Best sights in St. John's
A planning-minded collection of St. John's's strongest architecture, culture, historic places, parks, markets, and waterfront anchors — selected from the city's existing Sortie inventory.
Start with the headline architecture, then add one museum, historic area, or outdoor block to give each day a different rhythm.
5 places worth building into a St. John's itinerary · Architecture · Museums · Parks · Historic sights
Basilica of St. John the Baptist
The Basilica of St. John the Baptist is a massive nineteenth-century cathedral overlooking St. John’s and its harbour. Built between 1839 and 1855 in the Lombard Romanesque Revival style, it is a National Historic Site recognised for its architectural, religious, political and social importance in Newfoundland.
Bowring Park
Bowring Park is a large historic urban park in St. John’s’ Waterford Valley, framed by the Waterford River and South Brook. Opened in 1914 as a civic gift, it now combines walking trails, water features, monuments, a conservatory, playgrounds, sports facilities and accessible recreation across roughly 81 hectares.
Cornerstone Theatre
Cornerstone Theatre is a historic stone building at Queen and George Streets in downtown St. John’s. Built around 1860–61 as a fishermen’s hall and exhibition centre, it later served religious and school uses and became the city’s oldest surviving theatre, with distinctive gabled and arched-stone architecture.
Majestic Theatre
The Majestic Theatre is a live-performance venue in downtown St. John’s, presenting a programme of concerts and stage events in the city’s historic Theatre Hill area. Its venue identity and current programme are maintained by the theatre itself.
Railway Coastal Museum
The Railway Coastal Museum tells the story of the Newfoundland Railway and Coastal Boat Service, transport links that helped overcome the island’s isolation and shaped its people and economic development. Exhibits include a working model train, ship models, a large 1940s train diorama and an adjacent outdoor Train Park.
Go beyond St. John's's headline sights
Find museums, food, parks, neighbourhood places, and more across the city.
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