15 Things to See and Activities to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
St John’s is the capital city of the Newfoundland and Labrador province of Canada. The city is located on the eastern tip of the island. Some of the most fun things to do in St John’s, Newfoundland are situated along the city’s coast. It is popular for its quaint vibes, coastal attractions, maritime history, wildlife, and nature trails.
It is believed that Italian explorer John Cabot landed here on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in 1497. The city is hence named after St. John. You will see this story perpetrated throughout St John’s sightseeing. But, it was a fishing village long before Cabot’s arrival. It is also believed to have been established by a 16th-century Spanish fisherman who named it San Juan Pasajes. There are several St John’s tourist attractions where you can learn about the history of the city and various legends associated with it.
The city’s history is also associated with major events such as the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. Some of the best places to visit in St John’s, Newfoundland are the various lighthouses and batteries that defended the island in different wars. Some of these have been converted into a museum and historical experiences that you can enjoy during St John’s travel.
Although most people visit St John’s to explore nature. There are a variety of landscapes for nature lovers including coastal cliffs, beaches, valleys, gorges, grasslands, and forests. The East Coast Trail is the top path for outdoor activities to do in St John’s, Newfoundland. Apart from adventures on land, you can also get on a boat and venture out into the ocean to see humpback whales. A boat tour will also take you to various small and large islands. These are some of the most wonderful places to see in St John’s, Newfoundland.
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Top 15 Tourist Places to Visit in St John’s, Newfoundland
1. Signal Hill National Historic Site
This historical site comprises different St John’s tourist attractions. It includes Cabot Tower, Queen’s Battery, Signal Hill Tattoo, and Visitor’s Centre. The battery dates back to the 1700s while the tower was built in 1898. You can experience the military life of the 1800s at the Tattoo with marching, cannons, and musket fires. It is one of the best places to visit in St John’s Newfoundland to experience history. The hill overlooks the town’s harbour and you get an amazing view of the landscape and the ocean. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring this site.
2. Cape Spear Lighthouse
This lighthouse was built in 1836 and it used to be attached to Fort Cape Spear. These are some of the most interesting things to see in St John’s. You can explore the lighthouse all the way to the top. Inside, you can experience the life of a lighthouse keeper in the 19th century. You can also see what remains of the Fort which guarded the port during WWII. This cape is also a popular spot for outdoor activities to do in St John’s Newfoundland. People come here for picnics, hiking, whale watching, iceberg spotting, nature photography, and more. You would need 2 to 3 hours to explore Cape Spear.
3. The Rooms
This complex comprises three St John’s attractions. These include the Art Gallery of Newfoundland, the Provincial Archives, and the Provincial Museum. It is one of the best places to go in St John’s to learn interesting facts about the region, its history, and its culture. Here you can meet the famous dog breed, try local cuisine, enjoy traditional music and even try your hand at different art forms. The place has quite a few fun things to do in St John’s, Canada. You will need about 2 hours to explore this place.
4. Quidi Vidi
This beautiful community by the shore of Quidi Vidi Lake has a charming vibe. It is one of the most wonderful places to see in St John’s, Newfoundland. You will see small coastal houses, many of which are inhabited by artists and craftsmen. One of the top things to do in St John’s NFLD is shopping for handicraft items from this place. You can also visit the Quidi Vidi Battery. The history of this structure dates back to the French occupation. But, the current structure is a restored version of the one developed by British forces in 1780. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this area.
5. George Street
This street is one of St John’s top attractions for nightlife, shopping, entertainment, and famous maritime music. The route is also well known for George Street Festival in August and Mardi Gras in October. If you embark on St John’s travel in any of these months, do not miss the festivities. You will need an hour or so to check out the venues on this street.
I suggest you should go for a Downtown Walking Tour in St. John’s.
6. Basilica of St John the Baptist
Built-in the late 1800s, this is one of the oldest churches in the region. The church is must see in St John’s Newfoundland for its elaborate architecture. The church is built in the form of a Latin cross flanked by slender towers. The interior features a marvellous gold leaf ceiling and several statues. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this church when you visit St John’s.
7. Water Street
This is one of the oldest main streets in North America. It began life as a pathway for explorers. You can see several 19th-century buildings, old docks, a railway coastal museum, and a few more. You need about an hour from St John’s sightseeing to tour this street.
