Last updated on April 6th, 2025
Looking for the best things to do in St. John’s Newfoundland? We’re sharing our must-visit stops and eats, based on our experience!
St. John’s, Newfoundland is home to quite a few impressive titles. Not only is it Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital city, but it’s also the largest city in the province, one of the oldest cities in all of North America, and the most eastern city on the continent!
And because of this, there are countless things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland. From strolling its colorful streets, hiking up to coastal views, and kissing a cod. (Yes, you read that right!)
After spending many days in and around town, we’ve narrowed down the best things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Plus our top tips to help you plan your trip! Like a killer Thai spot hidden in a brewery. This list is a one stop shop for the best that St. John’s has to offer, and we hope you love the city as much as we did!
Why trust us when planning a trip to Atlantic Canada?
We spent 4 months traveling all around Atlantic Canada in our self-converted Sprinter van, visiting many of the popular sites, plus off the beaten path gems along the way. And instead of rushing through these areas like most people are forced to on vacation, we traveled slowly, allowing us to experience them more as locals. Because of this, we have tons of tips to help you plan your own Atlantic Canada adventure, whether it’s just for a week or for multiple months.
Map of Things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
Things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
St. John’s is one of our favorite places to visit in Newfoundland, so here’s the best things to do there!
1. Cape Spear Lighthouse and National Historic Site
Easily one of the best things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland, is Cape Spear. This National Historic Site is said to be the easternmost point in North America, depending on how you determine the easternmost point. But it is definitely the easternmost point in Canada at the very least!
The best thing to do here is see the sunrise, since you’ll be looking east over the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll be the first person to see the sun that day in all of Canada and North America!
This site is also home to the oldest surviving lighthouse in all of Newfoundland, which was built in 1836. While you’re here, plan to go on a guided tour of the lighthouse and keeper’s quarters. During this interesting and historic tour, guides will tell stories of the life of a light keeper and their family.
This tour is included in the cost of admission to this historic site. However, tours don’t start until well after sunrise, so you may want to head into town for breakfast in between.
There are many amazing lighthouses to visit in Newfoundland, with of our favorites being the Long Point Lighthouse in Twillingate, Newfoundland and the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse on the Bonavista Peninsula in Newfoundland. And while the Cape Spear Lighthouse is another impressive one to add to the list, what we really loved about Cape Spear was watching the MASSIVE waves along the shore. This area of Atlantic Canada is known for having some huge waves and we were shocked by the size of them!
Visiting Cape Spear will cost $9 per adult, but is included if you purchase the Parks Canada Discovery Pass. We highly recommend getting the pass if you plan on exploring any of the other National Parks in Canada, like Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island National Park, or Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
2. Jellybean Row
Despite being the largest city in Newfoundland, St. John’s is not home to huge skyscrapers or iconic tall buildings. Instead, the buildings they are known for are bright and colorful ones, affectionately referred to as Jellybean Row. Despite the name, it’s not just one row. You can find these colorful buildings all over town!
Some say they painted the town like this so that it was easier for fishermen to spot in the fog. While others say it was a way to revitalize the town. Either way, it gives the city a fun pop of color, and a beautiful backdrop for photos!
3. The Rooms
We love hiking and seeing the scenery of a new place, but it’s equally as important to learn about its history and culture. That’s why one of the next best things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland is to spend a few hours at The Rooms. This museum is home to the province’s most extensive collection of artifacts, art and historical records.
There are a variety of exhibits covering things like wildlife and indigenous history, Irish history and multiple art galleries. One of our favorites was the one about Newfoundland’s military. You even get to play dress up as a soldier, which was so much fun!
While the exhibits are the main reason to visit, the building itself, which mirrors Newfoundland fishing rooms, is also worth seeing.Plus the lobby has a huge wall of windows and there’s an observation deck to enjoy amazing views of the city and surrounding area.
4. Get “Screeched-in”
One of the most unique and authentic things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland is to become an honorary Newfoundlander. This is done through a ceremony called a “screech-in”. Anyone who’s not from the province, aka “Come From Aways,” have to recite some local sayings, kiss a cod, and do a shot of Screech, a rum with 40% alcohol content to become an honorary Newfoundlander.
