Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
4.5
Military MuseumsHistoric SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksHistory Museums
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Experience an exciting part of Canada's history by visiting this 19th-century fort with a sweeping view of downtown Halifax. Between May and October, the Citadel is brought to life by two historic regiments of the British Army - the pageantry of the 78th Highlanders and the precision of the Royal Artillery thrill visitors daily with live re-enactments. The skirl of the bagpipes mixes with the crack of a rifle and the assembly of recruits for the next foot drill. There's no shortage of authentic experiences to view and participate in! Kids will love the Xplorers Program - an activity book just for them. When the sun sets, it's time to experience the other side of the Citadel - join the Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour and experience the dark and errie lore from the early 1800's. Tours start mid-July and run select Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8:30pm until the end of October. Between Nov. to April, all exhibits and rooms are closed but noon gun fires daily.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Jamie H-D
    Poole, United Kingdom1,489 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very interesting.
    My husband and I came in ‘shoulder season’ so there wasn’t a full time table of re-enactments or activities, but that was ok. Lots to see and do as you explore the timeline for the French and British rule in the area, you can easily spend half a day or more here. Very friendly volunteers and staff that are happy to answer any questions you may have. It would have been good to have some sort of sign posts / direction to let you know a recommendation on where to walk round and in what direction so you make sure you see everything. If you have a Parks Canada Pass then it’s free entry.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 5, 2023
  • roaming_kiwi58
    Christchurch, New Zealand2,818 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting structure and worth a visit,
    We are not really into museums, but decided it was worthwhile to visit the Citadel in Halifax. It was pleasant to wander around the walls and watch the changing of the guard. There are also a lot of museum type displays, which we perused only briefly. If you are into military history then there would be a lot to interest you. Worth a visit and we enjoyed our time here. We walked to the citadel from the wharf where our cruise ship was docked.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 28, 2023
  • thedz Bear
    Halifax, Canada281 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful!
    Fascinating!! We just arrived in Nova Scotia and in less than a week, we visited the place and it was a good experience. For us newcomers, the place showcases it’s beautiful heritage and inspiring story. This is a must go place once you’re visiting Nova Scotia.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written November 6, 2023
  • TennisStar602
    New Jersey712 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I went into the Halifax Citadel in November, and while it was free, but it was largely closed.
    The Halifax Citadel was free to enter in the middle of November when I visited. The staff was extremely friendly and informative. It was not very crowded when I appeared. Most of the indoor room attractions were closed, but guests were free to walk around the grounds inside and outside of the fort. There were many cannons and other such structures throughout the fort. There were also great views of Halifax and Dartmouth. There was a firing of the cannon at noon, but I was not present for this event. I parked directly outside of this attraction on the street.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written November 22, 2023
  • Joanne
    Lake Mary, Florida2,132 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely views
    Magnificent views of the city and interesting exhibits. Some of the rooms were open but it was early in the season, so not everything. The museum was great with uniforms and guns from the various wars. I wish we had more time than 45 minutes, you probably need about 2 hours. The guards are really friendly and willing to answer questions. It does get windy at the top of the hill, so dress warmly.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written April 29, 2024
  • Alex H
    Huddersfield, United Kingdom445 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Truly fascinating exhibit full of military history.
    The volunteer guides add so much to this wonderful spectacle. They are passionate, knowledgeable and great sports to dress up in period costumes and enact historical practices. They carry this off with authenticity without any hint of “cheese” or appealing only to children. There are so many aspects of this tour that add value. The free guided tour is an absolute must as the knowledge shared brings this place to life. The guides are fabulous. The flag system is fascinating, the rifle demo very interesting, and try to make your tour include the midday gun (tour at 11:05!). Also don’t miss a visit to the school room which is brilliant. The temporary DDay exhibit is worth taking in as is the museum of the army which provides a Canadian insight especially to the first and second world wars as well as other conflict areas where Canadians have seen service. A really great day out. Don’t miss it.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 9, 2024
  • GoFools
    Davie, Florida22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Halifax Citadel
    Thiis is worth the time it takes to take a guided tour and then explore on your own. All guides are in appropriate period dress. You will learn the history of the fortification as well as the history of the 78th Scottish division. This is not a cookie cutter look at life in the late 19th century. We were quite impresses with the in depth knowledge every docent possessed. Ask a question, you get an answer.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 9, 2024
  • fauxpaw2
    Lethbridge, Canada149 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    History of Halifax and area brought to life
    We had some time before our flight to Alberta, so we used our Discovery pass to see the Citadel. Nice tour with guide. While the pass got us in for free, parking was $8.50. We watch the shooting of a enfield rifle, used in the past at the citadel. They fire a cannon once a day. Very educational and worth seeing.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 18, 2024
  • Trail725483
    10 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great views of the city
    Interesting place to stroll around and visit. Lots of historical displays. The costumed staff were all really informative and friendly. Although my kids aged 5-12 found some of the displays a little long to explore they really enjoyed the walk around the top of the first with great views of the city.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written June 26, 2024
  • Lee-Ann L
    Orangeville, Canada25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see for the history buffs but even those who aren’t will find the space pretty cool
    Definitely a place for those interested in history but this Mama who isn’t enjoyed the architecture of the fort. There are many exhibits and you could spend easily 6 hours looking through everything in detail. You can walk in or drive and park. The walk in is uphill and could be difficult for some. It did not appear there was a lot of parking available. There are public bathrooms that were clean and well maintained. We did enjoy some lunch at the snack shop and it was good.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written July 6, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,868 reviews
Excellent
2,246
Very good
1,337
Average
242
Poor
29
Terrible
14

MrsMac
Halifax, Canada66 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Family
We moved here from Ontario last year and had been wanting to do this ghost tour since.
We finally did it the other night and it was a tad disappointing!!

