"Courthouse Building" is a National Historic Site of Canada. The original courthouse and jail was…read moremade of wood and built in 1730. The courthouse stood on this same location on Water Street for more than 100 years. Due to its age and condition Governor Thomas Cachrane approved for a new courthouse to be built in 1831. The second courthouse was two stories tall. The second story was used to accommodate public hangings which took place out of the second story window. During the next 70 years the courthouse burnt down twice ( 1846 & 1892 ) . The current courthouse was completed n 1904 and is an "Richardson Romanesque Revival" stone building. It was constructed entirely from local sandstone and granite. The architect involved in its design was Willian H. Greene and built by a Nova Scotian by the name Samual Manners Brookfield. The building is one of the only stone courthouses found in Newfoundland. The building at one time has housed the Supreme Court, jail, police court, law library, and judges chambers, and continues to be used as a court house today. Live/ Love/ Travel

Portuguese explorer. The youngest of 3 sons, he accompanied his father on exploration expeditions…read moreto North America during the late 1400s. In 1500, he was sent by King Manual I of Portugal to find a passage through the Northwest to Asia. In 1501 they reached Newfoundland; landed and took natives as slaves. His brothers returned to Portugal with their ships and he continued on. He was never heard from again. Yet here he stands next to the Parkway, across from the Confederation Building, with arms patiently folded across his chest. Joke was that he was standing there, silently waiting for the bus. I have not travelled on the local bus lately, but I see Gaspar still waits.

Usually, smaller cities have smaller museums. St John's is the exception. The Rooms is a very large…read moremuseum with more than four floors of space. My friend and I visited on a rainy day when they stayed open until 9 p.m. Here's our experience. 1) Admission: Adult regular tickets cost a little over 10 Canadian dollars with parking five per vehicle. (Pay at the kiosk in the museum lobby on your way out.) It's worth the price. 2) Experience: We started at the top floor with their art gallery and exhibits about the history of Newfoundland. In the museum section is a staircase that takes you to more items. On the top floor are a few items from the Titanic. (It's here where the first distress signals were picked up, and they helped with the relief efforts.) The bottom floors have more art and exhibits about Newfoundland's history to present. 3) Space: The architecture and views are both standout features. The space has plenty of restrooms, a cost check, and gift shop.

We came for the restaurant at the top of the museum. The view of the bay is incredible and the food…read morewas incredible. We had both breakfast and lunch. Such a hidden gem in St John's. The museum is quite interesting and the section on WW1 and Newfoundlands contributions was inspiring and very heart warming. Being from the US the display made me instantly proud of all the Newfoundlanders!!

History and progress rolled into one. Ironically, one wing is undergoing extensive renovations…read more Government building, home to senior government offices as well as most of the government departments; all kinds of bureaucratic stuff goes on here and only some of it for public consumption, including tours.

August 2024 - Fantastic Roman Catholic Church that is a million steps uphill from the dock. A taxi…read moreis recommended. The history of the building is very interesting. The tour guides at the church are great. Visit it, it's a high point of St. John's.

One of the most beautiful cathedrals we have seen. It was built around 1855 and the towers reach…read moreupwards toward the sky so that it stands out all over the city. Inside the main altar is beautiful and there are statues all around. The stained glass windows are gorgeous. There are other buildings that surround the church as there have a lot of ground space. There is a pillared entrance as you come up the street that makes a great frame for a picture.

Standing atop Signal Hill is a magical experience where history meets raw natural beauty. Looking…read moredown at the Narrows and the vast ocean from 167 meters up is absolutely breathtaking. Best of all, it's just a quick 2.5 km trip from the heart of downtown. This site holds immense global significance; it is the exact spot where Guglielmo Marconi received the first-ever transatlantic wireless signal in 1901, changing global communication forever. Another major highlight is the Noon Day Gun ceremony at 12 PM sharp. Hearing the cannon boom and learning how it served as a crucial time signal for mid-19th-century ships navigating across time zones is fascinating. Entry was free in Summer 2026 thanks to Canada Strong pass. Parking is always free. The top lot fills up fast, so get there early. In case it is already full, you may need to park below the hill in the overflow parking and walk 20 minutes to the summit. There are no toilets at the summit tower, but the small gift shop and the historical museum make it well worth a couple of hours of exploration!

If you want views of the water with hiking options and history, go here. Hiking Signal Hill was the…read morefirst thing I did after landing in St. John's. There's a bus that goes up or you can drive. There's a large parking lot. There's an old tower on top that looks like a castle. Nearby are plaques about the hill's history. Then there are several trails to get different views of the area. I did the long one and it was worth it despite the many stairs.

A magical place where the North American continent ends on the east side! The sheer vastness of the…read moreblue Atlantic is mesmerizing, and looking out from the cliffs knowing Europe is the next landmass is unforgettable. The highlight of our visit was watching a family of three whales (two adults and a little calf) swimming through the waves below us! It's an easy 15km drive from St. John's. Free parking and great walking paths make it a breeze to explore. Just be prepared for the elements. It is exceptionally windy and raw out on the headland, so dress in layers! Carry your hats and sunscreen! You will need them!

To visit the easternmost part of Canada and North America, visit here. There are a spacious parking…read morelot and paths that lead you to the landmark. There are paths leading to two different lighthouses, one which you can tour inside for free. There's also a little local art gallery on the site. Spend time exploring the old fort and going through its tunnels.

What a unique experience! For 20 Canadian dollars per adult, you get a tour of the little mining…read moremuseum by a local. Bernie was our guide. She grew up on the island and had many stories to tell. She was also great with children! After the museum, Dave, who is hilarious, took us to the mine for 45-60 minutes. We learned how the miners worked and got to experience pure darkness too. By the museum are restrooms, a gift shop, and a cafe.

We had a fabulous time. We had the pleasure of being led by Sandra on her first day guiding. She…read morewas fun, informative, and knowledgeable...it was like touring with a friend. The artifacts and mines were very cool to experience; definitely a very unique and enjoyable tour. If you drive a car over be sure to drive around the island, gorgeous views and landscapes.

St. John's got the best harbor authority ever they treat people like royalty and celebritiesread more

We visited the St. John's port on Monday, September 25, 2023 on our cruise. The port is…read moreconveniently located right in the downtown area, so you literally can walk of the ship and within minutes to main of the local attractions. The port authorities were very efficient and our cruise was quickly docked in no time at all. The port security staff was very friendly and always very professional. Because of position of the port it was very accessible for people with disabilities or limited handicapped (such as canes or walkers)