L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site | Visit Newfoundland & Labrador
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🏛️ UNESCO World Heritage Site
⚔️ North America’s Only Viking Settlement
Great Northern Peninsula · Newfoundland, Canada

L’Anse aux
Meadows

Step back 1,000 years. At the edge of the known world, Norse explorers landed on Newfoundland shores centuries before Columbus and the evidence they left behind still stands here today.

⚔️ 1,000 AD Norse Settlement
🌍 UNESCO World Heritage
🏛️ Only Viking Site in N. America
📅 Open June–October
Plan My Trip Find Nearby Stays
~1000
Year of Settlement
1978
UNESCO Designated
8
Reconstructed Structures
500 yrs
Before Columbus
#1
Viking Site in N. America
Jun–Oct
Open Season
L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site reconstructed Norse longhouses Newfoundland
~1000 AD Norse Explorers
Arrived Here
About the Site

Where Europe First Touched
the Americas

At the very tip of Newfoundland Great Northern Peninsula, a group of Norse explorers made landfall around 1000 AD roughly 500 years before Columbus set sail. The camp they established, now known as L’Anse aux Meadows, is the only confirmed Viking settlement ever found in North America, and one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 the first site in Canada to receive this honour L’Anse aux Meadows preserves the physical remains of eight Norse buildings alongside a world-class interpretive centre. Walk through faithfully reconstructed longhouses, workshops, and a boat shed. Meet costumed interpreters who bring Viking daily life vividly to life. Stand on the same ground where Leif Eriksson is believed to have led his expedition.

This is not just a museum. It is a place where history becomes real where you can touch the timber of a reconstructed Norse hall, smell the peat fire, and look out across the same strait that the Vikings once gazed across toward Vinland. There is nowhere else like it on earth.

Viking HistoryUNESCO SiteArchaeology Living HistoryGuided ToursMuseum Northern PeninsulaCoastal Trails
A Journey Through Time

1,000 Years of History

From the first Norse landfall to UNESCO recognition the remarkable story of L’Anse aux Meadows.

~985 AD
Bjarni Herjólfsson Sights Land
The Norse sailor Bjarni Herjólfsson becomes the first European to sight North America after being blown off course while sailing to Greenland. He describes a forested land to the west sparking Leif Eriksson’s imagination.
~1000 AD
Leif Eriksson’s Expedition Lands
Leif Eriksson leads an expedition west from Greenland, landing at a place he calls Vinland believed to be Newfoundland. The Norse party builds a winter camp: the structures whose foundations survive to this day at L’Anse aux Meadows.
~1010 AD
Thorfinn Karlsefni’s Colonization Attempt
Thorfinn Karlsefni leads a larger Norse expedition to Vinland with the intention of permanent settlement. Conflict with Indigenous peoples referred to as Skraelings in the Norse sagas ultimately forces the colony’s abandonment after 2–3 years.
1960
Helge & Anne Stine Ingstad Discover the Site
Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad and his archaeologist wife Anne Stine Ingstad discover the site after local resident George Decker leads them to unusual grass-covered mounds near his home. Excavations over the following decade confirm Viking origin rewriting history.
1978
UNESCO World Heritage Site
L’Anse aux Meadows becomes the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canada recognized as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in human history and a testament to Norse exploration 500 years before Columbus.
Today
A Living Historic Site Open to the World
Parks Canada operates the site with reconstructed Norse buildings, costumed interpreters, an Interpretive Centre with artifacts, and ongoing archaeological research. Visitors come from every country on earth to stand where European history in the Americas truly began.
What to See

Highlights of the Site

From reconstructed Norse longhouses to dramatic coastal trails here is everything the site has to offer.