Our guide was dressed as a sergeants wife and let us know. It would have been nice to have the guide act as if she was in character. Perhaps even have other actors along the walk interact with the crowd and tell each of their stories or the ghosts story.

It was story telling of that of a friend ...wish it had been more interactive or better story telling.
Was not worth the money! However would visit during the day it is a beautiful place.
Written October 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SoloT
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Great experience walking up to the citadel and since our Air BnB was so close we walked around the perimeter after hours one day and then made sure we came back during daytime to catch the cannon fire at noon. Large inner fortress with friendly staff in period piece costumes, historical information posted everywhere and it was worth learning more about the history of Halifax. Steep getting there but once you are in , its flat.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tracey F
Charlottetown, Canada26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Friends
Depending on what side of history your family falls on, the historical Citadel Hill in Halifax (K’jipuktuk) Nova Scotia, is important to the Mi’kmaq, Acadian/French and especially peoples of British descent. After Le Grande Derangement, the Indigenous (L’nu) peoples of the Wabanaki, Confederacy (partially made up of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, sections of Ontario, Quebec, and Maine ) entered into Peace and Friendship Treaties with the representatives of the English Crown. Even though the M’ikmaq had a direct link to the area in and around Halifax, the British settlers chose the land in and around modern day Halifax as their new home.

Halifax now encompasses a geographical area that was never surrendered by the M’ikmaq people but now is now known as the capital
city of the province of Nova Scotia.

Halifax is a true Capitol City, with many points of interest, including Citadel Hill, a National Historic Site. The Public Gardens is comparable to Central Park in New York City if you factor in population.

Halifax continues to grow, even after many setbacks including the Halifax Explosion.
Written October 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anthony
New York City, NY1,007 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
This is an old fort built on a hill overlooking the city. Other than the fort itself, there are exhibits covering its construction, and a variety of war artifacts and displays. The highlight was the firing of a cannon which takes place every day at noon (except Christmas). While there is a gift shop and restrooms in the fort, the snack shop is closed. Wear comfortable shoes as the pavement is primarily gravel and uneven. From the walls of the Citadel, you can get a glimpse of the city and the harbor. However, I found it annoying that tall weeds were blocking the view in several spots.

We were in town from a cruise ship. Unfortunately, the taxis at the port refused to take us here from the dock claiming it was too close (walkable but takes 30 minutes and climbing uphill). We instead grabbed an Uber which got us here for less than $10 without any fuss.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

browncondo2102
Kitchener, Canada1,783 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
It is no wonder that no one wanted to try to attack Halifax by harbour. They wouldn't have stood a chance from the fortification here. You can see everything up and down the harbour and the approaches to the city. They still fo reenactments here and every day a noon they do a ceremony where they shoot off the cannon.
Written May 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gleno51
Lincoln, TX153 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
Great way to learn about Nova Scotia’s military history. We really liked the fact that everyone dressed “in-period.” I very much recommend taking one of the free guided tours, led by local university students who are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. You will miss a lot by not taking the tour. Ours started at 11am and ended at noon with the firing of the cannon!!
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mulan12
Edmonton, Canada113 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Excellent way to spend 2 hours in a nice sunny afternoon. The history of the Citadel national historic site is fascinating; it is well organized. Excellent staff who dress up for the time period. War museum was also fascinating. Inside, just take your time, go to each open section and listen to the videos. Did not go for the tour. You can also see the cannon being fired at 1200 hrs each day but we missed that. But overall, if you like history and want to see a real fort, this is a good place to go. Pricing is reasonable also ($12 adult; $10 seniors)
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Louden77
Ottawa, Canada1,015 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
One of the largest and best preserved forts in North America. Built to protect the port of Halifax it sits impressively on a hill overlooking the city. Several areas offer a chance to see how the troops lived 200 years ago. There are staff in period costumes and uniforms to explain daily life. Firing of the noon canon is fun to watch.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stirling B
Ottawa, Canada764 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
The Halifax Citadel was constructed to protect Halifax from an attack by sea. Sitting high above the Harbour it offers sweeping views and once you have visited you can understand why it was selected as the place to put it. After a long walk up the hill you enter the gate and one inside you are greeted by a huge central square. There are many areas to view and can see the history in a museum and walk across the top of the Citadel where the cannons are. There is also a small gift shop.
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EmsdaleEd
Emsdale, Canada811 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Went here one day while visiting Halifax. I was amazed by the amount of artifacts and exhibits to see and learn from. There is so much history inside this building thats its mind boggling. Everyday they shoot off a cannon, don't remember what time so be sure to check prior to arrival. 2thumbs up
Written April 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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