Exploring Halifax doesn’t have to mean relying on a car. From walking along the waterfront and biking through the city to climbing aboard a ferry, there are plenty of ways to get around while reducing the environmental impact of your visit. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or exploring your own backyard, here are some climate-friendly ways to get around Halifax.
Explore Halifax on Foot
Sometimes the simplest option is also one of the best! Downtown Halifax is compact enough that many popular attractions, restaurants, shops, and historic sites can be reached on foot. The Halifax Waterfront is an especially great place to start. Its boardwalk stretches for more than four kilometres, connecting visitors with restaurants, shops, public art, attractions, and plenty of harbour views along the way. Just keep in mind, Halifax is known for its hills, so comfortable shoes are always a good idea!
Get Around by Bike
Biking is another great way to explore Halifax without a car. Halifax has been expanding its network of cycling routes and active transportation infrastructure, making it easier to connect different parts of the city by bike. You can even bike between Halifax and Dartmouth using the bike lane on the Macdonald Bridge. Bring your own bike or look into local rentals such as I Hear Bikes, located right on the Halifax Waterfront. Learn more.
Explore with Halifax Transit
Discover more of Halifax without needing your own vehicle by taking advantage of Halifax Transit’s bus and ferry services. Catch a bus to destinations throughout the municipality or take the ferry across the Halifax Harbour to Downtown Dartmouth or Woodside. The approximately 15-minute trip between Downtown Halifax and Alderney Landing also offers incredible views of the Halifax Harbour and both waterfronts along the way. Learn more.
Pedal Through Halifax with Ride Solar
Explore downtown Halifax in a fun, diesel-free way aboard Ride Solar’s Halifax Party Bike. The solar-powered party bike combines a little light exercise with sightseeing, music, and stops at local food and drink spots along the way. The 2.5-hour experience travels through downtown and the waterfront, passing Halifax landmarks while giving you a unique way to explore the city and support local businesses. Learn more.
Leave the Car Behind with Hop On Hop Off
Exploring Halifax’s top attractions? Leave the car behind and let the Hop On Hop Off City Tour take you around the city. With stops near popular attractions, historic sites, and shopping areas, you can hop off to explore and hop back on the tour when you’re ready. It’s a convenient way to experience more of Halifax without navigating, parking, or driving yourself from stop to stop. Learn more.
Explore Halifax by Segway NS
Trade four wheels for two and explore Halifax aboard an electric Segway with Segway Nova Scotia. Guided tours offer a fun way to cover more of the city than you might on foot while visiting popular landmarks and attractions along the way. It’s a fun and unique way to experience Halifax while leaving the car behind. Learn more.
Try an E-Bike or E-Scooter
For another easy way to travel shorter distances, Halifax’s shared micromobility program offers Bird e-bikes and e-scooters throughout a designated service area. Simply download the Bird app, locate a nearby e-bike or e-scooter on the map, scan to unlock, and start exploring. Learn more.
Take the Bus to Peggy’s Cove
Planning a trip to Peggy’s Cove? Leave the car behind and let Ambassatours Gray Line do the driving! Our Peggy’s Cove Tour provides round-trip transportation from downtown Halifax, making it an easy way to visit one of Nova Scotia’s most iconic destinations without renting a car or arranging your own transportation. Sit back, enjoy the scenery along the way, and spend your time exploring the famous lighthouse and coastal community before returning to Halifax. Learn more.
Cruise to McNabs Island on an Electric Vessel
Leave the car behind and head to McNabs Island aboard a fully electric vessel with the McNabs Island Round Trip Cruise. Enjoy a quiet, emission-free ride across Halifax Harbour before spending approximately 2.5 hours exploring the island’s trails, beaches, historic forts, and natural surroundings at your own pace. It’s a unique way to combine climate-friendly transportation with an outdoor adventure just minutes from downtown Halifax. Learn more.
Charge Up Your Electric Vehicle
Travelling around Halifax in an electric vehicle? Chargers can be found at various locations throughout Halifax and the surrounding region. Before heading out, check the location and availability of charging stations along your route so you can spend less time worrying about your charge and more time exploring. See map below but for complete details, visit PlugShare or download the PlugShare App to see all the EV Charging locations.
Choose Climate-Friendly Transportation When You Can. Every trip is different, and a car may still make sense for certain destinations around the Halifax region. But when your itinerary allows it, walking, cycling, taking public transit, or choosing another lower-emission option can be a great way to experience the city while reducing the impact of getting around. Best of all, choosing climate-friendly transportation can become part of the experience itself. A walk along the waterfront, bike ride through the city, or ferry trip across Halifax Harbour isn't simply a way to get from Point A to Point B, it's another opportunity to experience Halifax along the way.
