Top Things to do in South End
The 10 Best Museums in South End, Halifax Region
Travelers say Halifax is best seen on foot, so park the car and start walking. Immerse yourself in Halifax's rich history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and be sure to survey the city from the 18th-century Citadel National Historic Site. Then walk into any of Halifax's great bars and restaurants and catch some live music to round out your day.
Restaurants in Halifax
1. Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,717 reviews
Experience an exciting part of Canada's history by visiting this 19th-century fort with a sweeping view of downtown Halifax. Between May and October, the Citadel is brought to life by two historic regiments of the British Army - the pageantry of the 78th Highlanders and the precision of the Royal Artillery thrill visitors daily with live re-enactments. The skirl of the bagpipes mixes with the crack of a rifle and the assembly of recruits for the next foot drill. There's no shortage of authentic experiences to view and participate in! Kids will love the Xplorers Program - an activity book just for them. When the sun sets, it's time to experience the other side of the Citadel - join the Citadel Ghost Walk and experience the dark and errie lore from the early 1800's. Tours start mid-July and run every Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8:30pm until the end of October. Cash at the front gate.
Reviewed By SophiaIneson - Exeter, United Kingdom
I visited the Citadel as a solo traveller. I went on a free guided tour which was very informative and interesting, they have demonstrations throughout the day of shooting the rifles and the canon which goes off at noon. I would advise people to visit in the morning to make the most of it. They also have many exhibitions you can visit to warm up a bit of the weather is poor. The whole site is well maintained and all of the staff are in traditional costume which is really cool.
2. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,164 reviews
Immerse yourself in the rich marine history depicted by this museum's vast collection from binnacles and buoys to anchors and armaments.
Reviewed By B1698RKmichaelh - Burke, United States
This museum has some of the most beautiful ship models, sailboats of unique designs from the Maritime region and artifacts of the wrecks so abundant on the shoreline of Nova Scotia. And to add to this is actual artifacts from the Titanic! Including an actual deck chair. Great displays and fund for the whole family
3. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,880 reviews
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is located in the national historic site at the Halifax seaport where nearly one million immigrants landed in Canada from 1928 to 1971. Today, as Canada’s sixth national museum, we share the ongoing story of immigration to Canada—past to present, and coast to coast. Our exhibits immerse visitors in the immigration experience and allow for a deeper understanding of how newcomers shape our country. Our staff and collections provide opportunities for visitors to discover the countless journeys to Canada and find their own family’s connection to the story. Countless Journeys. One Canada.
Reviewed By rayp775 - Ipswich, United Kingdom
Visited here on our first full day in Halifax and a short walk from our stay. Would certainly recommend the guided tour and our guide George, an immigrant who passed through Pier 21 added immensely to our enjoyment, being able to bring to life the process and hopes and fears of all those who journeyed to a new world. With many artefacts donated by families this offers a great insight into the development of both Halifax and wider Canada and its multi-cultural make-up today. Great visit.
4. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 408 reviews
Art museum focusing on provincial and Canadian artwork in various mediums.
Reviewed By BenLar137 - Calgary, Canada
There's so much here to like! We love how they used two of the historic buildings in downtown Halifax and joined them underground to make one larger gallery - possibly inspired by the Louvre. All the exhibits we saw on our visit in October were well thought out, and presented in a contemporary way. The highlight of our visit was the Maude Lewis exhibit, where they brought in the actual house she lived in, as well as an astounding collection of her work. What a tribute to an amazing artist! The other exhibits were interesting as well, especially a gigantic work by Ken Monkman. There's even a convenient, on-site restaurant. Having experienced how well they do what they do here, we would unreservedly recommend this for any visitor to the city with an hour to spare.
5. Karl Penton Gallery
6. Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 5 reviews
7. Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 216 reviews
Here visitors can learn about eastern Canada's indigenous flowers, plants and wildlife.
Reviewed By MarcoNorthPolo - Lunenburg, Canada
We went with the kids, who spend as much time at the permanent living wildlife exhibit at the entrance as the so anywhere else. Turtles, snakes, bees, frogs, you name it- if it’s small and native to NS, they probably have some in a terrarium. I always enjoy the underwater exhibit with starfish, crabs, and other aquatic critters.
8. Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 37 reviews
The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame is a free-admission museum in downtown Halifax. We celebrate Nova Scotia sport history and sport heroes and hope to inspire visitors with stories of excellence. We have many exhibits, including one on hometown hockey superstar Sidney Crosby. Try a scavenger hunt, test your skills in our multi-sport simulator or watch a feature in our theatre. Find us above the Ticket Atlantic Box Office in the Scotiabank Centre. You can visit the Hall of Fame before all Scotiabank Centre events (and during many of them)-- check our Facebook page for details.
Reviewed By 739maryjaned
Tried out the Sport Heritage Walking Tour yesterday. It was a great way to see the city from a different perspective and learn about the strong sport history we have here in Halifax. Going to try the longer walk next time!
9. Burke-Gaffney Observatory
10. Discovery Centre
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 322 reviews
The Discovery Centre is now open in its brand new state-of-the-art 40,000 sq. ft. facility located at 1215 Lower Water Street, a short walk from the beautiful Halifax Waterfront. Featuring four floors of interactive, learning experiences including an Innovation Lab and Featured Exhibit Gallery that invites traveling exhibits 3-4 times a year. The new Discovery Centre facilitates its not-for-profit mission to bring STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) to life through fun, interactive learning experiences to inspire the curious minds of all ages.
Reviewed By westielover_TO - Toronto, Canada
We took our 4-yr-old son to the Halifax Discovery Centre on a trip out east. Initially weren’t planning to go there since we have a science centre in our hometown of Toronto. However, the Halifax Discovery Centre was hands-down incredible, especially for kids. It was extremely interactive with windows to open, wheels to turn, staffed touch tanks, balls to blow with hoses of air, touch-screen interactive displays, and I could go on and on. The top floor play area is fantastic, especially for parents who want to just let the kids loose to run around & play. There’s a little entertainment area with costumes & musical instruments. A little Sobeys grocery store with pretend checkout and crank-powered conveyor belt is next to a pretend farm with a little tractor & plastic vegetables you can pretend to pull out of the “ground” & apples you can pluck out of little holes in wooden trees. There’s a little pretend vet clinic where teddy bears can be weighed on a baby scale & x-rayed after being taken to the clinic in a little ambulance. It’s all adorable but the best thing is a little bubble room where the kids can not only make a large vertical pane of bubble in front of them but can even step inside & pull a large ring around 1-2 of themselves & find themselves standing inside a cylindrical bubble! Amazing. Also a stroke of brilliance is placing a cafe on the same floor & lots of comfortable seating so parents can take a much-needed break too. The little discovery store could use some more merchandise. But the lower level (right now) had an amazing exhibit showing the advent & development of video games, including sound, music, graphics, etc, which both my son and husband loved. Would highly recommend for all families with kids in the preschool to teen ages!
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