Many visiting St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, go for the stunning natural scenery, the fresh fish, and the colourful buildings. But there are so many other unique things to do in St. John’s that explore the city’s rich history and culture. If you’re planning a visit to St. John’s and have done most of the popular attractions and activities, you’re probably looking for other treasures. After spending over two weeks in the city, I’ve rounded up a list of the best hidden gems in St. John’s that is perfect for repeat visitors. As someone who’s always on the hunt of gems when I travel, I scoured the streets, shops, and (most importantly) talked to numerous locals to find unique places to visit that are not on the radar of many people.
Many know the popular tours that involve whales and icebergs, but there’s also a tour of haunted locations in St. John’s. The city is also filled with adorable little parks that hold treasures within, like statues and shady nooks for a picnic. So, if you’re looking for off the beaten path places in St. John’s, I’ve got a list to keep you busy.
Unique Things to do in St. John’s Newfoundland
St. John’s Haunted Hike
A fun way to learn about the history of a place is to do a haunted tour. I’ve done them around the world and was thrilled to find St. John’s Haunted Hike during my visit.
The St. John’s Haunted tour is run seasonally, between June and September. After booking online, you meet your ghost tour guide at the steps of Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. From there our guided, dressed in a long black cloak and donning a black hat, led us on a chilling hour-long walk of St. John’s.
There are two different haunted tours to choose from, Sinners and Spirits Tour and Ghosties and Ghoulies Tour, which is the one I did. We wandered by churches, through darkened alleyways and even across an old forgotten cemetery.
St. John’s is known as one of the oldest cities in North America. So, it’s no surprise that with records dating back to 1545, there are plenty of spooky stories to share. Our storytelling guide shared all sorts of wicked tales of murders, strange happenings, and ghostly soldiers. It was an interesting way to explore the city as darkness descends on it, all while listening to stories that weave history and hauntings together.
Explore Laneways
One of the most unique things to do in St. John’s is explore the city’s laneways! As someone who’s always looking for hidden gems, I’m a firm believer that you never know what you’ll find down an alleyway.
There are countless laneways in St. John’s! And let me set the record straight, they are safe. As a solo female traveller, I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe wandering the alleyways. I even used the laneways to get back to my hotel at night after the ghost walk.
While all of the laneways help get you somewhere, sometimes up a flight of stairs or up a steep hill, they come in all sorts of fashions. Many of the laneways leading up off of Water Street are straight up, but a few, like Scanlon’s Lane, have a winding aspect – and graffiti!
Many also have businesses, like McMurdo’s Lane which is home to the entrance to the Duke of Duckworth, one of the best restaurants in St. John’s.
Beyond the downtown laneways, there are a few in the residential neighbourhood with all of the colourful houses. One of my favourite is Willicott’s Lane. I stumbled upon it on my own wanderings and fell in love with its charm. It takes you behind the colourful row houses and features a little courtyard with a bench in the shade. Plus, behind the one home, which is a Bed & Breakfast, there’s a little free library. I later returned to the lane on the ghost walk, only to learn it’s haunted!
Check out Street Art
I’m always on the hunt for street art when I travel and was thrilled to discover a number of murals in St. John’s. The fun thing is that there is everything from massive murals to graffiti alleyways and smaller pieces hidden around the city.
My favourite mural in St. John’s is on a three-story building that sits on the corner of Water and Adelaide streets. The mural has an underwater theme, featuring iconic St. John’s animals like a seal, humpback whale, giant squid, a puffin and even a creature that’s half moose, half mermaid. Every time I walked by; I spotted something new in the mural. The artist behind it is Kyle Bustin.
Many of the laneways in St. John’s also have murals or graffiti, like Scanlon’s Lane that’s also known as Graffiti Hallway, and Solomon’s Lane.
Beyond the fun colourful murals, there are a number that share a slice of St. John’s history. One is a long mural that runs along McBride’s Hill. It’s called the Great Fire of 1892 Commemorative Mural and is by artists Julie Lewis. Two other murals can be found on Duckworth Street West and in the Outer Battery.
In addition to murals, there are a number of sculptures in St. John’s. There are few popular pieces, like the one at the bottom of the George Street stairs, which is called A Time. But there are a number of off the beaten path ones. An interesting one is on Harbour Drive, behind the Alt Hotel. It looks like a portal.
I also recommend trying to find all the Newfoundland dog statues around the city!
Insider Tip: A colourful piece can also be found among the Jellybean Row houses near the corner of Gower and Colonial streets. Plus, the telephone poles are painted along Kings Road.
Visit Bowring Park
Taking a stroll through Bowring Park is another one of the unique things to do in St. John’s. This hidden gem of a park is often overlooked by visitors because it’s located roughly 10 minutes by car from downtown. However, if you’re a walker like me, you can walk there from downtown in about 1.5 hours.