8. Anglican Cathedral of St. John
This cathedral was built around 1847 and is the oldest Anglican church in the country. It is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in St John’s, Newfoundland. It exhibits a Neo-Gothic style of architecture and ornate interior furnishing. Be sure to try some homemade desserts in the Crypt Tearooms when visiting here. It only takes 20 to 30 minutes to explore the church.
9. Bell Island
This island was once greatly valued for being the world’s largest undersea ore mine. It is one of the best things to do in St John’s, NFLD for day trips. The island has several attractions including a mining museum, lighthouse, beaches, coastal cliffs, hiking trails and more. You can easily spend an entire day exploring various places on this island.
10. Salmonier Nature Park
This beautiful nature park is amazing for outdoor activities to do in St John’s, Newfoundland. You can explore some truly beautiful trails and encounter a variety of wild animals such as snowy owls, beavers, mink, lynx, otters, moose, foxes, and so on. You need 2 to 3 hours to explore this nature park when you visit St John’s.
11. Whale Watching / Puffin Watching Tour
Newfoundland has one of the largest colony of puffins and kittiwake birds in North America. You will have to head to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve to see these birds. The reserve is also known for its exceptional natural beauty. You can take a boat tour to watch humpback whales cruising the ocean. These are some of the most wonderful things to see in St John’s, Newfoundland. You will need 3 to 4 hours for this tour.
I suggest you should book a Whale and Puffin Watching Cruise in advance.
12. Newman Port Wine Vaults
These traditionally Portuguese wines arrived in St John’s by mistake, now these wines have been here for 300 years. You can try out the Newman Port Wines in the town and learn about the history of the wine. It is one of the best things to do downtown St John’s, Newfoundland. You need about an hour for this experience.
13. Screeched In Ceremony
This ceremony basically welcomes outsiders to Newfoundland. It is not compulsory, but if you want to experience a historic tradition, you can participate in this ceremony. It involves taking a shot of rum, a recital, kissing a codfish, and so on. For many people, this becomes a memorable aspect of St John’s sightseeing. At the end of the ceremony, you will even get a certificate that declares your status as an honorary Newfie. It is a fun souvenir to commemorate St John’s travel. The ceremony only takes a few minutes.
14. East Coast Trail
This 300 km long trail is one of the best places to visit in St John’s, Newfoundland for hiking and camping. The trail has 26 paths, each with unique natural wonders to explore along the way. You will come across forests, lakes, coastal cliffs, beaches, wildlife, grasslands, valleys, gorges, and more. You need at least a day to explore one of the paths on this trail.
15. Johnson GEO Centre
This centre looks at the geological and cultural history of Newfoundland. You can explore a 550 million-year-old rock bed. It is one of the best places to go in St John’s for family tourists. The Amazing Earth Theatre takes you on a journey of earth from the time it was a molten mess. You will need about an hour to tour this centre when you visit St John’s.
If you are looking for more places to see in St John’s, Newfoundland, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of top attractions and activities that you can enjoy in and around the town.
