Status: Away - St. John’s

Estimated reading time: 2.5 minutes

St. John’s may be one of Canada’s oldest settlements, but that doesn’t make it old-fashioned. Newfoundland’s capital shines with sea shanties, seafood and seaside vibes to welcome all visitors.

Michael S., from the Air Canada Vacations team, took a weekend trip to St. John’s and they’ll be sharing their itinerary, as well as some insider tips for making the most out of your visit to Canada’s easternmost city.

Quick Tips

If you’re planning on going whale watching, be sure to dress warm! Temperatures out at sea can be 10-15 degrees colder than on land.

Car rentals are a great way to get around the city and the island.

Whale watching season is from April to early August; lobster season is from May to July.

Staff picks

Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vidi opens in the summer and offers delicious, locally sourced meals with friendly and welcoming service. Reservations, and brunch, are a must.

O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours have super knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Portage on Water Street has great Asian/Newfoundland fusion cuisine and has been featured in Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants 3 years in a row.

Newfoundland

I’ve been interested in visiting the Atlantic since I was a child, so I thought why not visit Canada’s newest province during the Canada Day long weekend? The first thing I noticed was how beautiful and rugged the landscape was. It reminds me of Switzerland’s mountain regions; you really experience the sublime as you admire the stony cliffs and the wine-dark sea.

St. John’s

We arrived early in the day, so after we picked up our rental car, we drove to our accommodations on Gower Street and started exploring the city.

The city’s waterfront is very charming. St. John’s was built on a bay, so from downtown, you get a panoramic view of the mountains on the other side. At the end of our first day, we got “screeched in” at Christian’s Pub. I’m pretty sure the locals invented this tradition to mess with mainlanders, but I'd do the same thing. Skipper Lukey pours out a shot of local rum to start the ceremony, he recites, you repeat and then you kiss a frozen cod, making you a Newfoundlander with a certificate as proof. Make sure you book yours in advance, as slots fill up quick.

The next day, we drove down south to Bay Bulls for our whale watching excursion. The boat takes you out to Gull Island, which is absolutely covered in birds. We saw puffins nesting (they’re a lot smaller than you think they are), and probably about a million razorbills and common murres along the cliffs.

We also got to see whales breaching, which was honestly insane. They come up super close to the boats, and you can tell where they are from a distance because they herd fish into clumps, causing hungry seabirds to circle above.

After returning to land, we thought we’d go on a little hike along the sprawling East Coast Trail. We made it about halfway through before we came across a narrow stretch right against the cliff, which was a hard “no” for me.

We started our penultimate day with brunch at Mallard Cottage, which I’d highly recommend, before hiking from Quidi Vidi to Signal Hill, along Lady’s Lookout and the North Head Trail. The view from up there is spectacular, and you can see the entire city, as well as the Atlantic.

Our last day was supposed to be rainy, so we spent it exploring The Rooms Museum. The exhibits are very interesting and cover local history, contemporary art, as well as wildlife, like giant squid. There’s also a viewpoint from the restaurant which gives you a great view of Signal Hill, and the city.

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Note: This interview was conducted on May 23, 2025. Information and details may have since changed.