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Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality
Halifax
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Halifax Public Gardens
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Halifax Public Gardens

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See all things to do
Halifax Public Gardens
4.5
#3 of 127 things to do in Halifax
Gardens
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:30 PM
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About
Welcome to Halifax’s greatest natural and national treasure and most visited site in Halifax, Nova Scotia– a timeless oasis in an ever changing world. A beautiful Victorian-inspired garden open to the public since 1867. 16 acres in the Victorian Gardenesque style; Scroll beds shaped in an E for the reigning monarch, Serpentine beds, raised carpet beds and a profusion of colour through the artistry of our Gardeners. The Victorian Gardens were all about symmetry and there is grand harmony throughout. The majestic trees, 240 varieties, nurture and shelter and many are original. The Victorians were all about education and introduced many new species to Nova Scotia. Check our What's Blooming on our website to discover the highlights of each month. Horticultural Hall, circa 1837, the original meeting place of the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society houses a coffee shop Due to COVID-19, events are limited, our Information Desk and daily tours are not operating. Please Social Distance.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: South End
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Attractions
147 within 10 kms
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1,125
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7
0.2 kmReligious Sites
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3,839
0.4 kmMilitary Museums • Historic Sites
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63
0.4 kmParks
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1,224
0.8 kmBreweries
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296
0.6 kmCemeteries
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225
0.6 kmArchitectural Buildings • Religious Sites
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348
0.8 kmCultural Events
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See what travellers are saying
  • Adetoyese O
    Edmonton, Canada579 contributions
    Beautiful Garden
    Beautiful public gardens. It was about to close when we got there, we uickly scan through around and we still looked around it the gardens from outside, and the beauty can be seen. There is a Public WiFi at the gardens and bus stop just in front of the garden.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled on business
    Written March 18, 2023
  • fsalwach
    Hamilton, Canada40 contributions
    Peaceful
    Walking distance near where I was staying. Beautifully laid out and impressive to find in a city. Nice variety of plants and the pathways were easily managed. At the far end there was a place to get refreshments, washrooms and learn more about this garden.
    Visited June 2023
    Written July 3, 2023
  • Stirling B
    Ottawa, Canada619 contributions
    Beautiful Gardens
    The Halifax Public Gardens are a beautiful example of Victorian style Gardens close to The Citadel In Halifax. The entrance is a beautiful & imposing iron gate and once inside you are transported to many beautiful displays of flowers and everything is very well maintained. Walking the grounds you can see why this attraction is such a popular one in Halifax.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 19, 2023
  • Rebecca L
    Atlanta, Georgia1,476 contributions
    Tranquil place to walk around
    This is a tranquil place to walk around within blocks of the waterfront area. I think they were swapping out the plants when we visited, but the gardens offer places for quiet reflection. I wouldn't say this is a must-do activity in Halifax, but if you're at the waterfront area or Citadel and have extra time, it's worth walking to it.
    Visited June 2023
    Written August 4, 2023
  • coyfanatic
    Lansing, Michigan34 contributions
    Beautiful
    We visited as a family, 6 adults and 3 children on a Saturday in July. Beautiful place to walk around. Everything is kept up nicely and well manicured. A good mix of old trees as well. There were some areas where I'd recommend adding some more flowers but still beautiful to see.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written August 5, 2023
  • Dream65294211494
    5 contributions
    Hidden gem in downtown Halifax
    This hidden gem in downtown Halifax provides a calm oasis in the city. We visited on an overcast, drizzly day and the colours were vibrant. The gardens are clearly well laid out and meticulously maintained. There are focused areas (the dahlia gardens, the water features, etc.) and numerous paths to wander and explore.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written August 23, 2023
  • Davigeta
    Saint Louis, Missouri1,081 contributions
    Quiet beauty
    This is a centrally located, peaceful and beautiful oasis in Halifax. The gardens are beautiful and there is a great deal of organization and symmetry to the displays. There is a small cafe on site, and we had a Nanaimo bar there (decent but not amazing).
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written September 16, 2023
  • TravelerUK1
    43 contributions
    Nice place to spend a couple hours
    I walked around the gardens later in the afternoon after arriving in Halifax. There were still many flowers in bloom for the third week in September. I spent at least an hour walking around. There are other things there such as fountains, statues, ponds, and ducks. I also had a sandwich in the cafe, which was good. The cafe also sells coffee, pastries, and ice cream. There is patio seating to eat outside. There are also public restrooms. Overall, its well worth a visit.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written October 1, 2023
  • John
    Chambersburg, Pennsylvania6 contributions
    A Must-See Attraction In Halifax, NS
    We had a brief visit during our walking tour of Halifax, NS and then returned later in the day for a more thorough walk through the park. This is one of the finest gardens we have ever visited, especially considering it is a public garden and not a private botanical garden. We highly recommend visiting it while in Halifax, NS to enjoy the beauty of God's natural creation.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 4, 2023
  • KarenM1_10
    1,084 contributions
    Lovely area
    We walked around this area when we arrived on our cruise ship. The gardens are lovely and worth a visit. There are many different varieties of flowers and there are some areas where they provide the names. We saw many of the locals walking through this area with their children.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 5, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,109 reviews
Excellent
2,886
Very good
1,066
Average
141
Poor
11
Terrible
5
TennisStar602
New Jersey611 contributions
I went to the Public Gardens on a Sunday in November and it was still busy and eventful.
