5-Day Newfoundland Itinerary:
The Perfect Short Break
Five days in Newfoundland is a genuinely rewarding trip enough to experience St. John’s, the best of the Avalon Peninsula, and the highlights of the Bonavista Peninsula without feeling rushed. Fly in and out of St. John’s (YYT). A rental car is essential from Day 1.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
| Day | Focus | Key Stops | Pre-Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | St. John’s City | Signal Hill, Jellybean Row, The Rooms (free Sunday from 3pm), Quidi Vidi Brewery, George Street evening | Mallard Cottage dinner |
| Day 2 | Cape Spear + Bay Bulls | Cape Spear (25 min, free), Petty Harbour lunch at Chafe’s Landing, Bay Bulls whale and puffin boat tour (2 hrs) | Bay Bulls tour essential |
| Day 3 | Southern Shore | Ferryland Lighthouse Picnic + Colony of Avalon (~90 min south), La Manche suspension bridge trail optional | Ferryland picnic basket |
| Day 4 | Bonavista Peninsula | Drive to Bonavista (~3 hrs), Elliston puffins (free), Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, Dungeon Provincial Park | Nothing needed |
| Day 5 | Trinity + fly home | Skerwink Trail (5.3 km, Port Rexton), Trinity heritage walk, Two Whales Coffee. Drive back to St. John’s (3 hrs). Evening flight. | Book early flight home |
Two bookings are non-negotiable: (1) Bay Bulls whale and puffin tour for Day 2 O’Brien’s or Gatherall’s sell out in July/August; (2) Ferryland Lighthouse Picnic basket for Day 3 call before you drive south. Both are useless to try to arrange on the day.
What You Miss on 5 Days
A 5-day itinerary cannot reach Twillingate (4.5 hrs from St. John’s), Gros Morne (7 hrs), or the Northern Peninsula. If icebergs are a priority, extend to 7 days and add Twillingate on Days 5-6. If Gros Morne is the goal, plan 10 days and fly home from Deer Lake (YDF) rather than doubling back to St. John’s.
? Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a 5-Day Newfoundland Trip?
Book your rental car at YYT Airport first. Book the Bay Bulls tour second. Then Ferryland.
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