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15 Fun Things to do in Saint John, New Brunswick

Whether you are a visitor or a resident of the historic city of Saint John, the fun never stops in SJ. Here’s a list of things to do in Saint John, New Brunswick, to make each day special.

When you step into the city of Saint John New Brunswick, you will know that you have stepped into a city that has a story. It’s in the gentle and kind manner of the natives. It’s in the incredible linkage of families who can trace their roots to long before 1785 when the city was created by the Royal Charter.

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Saint Johners are unique

  • Saint Johners of the province of New Brunswick would resent you for referring to their beloved city as St. John’s. They would quickly and patiently point out that though both cities were named after St. John the Baptist, and are on the east coast of Canada in the Maritime province, the similarity ends there. Both cities are in fact, 1700 km apart and in separate provinces.
  • A native of Saint John, New Brunswick would also tell you that there is no Downtown in Saint John – only Uptown.
  • Beware, if you are making travel arrangements and your ticket reads St. John, you’ll find yourself in Newfoundland even though the airport codes are completely different. YYT is for St. John’s NL and YSJ is for Saint John NB.

There are lots of outdoor activities to enjoy in SJ and if you’re an active person, you’ll love it in Saint John, with its dramatic 4 seasons and its friendly and welcoming community. This is Saint John – the city with a big heart.

Where is Saint John, NB?

Saint John is a city in the south-central part of the province of New Brunswick. It is fondly called the seaport city because of the port which is situated at the mouth of the Saint John River, and which was at one time, an important point of entry into Canada. Although over the years, an airport was built in 1952, thereby reducing the traffic into Canada through the port of Saint John, the city still retains its importance as a shipping link to the rest of Canada.

things to do in saint john

The city of Saint John is along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. It is the oldest city in Canada, incorporated by royal charter on May 18, 1785.

Population of Saint John City as at 2021

According to the 2021 population record, Saint John City has a total of 69,895 residents. This is an improvement on the population record of 2016 which placed Saint John’s population at 67,575. This simply means that between 2016 and 2021, 2,320 more people, decided to make the city of Saint John, New Brunswick, home.

Fact: Saint John is the second-largest city in New Brunswick.

Neighboring cities to Saint John

The following cities are close to Saint John, New Brunswick:

Fredericton. Fredericton is 108 km or 67 miles from Saint John. It takes 37 minutes to fly from Fredericton International Airport to Saint John Airport, and 1 hour 7 minutes to drive.

Moncton. Moncton is 156 km or 97 miles from Saint John. It takes 40 minutes to fly from Greater Moncton International Airport to Saint John Airport, and 1hr 35 minutes by road.

Halifax. Halifax is 415 km or 258 miles from Saint John. It takes 46 minutes to fly from Halifax Stanfield International Airport to Saint John Airport, and 3hrs 55 minutes to drive.

Portland, Maine. Portland, Maine is 478 km or 297 miles from Saint John. It takes 58 minutes to fly from Portland International Jetport to Saint John Airport and 4hrs 44minutes to drive from Portland Maine to Saint John.

Montreal. Montreal is 916 km or 569 miles from Saint John. It takes 1hr 14 minutes to fly from Montr Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Saint John Airport and 8hrs 49 minutes to drive.

New York. New York is 985 km or 612 miles to Saint John. It takes 1hr 39 minutes to fly from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York to Saint John Airport and 9hrs 46 minutes to drive.

How to get to Saint John by Air and Road

Saint John Airport (YSJ) is an airport of entry. This means that Saint John Airport is an airport through which immigrants can legally enter Canada. Some popular flights and routes that connect with Saint John Airport are Air Canada (from Montreal & Toronto); Flair Airlines (Kitchener/Waterloo & Toronto); PAL Airlines (Halifax); Porter Airlines (Ottawa & Toronto Island), Sunwing Airlines (Varadero, Cuba) and Swoop (Toronto)

It’s always best to get to Saint John by road, as it gives you an opportunity to view the beautiful scenery as you move along. The Saint John Throughway Route 1 goes through the west to connect to the United States border. Same Route 1 heads to the northeast towards Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Route 7 major highway connects Saint John to Fredericton.

15 unique things to do in Saint John, New Brunswick

Saint John is grouped into east, west, north, and south. Each section has its own set of entertainment and fun. Here’s a list of 15 unique things to do in Saint John, New Brunswick.

things to do in saint john

#1. Rush to the Reversing Falls and Rapids.

The first thing you should do once you get the chance is to rush to Reversing Falls Skywalk to view one of nature’s wonders. The science behind the Reversing Falls of Saint John is interesting. The Bay of Fundy reverses the flow of the Saint John River twice a day and it’s even more interesting after a rainstorm.