Bowring Park is over 100 year old and covers 200 acres, making it the largest city park. Within the park are a number of hidden gems that you’ll want to uncover. The park is home to a number of scenic trails and bridges, including a stone bridge. Plus, there are a number of historic monuments and statues. Two of my favourites are the Peter Pan statue and the Caribou Monument. There’s also a waterfall!
I’m a theatre buff, and if you’re looking to enjoy some East Coast theatre, then check out the St. John’s Cabot 500 Theatre. It hosts the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival every summer.
While the park is full of winding pathways, there are two distinct walking trails. The South Brook trail is 3 km and the Waterford River Walk is 6.2 km, which starts at the Mile 0 of the Trans Canada Trail.
See Trans Canada Trail – Zero KM Marker
If you’re an avid hiker or cyclist in Canada then you’ve heard of the Trans Canada Trail. This incredible trail spans over 27,000 km from coast to coast to coast in Canada. And it starts in St. John’s Newfoundland.
I was so excited to visit the zero km marker for the Trans Canada Trail, which is located next to the Railway Coastal Museum on Water Street. You can spot it by the bright blue pavilion that sits in front of the old railcars. I’ve hiked many sections of the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario and try to do a portion of it when travelling to other places in Canada. So, I was excited to see where it starts.
The Trans Canada Trail through Newfoundland stretches 883 kms. Like much of the trail, this section mostly runs over an old railway bed and is called the T’Railway.
Get Screeched In
Along with being one of the most unique experiences, getting screeched in a must addition to the list of things to do in St. John’s for first time visitors.
This weird tradition highlights the fun and quirky side of Newfoundlanders. Getting screeched in makes you an honorary Newfoundlander. All you have to do it recite a tongue-tie inducing speech, kiss a cod and follow it all up with a shot of Screech run.
There are a number of places in St. John’s to get screeched in. A popular pub downtown to do it in is Christian’s Pub on George Street. Or you can do it on many of the boat tours in the area.
Do a Bird Watching Tour
Newfoundland, with its 9,656 km of coastline, is known for the many seabirds that call The Rock, as its affectionately dubbed, home! The most famous is the puffin. This adorable little bird is also the province’s official bird. So, if you’re looking for unique things to do in St. John’s, I highly recommend a bird watching tour.
There are a number to choose from. Two famous ones are Gatherall’s and O’Brien’s boat tours. These boat tours take you out to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve to many of the bird species in Newfoundland that call its coast home. You’ll see puffins, common murres, and more. This experience was incredible to hear the cacophony of thousands of birds as well as see them gathered together on one massive island.
Another tour company that is an amazing hidden gem is Bird the Rock. During my visit, I did a bird watching tour with Bird the Rock and it was one of my favourite tours EVER! Not only did we have a knowledgeable local guide who knew all of the best spots to go bird watching near St. John’s but was a fabulous person to learn more about the area and its wildlife.
Even if you aren’t an avid birder, a bird watching tour offers a unique experience that will take you to some incredible places near St. John’s that you might not know about.
Hidden Gems in St. John’s
Discover Pretty Pocket Parks
While wandering the streets downtown I stumbled upon some interesting parkettes. If you’re looking for quiet off the beaten path places in St. John’s, these little pocket parks are gems.
One of the nicest small parks is Veteran Square. This shady little parkette features a Peacekeepers’ Memorial, which including a statue of a soldier holding a dove. There are a couple of benches to sit and reflect as well as lovely gardens.
Just down the road is another quiet parkette called Constabulary Court. Up a few stairs stands a statue of a constable and young girl. The statue is in honour of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, which date to 1729. It’s also a shady spot with benches.
On the corner of Duckworth and Prescott Street is a unique spot in St. John’s. Known as Angel’s Corner, the parkette features a large curved bench that has a purple mural as the baking. It was surrounded by flowers and had an iron gate that read Angel’s Corner. I later learned that this corner is dedicated to women that have been victims of violence.
Find the Carved Tree
The grounds of the Government House, which is a National Historic Site of Canada, is home to a number of hidden gems in St. John’s. This historic site refers to both the building, which has been the official home of Newfoundland’s governors and lieutenant governors since 1829, as well as the parkland around it.
My favourite gem you’ll find on the grounds is known as The Living Tree. A local Newfoundland artist, Vince Jones, carved the dead tree in 2022. It has a variety of Newfoundland symbols carved in it, including a moose, fish, puffin, and more.
Other gems in the park can be found near the carved tree. Behind the tree in the shade is a lovely bronze statue of knitters. Across the pathway is the Heart Garden which pays tribute to the Indigenous children who were taken from their homes and honours Truth and Reconciliation. At the centre of the garden is a stone heart which is carved of labradorite.
