova Scotia Government, and Charles Dickens once described Canada’s oldest provincial legislative assembly as “a gem of Georgian architecture…like looking at Westminster through the wrong end of a telescope.” Visit the National Historic Site in downtown Halifax.
Government House
Located downtown on one of the city’s busiest streets, Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. The beautiful National Historic Site was built over 200 years ago and is open to the public.
Kate is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer based in Halifax, Canada. You can find her online at katehorodyski.com and on Instagram @katehorodyski.
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