Explore the Halifax Citadel’s ramparts, rooms, and tunnels and learn about the fort’s history with your own private guide!

Looking for something to do this March Break? Take a tour of the iconic Halifax Citadel with a private guide just for you and a small group of friends or family! Learn how the fort was designed and built, see where soldiers and their families lived, and discover how the Citadel would have protected Halifax during an attack.

Experience Details

Tours run for between 45-60 minutes (11:00 am tours also include a viewing of the Halifax Citadel’s noon gun firing!).

Tour routes include both outdoor and indoor areas of the fort, including some not generally accessible to visitors during the winter season (please note that some outdoor locations are weather and snow/ice dependent).

Availability

A special offer just for March Break! Tours are available from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20, at 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm each day.

Please note that these tours are only available to families or small groups of friends. Commercial or organized groups can contact us at bookings@halifaxcitadel.ca to inquire about booking a private tour.

Location

Your guide will meet you at the front gate of the Halifax Citadel, just above the Town Clock. The fort is accessible on foot via Sackville Street or Brunswick Street, and by car from Sackville Street or Rainnie Drive (free parking is available in the pull-offs along the perimeter road and the Citadel’s parking ditch).

Capacity

Each tour is limited to a maximum capacity of 12 guests.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations are accepted up to 5:00 pm on the day before the tour (please note that Eventbrite’s fees are not refundable). Guests will be notified as soon as possible if a tour is cancelled due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, and will receive a full refund (including Eventbrite’s fees).

Good to Know

• The Citadel is often windy and cold in the spring, so warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear are highly recommended! Guests should expect a variety of ground conditions, including gravel, rough cobblestones, snow, ice, and mud.
• Guests are welcome to explore the grounds of the Halifax Citadel following their tour until the site closes at 5:00 pm. However, please be aware that interior exhibits are only accessible when with your guide.
• An accessible washroom is available to guests before, during, and after their tours.
• By default, our March Break family tours are in English. If you would prefer to have your tour in French, please reach out to us at bookings@halifaxcitadel.ca at least one full week in advance.

Accessibility Information

Start Location

• Tours begin near the front entrance kiosk – very close to the accessible parking spots (facing the Town Clock and Brunswick Street)

Program Location & Seating

• Groups visit a variety of indoor and outdoor locations during the tour
• Exact routes vary by guide and tour routes can be customized by guides upon request (based on groups’ interests and abilities)
• Most tours involve walking approximately 500 m to 750 m in total, with up to 200 m between stops
• Ground surfaces include gravel, cobblestones and grass; surfaces may be wet, muddy or snow/ice covered
• Routes may include narrow doorways, dark passages and steep stairs
• Some historically-accurate seating is available in some rooms, including benches, chairs without armrests, and soldiers’ beds

Adaptive Equipment

• If you wish to borrow a wheelchair or rollator walker (walker with wheels and a seat), please reach out to us at bookings@halifaxcitadel.ca before the day of your tour

Sound & Sensory Considerations

• Some spaces are dark or poorly lit and many spaces are small, with short and narrow doorways and passageways
• Guides speak at a volume appropriate for the size of the group
• 11:00 am tours include the noon gun firing, which produces a loud, sudden noise and smoke with a distinct sulfur-like smell

Less Busy Times & Areas

• March Break is less busy than the summer, with approximately 200 visitors per day
• The site is usually busiest from 10 am to 2 pm
• Private tours can be requested year-round (daytime or weekday evenings); for more information or to book a private tour, please reach out to us at bookings@halifaxcitadel.ca