This reminds us a little of the sour toe cocktail in Dawson City, but instead of a frostbitten toe it’s cod lips. We didn’t partake in this ceremony since we don’t drink, but if you do drink, then this is a must!
You can be screeched-in in St. John’s at Christian’s Pub (sign up online in advance!) or Trapper John’s. Fair warning, it’s not one of the free things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland, as it will cost you $37.50 CAD, but is definitely worth it for the fun and silly experience.
5. The Battery
The cliffside neighborhood of The Battery is one of the most iconic photos of St. John’s. Here you’ll find narrow streets and colorful houses perched on a steep cliff over the water. You can (and should!) go there to simply walk around, but we also recommend you hike the North Head Trail (3.4 km/2.1 miles) from here as well!
This trail takes you to the Signal Hill National Historic Site, which we will cover next. Along the way there are some drop offs and narrow sections, with chains to help you feel more secure. So it’s not for those with a fear of heights! It can also be very windy and we got blasted with wind here. But for those who are up for the challenge, it’s very scenic and a lot of fun!
Want to get 30% off an AllTrails Plus membership? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!
We use AllTrails Plus on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.
6. Signal Hill National Historic Site
Another one of the best things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland is the Signal Hill National Historic Site. Signal Hill sits high above the city and harbor and played an important role in military signaling back in the day, plus also helped with commercial vessel signaling. The high elevation was also used to warn about foggy conditions in the area.
Even more interesting, this was an important site for transatlantic communication as well. Many communication feats have occurred in this spot. The most important was in 1901, when Guglielmo Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic, wireless signal on Signal Hill. The letter “S” was transmitted from a station in Cornwall, England, 3,500 km (2,174 miles) away!
To get here, you can hike here along the North Head Trail, walk from town (on sidewalks), or drive. And while you’re here, you can take a guided history tour, fire a historic musket, and fire the noon day gun. Inside the Cabot Tower, is an exhibit about Marconi to check out as well. These activities are all included with the price of admission of $9 CAD per adult. But entry is included with the Discovery Pass!
Not interested in any of the history? Signal Hill is still worth visiting for the 360º views of St. John’s.
7. Explore Quidi Vidi
Just 10 minutes from downtown St. John’s is the picture-perfect, historic fishing village of Quidi Vidi. This village is known for its colorful fishing stages and also is home to a couple popular businesses.
The Quidi Vidi Brewery makes iceberg beer, made out of water from the icebergs around Newfoundland. Quidi Vidi is also home to Mallard Cottage, one of the oldest residential structures in St. Johns, is now a well loved restaurant. It’s one of the top 20 restaurants in Canada and was even visited by Anthony Bourdain himself! Be sure to make a reservation in advance if you want to get a table!
We enjoyed a delicious meal here and especially loved its cozy, rustic vibe, and high quality food. But we hear the ownership has since changed, so we aren’t sure if the same amazing experience remains (the brunch dessert table is no more, sadly).
After fueling up with a great meal, head to Quidi Vidi Lake or hike the Sugarloaf Path (8.2 km/5.1 miles) to get some exercise!
8. Check out local coffee shops
If you know anything about us, then you know getting coffee is one of the first things we do when visiting a new place. And while you can find Tim Hortons and Starbucks around the city, we suggest venturing out to one of the city’s best local spots.
One spot that we love is Bannerman Brewing. While they may be most known for brewing beer, it’s also a coffee shop in the mornings! Another great option is Toslow, a more traditional coffee shop with a variety of delicious caffeinated beverages and yummy bites like sandwiches and pastries.
9. Eat at St. John’s local restaurants
Being the largest city in Newfoundland, St. John’s has some delicious eats! Our favorite stop was once again, Bannerman Brewing. But not just for their coffee, they also have a Thai food spot inside the brewery called Namjim. And it was arguably one of the best meals we had in Atlantic Canada!
We also recommend these restaurants to try while in town: Bagel Cafe, Toslow, Newfoundland Donut Company, The Parlour Gelato + Coffee, Rocket Bakery, The Nook and Cannery, The Duke of Duckworth and Chinched.
Plus there’s of course the places in Quidi Vidi that we mentioned earlier!