The Saint John River empties into the Bay of Fundy. The tides at the Bay of Fundy are the highest tides in the world. As the Saint John River empties into the Bay of Fundy, the tides from the Bay rise, clashing with the flow of the river, forming strong rapids.  The tides from the Bay of Fundy rise and overpower the river, thereby reversing the flow. You can see the river flowing one way and smashing against the tide, creating rapids.

#2. Dare to stand on the Skywalk

The Reversing Rapids Skywalk is the best place to view the mighty tides of the Bay of Fundy. Twice a day, the highest tides in the world force the Saint John River to flow backward, and the effect is magnificent. Imagine viewing this phenomenon from a glass top, standing just a few meters higher than the highest tides. Do you think you could stand on the Skywalk when the tides rise?

#3. Take a Historic Walk Uptown

Would you like to go on a walking tour, to retrace the footsteps that were taken by the early settlers along the Saint John River?

If you start early, you’ll be able to walk through the Loyalist Trail, the Victorian Stroll, and the Prince William Walk.

The Trail will take you through the County Court; King’s Square; City Market; Stone Church on Carlton Street, Loyalist House on Union Street, and Barbour’s General Store, among others. Don’t forget to pop into the Old Burial Ground as you move downtown.

#4. See a show at the Historic Imperial Theatre

The historic Imperial Theatre is ‘the most beautifully restored theatre in Canada’. At one time in the 1950s, the theatre was turned into a church. Years later, the people of Saint John took the church and restored it to its original glory.

The Saint John Imperial Theatre was founded by Walter Golding who was trained by Louis B. Mayer, founder of MGM Studios.

The Saint John’s Imperial Theatre is known to host special events and touring companies.

#5. Lots of fun at Rockwood Park

Rockwood Park offers free admission. The park is located in the northeast of the city center, uptown. It houses a zoo, horse stables, a golf course, freshwater lakes, waterfalls, and caves. It is loaded with year-round activities for both young and old. Visitors can swim, fish, kayak, and trek the trails in summer.

In winter, snowshoeing, ice skating, skating, and sleigh rides are popular sports at the park. Time for lunch? The park has a lovely restaurant where you can relax and be treated to a nice meal.

#6. Shop at the City Market

The City Market is a great place to shop for unique foods and crafts which can only be found in Saint John, New Brunswick. The market is an indoor type, located in the Uptown and with entrances on Charlotte and Germain Street.

The Saint John City Market is the oldest market in North America and was built in 1876. It is also a National Historic Site, after surviving the Great Fire of 1877, despite the loss of more than a thousand buildings around.

The market is open throughout the year, from Monday to Saturday.

#7. Eat Saint John’s Local Cuisine

Saint John was formerly colonized by the French and British, and this largely affected their local cuisine. Added to this is the influx of Irish immigrants into the Saint John community. As a result, local restaurants and pubs feature dishes like shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash, and fish & chips. Other dishes are poutine râpée, coques frites, and fiddlehead soup.

#8. Have a drink on you

The local breweries and wineries of Saint John should be top on your to-do list. The 3 major local breweries in the city are Gahan House Port City, Loyalist Brewing Co, and Big Tide Brewing Co. They have their own unique ales, stouts, and bitters. On a cold night, you can count on a hot glass of fire cider made with fresh ginger and a touch of cayenne pepper. There are homemade lemonades for people who want to stay away from alcohol.

#9. The Saint John Zip Line – another way to view the Rapids

You must be quite brave to consider viewing the Reversing Rapids from high up in the air on a wire suspended above the river. There are five zip lines, the last of which takes you over the river. During the lowest tide, the zip line is about 100 feet above the water and at the highest tides, you will be about 50 feet above the water. Yes, it’s an exciting way to view the Saint John River and the Reversing Rapids but it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted!

#10. Visit the National Historic Sites

The city has a lot of National Historic Sites. One of them is the Bank of New Brunswick building on Prince William Street. This was Canada’s first bank established by Royal Charter.

Another historic site is Fort Howe. It is said that if you climb on top of the hill at Fort Howe, you can view the sunset in Saint John. Other sites are the Carleton Martello Tower and the Fort Menagoueche, among others.

#11. Hike the trails of Irving Nature Park

The park has plenty of hiking trails from where you can see the Bay of Fundy. It has 6 different ecosystems, making it an interesting hike through woods, marshes, and finally to beaches. There are sandy beaches where you can lay out a picnic basket, dig your feet into the sand, or simply bird-watch. The park is located on the west side of Saint John, and admission is free.

