Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk

The Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk is the best free thing to do in the city and the easiest way to get your bearings. Running nearly four kilometres from the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 to Casino Nova Scotia, it follows the working harbour past wooden wharves, converted warehouses, the Halifax Seaport, the Halifax-Dartmouth ferry terminal, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and a string of restaurants and shops. Public art, benches and views of Georges Island and Dartmouth across the water punctuate the walk, and tall ships and naval vessels often berth along the piers. Tourism Nova Scotia describes the waterfront as open year-round, with the warm months of June to September the busiest and the shoulder months of September and October quieter. In November the picture is different: the air is cold and the light is low, but the walk is calm, the harbour views are dramatic, and the crowds are gone. Many summer-only operators, including harbour cruises and seasonal patios, have finished for the year, so treat the boardwalk as a walk with warm stops rather than an outdoor party. Wrap up warmly, start at Pier 21 and let the museums and cafes set your pace.

Reading the route: start at the south end near Pier 21 and the Seaport Farmers Market, then walk north along the water. You pass the cruise terminal, the Seaport area and the Maritime Museum, then reach the heart of the waterfront around Historic Properties, a cluster of old stone warehouses with shops and restaurants. The Halifax-Dartmouth ferry leaves from the terminal on the way, and a short crossing gives a view back at the skyline. At the northern end the boardwalk approaches the casino and the old industrial piers. The whole length can be walked in an hour or so without stops, but it is a day of museums, food and photographs if you let it be.

In November: bring warm layers, a windproof coat and gloves, as the wind off the water can be sharp, and watch for ice on the wooden boards after a freeze. Seasonal tours, summer sailing trips and some outdoor kiosks will be closed, so check any specific operator before you plan around it. Indoor stops along the route, such as the museums, the market on weekends, cafes and restaurants, make the walk work in cold weather. The harbour at dusk is atmospheric, with lit ships and the city lights, and it is easy to walk back or catch a bus.

Who it suits: everyone. It is free, flat, mostly accessible and near most downtown hotels. Combine it with a food tour for waterfront tastings, a museum visit for wet-weather insurance, and the climb to Citadel Hill for the view down onto the water.