10. Explore the Avalon Peninsula
Last, but certainly not least, one of the best things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland is to visit the Avalon Peninsula. This peninsula is not only where you’ll find the city of St. John’s itself, but it’s also home to many other small towns, countless trails, and scenic coastal spots. All just a short drive away!
East Coast Trail
The Avalon Peninsula is home to the East Coast Trail, a 336 km (227 mile) long trail system that runs along the coast and is popular for both day hikes and backpacking. With 25 different paths encompassing the East Coast Trail, there are several to choose from close to St. John’s. You can’t go wrong with any you pick, they are all some of the best hikes in Newfoundland!
While we were in St. John’s we hiked the Stiles Cove Path, which was stunning and filled with tall cliffs, waterfalls, and gigantic waves lapping the shoreline. Another trail we hiked was the Spout Path. This is a 22 km (13 mile) round trip hike to a geyser powered by the waves. We backpacked and stayed the night along the trail, but it is possible to make this a very long day hike if you’d prefer.
Hiking the whole East Coast Trail one day is a dream of ours. And some other sections we’d hike next time are the Cobbler’s Path, La Manche Suspension Bridge, Flamber Head Path, Biscan Cove Path, and the Spurwink Island Path.
Puffin and whale watching tour
The wildlife on the Avalon Peninsula makes it worth visiting alone. If you’re visiting during the right season (July or August) going on a puffin and whale watching tour with Gatherall’s or O’Briens is one of the must do of the things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
We mention more great places to see puffins in our guide to the Bonavista Peninsula!
Beach campfire
Just a 15 minute drive north of St. John’s along the Avalon Peninsula is Middle Cove Beach. This is a popular spot for beach campfires. So grab some firewood, blankets, and s’mores ingredients and spend the evening around the campfire!
Enjoy a meal with a view
Other than the places in St. John’s, a great spot on the Avalon peninsula is the Irish Loop Coffee House, which came highly recommended by a local! This spot serves both breakfast and lunch, all with a view of the water!
Planning your time in St. John’s, Newfoundland
How to get to St. John’s, Newfoundland
St. John’s will likely be a stop on your Newfoundland road trip. Here is how long you can expect to drive to get to St. John’s, depending on where you’re coming from in Newfoundland.
- Bonavista Peninsula: 3 hours, 30 minutes
- Twillingate Islands: 5 hours
- Gros Morne National Park: 6 hours, 45 minutes
- Gander: 3 hours, 30 minutes
- Deer Lake: 6 hours, 30 minutes
But to get to Newfoundland itself, you will need to either fly or take a ferry. There are 2 ferry routes to Newfoundland from Nova Scotia and 1 from Quebec:
- Most popular: 7 hour option from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. This is what we did!
- 16 hour ferry from North Sydney to Argentia near St. John’s.
- 1 hour, 45 minute ferry from Blanc-Sablon, Quebec to Saint Barbe, Newfoundland near St. Anthony.
To learn more about taking the ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, check out our complete guide about the experience and what to expect!
If you plan on flying to Newfoundland then you’ll most likely be flying into St. John’s International Airport. Flights here typically connect through Toronto and will take about 3 hours from there.
When to visit St. John’s, Newfoundland
While you technically could visit Newfoundland anytime of the year, we recommend only visiting between late May until mid September. This is when most of the things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland will be in full swing, more businesses will be open, and the weather will be pleasant.
When you visit in this timeframe depends on what your priorities are. If you want to see the icebergs, specifically visit between late May and late June. And for whales, July and August are the best months, but you can technically see whales from May until October. To see both, try to visit around June!
Want to visit when it’s best to hike? We suggest visiting in July, August, and early September. This is when trails will be snow free and the vegetation will be more lush.
We personally visited Newfoundland from mid August until early October. However, in the future, we would go earlier. Starting in mid September, many local businesses and campgrounds shut down, which we experienced quite a bit of.
Tip: Don’t always trust the weather app! When planning your days in Newfoundland, be very skeptical of the weather forecasts and apps. They are not very dependable or accurate. We had plenty of days where no rain was called for and we ended up getting caught in clouds of fog, rain, and mist. It can also be VERY windy in Newfoundland, so keep that in mind!