Things to do in St John’s, Newfoundland
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in St John’s, Newfoundland
- Signal Hill National Historic Site
- The Rooms
- Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site
- Cabot Tower
- Johnson Geo Centre
- The Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- Railway Coastal Museum
- Eastern Edge Art Gallery
- Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum
- Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- Colonial Building
- Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Admiralty House Communications Museum
- Commissariat House Museum
- Ocean Science Centre
- Peter Lewis Gallery
- Lane Gallery
- Newfoundland & Labrador Pharmacy Museum
- Gower Street United Church
- Government House
- Johnson Geo Vista
- Torbay History House and Museum
- Bay Bulls Lighthouse
- Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios
- Saint Patrick Roman Catholic Church
- George Street United Church
- Wesley United Church
- St. John’s Seventh Day Adventist Church
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in St John’s, Newfoundland
- Cape Spear
- East Coast Trail
- Conception Bay
- North Head Trail
- Sugarloaf Path
- Manuels River
- Quidi Vidi Lake
- Cuckolds Cove
- Tinkers Point
- Long Pond
- Waterford River
- Virginia Lake
- Octagon Pond
- Freshwater Bay
- Paddy’s Pond
- Whiteway Pond
- Big Punch Bowl Pond
- Deadman’s Bay
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in St John’s, Newfoundland
- Bowring Park
- Pippy Park
- MUN Botanical Garden
- Bannerman Park
- The Fluvarium
- Newman Wine Vaults
- Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium
- Butter Pot Provincial Park
- Harbourside Park
- Escape Quest
- Chamberlains Park
- St. David’s Park
- Paradise Park
Shopping in St John’s, Newfoundland
- Avalon Mall
- The Village Shopping Centre
- George Street
- Artisan Market
- Torbay Road Mall
- Woodgate Plaza
- Ropewalk Lane Plaza
- Downhome Shoppe & Gallery
- The Shoppes at Galway
- Elizabeth Avenue Plaza
- Freshwater Plaza
- Churchill Square
Beaches & Islands in St John’s, Newfoundland
- Middle Cove Beach
- Topsail Beach
- Lance Cove Beach
- Freshwater Bay Beach
- Outer Cove Beach
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in St John’s, Newfoundland
- Hiking
- Trekking
- Camping
- Boat Tours
- Whale Watching Tours
- Puffin Watching Tours
- Island Tours
- Zipline
- Haunted Tour
- Iceberg Quest Tours
- Kayaking
Sightseeing in St John’s, Newfoundland
- George Street
- Jellybean Row
- Water Street
- Irish Loop Street
- Terry Fox Memorial
- Quidi Vidi Village
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in St John’s, Newfoundland
- Crow’s Nest Officer’s Club
- The Duke of Duckworth
- The Grounds Cafe
- Ches’s Famous Fish and Chips
- O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub
- Chinched
- Mallard Cottage
- Toslow
- Christian’s Pub
- Piatto Pizzeria
- Bannerman Brewing Co.
- The Merchant Tavern
- Bagel Cafe
- The Adelaide Oyster House
- Hunfary Heart Cafe
- Classic Cafe East
- The Nook and Cannery
Where to Stay in St John’s, Newfoundland?
Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in St John’s. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in St John’s.
- Alt Hotel St. John’s
- Murray Premises Hotel
- Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland
- Leaside Suites and Executive Apartments
- Delta Hotels by Marriott St. John’s Conference Centre
- The Roses Heritage Inn
- JAG
- Courtyard by Marriott St. John’s Newfoundland
- Best Western Plus St. John’s Airport Hotel and Suites
- Sandman Signature St. John’s Hotel
- Fairfield Inn & Suites St. John’s Newfoundland
- Abba Boutique Inn
Custom Tours Package in St John’s, Newfoundland
How to Reach St John’s, Newfoundland?
By Air
The city is served by St John’s International Airport. You can get direct flights to visit St John’s from Halifax, Toronto, Montreal, Sainte Pierre, Cancun, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, New York, London, Dublin, and Tampa. You can get buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport.
By Road
There are no trains or buses connecting St John’s to cities on the Canadian mainland. Although you can get buses for St John’s travel from towns and cities on the Newfoundland island.
If you are planning to reach St John’s by road, you have to first reach Newfoundland island and Trans-Canada Highway or route 10, 61, or 2.
By Water
You can get ferries to reach Newfoundland Island from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. This ferry takes you to Port Aux Basques or Argentia. From there you can use road travel to reach St John’s.
Image Reference
- Signal Hill National Historic Site – Michel Rathwell / Wikimedia Commons
- Cape Spear Lighthouse – Douglas Sprott / Flickr
- The Rooms – Shhewitt / Wikimedia Commons
- Quidi Vidi – Loozrboy / Flickr
- George Street – Michel Rathwell / Wikimedia Commons
- Basilica of St John the Baptist – Nilfanion / Wikimedia Commons
- Water Street – jerdlngr / Flickr
- Anglican Cathedral of St. John – Jcmurphy / Wikimedia Commons
- Bell Island – Douglas Sprott / Flickr
- Salmonier Nature Park – Sue Cantan / Flickr
- Whale Watching / Puffin Watching Boat Tour – shankar s. / Flickr
- Newman Port Wine Vaults – shankar s. / Flickr
- Screeched In Ceremony – Simon Collison / Flickr
- East Coast Trail – Dan Conlin / Wikimedia Commons
- Johnson GEO Centre – Richard Droker / Flickr
