Halifax lands on National Geographic's 25 best travel destinations for 2027
The only Canadian city on the list is drawing attention for a new 70,000-square-foot Indigenous cultural centre opening next year.
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Halifax is the only Canadian city to land on National Geographic's Best Places in the World to Travel list for 2027, marking the publication's 15th year of annual rankings.
The magazine's editors and travel experts selected 25 destinations globally. While Halifax is known for its 3.8-kilometre downtown boardwalk along the waterfront, its historic Citadel, and the iconic Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, National Geographic is specifically highlighting the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, a 70,000-square-foot space set to open in 2027.
The centre will primarily serve Indigenous communities with programs focused on healthcare and education. Visitors will be able to browse locally made beadwork and baskets at an artisan market, share bannock and tea with Elders, and gather around a sacred outdoor fire for spiritual healing. The Mi'kmaw people's connection to the region stretches back more than 10,000 years.
According to Halifax's tourism board, the coastal city welcomes approximately two million visitors from outside the province annually. Other destinations named on the 2027 list include Niigata, Japan; Salvador, Brazil; Tricity, Poland; and Luxor, Egypt.
By the numbers
Why is Halifax on National Geographic's 25 best travel destinations for 2027?
National Geographic is highlighting the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, a 70,000-square-foot Indigenous cultural space opening in Halifax in 2027 that will offer programs focused on healthcare and education, an artisan market, and opportunities to gather with Elders.
How many visitors does Halifax receive annually from outside the province?
Halifax welcomes approximately two million visitors from outside the province each year, according to the city's tourism board.