#12. Kayak at Hopewell Rocks

One of the effects of the dramatic Fundy tides is at Hopewell Cape where great pillars were able to survive the towering tides of the Fundy. The pillars of Hopewell Cape are best seen when the tides are low, leaving the great stones as high as 21 meters above the ocean floor, and you can walk safely among them. When the tides are high, the rocks appear to be tree-covered islands with vegetation growing above them.

Looking at the Hopewell Rocks from afar, they appear to be flower pots filled with trees. People call them the Flowerpot Rocks.

When the tides are low, there are guided tours with lectures about their formation. As the tides hit them, these rocks continue to change shape. People take pictures of the rocks, only to return after some time, to compare the shapes of the rocks with their past visits.

When the tides are high, it’s an opportunity for people to kayak among the rocks of Hopewell.

#13. A walk through Harbour Passage

From Broadwalk Uptown to the Old Museum on Douglas Avenue, Harbour Passage is a red paved walking path that bikers and skaters love to play on. It connects Uptown Saint John to its North End. In summer, it’s great to just stroll through the passage. It’s well lit at night too, but of course, nighttime is not the best time to stroll alone or bike either. Just ensure you have company if you decide to stroll at night.

#14. What’s a city without a museum?

The New Brunswick Museum is located in the city’s Uptown, at Market Square. Children love to visit the museum and can’t get enough of the skeletons of whales, the local history information, artworks, and scientific displays at the museum. There is a Discovery Centre with many educational activities for all ages.

#15. Experience the Inside Connection

In winter, it is possible to travel on foot between the City Market, Brunswick Square Mall, Market Square, the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, Mercantile Centre, Hilton Hotel, Delta Hotel, and Harbour Station without touching foot outside! That is the magic of the ‘Inside Connection’. These places at Uptown Saint John are connected underground with pedestrian walkways to enable people to move about as easily as possible, especially in winter.

Best things to do in Saint John this weekend

This weekend would be the best time to visit some less known but interesting places in Saint John, One of such places is Partridge Island. The island has a long history as a military site during the second world war. The island may have been long forgotten but still very interesting, with its lighthouse and graveyards, and of course, relics from the war. It was recently opened to the public after a long period of closure. The island is best visited by kayak.

The Imperial Theatre has great entertainment for film lovers. Also, music lovers would enjoy Friday night music with various DJs.

You can also join the rest of the active community in the annual marathon tagged ‘Run the Marathon by the Sea’. It usually comes up mid-year.

Things to do in Saint John today

  1. This would be the best day to give back to the Saint John community. There is a lot of volunteer work going on regularly, to help keep Saint John city alive.
  • You can participate in a charity walk or run
  • Host fundraising events and donate the money to various causes
  • Volunteer at a local nonprofit organization
  • Keep Saint John city clean

2. Every Thursday night on South Market Street, from 5 to 10 pm, you can stroll over for some unique food and relaxation with family and friends.

3. Comedy nights are popular at the Punch Lines Comedy Club. There, you will be entertained by local and international comedy talents for 2 hours. You wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to have lots of laughs.

Best time to visit Saint John

When would be the best time to visit Saint John?

The best time to visit Saint John is in the spring and summer because of the boardwalk activities in Saint John which are the best in all of New Brunswick. Also, during both seasons (late March to early September) the landscape is more colorful, with an array of flowers.

The best time to ski is around March when the fresh snow is deepest.

However, summers in Saint John can be foggy, cooler, and more humid.

June to August are the busiest months in SJ because of the influx of tourists. As a result, hotel accommodation and flights to Saint John tend to be expensive. You may want to book ahead, to get the best deals.

FAQs

Are there areas in Saint John NB that are not affected by the flood?

Only a small portion of the city is affected by the flood in springtime, and it is the area along the Saint John River and Grand Bay.

Snow and water from half of New Brunswick and parts of Maine and Quebec, glow down the Saint John River, through the Reversing Falls, and to the sea. However, because most of the city is built on hills, there is very little damage.

What part of SJ is the best place to live?

Saint John is quite affordable and housing is cheap. Whether you decide to live in the valley communities of Rothesay and Quispamsis, or Eastside (near the refinery), Northend (Millidgeville), or Westside, SJ is quite safe and welcoming.

Conclusion

Saint Johners would tell you that there’s no better place to be, than the city of Saint John. A few days spent in this beautiful city would prove them right. The people’s gentle way of life, the beautiful homes in Canada’s oldest city, the breathtaking scenery, all combine to give you a fulfilling experience. Little wonder the city was nicknamed Saint Awesome! Plus, it’s not St. John’s. It’s Saint John. Welcome.