Is Halifax Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Halifax is the capital city of Nova Scotia and the largest city in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada.

Today, Halifax is a busy Atlantic seaport and the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.

Halifax is a small city with fresh sea air and calm but exciting nightlife.

There a lot of food bars and craft breweries, where you can experience gastro-tourism.

There are also many interesting places to visit: Waterfront, Harbor Hopper, Canoe the Northwest Arm, and so on.

Along with festivals that attract tourists – Busker Festival and Nova Scotia International Air Show.

Warnings & Dangers in Halifax

OVERALL RISK: LOW

The city is quite calm and safe. There may be problems with drug dealers, but usually, they do not concern tourists. Certain areas should be avoided. Beware of black ice when driving through the streets.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

In the city there are many taxi services to choose from, all have a taximeter. The primary forms of public transportation are standard transit buses and a new bus-rapid transit system. Public transportation is safe and convenient. Use common sense if you rent and drive in vehicles.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The risk of pickpocketing is low, but it can happen in dangerous areas of the city or if you are caught drunk. Be careful in crowded bars and transports. You can become a victim of pickpocketer only if you don’t keep an eye in your pockets as usual.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

The region, severe and unpredictable weather such as flooding, blizzards, and hurricanes, can occur. Unusually cold winter can cause inconvenience to travelers. Take care of warm clothes so as don't get too cold.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Grave armed robberies or kidnappings do not happen in Halifax. However, avoid dangerous areas and have common sense. Do not mess with people who offer you a drink, if you don’t know how to drink, you may be the victim of a robbery in the end.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

Canada's current terrorism level is medium, meaning that a violent act of terrorism could occur, and has been at this level since October 2014. So, in Halifax, this risk also remains. Avoid political demonstrations and explore the news before the visit.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Scam rarely happens. If you use common sense, you are unlikely to encounter fraud here. Sometimes text messages are possible from people pretending to be a bank asking them to transfer their data.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Traveling women are safe in Halifax. Be cautioned in public transport at night, and you'll be ok. In bars and nightclubs, alone women are likely to attract a lot of attention, but if you don't want company, men will respect your "No."

So... How Safe Is Halifax Really?

Index of crime in Halifax is moderate and usually drug-related, and do not concern to the travelers.

There exist a group of people who harass and robbing people on the streets, but they rarely assault tourists.

However, in some areas of Halifax, there is an imminent danger, and travelers should avoid it. Be especially careful at night in some regions of Gottingen Street and Uniacke Square.

It is strictly not recommended getting involved with drunk people and participate in drunken fights.

Certain areas in North Dartmouth, Spryfield, and Fairview are known for their crime problems but are generally safe during the day.

There are many pedestrian crossings in the city, and usually, drivers always let pedestrians pass.

However, in order not to lose vigilance, you need to be alert because of suddenly appearing zebra crossings that the driver may not react to.

Another danger in the city may be imperceptible ice in the cold season.

Rapidly changing weather means that black ice abounds in winter, and it’s particularly nasty when combined with the city’s hilly topography.

So you should watch your steps and drive carefully.

Explore traffic and weather conditions in advance.

With that said, you shouldn’t have too many problems in most areas of the city.

How Does Halifax Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

A foreign national wishing to enter Canada must obtain a temporary resident visa from one of the Canadian diplomatic missions. A visa to enter Canada for tourists that stay less than 180 days is not obligatory for certain nationalities, and that can be checked online. A valid passport is a must.

Currency

The official currency in Canada is the Canadian dollar (It is often called "loonie"). The Canadian dollar has a symbol: $ and code: CAD. It is divided into 100 cents. The Canadian dollar is popular with central banks because of Canada's relative economic soundness, the Canadian government's strong sovereign position.

Weather

The best times to visit Halifax for ideal weather are from June to October. Temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year.

Airports

Halifax has Stanfield International Airport - is a Canadian airport in Goffs, Nova Scotia, located 36 km from the city. It handles international and domestic flights. Halifax Stanfield is the 8th busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic.

Travel Insurance

The travel insurance policy is a must when visiting a foreign country. Make sure you got it before starting your journey, the customs officer may ask for it.

Halifax Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Canada - Safety by City