Newfoundland is a landscape unto itself, the rocky bays may be filled with icebergs, puffins may swoop in the sunshine, or whales may breach and bask. It also has a culture unto itself. There are tiny fishing villages with their own dialects - some of them more Dublin than Toronto. There are Viking remains, wonderfully historic towns and cities which have remained unchanged since their heydays as fishing behemoths and a surprisingly modern and lively capital, St. John’s. Our Guru’s recommendations for the best places to stay in Newfoundland range from family run B&Bs to incredible feats of architecture.
Some of our Newfoundland collections:
One of the reasons Newfoundland has so much of its own character is that it only joined Canada in 1949 (before that it was a British colony), but the region’s remoteness also plays a part. The landscape is dramatic and extremely beautiful. From the varied coastline to the varied interior. There is a lot of water-versus-rock drama everywhere you look.
Newfoundland is a big place, but Western Newfoundland is where you’ll find the Gros Morne National Park (stay in either Norris Point or Rocky Harbour), the Long Range Mountains and L’Anse aux Meadows and many of the old Viking settlements and relics. Central Newfoundland is where you’ll find Fogo Island and the Change Island and Gander International Airport. To the north, just off the Great Northern Peninsula, you'll come across Quirpon Island, a truly magical spot, where you feel as if you're on the edge of the world.
It’s big, but it’s also famously friendly. Even though you might not understand the dialect to begin with, you will know you’re being welcomed.
There’s a lot to see and do here, so if you want to see all of Newfoundland you’ll probably want to choose several of our Guru’s recommendations for the best places to stay in Newfoundland to use as bases.
What Not to miss
- St. John’s, the oldest city in North America and a colourful, independent place with some great historical landmarks and a great foodie scene.
- L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, where Leif Ericksson and his Viking compatriots lived in around 1000AD.
- Gros Morne National Park, an extraordinarily beautiful, Heritage Listed region of flat-topped mountains and spectacular tablelands, of fjord like waterways scattered with colourful fishing villages and of incredible geological significance.
- The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, which has a huge puffin colony and is a great place to see other birds and wildlife, including whales.
Whatever your reason to visit, and whatever your budget or taste, our pick of the best places to stay in Newfoundland has something to suit everyone!
