General Info, Halifax

Halifax is one of the airports in Canada that has US Customs and Immigration pre-clearance. You do the formalities in Canada, of course under the watchful eye of American personnel and so when you get to the States your flight in effect becomes a domestic flight and you won't have to clear customs and immigration again. Works out nicely. Saves a huge amount of time and hassle. Well done!

This service is only available from 5 am to 5 pm, so if your flight is later you must make sure that you have passed American security during the times they are open

Halifax cruise terminal and infrastructure has been upgraded the last decade.
The Hailfax Port Authority now controls this part of the waterfront (the Halifax Seaport) and the boardwalk now spans the waterfront from pier 20 to downtown Halifax.

The Pier 20 Pavilion is the called the Cruise Plaza and there you find everything for the cruise.

More shops are at Pavilion 22; the Cruise Pavilion.

The shortest ride by car from the airport will bring you to one of the 2 bridges that span the Halifax Harbour: the A. Murray MacKay bridge or the Angus L. MacDonaldBridge. Both bridges are toll bridges (CAD 0.75).

You can avoid the bridges by just following the 102 highway and go around the Bedford Basin. That's a 40 km ride from the airport.

On a cruise ship or ships day...Sept /Oct..some days 5 ships...150 or more buses..90% of them going to Peggys Cove ..Last place on the Planet you what to be.. BUSES and a Lighthouse...There is a Lighthouse on Georges Island.(exactly th same style) your ships Dock right by it...A real 300 year old fishing village is only 20 min away ..Eastern Passage (Fishermans Cove) ..NO BUSES....Lobster..off the boats ..in the pot ..on the plate..When you arrive in Halifax..Check out the Limousines staged outside the Pier..All Limos.. 8 pass Stretchs..6 Pass Lincoln Navigators..4 Pass Lincoln Town cars or Cadillacs..ALL offer..3 hour NARRATED Tours with Tourism Industry of Nova Scotia Certifed Drivers/Narrater who would love to show you and tell you about very Beauiful and very Historic City..in comfort..See ALL that Halifax has to offer.....Stop for pictures when you want and were you want.. See everything but Peggys Cove..

We caught a cab from the airport into Halifax and again for our flight home. The price was very reasonable and both drivers were very friendly, helpful and were more than happy to answer our questions and give us some really useful tips and information.

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For a different way to get around Halifax try The Harbour Hopper.

The Harbour Hoppers are refitted ex-military Lark V amphibious vehicles capable of traveling on land and water so after touring the town it's into the water for a short cruise around the harbour.

Ticket office is right on the waterfront just near Cable Wharf.

Check out the web site for more details.

Well worth doing.

On some streets there are bikelanes (painted on the tarmac), but that is not enough. Bicycles grow popular in Halfax and people demand more lanes.

If you want to bike in Halifax, bring in an ATB, because the from the harbour up it's very steep.

Downtown parking is not that easy. Most spaces are paid parking.

The bigger hotels have indoor parking, but at a price.

The MetroPark garage is one of the most convenient ones downtown.
500+ spaces on seven levels.
Open 24 hours.

CAD 1,00 for the first 20 minutes
CAD 2,00 for each subsequent hour
CAD 6,00 Weekend and evening rate up to six hours.
CAD 14,00 Maximum charge up to 12 hours

Location: 1557 Granville St

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Sometimes signs may be confusing to newcomers. There are 2 highways -102 from the South & 111 from the North- going to downtown Halifax. For this reason outbound can be going right and left at the same time depending which highway you take.

Travelling by car is a convenient way to move around Halifax and to surrounding attractions such as Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg etc. The contacts of the various car rental companies are at the website below, and they have counters at the Halifax International Airport. However, you should be more cautious especially driving in slippery winter conditions if you are not used to it.