Explore Art Galleries
I was excited and surprised by the number of art galleries in St. John’s. Along with a few that are visible from the street, there are also some hidden ones.
The one that stands out the most is Red Ochre Gallery. Set within a bright red house on Duckworth Street, the gallery is home to fine art by over 25 artists that either live in Newfoundland and Labrador or have a strong connection to it.
Two others that are a little more off the beaten path are Peter Lewis Gallery and Leyton Gallery of Fine Art. Both feature art by regional and international artists. The Peter Lewis Gallery is located in a beautiful historic home.
A unique gallery that’s off of Harbour Drive is Eastern Edge. This contemporary gallery exhibits Canadian and international artists and strives to be inclusive by showcasing art that leans on diverse perspectives.
Above the artisan shop, Craft Council of Newfoundland & Labrador is a hidden gallery. The Craft Council Gallery shares work by the province’s craftspeople. When I visited there was a really cool and creative textile and fashion exhibit.
Another hidden gem of a gallery is located above the Legends Tours. The shop sells their tours, which are amazing, I did two during my visit. Plus, they sell local crafts, books, and other fun souvenirs.
Go to the Marathon of Hope Mile 0
Another hidden gem in St. John’s that marks the beginning of a journey is the Marathon of Hope Mile 0. Along the St. John’s harbour, at the end of Water Street, is the city’s Terry Fox Memorial. Here you’ll find a lovely little park that’s dedicated to the where Terry Fox started is Marathon of Hope.
The park features a statue of Terry fox, inspiring messaging, as well as a bench to sit and reflect or look out over the water.
Do an Escape Room
In the heart of downtown St. John’s there’s a hidden gem that offers a fun and unique experience. That gem is Escape Quest. Inside this unassuming building are four escape rooms that are great for those looking for unique things to do indoors in St. John’s.
Don’t know what escape rooms are? They are themed rooms, often more than one in each game, that you have to uncover clues to break codes and find ways to unlock boxes to solve the quest before the time is up.
With a few friends visiting at the same time I was, we decided to try our luck at escaping the Lost Colony of Atlantis escape room. This escape room was about uncovering the truth behind missing archaeologists that had found the ruins of Atlantis beneath Newfoundland. It was so well done, and I highly recommend trying it if you’re visiting with friends or family.
After our attempt to escape we chatted with the staff about the rooms and who designed them. Turns out the rooms are designed by a group of locals, an English teacher, a set designer and a magician. That’s the perfect combination of skills and it shows in the elaborate designs int eh rooms as well as the stories you have to decipher.
The other escape rooms available are Taken by the Faeries, Best Kind Rewind: A 90’s Adventure, and Undead 2: Patient 709. Ideally, they work best with 2 to 4 people but you can try with a minimum of 2. Plus, they are opened all year long.
Visit the Railway Coastal Museum
As a huge train buff, I love visiting railway attractions wherever I travel. So, I was thrilled to discover that the 1903 Riverhead Station in St. John’s now houses a railway museum. I walked to the stunning building, that’s built with granite from a Newfoundland quarry, from my hotel downtown. It’s located on the edge of downtown a has a number of cool features.
In addition to the museum that takes up the first floor of the former railway station, there’s a Trans Canada Trail pavilion on the property. Plus, there’s a number of old railway cars that make for fun photo-ops.
The Railway Coastal Museum has a couple of exhibits within that shares the history of the Newfoundland Railway as well as coastal transportation. Interestingly, train passenger service ended in 1969 and in 1988 was the last freight train. Now, the railbed has been transformed into the Trans Canada Trail that is known as the T’railway.
Behold the Blue Whale
One of the coolest, and biggest, hidden gems in St. John’s is the skeleton of a blue whale. During one of the local tours I did, our guide when a little off course and stopped at a few off the beaten path places. The location of the blue whale skeleton was one of them.
In the Core Sciences Facility of the Memorial University is where you’ll find this giant treasure! When you enter the building from the main entrance, take a right to a small hallway that has the elevator. Take the elevator to the top floor and make your way out at beyond the massive blue whale skeleton that hangs in the four-story atrium.
The blue whale washed ashore on the west coast of Newfoundland in 2014. And if you’re not visiting during the summer when whales can be spotted off the shore, head over to Memorial University to see this mammoth. It’s not only the largest whale species but the largest animal!
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Add these Hidden Gems in St. John’s to your next trip
With a nickname like The Rock, St. John’s itself is a gem of a destination in Canada. Little did I know before I went that its full of fun and unique experience as well as a boat load of hidden gems. So, if you’ve been to the city before and have already checked off all the top sights, I highly recommend digging deeper to uncover the hidden gems in St. John’s.
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