Getting Around, Halifax Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Halifax, Nova Scotia - NS, Canada)

Served by Halifax International Airport (YHZ), the city of Halifax features an extensive network of transport and travel options. With its enviable coastal location, ferry cruises are available close to the harbor and are extremely popular with both locals and tourists.

Further types of transport in the Halifax area include plenty of car rental, rail travel from the VIA Rail Station, bus transport operated by Metro Transit and taxi cabs.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) / Arriving by Air

Address: 1 Bell Boulevard Enfield, Nova Scotia B2T 1K2, Canada
Tel: +1 902 873 3000
Standing around 24 miles / 39 km to the northeast of downtown, Halifax International Airport (YHZ) is an important airport and transportation hub, serving a number of notable airlines. Regular Air Canada flights travel from Halifax International Airport throughout Canada, to cities including Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Flights from Halifax are also available to many cities in North America, such as Boston and Newark airports. Airbus transport operates regular shuttles, which travel to and from downtown Halifax, stopping at major hotels and locations along the way, between 06:00 and 23:15 each day. Other airport ground transport includes inexpensive Share-A-Cab taxis, minibus shuttles and car rental.

Car Rental

Car rental transport companies are available both at Halifax Airport and in the city center, including Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Due to high operating costs at the airports, car rental here tends to be more expensive than in the city, so it is often worth using the Airbus transport to travel into downtown Halifax and rent your car there. A number of car rental transport outlets are situated along Hollis Street, including Enterprise at the VIA Rail station. Parking in central Halifax can prove difficult, and the best place to park is at the Impark lot, along Lower Water Street, where inexpensive all-day tickets can be purchased.

Book your Halifax Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Tel: +1 902 490 6600
Public city buses in Halifax are operated by Metro Transit and are a particularly popular and inexpensive way to travel around the city. Booklets of tickets can be purchased and provide excellent value for money, even including ferry travel. A 'Metro Transit Riders' leaflet is available at the Tourism Halifax International Visitor Center, which contains useful travel information. Also, free shuttle bus transport is available throughout Halifax from July to October, known as 'Fred' buses - Free Rides Everywhere Downtown, operating seven days a week from 10:30 to 17:30.

Trains

Tel: +1 888 842 7245
Situated at 1161 Hollis Street, the VIA Rail Station is just a few blocks away from downtown Halifax, off Terminal Road. Featuring striking, historical architecture, trains here are a useful mode of interstate transport, offering fast and reliable travel around Canada, with connections to Moncton, Montreal and New Brunswick. Train tickets purchased at least five days in advance offer high discounts.

Boats and Ferries

Passenger ferries operate constantly from the Halifax ferry terminal, which is situated close to the Historic Properties dock. With regular ferries that travel across the bay to nearby Dartmouth, other ferry transport in Halifax includes a service to Woodside, and harbor cruises. Ferries travel at 30-minute intervals daily, and travel every 15 minutes during peak times. Halifax's passenger ferries run until 23:30 Monday to Saturday throughout the year, and until 17:30 on Sundays from June to September.

Taxis

A huge number of taxi and limousine transport companies operate in the Halifax and Dartmouth area, offering a convenient way to travel short distances in the city. Guided taxi tours of the city are also available and are an unusual way to travel around the main landmarks.