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Major city · Canada

Bonavista

Give Bonavista 2 nights: one full day for the cape, lighthouse and town, one for Elliston and the trails. Skip it Nov–April, when most businesses close.

Bonavista sits at the tip of its own peninsula, about 3.5 h by car from St. John's, and is where Cabot is said to have made landfall in 1497. It is a small outport town of roughly 3,500 people with a lighthouse you can enter, 19th-century harbour architecture, puffins at Elliston and icebergs offshore in late spring. Nearly everything tourist-facing shuts from November to April, so the trip is a summer one.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep; May–Jun for icebergs, mid-Apr–mid-Aug for puffins
avoid Nov–Apr (most businesses closed), and any trip built around a single boat tour in shoulder season
Airports
St. John's International (YYT) · Gander International (YQX)
Nights
2

About Bonavista

Bonavista is a town at the northern tip of the Bonavista Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is roughly 3½ hours by car from St. John's and about 3 hours from Gander, with road access from Port Blandford, the Bonavista Overpass or Clarenville. The town is known for its 19th-century outport architecture, its historic churches and civic buildings, and its connection to the 1497 landfall of John Cabot. A snow crab fishery and tourism now support the town, whose population is around 3,500. Most visitor businesses close from November to April, while July and August are the busiest months.

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Bonavista: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices

See

What is worth your time in Bonavista.

  • Cape Bonavista Lighthouse — A historic lighthouse with an interpretive museum, one of few such lighthouses open to entry, and the ticket also covers the Mockbeggar Plantation.
  • Mockbeggar Plantation — The restored family home of Newfoundland's first Canadian Senator, furnished to the 1940s and toured by staff.
  • Ryan Premises — A Parks Canada National Historic Site made up of 19th-century buildings from the Ryan family's cod business, now holding museums and art displays.
  • Matthew Legacy — Holds a narrative museum on Cabot's voyage and a replica of his ship Matthew, built in 1997 for the 500th anniversary of the landing.
  • Home from the Sea — A multimedia museum in Elliston on the early seal hunt, with a gallery of 20th-century seal-hunt paintings.

Do

  • Watch icebergs from shore or scenic viewpoints in May and June.
  • Look for puffins on the Bonavista cape in the evenings, a few hours before sunset, from mid-April to mid-August.
  • Take a whale watching tour from Bonavista port; three operators run trips of about 2½ to 3 hours.
  • Walk or cycle the town's flat roads and laneways between the Harbour, Church Street and older sections.

Eat and drink

Specialities of this place.

  • Snow crab — A sustainable snow crab fishery is named as part of the town's recent resurgence.
  • Salt cod — Cod fishing was long the town's main industry, and wooden fishing flakes once used to dry salt cod stand throughout town.

Customs

  • Conversations with locals tend to be long and wide-ranging, and the people are described as among the friendliest in Newfoundland.
  • The town retains outport architecture from the 19th century and earlier, including churches, an Orange Hall, a court house and fishing flakes.
  • Tourism wanes in winter, so many businesses shut from November to April or longer, while July and August are in full swing.
Emergency numbers for Bonavista911 ▾
  • Police, fire and ambulance911
  • Health advice line (NL, 24 h)811

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Bonavista, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$2.50–4.50 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a gas stationC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)C$2.50–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Shirran's taxi or shuttle, Bonavista to St. John's, one waycheckC$40 (≈ US$30)
  • Museum or sight ticketLighthouse and Mockbeggar combined entry, adultcheckC$6 (≈ US$5)
  • Budget bedHostel or shared bed, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedInn or B&B double room, a night, per roomC$180 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedInn or B&B double room, a night, per roomC$280 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$260 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Cape Bonavista LighthouseCabot's 1497 landfall storyPuffins at EllistonIcebergs in May and JuneOutport architecture and fishing flakes
Airports
YYT St. John's International (About 3.5 h by car; the usual arrival point for the peninsula.) · YQX Gander International (About 3 h by car; a few regional flights.)

Map of Bonavista

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

EastportGlovertownClarenvilleCarbonearGander

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Bonavista
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −1°C (30°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    −1°C (30°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    1°C (34°F)

  4. Apr

    Care

    4°C (39°F)

  5. May

    Best

    9°C (48°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    14°C (57°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    1°C (34°F)

Best: May–Sep. Mixed: Apr. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)), coolest Feb (−9°C (16°F) low), wettest Dec (15 rain days), driest Jul (10). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Bonavista: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−1°C (30°F)

−8°C (18°F)

14 rd

Feb

−1°C (30°F)

−9°C (16°F)

12 rd

Mar

1°C (34°F)

−6°C (21°F)

13 rd

Apr

4°C (39°F)

−3°C (27°F)

12 rd

May

9°C (48°F)

1°C (34°F)

12 rd

Jun

14°C (57°F)

5°C (41°F)

11 rd

Jul

19°C (66°F)

