Saint John

Travel Guide

Saint John is the largest city in New Brunswick and the main port of the Bay of Fundy. Explore Saint John’s charming city center to find classic Victorian architecture and a historic marketplace. Over the centuries, Saint John has seen French, British, American and Irish settlements. The city’s rich history is represented by its gorgeous cityscape. Venture out to the bayside to see incredible natural wonders, including yawning caves and sandstone cliffs, formed by the Bay of Fundy’s record-high tides.

The heart of the city is Market Square, which features a brick mall within the warehouses along the city’s old wharf. Head east on King’s Street to find the colorful brick marketplace of Saint John City Market, built in 1876. See performances by Saint John’s main orchestra, theater troupes and opera company at the Imperial Theater.

Learn about Saint John’s colonial heritage at the Loyalist House. During the warmer months, take a tour of the 1817 Victorian building and see its stately period furnishings. Visit the Carleton Martello Tower, south of the Saint John River, which was built to protect the city during the War of 1812.

Visit Saint John’s extensive and scenic waterfront. Saint John is located at the intersection of the mighty Saint John River and the Bay of Fundy, which features the highest tides in the world. The result of this junction is Reversing Falls, a point in the Saint John River where the water reverses twice every day due to the bay’s tides. Watch the reversal from Fallsview Park or a waterfront restaurant. For another glimpse of the bay’s tidal power, head northeast to St. Martins, where at low tide you can walk through huge caves carved into the sandstone cliffs.

Flights from most major Canadian cities arrive in Saint John’s airport daily. Saint John is a 5-hour drive from Portland, Maine. Summer is the best season to enjoy this historic port town on the remarkable Bay of Fundy.