Saint John
Around Saint John
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · New Brunswick · 130k people
Saint John
“The Port City”, “The Loyalist City”, “The Fog City”
Where the tides turn and the sea meets the soul.
Saint John BlueGold
Welcome to Saint John, where the fog rolls in and the tides are the highest on Earth. Grab a coffee, walk the uptown, and feel the energy of our port city.
Clubs for Saint John
No clubs for Saint John yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Saint John. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Saint John. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Reversing Falls Tidal rapids where the river reverses
- Saint John City Market One of Canada's oldest public markets
- New Brunswick Museum Natural history and art collections
- Imperial Theatre Historic concert and theatre venue
- Harbour Station Arena home of the Sea Dogs
- Fort Howe Historic hilltop fort overlooking the harbour
- Outdoors Walk the Reversing Falls trail
- Outdoors Kayak in the Bay of Fundy
- With kids Rockwood Park
- With kids Saint John City Market
- Evenings Uptown bars on Germain Street
- Evenings Live music at the Imperial Theatre
- Locals love Waterfront boardwalks
- Locals love Historic pubs
Through the year
- Fundy Fringe Festival August Theatre and performance festival in August
- Saint John City Market Night Market Summer Evening market with local food and crafts
- Saint John Sea Dogs home games October-March Hockey at Harbour Station
- Saint John Marathon May Road race through the city
- Uptown First Friday art walk Monthly Monthly gallery and studio openings
Saint John has a humid continental climate with foggy summers and cold, snowy winters. The fog is a trademark, especially in July and August. Best: Late spring to early fall is the best time to be out, with milder temps and longer days.
Talk like a local
- “Uptown”
- The historic downtown core
- “The Fundy”
- The Bay of Fundy
- “The Reversing”
- Reversing Falls
- “Fog”
- Foggy weather, common in summer
Getaways
- Fredericton Capital city with historic sites and riverside trails
- Moncton Vibrant downtown and Magnetic Hill
- Halifax Big city waterfront and nightlife
- Kentville Annapolis Valley wineries and orchards
Local flavour
Teams
- Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL
Eat and drink
- Lobster roll Fresh Atlantic lobster served on a buttered roll – a Maritime staple.
- Clam chowder Creamy chowder made with local clams, often served in a bread bowl.
- Dulse Dried seaweed snack, harvested from the Bay of Fundy – a salty, chewy local treat.
- Fiddleheads Seasonal curled fern greens, foraged in the spring and sautéed or pickled.
Where people go
- Reversing Falls A natural phenomenon where the Bay of Fundy tides force the Saint John River to reverse flow, creating rapids and whirlpools.
- Historic uptown Brick streets, 19th-century architecture, and the iconic City Market – a vibrant downtown core.
- Lighthouses and the Fundy Coast Scenic lighthouses along the Bay of Fundy, including the famous Cape Spencer and the nearby Fundy Trail.
- Foggy harbour The working port and harbour, often shrouded in fog, with ships and cranes silhouetted against the sky.
Heritage and traditions
Saint John is proud of its status as Canada's first incorporated city, its Loyalist heritage, and the dramatic Bay of Fundy tides that shape its harbour and coastline.
This time of year in Saint John
- Fall foliage October October brings vibrant colours to the hills around the city.
Say it like a local: “deed I do” — indeed I do
Festivals
- Loyalist Days May Celebrates the arrival of the Loyalists in 1783 with parades and reenactments.
- Saint John Dragon Boat Festival June Dragon boat races on the harbour with cultural performances.
- Saint John Irish Festival March Irish music, dance, and heritage events in March.
- Saint John Winterfest February Winter carnival with ice sculptures, outdoor games, and warm drinks.
Landmarks with a story
- Loyalist House Built in 1817, this Georgian house museum tells the story of the Loyalist settlers.
- Trinity Royal Heritage Conservation Area A well-preserved Victorian-era district with grand homes and churches.
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception A Roman Catholic cathedral with stunning stained glass and architecture.
- Saint John Stone Church One of the city's oldest churches, built of stone in the 19th century.
- Old Burial Ground A historic cemetery with graves dating to the 1700s, including Loyalist soldiers.
- Partridge Island A former quarantine station and immigration site in the harbour.
Food traditions
- Poutine râpée Acadian potato dumpling with a pork filling, often served at community gatherings and church suppers.
- Rappie pie Acadian potato pie with meat, a hearty dish from the region's French heritage.
- Fish cakes with baked beans A Lenten Friday tradition, often served with molasses.
- Blueberry grunt A Maritime dessert of blueberries and dumplings, a summer favourite.
- Lobster supper A communal feast of fresh lobster, often held at community halls in summer.
Music and arts
- Maritime folk music Traditional songs of the sea and lumber camps are still performed at local pubs.
- Acadian music Influence from the Acadian tradition, with fiddle and accordion tunes.
- Community theatre The Imperial Theatre hosts plays, musicals, and local productions.
- Visual arts at the Saint John Arts Centre A hub for local painters, photographers, and craftspeople.
A little history
- 1783 Loyalist settlers arrive, founding the city.
- 1785 Saint John becomes the first incorporated city in Canada.
- 1877 Great Fire destroys much of the uptown, leading to rebuild in brick.
- 19th century Shipbuilding and timber trade boom, making the port one of the busiest in the Maritimes.
- 1914-1918 Saint John serves as a major embarkation port for Canadian troops.
Rivalries
- Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Moncton Wildcats Hockey rivalry between the two cities
- Saint John vs. Moncton Friendly city rivalry over who's better
- Game day Hockey nights at Harbour Station
- Game day Curling bonspiels
- Outdoors Clam digging at low tide
- Outdoors Sea glass hunting
- With kids Rockwood Park Zoo
- With kids New Brunswick Museum
Locals speak with a Maritime accent, sometimes dropping 'h' and using phrases like 'b'y' for friend. They often say 'right' to mean 'very' and 'sure' to mean 'yes'.
Only here
- The Reversing Falls, where the Bay of Fundy tides reverse the river's flow.
- The highest tides in the world in the Bay of Fundy.
- The fog that rolls in regularly, sometimes so thick you can't see across the street.
- The City Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in Canada.
New here? A few tips
- Dress in layers; fog and wind are common even in summer.
- Pronounce it 'Saint John' (not 'Sin-jin' like in Newfoundland).
- Try dulse and fiddleheads at the City Market—they're local delicacies.
- Be aware of the tides; don't walk on mudflats when the tide is out.
- The uptown is hilly; wear comfortable shoes.
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Nearby
Every areaCharlotte CountyNew BrunswickWhere the highest tides meet the sweetest chocolateOromoctoNew BrunswickWhere the river meets the lakeSussexNew BrunswickWhere the valley meets the maple groves.FrederictonNew BrunswickWhere the river meets the artsAnnapolis ValleyNova ScotiaOrchards, vineyards, and the world's highest tides.KentvilleNova ScotiaWhere the apple blossoms bloom and the tides roll in.MonctonNew BrunswickWhere the tides turn and the welcome is warm.MiramichiNew BrunswickWhere the river runs deep
Saint John. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.