Reconstructed Norse longhouses L'Anse aux Meadows Viking settlement Newfoundland
⚔️ Reconstructed Village · Living History
The Reconstructed Norse Village
The crown jewel of L’Anse aux Meadows is the full-scale reconstruction of the Norse settlement eight buildings including three dwelling halls, a carpentry workshop, a smithy, and a boat repair shed. Built using authentic Viking-era techniques and materials, these structures are the most accurate representations of an 11th-century Norse camp anywhere on earth. Costumed Parks Canada interpreters inhabit the buildings, demonstrating ironsmithing, woodworking, cooking, and weaving, and bringing the daily life of these extraordinary travellers vividly to life. Step inside a longhouse and feel the weight of history around you.
L'Anse aux Meadows Interpretive Centre Viking artifacts Newfoundland
🏛️ Museum · Artifacts
The Interpretive Centre
The Visitor Centre houses the original excavated artifacts alongside rich interpretive exhibits that explain the Norse sagas, the archaeology of the site, and the broader context of Viking exploration in the North Atlantic. An essential first stop for every visitor.
Icebergs offshore Northern Peninsula Newfoundland near L'Anse aux Meadows
🧊 Icebergs · Coastal Views
Icebergs & The Strait of Belle Isle
The waters off the Northern Peninsula are prime iceberg viewing territory. The same Labrador Current that carried Norse longships south still delivers towering icebergs past the headlands every spring. In May and June, icebergs and the Norse ruins share the same horizon a truly extraordinary scene.
Coastal hiking trails near L'Anse aux Meadows Northern Peninsula
🥾 Coastal Trails · Scenic Lookouts
Coastal Hiking Trails
Beyond the archaeological site, the dramatic coastline of the Northern Peninsula offers spectacular coastal trails. Hike to vantage points with sweeping views of the Strait of Belle Isle, watch for whales in the offshore waters, and explore the rugged headlands that the Vikings would have recognized.
Whale watching near St. Anthony Northern Peninsula Newfoundland
🐋 Whale Watching · Wildlife
Whales & Wildlife
The waters off the Northern Peninsula teem with humpback, fin, and minke whales during summer. Combine your L’Anse aux Meadows visit with a whale watching boat tour from nearby St. Anthony one of the best whale watching locations in Newfoundland.
Puffins Northern Peninsula Newfoundland near L'Anse aux Meadows
🐦 Puffins · Seabirds
Seabirds & Puffins
The northern tip of Newfoundland is also excellent puffin territory. Boat tours from St. Anthony and Quirpon Island give you up-close access to Atlantic puffins, murres, and gannets adding a spectacular wildlife dimension to your Viking history trip.
L'Anse aux Meadows Viking longhouses panorama
Norse Longhouses
Icebergs Northern Peninsula
Icebergs in the Strait
Iceberg Alley Newfoundland Northern Peninsula
Iceberg Alley
L'Anse aux Meadows interpretive centre artifacts
Viking Artefacts
Whale watching Northern Peninsula Newfoundland
Whale Watching
Your Visit

What to Expect on Site

A full day at L’Anse aux Meadows takes you from ancient archaeology to wild Atlantic coastline and back through time.

🏛️
Interpretive Centre Visit
Start here. The Visitor Centre explains the archaeological history, Norse culture, and the story of the site’s discovery by the Ingstads in 1960. Original artifacts excavated on site are on display alongside immersive exhibits.
Start Here · Free with Entry
🏠
Reconstructed Longhouses
Walk through authentically reconstructed Norse structures dwelling halls, a carpentry workshop, an iron-smelting shed, and a boat repair area. The craftsmanship and scale are extraordinary. Allow 60–90 minutes here alone.
Allow 60–90 min
🎭
Costumed Interpreters
Parks Canada’s costumed Norse interpreters are among the best in the country. Watch a blacksmith forge iron tools, see a weaver at work, taste traditional Norse fare, and hear the saga of Leif Eriksson told as though it happened yesterday.
June–September
🦴
Archaeological Site Walk
The original excavation site protected turf mounds where the foundations of the actual Norse buildings were found is accessible on a walking path. Standing on ground that Leif Eriksson’s crew walked is a powerful, deeply moving experience.
Self-Guided · Boardwalk
🥾
Coastal Trail Hike
Several walking trails extend beyond the historic site along the rugged coastal headlands. Views across the Strait of Belle Isle toward Labrador are extraordinary on clear days and this is exactly the view the Norse explorers would have seen arriving by longship.
Free · All Levels
🛍️
Museum Shop
The Visitor Centre shop stocks books on Viking history, Norse archaeology, and Newfoundland culture, along with quality souvenirs and replica Norse artifacts. A great place to find something truly unique to bring home.
At Visitor Centre
Viking Voyage Tour

Book a Guided Viking Voyage Tour

For the most immersive possible L’Anse aux Meadows experience, book a dedicated Viking Voyage guided tour. These expert-led excursions combine the historic site with the broader Northern Peninsula landscape, costumed interpretation, and insider knowledge that only locals can provide.

⚔️

Expert Norse Historical Guides

Guides with deep knowledge of Norse history, archaeology, and the sagas bring the site to life in a way no self-guided visit can match.

🏛️

Behind-the-Scenes Site Access

Guided groups access areas and activities not available to general visitors, including hands-on demonstrations and exclusive interpretation programs.

🧊

Icebergs & Coastal Scenery

Many tour packages include coastal viewpoints for iceberg watching and the dramatic sea views that make the Northern Peninsula one of NL’s most beautiful regions.

👨‍👩‍👧

All Ages Welcome

Viking history comes alive for children and adults alike. The reconstructed longhouses and costumed interpreters make this one of the most memorable family experiences in all of Canada.

