Halifax is the largest city in the Maritimes and the capital of Nova Scotia. It’s a twin city, actually, connected by a bridge with the smaller Dartmouth located on the east side of the Halifax Harbour. Downtown Halifax is the heart of the region, however, and the widest selection of apartments for rent is found in this area. Students attending Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University will find the south side of the downtown core more convenient, but working people will likely prefer the downtown core of the north and northwest sides of the downtown. Everything is within walking distance in downtown Halifax: grocery stores, offices, shopping, fitness clubs, several large pubic parks, and the Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre. Renters who need to be at the centre of everything should focus their search for rental apartments in Halifax’s downtown.
Halifax has a population of roughly 400,000 people and is the second largest coastal city after Vancouver. The city is the capital of Nova Scotia but is also the largest part of the Halifax Regional Municipality, an amalgamated regional area that contains many smaller towns and hamlets, each with its own unique character and appeal. Halifax is the cultural and social focal point of the Maritimes and is the place where the “action” is. The city’s core is located on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, which means urban development has been dense and growth has been upwards. Major employers are the Canadian military (DND), which operates a large naval base in Halifax Harbour and air force base on the eastern shore, the Port of Halifax, which is positioning itself as a major transportation nexus, and the three universities and five colleges located in the city. The city is connected to Dartmouth by bridge, but drivers with time on their hands can take the lakeshore road that runs all the way around the Halifax Harbour and connects the city of Halifax with mainland Halifax, Bedford and Dartmouth. The city’s international airport is modern and located just outside the city. Renters on a budget can use the city’s public transit system, which includes buses and ferries.
