Top Things to Do in St. John's
12 must-see attractions and experiences
St. John's is a port city built into ancient rock, a place where the North Atlantic dictates the rhythm. The air carries the salt-tang of the ocean and the distant lowing of foghorns. Rows of clapboard houses painted in riotous jellybean colors cling to steep hills that plunge into a protected harbor. This is not a city that feels like anywhere else in Canada. The architecture, the lilt of the local speech, and the profound connection to the sea are entirely its own. A first-time visitor should understand that the weather here is a character, not a condition. It can deliver brilliant sunshine, impenetrable fog, and a bracing horizontal rain all within an hour. Layers are essential. The spirit of St. John's is one of resilient welcome. You'll find it in a packed pub singing along to a fiddle tune. You'll find it in a quick chat with a stranger on a winding street.
Hand-Picked Experiences in St. John's
The best of every kind, whatever you're in the mood for
On the Water
Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise
Cruise · rated 4.9 from 837 reviews · from $93
Insider tip Puffins nest May to mid-September; Whale season peaks mid-June onward.
2 Hours Guided Whale and Bird Boat Tour in Bay Bulls
Take a guided whale and bird boat tour in Bay Bulls for a memorable experience.
Insider tip The guides are highly knowledgeable and passionate about the local wildlife.
2 Hour Award-Winning Whale and Seabird Boat Tour from St. John's
Join an award-winning whale and seabird boat tour from St. John's.
Insider tip Depart from the heart of downtown, the oldest seaport in North America.
Culture & History
Historic St. John's Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour
Cultural · rated 4.9 from 252 reviews · from $66
St. John's Downtown Walking Tour
Walk through Downtown St. John's for fascinating stories and standout architecture.
Insider tip Join the Signature tour for the most complete tour in town.
3 hour City Tour of St.John's, small group up to ten guests
Take a city tour of St. John's in a small group up to ten.
Insider tip Small vans go where bigger units cannot, with less waiting time.
Day Trips Further Afield
Award Winning 4 Hr Tour w Come From Away star* (lunch included)
Join an award-winning TOUR with a Come From Away star, lunch included.
Food & Drink
St. John's 3 Hour Newfoundland Food Tour
Walk and eat your way through downtown St. John's on a food tour.
Insider tip Learn about the history and culture by eating its unique food.
Adventure & the Outdoors
St. John's Coastal Hike with Top Local Guide Deneen
Explore the mind-blowing beauty of the coastline on a hike with a top local guide.
Insider tip Learn about foraging, historical coastal communities, and lesser-known trails.
More to Explore
Even more of the best of St. John's
Pedego eBike Rental
AdventureAn electric bicycle rental grants you the freedom to conquer St. John's formidable hills with ease. You can coast up to Signal Hill. You can ride along the coast to Quidi Vidi village without breaking a sweat. You feel the cool harbor breeze on your face as you glide past waterfront warehouses. You ride up into quiet residential lanes with impressive vista points. It is the ideal way to cover more of the city's large, vertical geography than your legs might allow.
Explore St. John's Scenic Bus Tour to Cape Spear and Quidi Vidi
Guided ExperienceThis bus tour efficiently links the continent's easternmost point at Cape Spear with the postcard-perfect fishing village of Quidi Vidi. You can smell salt and kelp from the working plant. You have time to walk the dramatic cliffside paths at the cape. Then you peer into the still, deep water of Quidi Vidi Gut, framed by fishing stages. It covers two essential, contrasting coastal landscapes of St. John's in a single, easy itinerary.
Conception Bay Tour Experience
Guided ExperienceThis journey travels north of St. John's into Conception Bay, passing through historic communities with names like Brigus and Harbour Grace. The air is scented with wild roses. You visit sites tied to early transatlantic aviation. You explore the serene beauty of a bay sheltered by ancient, rounded hills. The pace is leisurely. It emphasizes the quieter, rooted English settlement history that predates St. John's itself.
Irish Loop to Ferryland Tour
Guided ExperienceThe Irish Loop is a scenic drive through a landscape of stunted spruce and exposed granite. It leads to the archaeological site of the Colony of Avalon at Ferryland. Here, you can touch the excavated stone foundations of Lord Baltimore's 1620s settlement. You can imagine the harsh life of early colonists. The tour highlights the deep Irish influence on the region's culture. It highlights the profound historical layers lying just beneath the thin soil.
Planning Your Visit
Practical tips for getting the most out of St. John's
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