Explora Journeys in St John’s (Newfoundland Island)

St John's is one of the oldest cities in North America, a working harbor ringed by hills and rows of jellybean-colored houses at the eastern edge of the continent. It earns the day because almost everything worth seeing sits within a walk of the pier, from the harbor pubs of George Street up to the cliffs of Signal Hill. Ships dock right downtown along Harbour Street, so you step off into the center rather than a remote terminal.

What to do on a day in St John’s (Newfoundland Island)

• Signal Hill and Cabot Tower, where Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal, reached by a 30 to 40 minute uphill walk or a short drive for harbor and ocean views
• The North Head Trail, a cliff path running down from Signal Hill back toward the harbor narrows
• George Street, two short blocks packed with pubs and bars in the heart of downtown
• Jellybean Row, the streets of brightly painted wooden row houses that define the city's look
• The Rooms, Newfoundland and Labrador's main museum, gallery, and archives, set on a rise above downtown
• Quidi Vidi, a tiny fishing village with a brewery just over the hill from the center

Getting ashore

Cruise ships berth in the downtown harbor along Harbour Street, steps from George Street and the row houses, with Signal Hill rising directly above. The core is very walkable though genuinely hilly, so one day is enough to combine downtown, The Rooms, and Signal Hill on foot, with a short taxi if you also want Quidi Vidi or Cape Spear.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• May to June. Cool and changeable, with June highs around 16 degrees C and lows near 6 degrees C. Fog is common, since this is the foggiest city in Canada, and it can roll in fast off the water.
• July to August. The mildest months, with highs around 20 to 21 degrees C and lows near 11 degrees C. Still prone to fog and passing rain, roughly 90 to 100 mm a month, so layers and a shell stay useful.
• September to October. Cooling steadily, with September highs around 16 to 17 degrees C and rising wind and rain into October. Crisp and clear days alternate with grey, foggy ones.