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Half-Day Historical Tour of Halifax

6 hr
Viator
5.0/5
Product code: 273936P1
5.0 · 83 reviews
Price from
$125.51
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About this activity

This Tour is about Halifax's Remarkable History including all the Titanic and Halifax Explosion Sites and the Stories and Miracles of these Two Historic Tragedies. See ALL that Historic Halifax, Dartmouth and Fisherman's Cove has to offer in a Clean, Safe and Comfortable Tour Vehicle a Ford Transit 350 XLT Medium Roof 15 Passenger Van with 4 Guests Minimum to 10 Guests Maximum. Vehicle is equipped with a microphone to the speaker system and a large tablet to view Guests Videos and Photos to augment your Tour experience so you have a Memorable, Unique Tour of Historic Halifax, Dartmouth and Fisherman's Cove.

See the boat

What is included

Air-conditioned vehicleTransportation amenities
Alcoholic BeveragesFood and drink
Bottled waterFood and drink
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-onsSafety contactless payments for gratuities and add
COVID-19 vaccination required for guidesSafety covid 19 vaccination required for guides
Gear/equipment sanitised between useSafety gear equipment sanitized between use
GratuityOther
Guests driving to starting point Pier 22 can park for $10.00 CAD for All Day..Very Secure ParkingOther
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staffSafety hand sanitizer available to travelers and s
LunchFood and drink
Nova Scotia lifted All Covid Mandates on March 21, 2022 (Subject to Change)...Personal Face coverings/Masks are encouraged but your choice. We will have supply Masks if you wish to wear one also Aloe Purell Hand sanitizer in every row of the Vehicle plusSafety other
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelersSafety proof of covid 19 vaccination required for
Public transportation options are available nearbyPublic transportation nearby
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areasSafety regularly sanitized high traffic areas
Seating is the First Confirmed has the First Choice of Seats in VehicleOther
Service animals allowedPets welcome

Itinerary

  1. 1
    Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

    Your Guide will tell you all about Pier 21 the Gateway to Canada

  2. 2
    Harbourside Market

    The Halifax Farmers Market was created by Royal Proclamation in June of 1750, a year after the founding of Halifax. The Governor and Council designated a site for the Market – the present day Bank of Montreal building. For 50 years this flesh, meat or cattle market, as it was known, sold produce as well as livestock delivered from Acadian farms in the Annapolis Valley and from local farm production. In 1848 the City of Halifax was incorporated and the original City Charter conveyed the Country Market property to the city “for the public and common benefit and use of the City of Halifax according to the true interest and meaning of the original grant.” The Market has operated in several locations across the city since its inception in 1750, but moved to the Halifax Seaport in 2010 where it is now known as the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market – the longest continuously running Market in North America and proudly hosting over 250 vendors!

  3. 3
    The Emigrant Statue

    This is a masterpiece done by Armando Barbon who emigrated to Canada from Italy in 1951 and is a gift to Canada...It depicts Armando stepping on to a ship and his Beautiful wife Yole with the Kids in the Family Tree...His wife and two small children followed 5 months later...Inscription reads : The pain of separation he overcame, with faith and hope his heart aflame...

  4. 4
    Samuel Cunard Statue

    Sir Samuel Cunard, was a British-Canadian shipping magnate, born in Halifax, a as the locals say a Haligonian, who founded the Cunard Line. He was the son of a master carpenter and timber merchant who had fled the American Revolution and settled in Halifax.

  5. 5
    Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk

    It is said to be the longest Downtown Boardwalk in the World along side of the Worlds Second Largest Natural Harbour

  6. 6
    Georges Island

    Occupied by British military forces in 1750, Georges Island’s strategic position in the middle of Halifax Harbour catapulted it to the heart of seaward defences for one of the principal naval stations in the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. The island came under the command of Prince Edward in 1794 amidst tensions between the United Kingdom and the United States. Home to Fort Charlotte and later its two powerful seaward-facing batteries and underground tunnel complex, the island is also the site of one of Canada’s first fully automated lighthouses. Georges Island was also used as a prison in the early years. Between 1755 and 1763, during the deportation of the Acadians, known as Le Grand Dérangement (The Great Upheaval), the island became a holding area for large numbers of Acadians. Thanks to its complex of subterranean passages and tunnels, this mysterious island has been the subject of local folklore for generations.

  7. 7
    Alexander Keith's Brewery

    You will hear about its history and about its Founder Alexander Keith... Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery first opened its doors almost 200 years ago. Today, the same brewery serves as a popular destination for visitors and beer fans alike. One of the oldest working breweries in North America, the brewery is dedicated to crafting small batch brews, inspired by local Nova Scotian culture and Keith’s heritage.

  8. 8
    HMCS Sackville - Canada's Naval Memorial

    HMCS Sackville is the only one of 269 Allied corvettes from the Second World War that remains and continues to serve as Canada’s Naval Memorial..HMCS Sackville was one of 123 corvettes built in Canada and is a National Historic Site.

