Looking for an epic list of the best things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador? You’re in the right place!
St. John’s is a city near and dear to my heart and, as a Canadian who has explored coast to coast, is one of my favorite cities in Canada. I mean, the history, the landscape, the shops, the Screech – what’s not to love?
In this article, I’ll list out the very best activities in this gorgeous coastal city & give you personalized tips. And if you’re looking for where to stay in St. John’s as well, bookmark my article for later!
Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
Signal Hill National Historic Site
The site of the first wireless transatlantic message has incredible views of the city and harbor.
Signal Hill is a historic site that overlooks the city and the harbor. The site is St. John’s most famous landmark and is easily recognized by the old stone tower sticking out from atop the hill, Cabot Tower.
There’s a lot to do and see here. First off, I have to recommend walking to Signal Hill, if you can. Yes, it’s a steep climb and yes, it’ll take you longer than driving, but the experience is worth it. On the way up, stop at Signal Hill Visitor’s Centre and learn about the history of the area.
Then, make your way up to Cabot Tower. The tower was built in 1898 to honor Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and to celebrate John Cabot’s arrival to the area in 1497.
Inside the tower, you’ll learn about how the first wireless transatlantic message was sent from the site in 1901. It was sent by Guglielmo Marconi at Cabot Tower to Cornwall, England. Make sure to go to the top of the tower – Ladies Lookout – for great views.
👉 Planning a bigger Newfoundland trip? Check out my article on the best places to visit in Newfoundland next!
The Battery
A historical defense site with hiking trails and views of St. John’s.
📍 Map
Just down the way from Signal Hill is St. John’s Battery neighborhood. Definitely stop here and roam the grounds as you make your way up to Signal Hill.
As a neighborhood, The Battery sits at the entrance to the harbour and is filled with steep hills and colored houses. But the real reason to come here is for the Queens Battery Barracks and Battery Lookout.
These barracks were established in 1796 as a defense. Here, there are trails and signs that tell you the history as you go. But, for a more in-depth experience, taking a tour is a great idea. You’ll learn the history and even have a weapon-firing experience.
Johnson Geo Centre
Check out the exhibits at this geological interpretation museum for all ages.
Also located on Signal Hill, The Johnson Geo Centre is a geological interpretation museum that opened in 2002.
This museum has many exhibits where you’ll learn all about earth’s geology, space exploration, marine life, and more.
You can explore the exhibits by yourself or take a tour with the museum’s interpreters for a more in-depth experience.
👉 Need a car? I recommend renting your car in St. John’s with Discover Cars. They’re a search engine that makes stacking up the competition easy.
Get Screeched-In at Christian’s Pub
Kiss the cod and become an honorary Newfoundlander.
Want to become an honorary Newfoundlander? Get Screeched-In at Christian’s Pub in St. John’s.
Getting Screeched-In is a ceremony that involves kissing a cod and taking a shot of Screech Rum. Honestly, of all the activities in St. John’s, I’d cite this as my favorite.
My article goes into more detail, but expect a lot of local lore and fanfare. Just note that you’ll have to book your spot ahead of time.
The Rooms
Discover the history of Newfoundland and get unreal views of The Narrows from this museum complex.
With giant windows that overlook the city, The Rooms is a facility with one of the best views in St. John’s.
But there’s more to it than just windows – The Rooms is a cultural facility that is home to the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives, and the Provincial Museum.
There’s a lot of history to learn in St. John’s, and The Rooms is one of the best places to immerse yourself. Also stop in at The Rooms’ Cafe for a bite to eat and to soak in the views of the harbour.
Puffin Tour
Catch a glimpse of these Atlantic birds at the largest Puffin colony in North America.
Newfoundland has the largest Atlantic Puffin Colony in North America, and the second-largest in the world behind Iceland. The Newfoundland mascot is the Puffin, and you can go see them in the province from May through September.
The best place to see Puffins near St. John’s is Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. The reserve is just 30 minutes south of the city and is home to roughly 350,000 puffins.
While you can visit on your own, I definitely recommend taking a guided tour to up your chances of actually seeing puffins.
Gatherall’s Newfoundland Puffin & Whale Watching Cruise is the best in the business (seriously, it was 700+ 5-star reviews on Viator alone). The tour takes you to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve on a spacious catamaran. You’ll see puffins, icebergs (May and June), whales (mid-June to mid-August), and more.
East Coast Trail
Go hiking on Newfoundland’s premier hiking trail.
📍 Map
The East Coast Trail is 270 kilometers of coastal hiking paths and 66 kilometers of community walks in Newfoundland. The trail goes all the way from Topsail Beach to Cappahayden.
Obviously, this isn’t just in St. John’s, but there are lots of East Coast Trail day hikes that you can easily reach from the city.
I personally love Cobbler’s Path (pictured above), Sugarloaf Path in Quidi Vidi, East Coast Trail near Fort Amherst, East Coast Trail – Cape Spear Path, and East Coast Trail – Deadman’s Bay Path.
