St. John's itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in St. John's, day by day: The Rooms, the Basilica, the Anglican Cathedral, The Battery and Signal Hill first, then Cape Spear, Fort Amherst, Quidi Vidi, the Johnson Geo Centre, Bannerman Park, the Railway Coastal Museum and Bowring Park as you add a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
St. John's in 1 day
Day 1
The Rooms
Provincial museum, art gallery and archives in a building overlooking the harbour, with Newfoundland and Labrador history and art.
Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Large Roman Catholic cathedral of the 1800s on a hill above the town, with a twin-towered facade and a view of the harbour.
Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Gothic Revival cathedral in downtown St. John's, designed by George Gilbert Scott, with a stone interior and a prominent spire.
The Battery
Colourful fishing neighbourhood of wooden houses on the steep slope below Signal Hill, beside the narrow entrance to St. John's harbour.
Signal Hill, St. John's
National Historic Site on the headland at the harbour entrance, with Cabot Tower, a visitor centre, trails and views over the Atlantic.
St. John's in 2 days
Day 1
Cape Spear
Easternmost point of North America, with the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and coastal trails over the cliffs.
Fort Amherst, St. John's
Headland at the harbour mouth with a lighthouse and the remains of coastal defences, with a path to views of the Narrows.
Signal Hill, St. John's
National Historic Site on the headland at the harbour entrance, with Cabot Tower, a visitor centre, trails and views over the Atlantic.
Quidi Vidi
Small fishing village on a narrow inlet below Signal Hill, with colourful houses, a brewery, a lake and a walking trail.
Johnson Geo Centre
Geology centre partly built into the rock of Signal Hill, with exhibits on Newfoundland's rocks, the Titanic and the Earth.
The Battery
Colourful fishing neighbourhood of wooden houses on the steep slope below Signal Hill, beside the narrow entrance to St. John's harbour.
Day 2
Bannerman Park
Victorian park downtown with tree-lined paths, a pond and a pool, and the site of the Royal St. John's Regatta.
Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Gothic Revival cathedral in downtown St. John's, designed by George Gilbert Scott, with a stone interior and a prominent spire.
Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Large Roman Catholic cathedral of the 1800s on a hill above the town, with a twin-towered facade and a view of the harbour.
The Rooms
Provincial museum, art gallery and archives in a building overlooking the harbour, with Newfoundland and Labrador history and art.
Railway Coastal Museum
Museum in the old railway station on the history of the Newfoundland Railway and the coastal boats, with a restored train.
Bowring Park
Large Victorian-style park in the Waterford Valley with a river, ponds, gardens, a bridge and the Caribou statue.
Watch: St. John's
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to St. John's
July and August have the warmest weather and the longest days for Cape Spear, Signal Hill and boat tours, though fog is common. Icebergs are usually seen in late spring and early summer, and whales and puffins in summer. Autumn is cool and colourful, and winters are cold, snowy and windy with some attractions shut. The George Street Festival in July and the Royal St. John's Regatta in early August are local events.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in St. John's on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in St. John's on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in St. John's on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Canada from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for St. John's
- Cape Spear is the most easterly point of North America; its lighthouse is staffed only in the warmer months, but the grounds and the coastal trails stay open all year.
- Signal Hill's visitor centre and Cabot Tower have seasonal hours, so check the dates before planning, and bring a windproof jacket for the exposed headland.
- Weather in St. John's changes quickly and fog is common, so keep a flexible plan for the coastal sights and bring layers all year.
- Downtown St. John's, with George Street, the Basilica, The Rooms and the harbour, is compact and hilly; wear comfortable shoes.
- Icebergs usually pass the coast in spring and early summer, and whales and puffins can be seen on boat tours in summer; ask at the visitor centre for the best viewing spots.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist: Jcmurphy at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Bannerman Park: Mjphilpott, CC0
- Basilica of St. John the Baptist: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bowring Park: Shhewitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cape Spear: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fort Amherst, St. John's: SingleIntegral, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Johnson Geo Centre: HJKeats, Public domain
- Quidi Vidi: Silverchemist, CC BY 3.0
- Railway Coastal Museum: Shhewitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Signal Hill, St. John's: Shhewitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Battery: Shhewitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Rooms: Shhewitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