  9. 9
    Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

    This Museum we highly recommend you visit before or after Halifax History Tour. Located in the heart of Halifax’s historic waterfront, there’s no better place to get immersed in Nova Scotia’s rich maritime heritage than the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. From the stories of the World War convoys, the Days of Sail to the Age of Steam plus Titanic and Halifax Explosion exhibits.

  10. 10
    Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

    You will hear about Maud Lewis a Famous Nova Scotia Folk Artist

  11. 11
    Historic Properties

    A designated National Historic Site in the heart of downtown Halifax, Historic Properties is the first restoration project of its kind in Canada, featuring three city blocks of Canada’s oldest surviving group of waterfront warehouses and some of North America’s finest Victorian-Italianate façades dating back to the late 1700s and early 1800s.

  12. 12
    Saint George's Round Church

    You will hear about the sad history of this iconic Round Church...Built in 1800 to accommodate the growing population of the Little Dutch Church, Saint George's is a cylindrical, wooden church designed in the Palladian style thanks to the architectural taste of Edward, Duke of Kent.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Standard
Weather cancellation available
May cancel if minimum travelers are not met

Refund rules

100% refundable until 1 day before departure
0% refundable from 0 to 1 day before departure

Reviews

5/5

Worth every penny

1000% worth every penny We love to see the sites, but a guided tour is so worth it because Paul gave us the back stories, the nuances and descriptions. Paul added photos and videos to support the tour, which made it even more interesting. What i ver much love is his support for local, artisan shops and restaurants. Included in the tour were local stops at the Farmers Market, Fisherman’s Cove shops and the little restaurant. These are EXACTLY the places i love to visit and I loved supporting these hardworking folks. Do this tour at the beginning of your stay. His tour gave us a much better appreciation of the city, and as we explored the city during our stay, we often said, “Remember what Paul said about that place?”

Reviewed by Jacqui E - 2022-11-16
5/5

Great days!

Great day! A must do for all visitors. We did all the tours. Learned about and enjoyed all the sites - time well planned during all tours

Reviewed by 425colettej - 2022-11-11
5/5

An absolute must in Halifax

After two cancellations, our New England/Atlantic Canada cruise finally came to pass. Early on in planning, I had booked Paul McNeil’s Halifax Titanic Historical Tour. It was refreshing that he required no deposit, so we were out no money as the 2+ years passed. I reconfirmed with Paul a couple of times and, finally, we were able to visit Halifax in October 2022. Unfortunately, the cruise line had a too-short port time for a city so steeped in history. I had no prior knowledge of Halifax, and didn’t know what to expect. After spending several hours with Paul, I was left longing for more time there. He tailored his tour to our needs and tried to fit in all he possibly could, while mindful of our ship’s departure time. In the course of 25 cruises, we have taken many, many tours and Paul is at the top of our list of guides we’ve experienced. His knowledge of the city was obvious and his love for it became apparent in his dialogue. His occasional personal interjections added to our enjoyment. My husband and I were very comfortable in the van and the large tablet mounted above the dash held many slides and videos that added to our understanding and enjoyment of the sights we viewed. As a testament to the kind of person Paul is, I must tell a somewhat simplified tale of a personal incident. After ending the tour, standing in line to reboard the ship, I was onboard when I realized I was missing my small backpack. I phoned Paul’s cell and he said he’d head right back to the terminal. I was a bit panicked as, by that time, we were very close to all-aboard time. A conscientious young man on the ship’s security staff told me to stay put and he’d go to the terminal. He connected with Paul and retrieved my backpack. A bit later, Paul phoned me to see that I had my backpack and all was well. Paul went the extra mile, literally as well as figuratively! Given the opportunity, I would book another tour with Paul McNeil in a heartbeat! I can’t recommend him highly enough!

Reviewed by patde - 2022-10-31
5/5

Book this tour! Best tour of our trip - Historical Tour of Halifax with Paul McNeil

Absolutely best tour of our entire trip. My party of 4 combined with a party of 5 and we spent 1/2 day traveling around Halifax and listening to stories, facts, etc. from Paul McNeil. He certainly knows his stuff and the entire tour was very enjoyable. I also appreciated that we reserved our spots on the tour with just a phone call (we were traveling on a cruise ship with a port call in Halifax). There was no deposit required and he was extremely professional throughout the entire process. Highly recommend both Paul and this tour for anyone stopping in Halifax. Money well spent!!!

Reviewed by jaycT7053RS - 2022-10-26
5/5

Top Notch Tour!

Paul was an exceptional guide who took us to the historical sites that the tour buses go to, but he also drove us to less touristy historical sites that were just as interesting. My favorite thing (and surprise) is his van has a large monitor in front of the van. He used the technology a lot to enhance our knowledge with pictures or short documentaries. My second favorite thing was his van is specious and has a high roof. It was easy to get in and out of. Depending on when you make your reservation, your seat is assigned and you know it. First gets first row. Very simple and keeps things fair. Just a great experience!

Reviewed by flybycrow - 2022-10-18

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