Nov. 2023 • Solo
The Halifax Public Gardens were full of a variety of flowering plants, bushes, and trees. Obviously, great work was done to keep this garden looking fresh. Even in November, these plants were still relatively colorful. There were also plenty of benches, tables, and chairs in this space. I liked the bridges over the stream, and I enjoyed the many statues throughout the park. There was a gazebo in the center of the park, and there was also a very big lake. It was free admission to enter this space. There was parallel parking on the nearby streets.
Written November 22, 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.
GrandTour452506
192 contributions
Very Beautiful gardens
Oct. 2023 • Family
We chose this as one of our Hop On Hop Off stops. These were so every beautiful gardens. The variety of trees and flowers was really amazing. This was all kept up well. We were only able to walk around for about 45 minutes but could have easily spent a few hours to see everything here. We were here on a cruise and would definitely say that you should at least get transportation TO the gardens. Walking back (we did) to the cruise terminal is much easier as it is downhill.
Written October 30, 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.
roaming_kiwi58
Christchurch, New Zealand2,826 contributions
Magnificent gardens, highlight of the city.
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Beautiful gardens! The highlight of Halifax. We walked up here from where our cruise ship docked. It was a Sunday, and there was not much open, but the gardens were busy. They were very colourful and well maintained. A must do if wandering Halifax.
Written October 29, 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.
Jamie H-D
Poole, UK687 contributions
Serene
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Beautiful gardens in the centre of town offering some peace and tranquility, on the map it doesn’t look very large but it’s a rather big garden with a fountain, pond and gazebo… it’s a wonderful place to be on a sunny afternoon escaping the hustle and bustle of town watching the bees pollinate the beautiful flowers and hearing the ducks quack as the swim paddle their way across the pond… very serene.
Written October 6, 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.
KarenM1_10
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan1,084 contributions
Lovely area
Aug. 2023 • Couples
We walked around this area when we arrived on our cruise ship. The gardens are lovely and worth a visit. There are many different varieties of flowers and there are some areas where they provide the names. We saw many of the locals walking through this area with their children.
Written October 5, 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.
John
Chambersburg, PA6 contributions
A Must-See Attraction In Halifax, NS
Sep. 2023 • Couples
We had a brief visit during our walking tour of Halifax, NS and then returned later in the day for a more thorough walk through the park. This is one of the finest gardens we have ever visited, especially considering it is a public garden and not a private botanical garden. We highly recommend visiting it while in Halifax, NS to enjoy the beauty of God's natural creation.
Written October 4, 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.
MarinaFollowsTheSun
Berlin, Germany1,883 contributions
Great park
Aug. 2023 • Couples
Wonderful park with lots of different flowers and other plants. Very well maintained and with some nice, clean seating areas.
Written October 3, 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.
TravelerUK1
PA43 contributions
Nice place to spend a couple hours
Sep. 2023 • Solo
I walked around the gardens later in the afternoon after arriving in Halifax. There were still many flowers in bloom for the third week in September. I spent at least an hour walking around. There are other things there such as fountains, statues, ponds, and ducks. I also had a sandwich in the cafe, which was good. The cafe also sells coffee, pastries, and ice cream. There is patio seating to eat outside. There are also public restrooms. Overall, its well worth a visit.
Written October 1, 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.
Davigeta
Saint Louis, MO1,081 contributions
Quiet beauty
Aug. 2023 • Couples
This is a centrally located, peaceful and beautiful oasis in Halifax. The gardens are beautiful and there is a great deal of organization and symmetry to the displays. There is a small cafe on site, and we had a Nanaimo bar there (decent but not amazing).
Written September 16, 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.
Joseph G
Montreal, Canada5,004 contributions
An oasis in the city center
Aug. 2023 • Solo
In the Spring Garden Road shopping area, a beautiful and peaceful Victorian gardens well maintained and in the center of the city. Worth spending at lead an hour walking around admiring the vegetation of trees, plants and flower arrangements as well as the water formations.
Written September 10, 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.
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HALIFAX PUBLIC GARDENS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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