Located at the Bay of Fundy, this port city has North America's oldest farmers' market and the world's highest tides. 1785 architecture lines its downtown streets.
Saint John, Canada's first incorporated city, sits where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy. Walk through the 1876 City Market to see its ship's hull ceiling, watch the Reversing Falls Rapids force the river to flow backwards twice daily, or climb the Carleton Martello Tower for views across the bay. The city's red-brick Victorian buildings line Prince William Street, while the New Brunswick Museum tells stories of shipwrecks and whale migrations through the Bay of Fundy.
Reversing Falls Rapids Experience
At the Reversing Falls Rapids, the Bay of Fundy's 30-foot tides create a unique spectacle. The incoming tide pushes against the Saint John River with such force that it reverses the river's flow direction. Visit at 6:13 AM and 6:13 PM for high tide, or 12:13 PM and 12:13 AM for low tide to see the most dramatic water movements. Walk out onto the Skywalk observation platform, which extends over the gorge, for an unobstructed view of the churning waters below.
Markets and Local Food
The Saint John City Market runs the length of a city block, with local vendors selling fresh Bay of Fundy lobster, Atlantic salmon, and seasonal produce. Look up to see the wooden ceiling - local shipwrights built the roof trusses using traditional shipbuilding techniques. The market opens Monday through Saturday from 7:30 AM to 6 PM. In the evening, you'll find more than 20 pubs in the Uptown area, making Saint John the city with the third-highest number of pubs per capita in Canada.
Victorian Architecture
After the Great Fire of 1877 destroyed much of Saint John's center, the rebuilding created today's distinctive streetscape. Walk down Prince William Street to see 19th-century buildings with red-brick facades, detailed stonework, and ornate cornices. The Trinity Royal area spans 20 blocks of preserved 1800s buildings, including former merchant homes and warehouses converted into shops and restaurants.
Museums and Cultural Sites
At the New Brunswick Museum, examine fossils from the Bay of Fundy's shores and step inside a recreation of a sailing ship's cabin. The museum displays artifacts from the region's shipbuilding era and explains local marine life through interactive exhibits. Visit the Carleton Martello Tower, built in 1812, to see soldiers' quarters and military equipment from the early 19th century. In Brunswick Square mall, the Black History Heritage Centre documents 200 years of Black community life in New Brunswick through photographs and personal stories.
Natural Areas Near the City
Walk the coastal trails at Irving Nature Park, where 600 acres of land include a salt marsh, mudflats, and forests along the Bay of Fundy. Look for seals on the rocks at low tide. In Rockwood Park, just five minutes from Uptown, you can swim in Lily Lake, hike 55 kilometers of trails, or visit the Cherry Brook Zoo. The park also includes an 18-hole golf course.
Getting Around
The Saint John Airport is 15 kilometers northeast of the city center, with daily flights to Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. Saint John Transit buses run throughout the city from 6 AM to midnight. If you arrive by cruise ship, you'll dock at the terminal in Uptown, where approximately 75 ships stop between May and October.
