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.
More ways in
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
- YYT · YQX
- Nights
- 2
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Bonavista911 ▾
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.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetyBonavista is a small, low-crime town and feels safe on foot after dark.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire and ambulance · 811 Health advice line (NL, 24 h)
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportYYT St.
- Getting aroundThe town is flat, traffic is light and the centre is walkable, so most people park once and walk Church Street and the harbour.
Cost cheat-sheet
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)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)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.
- 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.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Feb
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Mar
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Apr
Care
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
May
Best
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Jun
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Jul
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Oct
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Nov
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Dec
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Best: May–Sep. Mixed: Apr. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Feb (−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C) low), wettest Dec (15 rain days), driest Jul (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
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)30°F (−1°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
14 rd
Feb
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
12 rd
Mar
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
13 rd
Apr
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
12 rd
May
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
12 rd
Jun
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Sep
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Oct
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
14 rd
Nov
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
14 rd
Dec
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
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
Elliston and the puffin viewing point
goDoor 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
goDoor 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
goDoor 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
skipDoor 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
- 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
| Inn or B&B double room1 × 2 nights × C$180 | C$360 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$160 | C$640 |
| Car hire, one day, small car1 × C$70 · check | C$70 |
| Whale and puffin boat tour, adult2 × C$80 · check | C$160 |
| Lighthouse and Mockbeggar combined entry, adult2 × C$6 · check | C$12 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$129 |
| Trip total≈ C$355 per person per day, bed included | C$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
| Coffee | C$2.50–4.50 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Diner main (fish and chips, seafood) | C$12–22 (≈ US$9–16) |
| Restaurant main, Boreal-style | C$12–20 (≈ US$9–15) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a gas station | C$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) / C$2.50–4 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Lighthouse and Mockbeggar combined entry, adultcheck | C$6 (≈ US$5) |
| Whale and puffin boat tour, adultcheck | C$65–90 (≈ US$50–70) |
| Shirran's taxi or shuttle, Bonavista to St. John's, one waycheck | C$40 (≈ US$30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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
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BonavistaBonavista
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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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)about C$40 (≈ US$30) one way, departs Bonavista around 7:00 AM, from St. John's around 2:00 PM (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
- 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 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YYT and YQX: last sensible arrival time, car hire desk hours, overnight rung in Clarenville.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Church Street and the bridge, the harbour and Roper Street, the lighthouse road, Elliston.
- Place pages with verified opening dates and last entry (lighthouse, Mockbeggar, Ryan Premises, Matthew Legacy, Home from the Sea).
- Boat-tour and weather fixtures so the whale and puffin pages can go green or be flagged as cancelled.