Getting Around St. John's
St. John's is a driver-dominated city, and its road layout is haphazard enough that a map or GPS is essential for visitors. That said, several options exist for getting around without a car, and the downtown core is compact enough to explore on foot.
Rail, Metro and Tram
St. John's has no rail, metro or tram network for visitors to use. Getting around the city is done by bus, car, taxi or on foot.
Buses and Public Transport
The city's public transit system is Metrobus. It serves nearly all of St. John's, with limited service to the neighbourhoods of Shea Heights, Kilbride and the Goulds, as well as the neighbouring city of Mount Pearl. Surrounding communities are not served by bus.
- Fares: A single ride costs $2.50 for adults and seniors, and $2.00 for children. Fares are not distance-based, making the bus a cheap way to get around town.
- Paying: If you pay cash, have the exact fare ready — drivers do not give change. Credit and debit cards are not accepted on buses.
- mCard: You can buy an mCard from a Metrobus service point. This is a smart card that can be loaded with money and used to pay onboard, or loaded with a 10-ride or monthly pass. A ten-ride pass costs $22.50 for adults and $18.00 for seniors and children.
- Planning: Routes and the current position of any bus can be checked on the Metrobus website or app.
A few practical cautions: buses are frequently late or early and are not considered a reliable transportation option by locals, and walking is often quicker for journeys under 4 km, especially for destinations that aren't on main roads. Bus stops typically have no shelters or benches and are not cleared during winter — after a snowfall, stops are often buried by snowbanks. Bus trips usually involve walking for the beginning and end legs of the journey. Some buses are accessible for people with mobility issues, but sidewalks and stops are not accessible, especially in winter; Metrobus operates GoBus Accessible Transit, a shared ride, door-to-door service, as an alternative.
During the summer, a private Hop On Hop Off bus service connects downtown, Quidi Vidi, Cape Spear and Signal Hill.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in St. John's; a taxi from the airport to downtown costs about $25. Chauffeured car rentals and tours are also offered by several providers, including Black Car Service, Corporate Concierge and Jimmy's Sedan Service.
Walkability
The downtown core can be easily explored on foot if you have full mobility. Water Street is the main stroll, with a wide range of drinking establishments, restaurants and distinctive shopping; for several weeks during the summer, a section of Water Street is made pedestrian-only. George Street, just above Water at the west end of the downtown core near City Hall and the Convention Centre, is a concentration of nightclubs, taverns and restaurants that is typically busy any night of the week, with patrons spilling onto patios and the street. Adjacent streets such as Duckworth Street also have interesting shopping and restaurants, and there are a number of liquor-licensed billiards halls. Quidi Vidi Lake, Quidi Vidi Harbour and Signal Hill are popular areas within walking distance of downtown.
Be cautious in winter: most sidewalks are not cleared, so pedestrians must walk on the streets and climb over icy snowbanks. Stop signs are routinely ignored by drivers, and drivers often run red lights, especially when turning right. Traffic laws are generally not enforced, so pedestrians must be extremely cautious — don't expect your legal right of way to be respected.
By Car
Except for the downtown centre, parking is almost always abundant. Traffic jams are frequently encountered during road maintenance season due to limited transportation corridors to outlying communities, and the downtown area contains many one-way streets, so watch for signs.
St. John's International Airport has car rental agencies including Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Budget and National. In the city you can also find Enterprise, Discount and Rent-A-Wreck. Book rental cars early for travel during the peak summer months — rentals are often totally unavailable during tourist season, so booking months in advance is recommended. If no rentals are available, U-Haul vehicles may be another option.
Getting from the Airport into the City
St. John's International Airport (YYT) is located about 10 km from downtown. Flights arrive from major centres like Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, as well as international destinations in Europe, Florida and the Caribbean, plus longer-range seasonal flights to Calgary and Edmonton.
- By public bus: Bus No. 14 reaches downtown on weekdays only, leaving roughly hourly from 6:45AM to 7:15PM to the campus of Memorial University, where connections to various downtown buses are available. A single fare costs $2.50.
- By taxi: A taxi to downtown costs about $25.
- By rental car: Several agencies operate at the airport (Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Budget and National), but book well in advance during peak season.
Arriving by Car, Boat or Long-Distance Bus
St. John's is the easternmost point on Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway), the main road across Newfoundland. Traffic arriving from out of province normally crosses by ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to either Port-aux-Basques or Argentia, then follows the Trans-Canada Highway east to town. It's also possible to cross from Labrador via a ferry at Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, though the Trans-Labrador Highway route is no easy journey.
Ferries from North Sydney run to Port-aux-Basques at the southwest corner of Newfoundland, from where you drive across the island to St. John's. From mid-June through September, a ferry also runs from North Sydney to Argentia, which is 131 km from St. John's. Ferry schedules and reservations are available from Marine Atlantic; reserve well in advance, especially if you want a cabin on an overnight crossing. Marine Atlantic ferries offer a variety of onboard accommodations and features, including deluxe cabins, dormitory sleepers, full meal and beverage service, live entertainment, movies and children's activity programs.
Two bus services connect the island to St. John's. DRL-LR operates a daily route between Port aux Basques and St. John's with numerous stops including Stephenville, Corner Brook, Deer Lake, Grand Falls-Windsor, Lewisporte, Gander and Clarenville. Newhook's Transportation connects Argentia to St. John's, but only from June to September and only a few days per week during that period; a one-way ride takes 1–2 hours.