St. John's Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
capital and largest city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
About St. John's
John Cabot was believed to have sailed into the harbour on June 24, 1494 - the feast day of John the Baptist, for whom St. John's Harbour is named. The first year-round settlement was not long after 1630, although a seasonal fishery operated in the region long before then. Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed the area as England's first overseas colony on 5 August 1583 under Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I. Fishermen from England's West Country controlled most of Newfoundland's east coast by 1620. Fortifications were installed from 1670 onward to defend the city, against the Dutch and then against the French—both of whom had briefly captured the town at one time or another. When Newfoundland became a self-governing dominion within the British Empire in 1907 (a status similar to that ofNew Zeala
Top Attractions in St. John's
Explore the best things to see and do in St. John's:
- ★Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- ★Arts and Culture Centre St. John's
- ★Bannerman Park
- ★Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- ★Bowring Park
- ★Colonial Building
- ★Commissariat House, Provincial Historic Site
- ★East Coast Trail
Where to Eat in St. John's
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Bagel Café
- 🍴Bamboo Garden
- 🍴Basho
- 🍴Ches's Fish and Chips
- 🍴India Gate
- 🍴International Flavours
Where to Stay in St. John's
- 🏨Abba Inn
- 🏨Blue on Water
- 🏨City Hostel
- 🏨Courtyard Marriott
- 🏨Delta Hotels St. John's Conference Centre
- 🏨Downtown Hostel
St. John's Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 14 sections including: