I’m a Canadian who knows St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador quite well. I’m here to tell you everything I know about where to stay in this picturesque city by the sea.
If it’s your first time in St. John’s, stay at The Jag Hotel. I stayed here and loved it – it’s Rock N’ Roll themed and very luxurious.
Or, if you’re feeling more budget-conscious, try out the Ramada by Wyndham. I also stayed here for a couple of nights and it was perfect for keeping my wallet happy.
Of course, there are more places to stay in St. John’s. In this article, I’ll break down the best neighborhoods, what makes them unique, and the top hotels in each!
👉 Jump to: Best Hotels | Neighborhoods | Tips
Where to Stay in St. John’s, Newfoundland
To start us off, here’s a quick list of the best hotels in St. John’s:
- 👑 Best Overall – The JAG Hotel
- ✈️ Best Near the Airport – Best Western Plus St. John’s Airport Hotel and Suites
- 🌊 Best with Harbour Views – Doubletree by Hilton St. John’s Harbourview
- 🎸 Best Rock N’ Roll Hotel – The JAG Hotel
- 💸 Best Budget – Ramada by Wyndham
- 👪 Best for Families – Alt Hotel St. John’s
Now, let’s look at St. John’s best neighborhoods and why you should consider staying in each:
5 Best Neighborhoods in St. John’s
Downtown
👉 Best for first-timers & nightlife | 📍 Google Map | 🏨 Best Hotels: The JAG Boutique Hotel, The Murray Premises Hotel, Blue On Water
Downtown St. John’s is where the action happens. Here, you’ll find Water Street and George Street — they have all the pubs, live music, and restaurants your heart could ever desire.
Downtown is also home to Jellybean Row, Terry Fox Monument, museums, and art galleries.
I won’t lie, I went to a lot of pubs here. I recommend getting screeched in at Christian’s Pub (SO much fun) and then checking out O’Reilly’s, The Duke of Duckworth, and Erin’s Pub.
Overall, the best hotel here is The Jag Boutique Hotel. I stayed here and loved it. It’s all Rock N’ Roll themed and its onsite restaurant is fabulous (it’s called the Exile Bar).
👉 Read more: How to Get Around Newfoundland and Labrador (7 Key Ways)
Quidi Vidi
👉 Best for families | 📍 Google Map | 🏨 Best Hotels: Premiere Suites – St. John’s Signal Hill Gate
Quidi Vidi is a St. John’s neighborhood located just north of The Battery. It’s probably one of the cutest places I’ve ever been, and is characterized by colorful houses surrounding Quidi Vidi Lake.
For a great view, take the East Coast Trail – Sugarloaf Path. For great drinks, head to Quidi Vidi Brewery. And for dose of history, head to Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum.
I recommend this area for families as it’s calm, safe, and there’s plenty of outdoorsy activities.
In Quidi Vidi, I recommend staying at Premiere Suites – St. John’s Signal Hill Gate. It has apartments with kitchens – great for if you’re traveling with family.
The Battery
👉 Best for relaxation | 📍 Google Map | 🏨 Best Hotels: Doubletree by Hilton St. John’s Harbourview, Courtyard by Marriott, The Elizabeth Manor Guesthouse
The Battery is a St. John’s neighborhood that sits on the harbour. From here, you can see where the harbour spills out into the sea, and it’s incredibly beautiful (albeit crazy windy).
This neighborhood is largely a park and contains Signal Hill, Johnson Geo Centre, and the Queens Battery Barracks. There are also tons of trails here and the best views of St. John’s.
I recommend staying here if you’re looking for less of a city vibe and want a calm nature escape. In particular, the Doubletree by Hilton St. John’s Harbourview is worth staying at. I visited the onsite restaurant and the views were *primo*.
The Airport
👉 Best for layovers & early flights | 📍 Google Map | 🏨 Best Hotels: Best Western Plus St. John’s Airport Hotel and Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton,
Staying near the St. John’s airport is best if you have an early flight. If you don’t it’s not super far from downtown, but just far enough to be annoying. Plus, transit from the airport can be expensive (my Uber from the airport to my hotel just 10 minutes away was $40).
If you need to stay near the airport, I recommend the Best Western St. John’s Airport. It’s the closest hotel to the departures terminal and is highly rated.
👉 Traveling around NFLD? Check out my list of best places to visit in Newfoundland after this article!
Kenmount Terrace
👉 Best for budget | 📍 Google Map | 🏨 Best Hotels: Ramada by Wyndham, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Sandman Signature St. John’s Hotel
I’m not going to lie, had I not personally stayed in Kenmount Terrace I probably wouldn’t be recommending it. Kenmount Terrace is a neighborhood about 10 minutes from Downtown. It’s sleepy and residential, yet I stayed here because my friend won two nights in a hotel room.
Then, upon researching more, I found that the hotels here a bit cheaper than downtown. So, if you’re staying in St. John’s on a budget, it’s probably your best bet.
I personally stayed at the Ramada by Wyndham and it was pretty great. A standard hotel and nothing fancy, but it had everything I needed for two nights with my friends.
Tips for Staying in St. John’s Newfoundland
The Harbourfront is Pretty Industrial
This is something that kind of tripped me up about St. John’s — the downtown Harbourfront is very industrial. Ships come in and out of the port and there are cranes and loading docks, etc.
It’s not like Halifax or Charlottetown where there’s a beautiful boardwalk on the water. Keep this in mind when choosing where to stay.
Rent a Car
St. John’s is a pretty small place and you can 100% get around Downtown by foot. However, to see literally anything else, you’ll need a car. I recommend renting a car via Discover Cars to find the best option for you.
You can take Uber and Cabs around the city itself (I did this when visiting pubs), but otherwise you’ll need your own set of wheels.
Don’t Stay Near the Airport Unless You Have to
I included hotels near the St. John’s airport in this article because there are a lot of options there. However, I wouldn’t actually recommend staying there unless you’re catching a flight.
Hotels are cheaper in other areas of the city and you’ll spend quite a bit on cabs & ubers. There is public transit from the airport, but it takes literally hours to get downtown.
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Thanks for reading my guide to where to stay in St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador! This is such a fantastic city and you’re going to have a great time visiting. Next, check out my epic list of things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Have a great trip!
