Travel to St Johns
Proudly sitting at North Americas easternmost point, St Johns is the provincial capital of Newfoundland. Acknowledged as the oldest city and oldest European settlement in North America, St Johns is steeped in a long and colourful history.
Europeans arrived at the beginning of the 16th century, and because of its harbour and proximity to fishing grounds, the city gained prominence as a commercial trading outpost. The Basques, French, Spanish, Portuguese and English all engaged in the fishing along the western side of the North Atlantic. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the city was at the centre of commercial fishing and, today, it is the main financial and commercial centre for Newfoundland.
Transportation to St Johns
The Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1) crosses Newfoundland west to east from Port aux Basques to St John's, a distance of 562 miles. Secondary highways along the route provide many fascinating side trips.
Getting to or from Newfoundland by car normally requires taking a ferry. Marine Atlantic runs year-round passenger and car ferry services between North Sydney, Nova Scotia and Port aux Basques, with services taking about 6 hours. A second ferry sails from North Sydney to Argentia, bringing visitors to within a 2-hour drive of St Johns, although the crossing takes between 12 to 14 hours. Indeed, ferry options allow visitors a unique opportunity to experience Newfoundland at sea. A trans-island bus service is operated throughout the year by DRL Coach Lines.
It takes about 3 hours to fly from St Johns Airport to Boston; 2 hours to Montreal; and 1 hour 30 minutes to Halifax. St Johns Airport is served by Air Canada and Continental Airlines, and is located about 16 miles, or 30 minutes drive from the centre of St Johns. St Johns Airport is well served by a dozen taxi companies operating in and around the city.
Car rentals are available at the airport from all the major players. Hire cars can be a comfortable and convenient option during your stay due to the distances between destinations. Hire cars also allow visitors to explore the countryside surrounding the city.
What to see
As the oldest city in North America, most of St Johns attractions are of an historic nature, with everything from period houses and museums to historic parks, where the areas natural beauty can be thoroughly enjoyed.
The impressive neo-Romanesque Court House, Georgian-style Commissariat House and neo-classical Colonial Building provide visitors the chance to deepen their knowledge of St Johns historical background as well a chance to soak up the best of the citys architecture.
Daytrips
Three eco-tour operators in St Johns can ferry visitors to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, a group of offshore islands that are host to over two million mating seabirds in summer including about 500,000 puffins. Whales also appear in the bay and if currents are right, you may see an iceberg or two floating in from Greenland. During other seasons, consider a visit to the Johnson GEO centre, based at Signal Hill National Historic Park, which shows the amazing life story of Earth.
Activities and leisure
An abundance of wildlife and beauty offers nature lovers the perfect setting in St Johns. Whether you are interested in booking a whale-watching trip or you want to explore the area by kayak, you will find an operator who can cater to your tastes, with trips suitable for the young and old alike.
There are plenty of opportunities for divers, with adventure packages available to see shipwrecks off the Southern Shore or Conception Bay.
