Newfoundland & Labrador
They call Newfoundland 'the Rock', a fitting name, as this is an island of thoroughly elemental attractions and aesthetics. The muskeg and cliffs are barren and salt-drenched. The trees give off the smell of spruce like the air was spiced. The ocean roils, flecked with icebergs and spouting whales. The wind roars, and at any time, a storm may scream across the bights and coves.
If you enjoy the rugged and the rough, there are few more beautiful places. Yet ever contrasting the harsh geography is a culture that is, simply, magic. Bright houses painted like rainbows spill over the cliffs; menus advertise cod tongue and crowberries; at night, fiddles compete with the howling wind; and the ever-present chill is countered by the warmest locals you'll ever meet. This, then, is Canada's easternmost, most idiosyncratic province, a marriage of land and salt and storm all its own.
Explore Newfoundland & Labrador
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Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Newfoundland & Labrador.
Park
Mistaken Point Ecological ReserveDesignated a World Heritage site in 2016, this ecological reserve protects 575-million-year-old multicelled marine fossils – the oldest in the world. The…
Park
Torngat Mountains National ParkNamed from the Inuktitut word torngait (place of spirits), this national park is the ancestral home of Inuit and their predecessors. Its spectacular…
Park
Gros Morne National ParkA must-see for visitors to Newfoundland, this 1800-sq km coastal park and Unesco World Heritage Site features dramatic mountains, fjords, beaches, bogs…
Historic Site
Signal Hill National Historic SiteThe city's most famous landmark is worth it for the glorious view alone, though there's much more to see. The tiny castle atop the hill is Cabot Tower,…
Historic Site
L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic SiteLeif Erikson and his Viking friends lived here circa 1000. Visitors can see the remains of their waterside settlement: eight wood-and-sod buildings, now…
Island
GreenspondThis windy island, which seems to dangle somewhere between the Atlantic and the end of the world, is one of Newfoundland's oldest continuously inhabited…
Museum
French Shore Interpretation CentreThis tiny museum houses the French Shore Tapestry, one of the most stunning works of folk art in the province, if not all of Canada. This 66m-long…
Museum
The RoomsNot many museums offer the chance to see a giant squid, hear avant-garde sound sculptures and peruse ancient weaponry all under one roof. But that's The…
Lighthouse
Cape Spear LighthouseConstructed in 1835, the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province sits on the dramatic headlands of the continent's most easterly point. The wind here…
Museum
Prime Berth Fishing MuseumRun by an engaging fisher, this private museum, with its imaginative and deceptively simple concepts (a cod-splitting show!), is brilliant, and fun for…
Lighthouse
Rose Blanche LighthouseBuilt in 1873, this is the last remaining granite lighthouse on the Atlantic seaboard. It's a slate-grey, rugged beauty, overlooking a stormy coast that…
Natural Feature
TablelandsDominating the southwest corner of the park, near Trout River, are the unconquerable and eerie Tablelands. This huge flat-topped massif was part of the…
Park
Witless Bay Ecological ReserveConsisting of four islands in Witless Bay, this reserve is North America's largest Atlantic puffin colony, with more than 260,000 pairs nesting here…
Village
Quidi VidiOver Signal Hill, away from town, is the tiny picturesque village of Quidi Vidi. Check out the 18th-century battery and the lakeside regatta museum, but…
Historic Site
Port au Choix National Historic SiteThis site is dedicated to the ancient burial grounds of three different Indigenous groups that date back 5500 years. The modern visitors center tells of…
Park
CA Pippy ParkThe feature-filled 13-sq-km CA Pippy Park coats downtown's northwestern edge. Recreational facilities include walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, a…
Park
La Manche Provincial ParkDiverse birdlife, along with beaver, moose and snowshoe hare, can be seen in this lush park only 53km south of St John's. A highlight is the 1.25km trail…
Archaeological Site
Colony of AvalonThe seaside surrounds of the Colony of Avalon archaeological site only add to the rich historical atmosphere that permeates Ferryland. Join a tour and you…
Island
Miquelon & LangladeThe island of Miquelon is less visited and far less developed than St-Pierre. The village of Miquelon, centered on the church, is at the northern tip of…
Park
Fishing Point ParkThe main road through town ends at Fishing Point Park, where a lighthouse and towering headland cliffs overlook the sea. The Iceberg Alley Trail and Whale…
Top experiences
Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Newfoundland & Labrador.
- Activities
Outdoor Activities
Stand-up Paddle Board ToursOutdoor Activities
St. John's Scavenger Hunt: Uphill BeautyOutdoor Activities
Day Hikes Gros Morne National Park