
St. John's
Places to stay in St. John's
Things to Do in St. John's
Top activities and experiences

Signal Hill National Historic Site

Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site

Quidi Vidi Village

Witless Bay Puffin & Whale Watching Cruise

Screech-In and Live Folk Music on George Street

Hiking the East Coast Trail - Sugarloaf Path & North Head
Quick facts about St. John's
Local weather

overcast clouds
Humidity
70%
Wind
10.26 m/s
General info
Time zone
Newfoundland Standard Time (NST), UTC -3:50
Currency
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Official languages
English
Best time to visit
JUN-AUG
Recommended trip duration
3 days
FAQs about St. John's
Yes, absolutely. It offers a spectacular, colorful combination of deep maritime history, unparalleled coastal hiking, world-class whale and iceberg watching, and exceptionally warm, welcoming hospitality.
Two to three days are perfect to explore the historic downtown, visit Signal Hill and Cape Spear, and experience local dining; five to seven days are ideal if you plan to road-trip the surrounding bays of the Avalon Peninsula.
The colorful "Jellybean Row" houses, Cabot Tower atop Signal Hill, Cape Spear (the easternmost point of North America), and its lively, pub-filled nightlife on George Street.
Yes, St. John’s is exceptionally safe with low crime rates, and locals are globally renowned for being incredibly helpful and friendly to travelers.
- The weather is famously unpredictable and shifts in minutes; locals live by the phrase, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes."
- St. John's operates on its own unique half-hour time zone, which can easily confuse digital calendars and flights if not paid attention to.
- Renting a car is almost mandatory for sightseeing, as public transit does not reach key coastal highlights like Cape Spear or Witless Bay.
- The city is built on a steep, continuous hill sloping down to the harbor; exploring downtown on foot requires a good level of leg stamina.
- A "Screech-In" is a real, highly popular, and lighthearted local pub initiation that involves reciting local vows, drinking Jamaican screech rum, and kissing a frozen codfish.