Cape Spear
Explore the Cape Spear Lighthouse, a WWII military battery, and the easternmost point of North America.
Cape Spear is a few things – it’s a National Historic Site featuring the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province, it’s the Easternmost Point of Canada and North America (excluding Greenland), and Cape Spear WWII Battery. All that, and it’s just a 20-minute drive from the city.
I recommend spending at least a couple of hours exploring the grounds and hiking a bit of the East Coast Trail path here. And be sure to get a photo with the Easternmost Point of North America!
👉 Fancy a tour? This Historic St. John’s Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour will take you to Cape Spear, Quidi Vidi, The Battery, Signal Hill, and more. It’s a great way to see a lot of the sites in a short time and with a knowledgeable guide.
Iceberg Quest Tour
Go looking for Atlantic icebergs on this fun tour.
For most of us on planet Earth, it’s not every day we get to see icebergs, so why not take an Iceberg tour when you’re in St. John’s? The icebergs near the city are 12,000 years old. They break off from the Greenland ice shelf before slowly melting in the Atlantic waters.
The most popular and famous iceberg tour is Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours. However, taking the Gatherall’s Newfoundland Puffin & Whale Watching Cruise in May or June also lists icebergs on their list.
Quidi Vidi
Wander around one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in St. John’s.
📍 Map
Quidi Vidi, commonly pronounced “Kiddy Vidi,” is a cute neighborhood about a 5-minute drive from downtown. The neighborhood is located right on Quidi Vidi Lake and has a 500-year cod fishing history.
It’s pretty chill, but I highly recommend coming here. It’s one of the most picturesque places in St. John’s and is perfect for taking photos. While here, I recommend checking out the food trucks, hiking the East Coast Trail’s Sugarloaf Path, and grabbing a pint.
Which leads me to…
Quidi Vidi Brewing Company
Grab a pint at this great brewery in a stunning location.
While you’re in Quidi Vidi, I recommend making your way to Quidi Vidi Brewery. This is a former fish plant that brews some quality beers. Plus, they are right on the water and have one of the best views in the area.
Their Iceberg Lager is famous in the area and is an easy-drinking option. However, I recommend getting a flight and trying out a few offerings.
Jellybean Row
Photograph the colorful houses and businesses in St. John’s.
Photographers, rejoice – St. John’s is the most colorful city in Canada. Walking along the streets, it won’t take long for you to notice the myriad colors in every direction.
Jellybean Row isn’t really a row, per se. Instead, it’s a reference to the rainbow-hued houses and businesses in the downtown area. Just take a walk around and you’ll see what’s up.
Newfoundland Food Tour
Sample Newfoundland’s finest fare on a specialty tour.
👉 Book a Newfoundland food tour
History tours are fun, but food tours are scrumptious. In my opinion, one of the best ways to get to know a place is through its culinary offerings. Taking a food tour is a great way to sample and get the lay of the land.
In particular, check out this 3-hour Newfoundland Food Tour in St. John’s (it’s rated 5 stars!). It includes Newfoundland pastries, a haunted pub, and a former fruit stand built on the ashes of the Great Fire.
Whale Watching Tour
Go searching for whales on an epic sea adventure.
You can generally see whales in Newfoundland from May to October, and I highly suggest you prioritize this experience.
My friends and I took our whale-watching tour from Bonavista (about 3.5 hours from St. John’s), but there are plenty of tours you can take from the city.
Whale Watching tours from St. John’s:
- Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise – a catamaran cruise that takes you to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve to see puffins and whales.
- O’Brien’s Tours Coastal Adventure – a small-boat tour that takes you past sea stacks, caves, waterfalls, and of course, whales.
- Molly Bawn Whale Watching Tour – This boat tour leaves from about 40 minutes away from St. John’s. Still, it’s a great way to see whales!
Bannerman Brewing Co.
Sample some of Newfoundland’s finest beer at this local brewery with communal tables.
Located in east St. John’s, Bannerman Brewing Co. is another great stop if you love beer. This brewery is locally owned and features a taproom of communal tables.
They offer beer, coffee, and delicious snacks (you have to try their whipped tofu!)
Newman Wine Vaults Provincial Historic Site
Learn about the history of Port Wine in St. John’s.
The Newman Wine Vaults are only open to tourists from May to October, but they’re a must-stop if you love wine. These vaults house the history of wine produced in Portugal, aged in Newfoundland, and then shipped to England’s high-class folk for generations.
In fact, Newman’s “Ruby Port” was aged in St. John’s from the 1600’s to 1996 right in these stone vaults.
Just note that you do need to book a tour to visit.
St. John’s Walking Tours
Roam the streets of St. John’s while learning about the fascinating history from a knowledgeable guide.
👉 Book a St. John’s walking tour
Taking a guided walking tour is always a great way to get the lay of the land in a new place.
This St. John’s Downtown Walking Tour is a small group walk that takes you to the city’s main sites. You’ll learn about the city’s quirks, how the city was founded, how it joined Canada, and so much more.
The Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Check out one of the largest churches in Canada.
Built between 1839 and 1850, The Basilica of St. John the Baptist is the second-largest church in Canada after Montreal’s Saint Joseph’s Oratory and is the largest cathedral church in the country.
Whether or not you’re religious, the church is worth a stop for its historical significance in the city.
Pubs & Trad Music
Go pub hopping on George Street and Water Street in St. John’s.
Pub culture and trad music is omnipresent in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The style is pretty notable – it’s a blend of Celtic and Atlantic with a seafaring theme.
You’ll be able to find trad music in St. John’s pubs pretty much every night of the week if you’re on Water Street or George Street. I’ve been to most of the pubs in St. John’s – some of my favorites are O’Reilly’s, Greensleeves, Duke of Duckworth, and Bridie Molloy’s.
St. John’s Beer Tour
Sample beers from three different breweries on this St. John’s beer tour.
Love beer? Then you gotta try out a Beer Tour in St. John’s.
The Newfoundland Beer Tour in St. John’s takes you to three different breweries to sample the local offerings. And while the beer is great, it’s the stories you’re really signing up for on this tour.
You’ll be regaled with stories about St. John’s prohibition and gangster history, a beer connection to Jimmy Kimmel, and a lot more.
Exile @ The Jag
Have a music-themed meal at this excellent restaurant & bar.
📍 Map | 👉 Book a Jag Hotel room
Looking for a rock n’ roll-specific experience in St. John’s? Head over to The Jag. The Jag is a music-themed hotel that’s decked out in posters and memorabilia.
I stayed here, and I highly recommend it as one of the best places to stay in St. John’s.
But, if you’re not looking to spend a night, then I recommend visiting the onsite restaurant, Exile Restaurant & Lounge. They have seafood, a full bar, and enough rock n roll photos to make your heart sing.
Seafood Restaurants
Sample Newfoundland’s finest seafood, including lobster, crab, mussels, and oysters.
I’d reckon to guess that, unless you’re veggie, you’re on the lookout for some great seafood options in St. John’s.
Personally, the oysters I had at Adelaide Oyster House were unparalleled. Then, the lobster roll I had at Oliver’s was absolutely mind-blowing.
There’s a lot more of course – St. John’s Fish Exchange Kitchen & Wet Bar and Saltwater Restaurant are also excellent.
Just keep in mind that fisherpeople are only permitted to catch lobster in Newfoundland from mid-May to mid-July. By about September, many of the restaurants have removed lobster from their offerings.
Fort Amherst and Fort Chain Rock Military Batteries
Get a new view of St. John’s from this old military battery.
Fort Amherst is a St. John’s neighborhood located on the South side of The Narrows at the mouth of St. John’s harbour. Fort Amherst dates back to the 1700s and features a lighthouse and WWII military battery.
The battery here is great for history and military buffs. You’ll find old rooms, artillery guns (defunct, obviously), and more.
But, even if you’re not into the history, this is a great place to watch the ocean and get a different viewpoint of the city.
Murray Premises
Go shopping, grab a bite, or book a hotel room at one of the few buildings that survived the Great Fire of 1892.
📍 Map | 👉 Book a Murray Premises Hotel Room
Murray Premises is a National Historic Site and hotel in St. John’s. The building was constructed in 1846 and is one of the only buildings to survive the Great Fire of 1892.
It was originally built as a warehouse for fishing and trade but is now a complex with many businesses. It’s first and foremost a hotel, but also has restaurants and boutique shops.
Harbourside Park
Have a picnic, watch the harbor ships, and listen to live music at this downtown park.
📍 Map
Harbourside Park is a great place in St. John’s to spend an afternoon. The park is right by, you guessed it, the harbour.
In the summer, the park has a free music series on Fridays at 12:30pm. It also has great views of The Narrows and is a primo spot for a picnic.
Cod Fishing Tour
Catch cod and cook it right on the boat during this highly-rated cod fishing tour.
Cod fishing is one of the main, and most historic, industries in Newfoundland. Trying it out for yourself is one of the best ways to connect with the local culture.
This Cod Fishing Tour leaves from St. John’s harbour and includes whale and shark watching. They offer custom tour packages and cook the cod right on the boat.
St. John’s Haunted Hike
Learn about St. John’s macabre history on this spooky guided walk.
🌐 Website
The St. John’s Haunted Hike only runs during the Halloween season, but it deserves a spot on this list all the same.
This is a ghostly walking tour through the downtown core. Featuring great storytelling and a lot of spooky drama, you’ll learn all about St. John’s history from a more macabre viewpoint.
Honestly, whether or not you believe in ghosts, ghost tours are super fun. I love taking them to get a sense of the history of a place without being a drab tour.
***
Thanks for reading my list of best things to do in St. John’s Newfoundland! Up next, check out my guide to how to get around Newfoundland & let me know your favorite St. John’s activities in the comments!
