Newfoundland & Labrador Attractions Guide
Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada's easternmost province and its wildest: fishing villages in row-house colours, fjords cut by ancient glaciers, icebergs drifting down from Greenland, and some of the friendliest people in the country. The main decisions are when to go β May to July for icebergs and whales β and how much time you have, because St. John's and Gros Morne sit on opposite sides of the island and each deserves several days.
St. John's
Signal Hill National Historic Site β The hill rising above the harbour narrows, topped by Cabot Tower; walk the trails for the best city-and-ocean views in the province and learn the military and Marconi wireless history at the Parks Canada visitor centre.
George Street β A two-block row of pubs and bars billed as having the most bars per capita in North America, famous for the "screech-in" ceremony that turns visitors into honorary Newfoundlanders.
Cape Spear β A half-hour drive from downtown, the easternmost point in North America, with the historic 1836 lighthouse and cliff paths where whales and icebergs drift past in season.
The Rooms β The province's flagship museum, archives, and art gallery in a distinctive hilltop building, telling the full story of Newfoundland and Labrador's people and culture.
Quidi Vidi Village β A tiny fishing village ten minutes from downtown with a working harbour, the Quidi Vidi Brewery, and the scenic Quidi Vidi Lake trail around the shore.
Gros Morne National Park
Western Brook Pond β A landlocked glacier-carved fjord reached by a short trail, then crossed on a boat tour that drifts between towering cliffs and waterfalls; the park's signature experience.
The Tablelands β An otherworldly rust-coloured plateau of peridotite rock, an exposed piece of the Earth's mantle pushed up 500 million years ago, walked on an easy interpretive trail off the highway.
Green Gardens Trail β A moderate coastal hike down to sea stacks, volcanic rock, and a small waterfall, with chances to spot moose and caribou along the way.
L'Anse aux Meadows β Worth the drive to the Northern Peninsula if you have time: the UNESCO site of the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America, with a reconstructed sod village and costumed interpreters.
Icebergs & Whales
Twillingate β The self-styled "Iceberg Capital of the World," the most accessible iceberg base on the northeast coast; watch bergs from shore or take a boat tour into Iceberg Alley from late May through early July.
Witless Bay Ecological Reserve β Just south of St. John's, home to North America's largest Atlantic puffin colony and a summer feeding ground for humpback whales; book a boat tour for puffins up close.
Long Point Lighthouse β The classic Twillingate headland viewpoint: a lighthouse on a cliff above the open ocean with unobstructed views north into the iceberg corridor.
St. Anthony β The northern gateway on the Great Northern Peninsula, another reliable iceberg and whale-watching base on a strong berg year.
Practical Tips
Timing matters more here than almost anywhere in Canada: aim for May through July to catch icebergs (peak in June) and the start of whale season, with puffins in Witless Bay through the summer; September brings fall colours but no bergs. You need a rental car everywhere outside St. John's, and distances are long β allow a full driving day between St. John's and Gros Morne. Book accommodation in Twillingate and the national park months ahead for June, when iceberg watchers fill every room. Pack for all four seasons: ocean wind and fog can drop the temperature 10 degrees in minutes, even in July.
Sources
- https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/destinations/twillingate
- https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/plan-and-book/attractions
- https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/signalhill
- https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-us/things-to-do/top-10-attractions-newfoundland-and-labrador