Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia and the largest city in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. The city's origins and rich maritime history stem from a strategic location and one of the largest natural harbors in the world. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Halifax was the starting point for European immigration to Canada. Today, Halifax is a bustling Atlantic seaport and the economic and cultural center of Eastern Canada.
Before your arrival at Halifax Airport (YHZ), you should book your personal hired car on Driveboo. This is because the city and its surroundings are relatively extensive, making a hired car the ideal mode of transport for your holiday or business trip in Canada's Nova Scotia province.
The seasons of spring and fall are both transitional times from cold winter to warm summer or vice versa. For many, this is exactly why they are the favourite seasons, because the temperatures are not too cold, but also not too warm. In Halifax it is then worthwhile to hire a car and explore with this the whole environment, so that you can take as many impressions from your trip as possible. Below you will find a table of places you should visit.
| Cities near Halifax | Distance | Duration with a hired car |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Slackville | approx. 20 km | approx. 20 min |
| Chester | approx. 66 km | approx. 50 min |
| Truro | approx. 95 km | approx. 1 h |
| New Minas | approx. 98 km | approx. 1 h & 10 min |
| Lunenburg | approx. 100 km | approx. 1 h & 10 min |
| Sheet Harbour | approx. 120 km | approx. 1 h & 30 min |
| New Glasgow | approx. 160 km | approx. 1 h & 45 min |
There are numerous car hire agencies located on the lower level of the airport parking garage. Just follow the signs in the arrivals area to get to the counters.
You can find these car hire companies at Halifax Airport:
Halifax Airport's terminal building opened in September 1960 and serves more than 3.5 million passengers per year.
There are 2.300 parking spaces for travelers arriving by car, including a five-level parking garage. Connected to the airport is the ALT-HOTEL, which opened in 2013 and has 14 floors and 169 rooms.
Currently, the terminal has a total of 31 gates, with 12 gates equipped with boarding gates. For the remaining gates, passengers are bused to their aircraft on the airport apron. Gates 2 (a-e) through 9 are for domestic flights. Gates 34 through 46 are used for flights to the United States.
There is one hotel, the 169-room ALT Hotel, which is connected to the passenger terminal and parking garage by a pedestrian bridge. Operated by Groupe Germain Hospitalité, the hotel has conference and banquet rooms, a fitness center, a pool and a 24-hour café.
There are three other hotels in close proximity to the airport. The Quality Inn is located across Motorway 102, and the Holiday Inn Express (119 rooms) and Hilton Garden Inn (145 rooms) are in the nearby Aerotech Business Park.
Metro Express Route 320 (MetroX) is an express bus service that runs between city centre and the airport, with two stops at the Dartmouth Bridge Terminal and the Fall River suburb. The bus leaves every 30 minutes, and the ride costs $3.50 for adults and $2.75 for children and seniors. Please have money handy, you can change money at the security office on the first floor. The route is operated by Halifax Transit (formerly Metro Transit)
A seasonal Airport Express shuttle bus service is available between the airport and the city of Halifax from May 1 to October 31. A one-way ride costs $22 (round trip $40). From Nov. 1 to April 30, Maritime Bus Coach provides limited service between the airport to the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel on Terminal Road.
Taxis and shared cabs are available outside the arrivals building. One-way to city centre Halifax costs $63 by cab or airport limousine. For more information, contact the information desk in the Domestic Flights arrivals area.
Halifax Airport is located at Exit 6 of Motorway 102, which connects Halifax to the Trans-Canada Motorway. It is a 28-minute drive from Halifax City Hall, the center of city centre Halifax, to the airport. There are numerous car hire agencies on the lower level of the airport parking garage.
You'll find a variety of exquisite stores in the main and departure areas of the terminal building. Opening hours for most stores are from7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. Individual store hours may vary. The Tim Hortons fast-food restaurant on the main level is open 24 hours. If you're hungry or in need of a refreshing drink, you'll find plenty to choose from in the airport.
The following is a Halifax climate chart to help you decide what time of year to travel to Halifax. Of course, the weather plays a crucial role here, although it is not the only factor that should be considered when making such a decision. But always remember that it is definitely worth hiring a hired car at any time of the year, because it brings many advantages all year round.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ∅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. temperature in °C | 0 | -1 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| Min. temperature in °C | -9 | -9 | -5 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 1 | -6 | 2 |
| Sun hours per day | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 10 |
| Water temperature in °C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
Halifax is the hub of Nova Scotia. However, it is a small city by North American standards, with a population of 425.000. Rather than being relegated to "second fiddle" status, this contrariness is lived out by its residents, who pride themselves on their quiet demeanor and warm hospitality.
Halifax is relatively spread out and scattered. Public transportation is limited and mostly impractical outside the city centre area. City centre attractions or shopping will keep the average traveler busy for a day or two at most. Beyond that time frame, hiring a hired car will make the surrounding area much more interesting.
