St. John's & Cape Spear: Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi, Jellybean Row

Summary

Colorful houses, sea spray at Cape Spear and stories from locals

You’ll stand on windswept cliffs at Cape Spear, wander past St. John’s famous Jellybean Row houses, and hear real local stories from your guide as you explore Signal Hill and Quidi Vidi Village. Expect salty air, colorful streets, and a few laughs—plus hotel pickup so you don’t have to worry about logistics.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest: I thought I knew what “east” meant until we stood at Cape Spear, wind in our faces, staring out at the Atlantic. Our guide (I think his name was Gerry? He had that classic Newfoundland twinkle) told us this was the most easterly point in North America—like, you can’t get more east unless you’re a puffin. The lighthouse looked almost stubborn against the sky. Salt in the air, that damp wool feeling in my sleeves. I still think about it when I smell the ocean now.

We’d started in St. John’s—don’t mix it up with Saint John in New Brunswick, by the way; apparently even Canadians do that sometimes—and right away you see those Jellybean Row houses stacked up like someone spilled a box of crayons down a hill. We drove past Government House and the Basilica while Gerry pointed out which pubs had decent fish and chips (he said to avoid anywhere with more than three flags outside—still not sure if he was joking). Quick stops everywhere; nothing felt rushed but also no time to get bored.

Signal Hill gave me vertigo for a second—the view over St. John’s is wild, especially with Cabot Tower just looming there. You can see why they built all those WWII gun batteries here; fog horns echoing somewhere below us. At Quidi Vidi Village, we watched some guys unloading fish off tiny boats and then ducked into this old fish plant-turned-brewery where I tried to order something in my worst attempt at Newfoundland dialect (Gerry just laughed). It’s only a few hours but it felt like we saw all these layers of history and regular life kind of tangled together. Hard to explain but it stuck with me.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore St. John's and Cape Spear

• Visit Cape Spear lighthouse
• Explore Quidi Vidi Village
• See Jelly Bean Row houses
• Tour Signal Hill and Cabot Tower
• Stop at fishing village and brewery

Top questions

How long does the St. John's & Cape Spear tour last?

The tour lasts about 3.5 hours including driving time and stops.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, pickup is included; closest spot for cruise passengers is Alt Hotel, 300 meters from the terminal.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

No lunch is included; food stops are not part of the standard tour.

Are there walking requirements or steps?

You may need to go up or down a couple of steps; walking at each site is optional and you can stay in the vehicle if needed.

What are some highlights visited on this tour?

Cape Spear lighthouse, Signal Hill & Cabot Tower, Quidi Vidi Village, Jellybean Row houses, Government House, Basilica.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Do you run tours in Saint John New Brunswick too?

No, tours only operate in St. John’s Newfoundland—not New Brunswick.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable transport with air conditioning and convenient pickups (including near the cruise terminal), plus plenty of stops to walk around iconic sites like Cape Spear lighthouse and Signal Hill—with a friendly local guide sharing stories throughout before returning you back to town.