Things to Do In St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, is also the largest city of the province. It is located on the eastern point of the Avalon Peninsula on Newfoundland Island. Moreover, it is the easternmost city in North America, spanning an area of 446.04 square kilometers. Come explore the city with things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

What Are the Things to Do In St. John’s?

Signal Hill National Historic Site

Signal Hill National Historic Site is St. John’s famous landmark and most-visited tourist attraction. The hill overlooks the harbor and the city of St. John’s. Furthermore, the highest point of Signal Hill is, Ladies’ Lookout, standing at a height of 167 m. Signal Hill is popular for it breathtaking views, hiking trails, and the iconic Cabot Tower.

Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site

Cape Spear Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located in Canada’s eastern-most point of land. Also, the location offers a glimpse into the lives of the lighthouse keepers and their families that lived in the 19^th century. You can experience everything from icebergs to hunting seabirds, migrating whales, and more on this Atlantic coast.

The Rooms

The Rooms is a cultural hub in St. John’s. This facility, which opened on June 29, 2005, houses many important buildings of the province. These include the Provincial Museum, the Art Gallery, and the Provincial Archives or Newfoundland and Labrador.

Johnson Geo Centre

Johnson Geo Centre is a geological interpretation center that takes you on an underground journey to experience the story of our planet and more. Opened in 200, this facility is named for philanthropist Paul Johnston. Also, majority of the facility is located underground, in an excavated glacial formation.

East Coast Trail

The East Coast Trail, in St. John’s, is North America’s easternmost coastline. You can explore 25 wilderness trails from Topsail Beach, to Cape St. Francis, to Cappahayden. The developed trail extends 300 km where you can explore the wilderness. Along the way, you get to experience historic sites, lighthouses, abandoned settlements, icebergs, whales, seabird colonies, a 50-meter suspension bridge, and more.

George Street

George Street is the entertainment and nightlife hub of St. John’s. The street usually gets crowded toward late evening. Moreover, it is the venue for the Mardi Gras celebration, which held in October every year. The grand celebration on George Street is George Street Festival that goes on for six nights in early August.

North Head Trail

North Head Trail is a 1.7-km hike located within Signal Hill. It is moderate-to-challenging hike due to the stairs, elevation gain, and sections of uneven foot and narrow pathways. Furthermore, the trails offers breathtaking views of St. John’s harbor and the coastline. The hike takes about 1 hour to complete.

Quidi Vidi Brewery

Quidi Vidi Brewery is the largest craft brewery and the third-largest brewer in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located in the fishing village, Quidi Vidi. The brewery is worth a visit due to its wide selection of ciders, craft beer, and its stunning location.

Jellybean Row Houses

Jellybean Row Houses is one of the most colorful and attractive locations in St. John’s and in the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador. You can find rows of these colorful houses in the older part of the town. These houses are often on steep hills, so be prepared to climb them if you come to see these beauties.

Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the largest cathedral church in entire Canada. Also, it is the largest Neoclassical Roman Catholic Cathedral built by the International Irish diaspora in the 19th century. This cathedral church hold the best collection of neoclassical statuary in the western hemisphere. The notable pipe organ in the cathedral is the largest in Canada with 4050 pipes and 66 stops.

Terry Fox Monument

Terry Fox Monument stands as a testament for the courageous cancer-fighter, Terry Fox. He was determined to run across Canada and started his journey in 1980 in order to raise money for cancer research. Even after losing his right leg to the disease, he ran 5373 km for 143 days straight before stopping when his cancer returned.

Cabot Tower

Cabot Tower is a tower located at the highest point of Signal Hill. The tower commemorates the 400^th anniversary of John Cabot’s landing in Newfoundland. Also, this commemoration coincides with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Construction of the tower began in 1898 while it was officially opened in 1900.

Bowring Park

Bowring Park is a park and recreational space spread across 200 acres. This land previously belonged to William Thorburn, which was a farmer. Furthermore, it has many recreational activities for both locals and tourists. These include a swimming pool, playground, tennis courts, and more.

Memorial University Botanical Garden

Memorial University Botanical Garden, located in Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, is a place to explore and play. It has beautifully-cultivated gardens and nature trails to enjoy and explore. There is everything from native plants to vegetable patches, in this botanical garden. Also, you can stop by to feed the ducks in the pond or grab a hot coffee from one of the cafes at the garden.

Newman Wine Vaults

Newman Wine Vaults is an age old stone vault for aging port wines. Moreover, the vault is open for tourists with complimentary port tasting opportunities. Constructed of brick and stone, it is one of the oldest standing structures in St. John’s.

St. John’s Farmers’ Market

St. John’s Farmers’ Market is a market that is open every Saturday from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. Occasionally, it is open on Sundays, for which you need to check their social media pages to check the exact dates they are open. Furthermore, there are fresh produce, homemade local food, local arts & crafts, kids’ fun activities, and more at this market.

Railway Coastal Museum

Railway Coastal Museum is a transport museum located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The museum has exhibits explaining the history of Newfoundland Railway’s and the history of coastal transportation in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Fort Amherst Lighthouse

Fort Amherst Lighthouse is located at the entrance to the St. John’s Harbor. The location consists of a lighthouse, a man-made harbor, the remains of gun emplacements built during WWII, and a few residential houses. In 1951, Fort Amherst was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of thing to do in St. John’s that you must plan a visit to the region next time you are in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is, indeed, a city with great vibes and so many attractions to visit and experiences to gain.