Cheap Flights To Halifax

Nova Scotia's capital, Halifax, may be off the beaten track even for Canadians, but it's well worth paying a visit to. This attractive, compact, and vibrant harbour city is a cultural magnet, hosting popular events like its freewheeling Fringe or the Urban Folk Festival. It has history too, from the fascinating Canadian Museum of Immigration to the Museum of Atlantic, which explores the city's connections to the HMS Titanic. Halifax also scores highly for sheer livability, with meticulously maintained gardens, lively farmer's markets and an impressive amount of craft brewery pubs and gourmet restaurants (which focus on Nova Scotia's incredible seafood). And, after you've explored what the city has to offer, there's the small matter of beautiful regions like Cape Breton, where you can follow the Cabot Trail, play some golf or dive into the folk music scene. Fresh air, fine food, culture and history -- what more could holidaymakers want?

Things To Do

In Halifax, you can balance your itinerary between the attractions of the city and the wild beauty of the coast and countryside. From stellar shellfish to intriguing museums, there's always something to do.

• Explore the Waterfront district

First and foremost, Halifax is a port, and everything revolves around the thriving Waterfront neighbourhood. With a clutch of outstanding museums, warehouses dating back to the 1700s and the oldest farmers' market in the Americas, it's a great place to spend time.

• Visit the Citadel

Claiming to be the most visited historical attraction in Canada, the Citadel has stood guard over the city harbour since 1749. See the sombre Military Museum, watch the changing of the guards every hour, and - if you have the courage - take a Ghost Tour to find out the fortress' deepest secrets.

• Enjoy a feast of natural sights: If you love nature, Nova Scotia is the place to head. From the port, you can take tours into the Bay of Fundy, where huge colonies of humpback whales frolic in the waves; take a boat tour to Bird Island, with its population of bald eagles and puffins, or try some tuna sportfishing with a local expert.

Calendar Of Events

Music, art and food are all a big deal in Nova Scotia's capital, Halifax, where there's a lively schedule of annual events. Here are some of the highlights:

• The Halifax Fringe: The Atlantic Fringe is one of the premier stage, dance and comedy events in Canada. Every August and September, head to venues across the city for a riotous, experimental and inventive selection of shows.

• The Urban Folk Festival: Also staged in August and September, Urban Folk showcases the musical riches of Nova Scotia and the broader Acadian region, with plenty of guest spots for international acts.

• Seaport Beerfest: Craft brewing is a thriving industry in modern Halifax and there's no better occasion for fans of a tipple than this excellent event which is held on a weekend in August in the Waterfront neighbourhood.