We always recommend contacting businesses directly to confirm details before planning your visit.
St. John’s has stood at the centre of the New World since the 15th century, so it’s no stranger to visitors. The city is easily accessed by land, sea, and air, with a ferry service from mainland Canada and an international airport minutes from the downtown core. Once you arrive, there are numerous transportation options, including public transit, car rentals, taxi services, and an easy-to-walk and navigate downtown.
We always recommend contacting businesses directly to confirm details before planning your visit.
A provincial hub for both regional and global airline connections, St. John’s International Airport is a great starting – or ending – point for your journey. Bustling and modern, our airport is serviced by all major Canadian and regional airlines.
Approximate travel times to St. John’s by air
From Halifax: 1.5 hours
From Montreal: 2.5 hours
From Ottawa: 3 hours
From Toronto: 3 hours
From Edmonton: 5 hours
From Calgary: 5.5 hours
From London, UK: 5 hours
Approximate travel from St. John’s by air to Labrador: 2 hours
Other Newfoundland & Labrador airports: 1 hour
The St. John’s International Airport is a 10-minute drive from the city centre.
Making your journey by ferry? Marine Atlantic operates a daily year-round ferry between Port aux Basques in southwestern Newfoundland and North Sydney, Nova Scotia. In the summer, there’s a tri-weekly crossing from North Sydney to Argentia – just 131 km from the city of St. John’s. Be sure to book your passage ahead of your journey by calling 1-800-341-7981 or online at www.marineatlantic.ca.
The province also offers a wide range of local ferries and coastal boats dedicated to serving local routes and remote coastal communities. For more information on local ferry services (and to make reservations before travelling), call 1-800-563-6353.
INSIDER TIP: Given the high demand for rental vehicles it is strongly recommend that you reserve your vehicle now. To view current options, please visit this list.
Get off the beaten path and onto the Trans-Canada Highway to explore the infinite wonder of Newfoundland and Labrador. The highway traverses the province, linking Port aux Basques on Newfoundland’s west coast to St. John’s, a distance of 905 km (565 miles), with plenty of opportunities for side trips and scenic detours. Take a day trip around Eastern Newfoundland and explore the colourful outports along the Irish Loop, the Cape Shore, the Baccalieu Trail, the Discovery Trail, the Heritage Run, the Admiral’s Coast and the Killick Coast.
In a place that often seems larger than life, it’s easy to forget that St. John’s is a small city in a very large province. If you’re travelling by car, or interested in exploring the sights, be sure to look at the chart below to get an idea about the distances between popular destinations.
| Distance Chart To convert kilometres to miles, divide by 1.6. |
St. John’s | Argentia | Clarenville | Trinity | Bonavista | Gander | Deer Lake | Port aux Basques | Rocky Harbour | L’Anse aux Meadows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John’s | – | 131 | 189 | 259 | 301 | 331 | 637 | 905 | 708 | 1130 |
| Argentia | 131 | – | 149 | 219 | 259 | 291 | 596 | 865 | 668 | 1059 |
| Clarenville | 189 | 149 | – | 73 | 114 | 149 | 448 | 716 | 519 | 911 |
| Trinity | 259 | 219 | 73 | – | 49 | 198 | 497 | 766 | 568 | 990 |
| Bonavista | 301 | 259 | 114 | 49 | – | 267 | 564 | 807 | 635 | 1027 |
| Gander | 331 | 291 | 149 | 198 | 267 | – | 299 | 568 | 370 | 762 |
| Deer Lake | 637 | 596 | 448 | 497 | 564 | 299 | – | 268 | 71 | 463 |
| Port aux Basques | 905 | 865 | 716 | 766 | 807 | 568 | 268 | – | 339 | 761 |
| Rocky Harbour | 708 | 668 | 519 | 568 | 635 | 370 | 71 | 339 | – | 391 |
| L’Anse aux Meadows | 1130 | 1059 | 911 | 990 | 1027 | 762 | 463 | 761 | 391 | – |
• Accessibility features of St. John’s include audio cues on some traffic lights and curb cuts on all intersections in the downtown core.
• Streets running north to south in our downtown have steep hills.
• Many St. John’s downtown buildings have heritage status so wheelchair accessibility is limited.
• Please contact individual business for more detailed information.
• For additional inclusion inquiries, please contact InclusionNL at 1.844.517.1376.
THE FOLLOWING ATTRACTIONS HAVE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
Bannerman Park has an accessible children’s splash pad with many of their trails featuring wheelchair accessibility (paved & gravel trails).
Bowring Park is equipped with an accessible children’s play set and splash pad. Bowring Park trails feature wheelchair accessibility (paved & gravel trails).
