St. John's

Overview

You’ll feel at home the moment you land in St. John's, the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador and the easternmost city in Canada. Known for its unique and welcoming spirit, it’s a vibrant city over 500 years old, surrounded by dramatic, natural beauty.

St. John's is a rare destination: a contemporary and sophisticated city full of small-town character and charisma. Wander down its narrow, criss-crossing streets lined with colourful houses to find shops, galleries, and restaurants of all kinds.

From the harbour, take in the cliffside neighbourhood of the Battery, nestled along Signal Hill, a National Historic Site and hiking must. At the top sits Cabot Tower, and beyond that, nothing but spectacular, uninterrupted views of the Atlantic.

Visit Quidi Vidi, the charming village-within-a-city, which embodies the spirit of an old fishing outport. Or The Rooms, home to an extensive collection of artifacts, art, and archival records.

St. John’s is also the perfect spot to stay for access to the best the Avalon Peninsula has to offer. Take a drive along the coastline for more ocean views, including chances to spot whales and icebergs. Or experience the coastline on foot by hiking a section of the East Coast Trail.

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Destination Basics

St. John's has over 300 restaurants offering up every type of cuisine – from fine dining to casual and fast food. Enjoy a wealth of excellent seafood and locally caught wild game, including pan-fried cod, moose burgers, bacon-wrapped scallops, seafood chowder and stuffed Atlantic salmon. End your night on George Street, legendary for its lively bars. There, you’ll find local music rich in Irish tradition and Celtic ambience, still popular despite being brought here centuries ago by the province's first settlers.

In the summertime, you’ll find lively outdoor entertainment and festivals on every street corner. Don't miss the Royal St. John's Regatta – the oldest annual sporting event in North America. And of course, there’s also the George Street Musical Festival – the largest and longest running annual music festival in Newfoundland and Labrador, leading up to the Regatta.

With traditions and ceremonies abound, let the people of St. John's show you a great time, and discover what it really means to “kiss the cod”. You’ll be hooked.

Before you go, visit the Terry Fox Monument located behind the St. John’s Port Authority building, near where Fox first dipped his artificial leg in the water of St. John’s Harbour at the start of his historic run.

Known for its clean sea air, St. John’s has a temperate climate that rarely sees extreme weather. Winter temperatures here generally hover around the 0 C mark, but do pack a jacket for the cool breezes near the water’s edge.

Average summer temperatures are mild, typically around 16 C. However, warm temperatures do regularly climb as high as 25 C. But be sure to keep a jacket with you for when it cools down at night.

Spring and fall are also mild in St. John’s (and Newfoundland and Labrador on a whole) so simply bring clothes that fit the activities you have planned. And of course, a sweater or jacket for cool evenings.