Newfoundland and Labrador Travel Guide

Newfoundland and Labrador: Rugged Coasts, Viking History, Whale Watching, and Fjords

Discover the unique beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador, a province in Canada known for its dramatic coastlines, icebergs, rich viking history, and abundant wildlife.

This Newfoundland and Labrador travel guide will provide you with essential information for planning your trip to Newfoundland, highlight must-see attractions, recommend delicious food, and provide inspiration on where to visit.

Newfoundland and Labrador at a Glance

Official Name: Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Capital: St. John’s
Official Languages: English
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Visa-Free Entry: Available for citizens of many countries for up to 6 months. Check visa requirements for entry to Canada based on your nationality here.
Getting There:
- St. John’s International Airport (YYT) is the main airport.
- By Ferry: Marine Atlantic ferries connect North Sydney, Nova Scotia, with Port aux Basques and Argentia, Newfoundland. During my East Coast Canada Road Trip, I took the night ferry from Nova Scotia, and this was a great option. If you want
  - Visiting Labrador: If you want to visit Labrador, you can either drive through Quebec, or take the Strait of Belle Isle Ferry from St. Barbe, NL to Blanc Sablon, QC. It’s a short drive from Blanc Sablon.
Getting Around: I recommend renting a car. Public transportation is limited outside of major cities. Alternatively, you can sign up for organized tours of Newfoundland and Labrador as well.
Best Time to Visit: I visited in August, and the weather was perfect. Summer is the busiest season though, and is the most expensive since it is a very popular time to travel. I’ve highlighted what each season is like below so you can decide which season meets your interests.
- Summer (June-August): Warmest weather, ideal for whale watching, hiking, and exploring coastal communities, but also one of the busiest and most expensive time.
- Fall (September-October): Pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds, and stunning fall foliage, especially in Labrador.
- Spring (April-May): This season is super popular due to Iceberg season, with large icebergs drifting along the coast, fewer tourists. Icebergs are typically best late May, early June.
- Winter (November – March): Can be cold, snowy, and best for winter sports like snowmobiling and skiing, but many attractions and accommodations are closed. Snowfall can also be massive, and hard to navigate. I don’t recommend visiting in winter unless you are comfortable with navigating in extremely snowy conditions.

Must-See & Do in Newfoundland and Labrador

Explore Vibrant Cities & Towns

St. John’s: This is one of my favourite cities. I had so much fun here. As you saw in my video, this vibrant city has a lot to offer. Visit Signal Hill National Historic Site (great views), Cabot Tower (Marconi station), the colourful Jellybean Row houses, views of the harbour from The Battery, local brewery Yellowbelly Brewery, eat at one of the many amazing restaurants, have a night on George Street and listen to local music, and/or get screeched in.
St. Anthony: This place is one of the best places in Canada to go whale watching. It’s also a great jumping off point for the UNESCO heritage site L’anse aux Meadows.
Twillingate: This is a really popular location to view icebergs. If you are visiting during iceberg season, definitely check out Twillingate! I hope to go back during this season some day. Long Point Lighthouse, and the Prime Berth Fishing Museum are also popular sites to checkout.
Trinity: Trinity is also a popular location to visit in Newfoundland. Go on a hike, or check out Fort Point Lighthouse, the Rising Tide Theatre, and Lester Garland Premises. If you are into boat tours, you can also do one in Trinity.

Experience Stunning Nature

Gros Morne National Park: This has to be one of the most beautiful national parks in Canada. Gros Morne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fjords, mountains, forests, and beaches. I took a Fjord tour here, and I could not recommend it more. If you are into hiking, the Tablelands is also popular.
Iceberg Alley: From spring to early summer, witness icebergs drifting along the southeast coast of Newfoundland. 400 miles from Newfoundland is where the Titanic sank decades ago. To find out where Icebergs are during iceberg season, you can visit the iceberg finder website.
Whale Watching: Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the best places in Canada to go whale watching. I went in St. Anthony, and saw humpback whales, and minke. It was magical. Many people go whale watching off of St. John’s, but Newfoundland has many other places to go whale watching like Bonavista or Twillingate. For more places to check-out whales in Newfoundland, check out here.
Daredevil Trail: Climb the Daredevil trail for aerial views of St. Anthony below. Depending on the time of year, you might even see icebergs or even whales! This trail is 400 steps to the top of Fishing Point Head.

Delve into Culture & History

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site: As the only authenticated Viking site in North America, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a rare chance to step back over 1,000 years and explore the world of Norse explorers like Leif Erikson. I became interested in this place when I was in elementary school, as we learned about it in history class so I knew I had to go here.
Signal Hill National Historic Site & Cabot Tower: As you saw in my video, this site offers panoramic views of St. John’s and the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Spear Lighthouse: Newfoundland’s oldest surviving lighthouse and WWII fortifications. This is close to St. John’s, and has gorgeous coastal views.
Get screeched in: This is a traditional ceremony where outsiders (aka come from aways) can become honourary Newfoundlanders by reciting a poem, kissing a codfish, and taking a shot of local screech. I did this back in 2017. It was fun, and the fish was frozen so it actually wasn’t as slimy as I expected.

Savour Newfoundland and Labrador Flavours

Seafood: Like other East Coast provinces in Canada, enjoy fresh cod, lobster, snow crab, and other seafood dishes like fish and chips.
Toutons: Fried bread dough, often served with molasses or butter.
Jiggs Dinner: A traditional Sunday meal consisting of salt beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and turnip.
Partridgeberry Pie: A sweet and tart dessert made with local partridgeberries.

Essential Information for Your Trip

Currency: The Canadian dollar (CAD) is the official currency in Canada. Credit cards are accepted in most establishments, but cash may be useful in smaller towns and rural areas in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Languages: English is the primary language in Newfoundland and Labrador. You may notice Newfoundlanders also have their own unique dialect of English.
Visa: Visa requirements are based on nationality. You can find out if you need a visa to visit Canada here before your trip to Newfoundland.
Weather: Newfoundland and Labrador have a maritime climate with variable weather. Here’s a seasonal average breakdown:
- Spring (April-May): 0°C to 10°C (32°F to 50°F)
- Summer (June-August): 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F)
- Fall (September-October): 5°C to 15°C (41°F to 59°F)
- Winter (November-March): -10°C to 0°C (14°F to 32°F)
Safety: Newfoundland and Labrador is generally safe provinces for tourists.
Cultural Considerations & Etiquette: Newfoundlanders are known for their hospitality and friendly nature. Don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation with locals if you so desire. Newfoundland and Labrador is a natural beauty, so please be mindful of the environment, and treat it with respect. Standard tipping practices apply when dining out (15-20% is standard for good service in restaurants in Canada).
eSim: I always get an eSim while travelling. I highly recommend using Airalo (if you follow this link, you will get a discount upon sign up). Keep in mind there are regions where you may lose service (e.g. national or provincial parks), so you will want to plan your activities ahead, and download any maps you need ahead of time for your trip to Canada. Google Maps works great in Canada.
Read: Before visiting Newfoundland and Labrador, you may want to get into the vibe by reading some books. Some historical fiction options are The Shipping News by Annie Proulx, Random Passage by Bernice Morgan, River Thieves by Michael Crummey, or Eiriksdottir by Joan Clark. For non-fiction, try Jennie’s Boy: A Newfoundland Childhood by Wayne Johnston, Creatures of the Rock by Andrew Peacock, or The Grey Islands by John Steffler. If you are looking for something more academic, check out Newfoundland and Labrador: A History by Sean Cadigan.
Watch: The Grand Seduction for an excellent indie movie set in Newfoundland.