10°C (50°F)

10 rd

Aug

19°C (66°F)

11°C (52°F)

11 rd

Sep

16°C (61°F)

8°C (46°F)

12 rd

Oct

11°C (52°F)

4°C (39°F)

14 rd

Nov

6°C (43°F)

0°C (32°F)

14 rd

Dec

1°C (34°F)

−5°C (23°F)

15 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is flat, traffic is light and the centre is walkable, so most people park once and walk Church Street and the harbour. A car is needed for the lighthouse, The Dungeon, White Rock and Elliston; the distances are short but there is no local bus. Bicycles work well on the quiet roads.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Elliston and the puffin viewing point

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive Route 238 south about 15 min, then follow signs through the town to the cape

Puffins are usually visible even at midday here; bring binoculars.

Trinity and Port Union

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Drive Route 230 west, then Route 239 north to Trinity

A full day if you add Port Union and the Trinity pages; too much to combine with the cape.

The Dungeon Provincial Park

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive the cape road past the lighthouse turn-off

Free, open all hours, and a short stop on the way back from the lighthouse.

St. John's

skip

Door to door: About 3.5 h

Drive Route 230 to the Trans-Canada, then east

Too far for a day return; treat it as the arrival or departure leg.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Church Street and the Harbour

The walkable core: restaurants, shops, the bridge over the inlet, and the historic churches. Best base without a car.

Roper Street and the inner harbour

Waterfront inns and the Matthew Legacy; a few minutes' walk from Church Street.

Cape Shore Road and the north end

Quieter, closer to the lighthouse road and the Cape Shore Trail; you will want a car.

Elliston

About 15 min south; the base for the puffin viewing point and the Klondike Trail.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or B&B double room1 × 2 nights × C$180C$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$160C$640
Car hire, one day, small car1 × C$70 · checkC$70
Whale and puffin boat tour, adult2 × C$80 · checkC$160
Lighthouse and Mockbeggar combined entry, adult2 × C$6 · checkC$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$129
Trip total≈ C$355 per person per day, bed includedC$1,421≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax is added at checkout. Flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2.50–4.50 (≈ US$2–4)
Diner main (fish and chips, seafood)C$12–22 (≈ US$9–16)
Restaurant main, Boreal-styleC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a gas stationC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) / C$2.50–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Lighthouse and Mockbeggar combined entry, adultcheckC$6 (≈ US$5)
Whale and puffin boat tour, adultcheckC$65–90 (≈ US$50–70)
Shirran's taxi or shuttle, Bonavista to St. John's, one waycheckC$40 (≈ US$30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Bonavista is a small, low-crime town and feels safe on foot after dark. The real risks are weather, cliff edges, patchy cell coverage and long drives on moose roads at dusk.
  • Most restaurants, shops and attractions close November–April or longer; check opening dates before booking a shoulder-season trip.
  • Boat tours and whale sightings depend on weather and season: confirm departure the day before, and expect cancellations in wind.
  • Cell coverage is patchy on the cape and along the trails; download offline maps before you leave town.
  • Cliff edges and the puffin colony are unprotected in places: stay back from the edge and keep to paths.
  • Fuel up in Clarenville or Bonavista before driving the peninsula; stations are sparse in between.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire and ambulance
911
Health advice line (NL, 24 h)
811

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BonavistaBonavista

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire and ambulance911
  • Health advice line (NL, 24 h)811

Embassy

No embassies in Bonavista. The US consulate general is in Halifax; most other countries' embassies are in Ottawa, with consulates in Toronto, Montréal or Halifax.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Shirran's shuttle, Bonavista to St. John's: about C$40 (≈ US$30) one way, departs Bonavista around 07:00, from St. John's around 14:00 (check)
  • Whale and puffin boat tour, adult: C$65–90 (≈ US$50–70) for about 2.5–3 h (check)
  • Lighthouse and Mockbeggar combined entry: about C$6 (≈ US$5) adult, C$4 (≈ US$3) senior, C$3 (≈ US$3) child 5–15 (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • How much is that? — How much is it?
  • Do you take card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the washroom? — Where is the toilet?

English is the everyday language here; Newfoundland English has its own words and a fast accent, so ask again if you miss something.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bonavista. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep; May–Jun for icebergs, mid-Apr–mid-Aug for puffins · avoid Nov–Apr (most businesses closed), and any trip built around a single boat tour in shoulder season · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YYT and YQX: last sensible arrival time, car hire desk hours, overnight rung in Clarenville.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Church Street and the bridge, the harbour and Roper Street, the lighthouse road, Elliston.
  3. Place pages with verified opening dates and last entry (lighthouse, Mockbeggar, Ryan Premises, Matthew Legacy, Home from the Sea).
  4. Boat-tour and weather fixtures so the whale and puffin pages can go green or be flagged as cancelled.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources

Ask about Bonavista

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