Cape Spear, 709.772.2191 (voice), [email protected]
Government House, 50 Military Rd., 709.729.2669 (voice), [email protected]
Harbourside Park, Water St. East, 709.576.8106 (voice), 1.844.570.2009 (toll free), [email protected]
Johnson GEO Centre, 175 Signal Hill Rd., 709.864.3200 (voice), 1.866.868.7625 (toll free), [email protected]
Signal Hill Visitor Centre, 230 Signal Hill Rd., 709.772.5367 (voice), [email protected]
MUN Botanical Garden, 306 Mount Scio Rd., 709.864.8590 (voice), [email protected]
National War Memorial, accessible entrance Duckworth St. East
Quid Vidi Village Plantation, 10 Maple View Rd., 709.570.2038 (voice), [email protected]
Railway Coastal Museum, 495 Water St., 709.570.2143 (voice), [email protected]
The Rooms, 9 Bonaventure Ave., 709.757.8000 (voice), [email protected]
THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY SUPPORTS ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
Empower the Disability Resource Centre for cross-disability supports contact , 4 Escasoni Pl., 709.722.4031 (voice), 1.866.722.7998 (TTY), [email protected]
Canadian Hard of Hearing St. John’s office, 1081 Topsail Rd, 709.753.3224 (voice), 709.725.3224 (text), 1.888.753.3224 (toll free), [email protected] — Hearing devices can be borrowed from the Canadian Hard of Hearing.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), St. John’s office, 70 The Boulevard, 709.754.1180 (voice), [email protected]
American Sign Language interpretation contact Newfoundland and Labrador Association of the Deaf, 33 Pippy Place, 709.726.6523 (voice), 709.325.5008 (text), [email protected]
Mental Health Crisis Line Phone Line, 709.737.4668
FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES OR TO RENT OR REPAIR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Aim Services, Lawtons Home Health Care, 496 Topsail Rd., 709.576.3400 (voice)
Eastern Medical Supplies, 95 military Rd., 709.754.7711 (voice), 1.800.567.6300 (toll free), [email protected]
Essential Medical Supplies, 323 Hamilton Ave., 709.722.6532 (voice), [email protected]
Resource Centre for the Arts is wheelchair accessible, 709.753.4531 (voice), [email protected]
THESE EVENT VENUES OFFER GROUP LISTENING DEVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HEARING AID USERS AND THE SPACES ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
Arts and Culture Centre, 709.729.3900 (voice – box office), [email protected]
Mile One Centre, 709.758.1111 (voice), [email protected]
THE FOLLOWING HOTELS OFFER WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ROOMS WITH WHEEL IN SHOWERS OR BATHS WITH GRAB RAILS
Alt Hotel, 125 Water St., 709.383.2125 (voice), [email protected]
The Capital Hotel, 208 Kenmount Rd., 1.800.503.1603 (toll free)
DoubleTree by Hilton St. John’s Harbourview, 2 Hill O’Chips, 709.383.1475 (voice)
Fairfield Inn & Suites, 199 Kenmount Rd., 709.722.5540 (voice)
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, 411 Stavanger Dr., 709.738.4888 (voice)
Holiday Inn, 180 Portugal Cove Rd., 709.722.0506 (voice), [email protected]
Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. John’s Airport, 5 Navigator Ave., 709.738.0123 (voice), [email protected]
Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, 709.726.4980 (voice)
Super 8 by Wyndham, 175 Higgin’s Line, 709.700.1167 (voice)
THE FOLLOWING HOTELS HAVE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ROOMS WITH VARIOUS BATHROOM FEATURES
Comfort Hotel St. John’s, 106 Airport Rd., 709.753,3500 (voice)
Courtyard by Marriott, 131 Duckworth St., 709.722.6636 (voice)
Delta St. John’s Hotel, 120 New Gower St., 709.739.6404 (voice)
JAG Hotel, 115 George St. West, 1.844.564.1524 (toll free), [email protected]
THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC POOLS ARE LOCATED IN A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE LOCATION AND THE POOLS ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MOBILITY DISABILITY
Ches Penney Family Y – YMCA, 35 Ridge Rd., 709.726.9622, [email protected]
Paul Reynolds Community Centre 35 Carrick Drive, St. John’s, NL 709.576.8631, [email protected]
H.G.R. Mews Community Centre, 40 Mundy Pond Rd., 709.576.8499, [email protected]
MOST CHAIN RESTAURANTS ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. LOCAL WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE RESTAURANTS INCLUDE
Café at the Rooms, 9 Bonaventure Ave. (The Rooms), 709.757.8090 (voice)
Ches’s Famous Fish & Chips, 8 Highland Drive, 709.738.5022 (voice)
East Side Mario’s, 180 Portugal Cove Rd. (Holiday Inn), 709.722.6900 (voice)
Exile Restaurant and Lounge (Jag Hotel), 115 George St. West, 709.738.1524 (voice)
Hungry Heart Café, 142 Military Rd., 709.738.6164 (voice)
Jack’s Restaurant, 208 Kenmount Rd. (Capital Hotel), 709.738.4480 (voice)
The Little Sparo, 2 Hill O’Chips (Doubletree), 709.758.4252 (voice), [email protected]
Mallard Cottage, 8 Barrows Rd., Quidi Vidi Village, 709.237.7314 (voice), [email protected]
Bivver, 115 Cavendish Square (Sheraton Hotel), 709.726.4980 (voice), [email protected]
O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub, 13 George St., 709.722.3735 (voice), [email protected]
St. John’s Fish Exchange Kitchen & Wet Bar, 351 Water St., 709.739.7539 (voice), [email protected]
The Pantry Café & Catering, 70 Clinch Crescent, 709-722-8200 (voice), [email protected]
The Pinnacle, 120 New Gower St. (Delta Hotel), 709.570.1610 (voice)
THE FOLLOWING SHOPPING CENTRES ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
Atlantic Place, 215 Water St.
Avalon Mall, 48 Kenmount Rd., (709) 753-7144 (voice), [email protected]
Village Shopping Centre, 430 Topsail Rd., (709) 364-7011
Accessible para-transport system, GoBus 709.570.2131(voice), [email protected]
Accessible public bus, Metrobus routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 14 and 23 — check specific bus stops to confirm level of accessibility, 709.722.9400 (voice), Text ‘ALF’ to 393939 (text)
Accessible public taxis, Newfound Cabs 709.744.4444 (voice), [email protected]
Discover Accessible Places with the app Access Now.
Free from Apple App Store | Free from Google Play
The BlindSquare Event App supports pedestrians who benefit from wayfinding technology to safely navigate the Downtown Pedestrian Mall and find points of interest.
Free for iPhone users from Apple App Store
Metrobus public bus system services the city of St. John’s. Schedules are available at www.metrobus.com or by calling 709-722-9400.