A quick run-through for the first-time visit to Newfoundland, Canada

The beautiful foggy coast of Newfoundland

When you think about Canada, you usually think of Toronto, Montreal, maple syrup, and snow. I didn’t know anything about Newfoundland or Atlantic Canada before I met my husband. In short- the views are amazing, the people are kind and the seafood is spot on. Read on about the basic things you should know before your first visit to Newfoundland, Canada.

Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada’s most eastern province. It was established by English fishermen who settled around the coast. The biggest part of the population lives on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. The biggest city is the capital, St. John’s, with around 113,948 people. The official languages of Canada are English and French, with French predominantly spoken in Quebec province.

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Currency - the Canadian Dollar CAD $

You can use your card in most places, cash or phone pay are not always accepted. For small businesses, cash is better. Money is exchanged in banks and some hotels, there are no exchange shops as Europeans are used to. The first time I exchanged money in the bank it felt like getting free money, as the American dollar is worth more. But it doesn’t go a long way, as it’s not a very affordable place. If you come from Europe, keep in mind that prices are shown without sales tax, which is 15%. It’s a fun surprise when you get to the register to pay.

Fun fact! The one-dollar coin is called a 'loonie' because it features the loon bird. The two-dollar coin is called a 'toonie'.

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Weather

The best time to visit is late July to mid-September. Dress in layers and be ready for swift weather changes. It's also a huge difference while you explore the island, one place can be hot and sunny, meanwhile, an hour away it's overcast and chilly. Summer temperatures can be as low as 16'C / 57' F in July, and goes up to the mid-twenties C/ mid-seventies F. Winters are long and icy, with averages of -4'C / 24F, though the wind chill, in my experience, makes it feel like -30'C / -22F. There could be snow from November to May.

Fog rolls in and out throughout the whole year. The fall season sometimes brings post-tropical storms with high winds.

The overall popular activities in Newfoundland are hiking and partying. There are many beautiful trails of various difficulties. Some can be concluded with a brewery visit, like the Cuckold's Cove Trail and Quidi Vidi Brewery in St. John’s. Or Skerwink Trail and Port Rexton Brewery. George Street in St. John’s is famous for clubbing. A few steps away, O’Reilly is the main attraction during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

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Phone data/ Wi-Fi

It's important to keep in contact while on vacation, especially when it's your first trip to a new country.

Unless your plan covers North America, you'll need to activate roaming services. There are no prepaid cards to purchase. I use a prepaid T-Mobile from the US, with an add-on for service in the whole of North America. In remote areas, while hiking, for example, you might not have reception at all, so prepare in advance. Wi-Fi is not freely available everywhere, some hotels charge extra for it. Phone service prices in Canada are high. Compared to Europe, a Canadian family pays over a hundred dollars more per month for spotty data and calls.

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Healthcare

It's good practice to have medical insurance when traveling anywhere. Visitors in Canada will not receive any free healthcare. There are no private clinics, so your best bet is the emergency room if you have any issues. Residents of Canada receive public-funded health care. There is a shortage of medical personnel in Newfoundland, so even residents have a hard time accessing family or specialty doctors and emergency care. It takes weeks and months for investigations and interventions.

There are few walk-in clinics in St. John's. My best advice is to have travel insurance, but don't have an emergency while you're visiting Newfoundland. Bring extra prescription medication if taking any, as well as a first aid kit.

The dentist's situation is similar. Sometimes it’s difficult to get an appointment and also pricey. Once I had a tooth infection, and after paying a few hundred dollars for a check-up and X-rays, I was referred to a different clinic. I didn't receive any contacts, so I waited for them to call me. They did after six months. This was after I left the country, underwent dental surgery, and came back for another visit.

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Where to stay

If it’s your first time visiting, you should book a hotel downtown for a few days and explore part of Newfoundland from there.

Eat at The Fish Exchange, Yellow Belly, Gypsy Tea House, The Merchant, Oliver’s, and Jack Astors.

Buy souvenirs and local crafts at Posie Row, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, among others.

Walk or drive up Signal Hill and enjoy the view. Wear sneakers, because St. John’s is built on a thousand hills.

After that, rent a car and go visit the island. Your stops should include Cape St. Mary’s, Cape Spear, Mistaken Point, Briggus, Trinity, Port Rexton, Elliston, and Gros Morne.

Off Newfoundland, you can visit Fogo Island, or St. Pierre and Miquelon - a French territory. In Cape Spear, you can see the first sunrise in North America. At Cape St. Mary’s you experience amazing views of the coasts and seabirds. Elliston is where you can view puffins fly, fish, and train their young. Mistaken Point is a UNESCO heritage site with the oldest, largest, and most complex fossils found on Earth.

Laundry services are primarily in St. John's. Self-service laundromats around Newfoundland are rare. Guests at the Holiday Inn Express and Courtyard Marriott in St. John's enjoy self-service laundry rooms. For a longer stay, I suggest an Airbnb, as they usually have a washer and dryer. The downside is that you mostly get to pick between a huge house or someone’s basement.

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Transportation

Taxis are accessible at the airport and by phone order. Uber is now operating in St. John's. You should plan and book accommodations and a rental car about a year in advance. The newest service is Turo, and it comes in aid of car rental shortages. You basically rent a car from a local, and they deliver it where it's convenient for you. When driving around Newfoundland, it's important to know that not all streets or highways are illuminated. Also, outside of St. John's, moose can pop up on the road. They are large, strong animals that can inflict damage on you and the car, so drive carefully. I would definitely not recommend driving in the winter, as it is a surrealist experience of hurtling through a snow vortex.

St. John's offers city buses, but no subways. There are no trains across the island anymore. If you want to relax and not drive, book day trips and tours from St. John's.

Must pack things: waterproof and windproof jacket, sunscreen even when it's overcast, and comfortable walking shoes.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Newfoundland. Follow me for more articles and get inspired for your next adventure!