Halifax City Hall

The basics

Visitors can join a historical tour of Halifax to learn more about the coastal town and its city hall, home to the municipal government. A National Historic Site of Canada, Halifax City Hall boasts a defining feature—a seven-story clock tower. While the south-facing side of the clock is set to the current time, the north-facing clock rests on 9:04 to commemorate the devastating 1917 Halifax Explosion.

On Dec. 6, 1917, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc was loaded with wartime explosives when it collided with a Norwegian vessel in Halifax Harbour. When fire ignited the explosive cargo, it created the largest man-made explosion in history and destroyed the Richmond District of the city.

Things to know before you go

• The ships that recovered victims from the Titanic tragedy came to Halifax, the nearest port; because of this, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has a permanent collection of Titanic artifacts. The victims are buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery and Mount Olivet Cemetery.

• Following British colonial tradition, a cannon is fired from the Citadel at noon daily in downtown Halifax.

• A Halifax-style donair is a variation of the traditional Middle Eastern dish. It contains beef or lamb in pita bread with tomatoes, onions, and a sweet sauce made from condensed milk, sugar, and vinegar.

How to get there

Halifax City Hall fronts Duke Street, between Barrington and Argyle, and is steps away from Scotiabank Centre. It’s about a 7-minute walk from the ferry terminal to city hall; several bus lines also run near the building. Halifax Transit operates the city’s buses and ferries. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are also available in the city.

When to get there

Halifax City Hall is open daily, during business hours, except for weekends and holidays. The summer into early fall (May through October) is considered the best time to visit Halifax, while the winter months experience snowfall, colder temps, and fewer tourists. Must-visit Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, the longest continuously running market in North America, is open Saturdays and Sundays until 2 p.m.

St. Paul's Anglican Church

At the opposite end of the Grand Parade, you’ll find St. Paul's Anglican Church. It’s the oldest building in Halifax and the oldest standing Protestant church in Canada. It features stained glass windows, a pipe organ from 1908, a crypt that’s the final resting place of prominent Nova Scotians, and an adjacent cemetery.