Halifax: Titanic & Explosion History Half-Day Tour
Two Tragedies, One City: What Halifax's Cemeteries Tell
You get four to five hours moving through Halifax's two defining tragedies: 121 Titanic graves at Fairview Lawn, the 1917 explosion sites and memorials, downtown landmarks like the Citadel and St. Paul's Church, and a stop at Fisherman's Cove. The van holds up to ten people, includes water and WiFi, and pickup is arranged to your location before departure.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Halifax historical sites and landmarks
- Learn about Pier 21 Gateway to Canada
- Pass by Halifax Farmers Market history
- View Armando Barbon family masterpiece
- Hear about Sir Samuel Cunard
- See longest Downtown Boardwalk
- Pass by Georges Island history
- Discover Alexander Keith’s Brewery story
- View HMCS Sackville Naval Memorial
- Pass by Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
- Hear about Maud Lewis folk artist
- See Historic Properties waterfront warehouses
- Learn history of Saint George's Round Church
- Pass by St. Paul's Anglican Church relics
- View Halifax City Hall architecture
- See Province House legislative building
- Pass by Government House residence
- Visit Old Burying Ground historic cemetery
- Pass by Saint Mary's Cathedral Basilica
- See Halifax Court House building
- View unique modern building design
- Pass by Fort Massey Cemetery
- Pass by Holy Cross Cemetery and chapel
- Pass by All Saints Cathedral Titanic site
- Visit Camp Hill Cemetery notable graves
- Stroll Halifax Public Gardens
- Experience firing of Noon Gun at Citadel
- See Old Town Clock history
- Pass by Point Pleasant Park trails
- Pass by Dalhousie University history
- See anchor shaft from SS Mont Blanc
- Pass by University of King's College
- Visit Dingle Tower and park history
- View Forgotten Titanic Cemetery markers
- Visit Fairview Lawn Cemetery Titanic graves
- See Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower
- Pass by Hydrostone reconstruction area
- View cannon from Halifax Explosion
- Stop for fresh Nova Scotia seafood lunch
- Pass by Lake Banook canoe clubs
- Explore Fisherman’s Cove fishing village
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 passing by
- Alexander Keith's Brewery passing by
- Maritime Museum of the Atlantic passing by
- St. Paul's Anglican Church passing by
- Halifax City Hall passing by
- Province House passing by
- Government House passing by
- Halifax Public Gardens 30m
- Halifax Citadel 15m
- Old Town Clock 15m
- Point Pleasant Park passing by
- Fairview Lawn Cemetery 20m
What’s included
- Your tour includes hotel or accommodation pickup, bottled water, and WiFi on board the air-conditioned van.
- You'll visit Fairview Lawn Cemetery (121 Titanic victims), Mount Olivet Cemetery (19 Titanic victims), the Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower, St.
- Paul's Anglican Church, the Halifax Citadel with the Noon Gun firing, the Old Town Clock, Fisherman's Cove, and other downtown landmarks.
- Fresh Nova Scotia seafood lunch at Fisherman's Cove is available for an additional cost if you wish.
- The tour operates with groups of four to ten people in a Ford Transit van equipped with a microphone system and tablet for viewing guest photos and videos.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Halifax Titanic Historical Tours
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
"So you want to know where they buried the Titanic victims?" That's how most people start asking about Halifax. The answer takes you to Fairview Lawn Cemetery, where 121 of the ship's passengers and crew rest under simple granite stones, many marked only with numbers because no one knew their names. This half-day tour moves through Halifax's two defining disasters (the 1912 Titanic sinking and the 1917 Halifax Explosion) stopping at the cemeteries, memorials, and downtown sites that shaped the city's identity. You'll see where 1,900 to 2,000 people died in the explosion alone, the largest man-made blast until the atom bomb, and hear the specific stories: J Dawson, Sidney Leslie Goodwin, the "miracle child" of the explosion called Ashpan Annie.
The tour runs about four to five hours in a Ford Transit van, groups capped at ten people, which means you're not crammed in with thirty others. Your guide walks you through the timeline: starting at Pier 21, the gateway to Canada where immigrants arrived, then moving to the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market (operating since 1750, the longest continuously running market in North America), and into the downtown core. You'll stand at the Halifax Citadel at noon if timing works, to watch the firing of the Noon Gun, a tradition since 1856, and see the Changing of the Guards. The Old Town Clock, built in 1800 because Prince Edward wanted to stop soldiers from being late, sits on Citadel Hill. St. Paul's Anglican Church, founded in 1749 and the first Anglican cathedral built outside England, still has a "Ghost Window" and a piece of wood embedded in its interior wall: both relics of the 1917 explosion.
The explosion sites are the emotional core. You'll visit the Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower on Fort Needham, which overlooks the devastated area, and learn how the munitions ship SS Mont Blanc detonated in the harbor. A 1,140-pound anchor shaft from the Mont Blanc flew 2.3 miles. A cannon was thrown nearly 3 miles to Albro Lake in Dartmouth. The Hydrostone district, rebuilt after the blast with fireproof concrete blocks to prevent another inferno, still stands as a monument to reconstruction. Mount Olivet Cemetery holds 19 Roman Catholic Titanic victims. The tour stops there to tell the story of Margaret Rice and Vincent Coleman, the hero who stayed at his telegraph post to warn incoming trains, sacrificing his life.
The van includes WiFi, bottled water, and air conditioning. Pickup is arranged based on where you're staying (hotel or other location, just put "N/A" for cruise or hotel if neither applies). Seating is first-come, first-choice, so arriving on time matters if you want a window seat. The tour wraps with a stop at Fisherman's Cove, a restored 200-year-old working fishing village in Dartmouth with fresh Nova Scotia seafood available for lunch if you want it. The whole experience is built around small groups and a guide who knows the stories, not a bus full of strangers and a microphone.
Is this one for you?This tour works for anyone who wants to understand Halifax's two defining tragedies (the Titanic and the 1917 explosion) without arranging transport or navigating between cemeteries and memorials on your own. Small groups and a knowledgeable guide mean you get the stories behind the names, not just the dates.
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Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How many Titanic victims are buried in Halifax?
121 Titanic victims are interred at Fairview Lawn Cemetery. An additional 19 Roman Catholic victims are buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
What time does the Noon Gun fire at the Halifax Citadel?
The Noon Gun fires at noon sharp, a Halifax tradition since 1856. The tour includes the Changing of the Guards if timing aligns.
How long is the tour?
The tour runs approximately four to five hours.
What's included in the tour?
The tour includes hotel or location pickup, bottled water, WiFi on board, and visits to cemeteries, memorials, and downtown Halifax landmarks. Lunch at Fisherman's Cove is optional.
What's the group size?
Groups are a minimum of four people and a maximum of ten people per van.
Is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Some stops involve walking through cemeteries and outdoor sites, but the pace is self-guided at each location.
Can I choose where I sit in the van?
Seating is first-confirmed, first-choice. Arriving on time gives you the best selection.
What vehicle is used?
A Ford Transit 350 XLT High Roof 15-passenger van with air conditioning, a microphone system, and a large tablet to view photos and videos.
Are service animals allowed?
Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.
What if I'm arriving by cruise ship?
The tour operates independently of cruise schedules. When booking, put "N/A" in the cruise-related fields if you're not on a ship.
Halifax: Titanic & Explosion History Half-Day Tour
6h · EN
from CA$ 175 per person
≈ US$ 127 in your currency
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