15 Best Sights in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

At the easternmost point of land on the continent, songbirds begin chirping in the dim light of dawn, and whales in early summer feed directly below the cliffs, providing an unforgettable start to the day. From April through July, you might see icebergs floating by. Cape Spear Lighthouse, Newfoundland's oldest such beacon, has been restored to its original form and furnishings. There is a visitor center and souvenir shop open in the summer. The historic gun batteries can be viewed up close from the walking trail whenever weather conditions allow.

The cliffs surrounding the lighthouse are beautiful but dangerous. Rogue waves and slippery rocks have caused fatal accidents in recent years. It is important to heed the warnings and avoid getting close to the edge, as there are no barriers and no rangers on duty during the popular sunrise hour.

A fishing village that lies along the coast between Cape Spear and Route 10, Petty Harbour is a great day trip with something for everyone all around one scenic harbor. Two of the prettiest segments of the East Coast Trail start from either end of town. Island Rooms of Petty Harbour is dedicated to keeping the fishing and boating heritage of the town alive and can arrange walking, fishing, and traditional boating excursions ( 709/740–3474;  www.fishingforsuccess.org). North Atlantic Ziplines boasts the longest zipline in Canada, with views over the hills and ocean ( 709/368–8681;  www.zipthenorthatlantic.com). The Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium has a touch tank and daily family programs ( 709/330–3474;  www.miniaqua.org). To eat, there are plenty of eateries with fresh seafood and harbor views.

Signal Hill is emblematic of the island's military history, of early technological achievement, and ancient geology. En route to the top, the visitor center exhibits the history of St. John's. Cabot Tower, at the peak of Signal Hill, was constructed in 1897 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of explorer John Cabot's landing in Newfoundland. In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic-wire transmission near here, and today you can visit the Marconi exhibit on the top floor of Cabot Tower. The GEO Centre lets you to go literally inside Signal Hill and learn about the ancient rock. The drive to the tower along Signal Hill Road affords fine harbor, ocean, and city views, as does the tower itself. Walking trails take you to the base of the hill and closer to the ocean. In July and August every year, cadets in 19th-century-British uniforms perform military tattoos.

An eye-catching feature of the cityscape, this lively space celebrating the arts and cultures of Newfoundland and Labrador has a design inspired by traditional "fishing rooms," shacks by the waterside where fishing families would process their catch. Multimedia and hands-on exhibits explore the region's cultural heritage, archaeology, and ecology, while the art gallery presents contemporary and older works from the permanent art collection and mounts temporary and traveling art exhibitions. Displays at the Provincial Archives include historical photos and documents. The facility's observation deck has awe-inspiring views over St. John's, even in bad weather.

An expansive Victorian park west of downtown, Bowring was modeled after the famous city parks of London. Dotting the grounds are ponds and rustic bridges; the statue of Peter Pan just inside the east gate was cast from the same mold as the one in Kensington Park in London. The wealthy Bowring family, which made its money in trade and shipping, donated the park in 1914. There is a swimming pool, a splash pad (both open July and August), a large playground, and walking trails.

The residence and office of the British garrison's supply officer in the 1830s has been restored to reflect that era. Interpreters sometimes dress in period costume, and the videos and labels are engaging and informative. Guided tours and child-friendly activities are offered during the summer and fall. Visitors are welcome to use the green space on the grounds to enjoy a picnic.

Once called the Upper Path, this has been the "second street" of St. John's for centuries, Water Street being the main street. Stretching from the bottom of Signal Hill in the east to near City Hall in the west, Duckworth Street has restaurants, bars, antiques and crafts shops, as well as lawyers' offices and a yoga studio. A few blocks east of City Hall, the Newfoundland Supreme Court is housed in a late-19th-century building with an eccentric appearance: each of its four turrets is in a different style. If you take the time to go through security and wander the halls, you will see a unique collection of artwork from the provincial artbank on the walls. Lanes and stairways between Duckworth Street and Water Street or George Street give access to some of the city's most popular pubs. 

The lieutenant governor—the Queen's representative in Newfoundland—lives at Government House, which was built in the 1830s. Myth has it that the 12-foot ditch surrounding the structure was intended to keep out snakes, though Newfoundland is one of the few regions in the world to have no snakes. The original governor, so the story goes, was expecting a warmer colony where serpents might be a problem. In fact, the moat was designed to allow more light into the basement rooms. House tours (free) can be arranged by appointment. The marvelous garden is open all year for you to explore on your own.

This is the spot where Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for Britain in 1583, much to the amusement of the French, Spanish, and Portuguese fishermen in port at the time. They thought him a fool, a judgment borne out a few days later when he ran his ship aground and drowned. The small park is a good vantage point to watch the boats come and go and a nice spot to stop for a rest. Kids love the bronze Newfoundland and Labrador dog statues you can sit on. With benches placed among the greenery in an amphitheater-style formation, this is a pleasant place to enjoy family-friendly concerts. Enjoy free lunchtime and afternoon performances by some of the best musicians in the city through July and August.

Built deep into the earth with only the entryway protruding aboveground, this geological shrine is literally embedded in Signal Hill, itself made up of 550-million-year-old rocks. (The province's oldest rocks date back 3.87 billion years.) There are exhibits on the solar system and how Earth took form. Step on an oil platform in the ExxonMobil Oil & Gas Gallery, and learn about how oil and gas are formed.

The gardens at this 110-acre natural area include rock gardens, a Newfoundland historic-plants bed, peat and woodland beds, an alpine house, a medicinal garden, a native plant collection, a vegetable garden, a crevice garden, a shade garden, a dried-flower garden, and a compost demonstration garden. There are also five pleasant walking trails. You can see scores of rhododendron varieties here, as well as many kinds of butterflies and the rare hummingbird hawkmoth.

This 200-year-old building with stone barrel vaults is where the renowned Newman's Port was aged. According to legend, a Newman and Company vessel loaded with port wine was driven off course by pirates in 1679 and forced to winter in St. John's. Upon its return to London, the cargo was found to have improved in flavor, and after that the company continued to send port to be matured in these wine cellars. The vaults are now a historic site, with guides who interpret the province's long and unique association with port. A small taste of port comes with admission.

No one knows the origin of the name of this fishing village, one of the oldest parts of St. John's. The town is best explored on foot, as the roads are narrow and make driving difficult. The inlet, known as the Gut, is a traditional outport in the middle of a modern city, though a recent slew of new building permits means it is changing rapidly. It's also a good place to catch sea-run brown trout in the spring. Down on the waterfront is the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation, an open arts-and-crafts studio where you can meet the artists and buy textiles, prints, handmade clothing, and more. It has parking and is a good place to start your walk around the village. The Inn of Olde, Quidi Vidi Brewery, and Mallard Cottage are great stops for food and shelter and, of course, beer and spirits to keep you warm as you explore.

This tiny fishing village perches precariously at the base of steep cliffs between Signal Hill and St. John's Harbour. Narrow lanes snake around the houses, so it's a good place to get out of the car and walk. A public access to the North Head walking trail that winds around Signal Hill crosses the doorstep of a private home in the Battery!

Originally called the Lower Path, Water Street has been used by St. John's residents since the 1520s. The older architecture resembles that of seaports in southwest England and Ireland. If you do nothing else in St. John's, take a walk down Water Street. This is the center of the downtown universe, and on a sunny day it will be packed with smiling locals. Sections may be closed to car traffic during the summer, allowing for a lively pedestrian space with outdoor restaurant service.