How much time do you need in St. John’s, Newfoundland
In order to enjoy all or most of the best things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland, then you’ll want to spend 4 days in the area. Since it’s such a large city (larger than others we’ve visited in Atlantic Canada, like Halifax and Charlottetown) there’s a lot to see and do! This will allow you to explore the city, try the best restaurants, and go on some great hikes! Here is a sample itinerary to help you get started.
Sample St. John’s itinerary
Day 1
For your first day, explore the city St. John’s itself!
- Wake up bright and early to watch the sunrise from Cape Spear.
- Head into town and grab breakfast and coffee from Rocket Bakery or Toslow and walk around. Make sure to see all of the colorful homes!
- Spend a couple hours visiting The Rooms.
- For lunch, head to Bannerman Brewing and enjoy some delicious Thai dishes from Namjim.
- Hike through the Battery along the North Head Trail to get to Signal Hill.
- Check out the exhibits at Signal Hill, plus the amazing views.
- Head back down to town for dinner at The Nook and Cannery.
- If you drink, go get “screeched-in” at Christian’s Pub. Make sure to sign up online in advance!
Day 2
For your second day, you’ll continue exploring a bit around the St. John’s area, including Quidi Vidi.
- Head to Quidi Vidi for brunch at Mallard Cottage. Make sure to make a reservation in advance!
- After brunch, walk around Quidi Vidi and then go for a hike on the Sugarloaf Path.
- Once getting back down into Quidi Vidi, grab a drink at Quidi Vidi Brewery.
- End the day with a campfire at Middle Cove Beach!
Day 3
Today you’re going puffin and whale watching! We suggest either going with Gatherall’s or O’Briens, which both offer 2 hour tours that leave from Bay Bulls, just 30 minutes south of St. John’s. After your tour, head to Irish Loop Coffee House for lunch!
For the rest of the day you could either hike a short East Coast Trail segment, like the La Manche Suspension Bridge, or take it easy!
Day 4
For your final day in the St. John’s area, hike one of the longer segments of the East Coast Trail! We highly recommend the Stiles Cove Path, but Cobbler’s Path looks amazing too!
Where to stay in St. John’s, Newfoundland
Being Newfoundland’s largest city, there are many options when it comes to lodging in St. John’s. We personally stayed in our van at a variety of boondocking spots (listed below!), but there are also many hotels and vacation rentals to choose from too!
Hotels: Courtyard by Marriott, Alt Hotel St. John’s, and JAG Boutique Hotel.
Vacation Rentals: Downtown apartment w/fireplace, House on Grand Concourse Trail, and Jelly Bean Row bottom floor apartment.
Camping: Pippy Park Campground and Waterford River Valley Campground.
Boondocking: Walmart (north side of town), Middle Cove Beach parking (this is a great spot for beach campfires!), Cape Spear Lighthouse, and Blackhead Path parking.
What to bring to St. John’s, Newfoundland
First and foremost, we always recommend that you pack the 10 essentials. You can see all of our gear here, but a few key items that are important to have while enjoying these things to do in St. John’s are hiking shoes, layers, rain jacket, binoculars, and AllTrails maps!
We highly recommend the AllTrails+ membership so you can download the map. There’s not always great service on the trails!
Looking for more things to do in Atlantic Canada?
- Taking the ferry to Newfoundland: Everything to know!
- 12 Best Places to Visit in Newfoundland
- The 31 Best Hikes in Newfoundland
- 63+ EPIC things to do in Newfoundland
- Things to do on Prince Edward Island (+ itinerary!)
- How to go on a one week Nova Scotia Road Trip (2 itinerary options!)
- 30 best things to do in New Brunswick
- Get our Atlantic Canada Road Trip eBook
- Watch our Newfoundland videos
- Read all of our Newfoundland travel guides
Ready to explore St. John’s, Newfoundland?
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About the Author
This article was written by Tori, one of our Adventures of A+K team members. Learn a bit about her below!
Hi, I’m Tori! I live in Nashville, TN with my husband Austin and daughters Scarlett and Gemma. We travel as much as possible throughout the year, around a 9-5 schedule and with babies in tow! My travel blog, Tori Pines Travels, aims to help people plan action-packed and culture-rich vacations around their busy jobs, fitting in as much exploring as possible. When I’m not working for Adam and Kathryn or entertaining my little ones, I’m writing, cooking, crafting or exploring Music City!