St John’s

Introducing St John’s

Let the good times roll, as the famous song goes, and big-humored good-hearted St John’s will help you roll a lot of them. Encamped on the steep slopes of a harbor, with jelly-bean-colored row houses popping up from hilly streets, St John’s is often described as looking like a mini San Francisco. Yet the vibe of Newfoundland’s largest city and capital remains refreshingly small-town. In all likelihood, before you can say ‘oweshegettinonbys?’, you’ll have made several local friends with whom to share conversation and a sudsy drink.

Highlights include view-gaping from Signal Hill, walking the seaside North Head Trail and listening to live music and hoisting a pint (or shot of rum) in George St’s pubs. Many visitors take advantage of the city’s beyond-the-norm eating and lodging options by making St John’s their base camp for explorations elsewhere on the Avalon Peninsula. Cape Spear, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and Ferryland are easy day trips.

St John’s is North America’s oldest city and Britain’s first overseas colony. Its possessive name is simply short for its lifeblood, St John’s Harbour.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009