Browse Viking Tours
Viking Voyage guided tour L'Anse aux Meadows Newfoundland
While You’re There

More to Explore on the Northern Peninsula

The drive to L’Anse aux Meadows along the Viking Trail is filled with extraordinary stops plan to spend at least 3–4 days.

Gros Morne National Park Western Newfoundland
Gros Morne National Park
↓ ~4.5 hrs south on Viking Trail
UNESCO-listed fjords, the Tablelands, and 100+ km of trails — the essential western Newfoundland experience. Combine with L’Anse aux Meadows for an unforgettable 5–7 day trip.
Icebergs Northern Peninsula St. Anthony Newfoundland
St. Anthony & Iceberg Alley
↓ ~45 min from L’Anse aux Meadows
The nearest town to the site, St. Anthony is the gateway to Iceberg Alley some of the best iceberg viewing in Newfoundland. Boat tours run May through June.
Whale watching boat tour Northern Peninsula Newfoundland
Whale Watching, St. Anthony
↓ ~45 min from L’Anse aux Meadows
Humpback, fin, and minke whales are regularly spotted off the Northern Peninsula from June to September. Several operators offer 2–3 hour boat tours from St. Anthony harbour.
Quirpon Island Lighthouse Northern Newfoundland
Quirpon Island
↓ ~30 min from L’Anse aux Meadows
A remote island just off the northern tip of Newfoundland, accessible by boat. Famous for exceptional iceberg and whale watching, and a beautiful restored lighthouse inn for overnight stays.
Frequently Asked Questions

Planning Your Visit

Everything you need to know before making the journey to the northern tip of Newfoundland.

L’Anse aux Meadows is North America’s only confirmed Viking settlement, established around 1000 AD approximately 500 years before Columbus reached the Americas. Discovered in 1960 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, it is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history. The site proves that Norse explorers reached the Americas centuries before any other documented European contact.
The site is open June to early October each year. Peak season is July and August when all costumed interpreters, programs, and the Visitor Centre operate at full capacity. The site can be visited in shoulder season (June and September/early October) but some programs may have reduced hours. Always check the Parks Canada website for current operating hours before your visit.
A rental car is essential there is no public transportation to the site. The drive from Deer Lake (closest airport) takes approximately 4.5 hours north on Highway 430 (the Viking Trail). From St. John’s, allow a full day’s drive of 8–9 hours. The drive itself is spectacular plan multiple stops along the Viking Trail including Gros Morne National Park. Most visitors plan 2–3 nights in the St. Anthony area.
Allow 3–4 hours minimum to do the site justice visiting the Interpretive Centre, walking the archaeological excavation site, exploring the reconstructed longhouses with the costumed guides, and hiking a coastal trail. If you book a guided Viking Voyage tour, plan on a full day. Many visitors find they need more time than expected because there is so much to engage with.
Yes a Parks Canada entry fee applies. Children (17 and under) are free. An annual Discovery Pass covers unlimited admission to all national parks and historic sites across Canada and pays for itself in just a couple of visits highly recommended if you plan to visit more than one Parks Canada site during your trip. Passes available at the site entrance and online at parks.canada.ca.
Absolutely L’Anse aux Meadows is one of the best family experiences in Canada. Children are captivated by the reconstructed longhouses, the costumed Viking interpreters, and the chance to see real archaeological ruins. The site’s walking paths are mostly flat and accessible. The Parks Canada Xplorers program provides activity booklets specifically designed to engage children with the site’s history.
Yes! The Northern Peninsula is one of the best iceberg viewing locations in all of Newfoundland. The Labrador Current carries massive icebergs south past the tip of the island from May through July. Viewpoints near the site and boat tours from St. Anthony give you spectacular, close-up iceberg encounters. Visiting in late May or early June gives you the best chance of seeing both icebergs AND the Viking site at their finest.
Getting There

How to Reach L’Anse aux Meadows

Remote but worth every kilometre the drive along the Viking Trail is one of Newfoundland great road trips.

✈️
Via Deer Lake Airport (Closest)
1
Fly into Deer Lake Regional Airport (YDF) direct flights from Toronto, Montreal & Halifax.
2
Pick up your rental car at the airport essential, no public transport exists to the site.
3
Drive north on Highway 430 (The Viking Trail) for approximately 4.5 hours through Gros Morne and up the Northern Peninsula.
4
Arrive at St. Lunaire-Griquet the village adjacent to L’Anse aux Meadows. The site entrance is clearly signed.
🚗
Via St. John’s (Full Road Trip)
1
Drive west from St. John’s on Trans-Canada (TCH-1) to Deer Lake — approximately 7 hours.
2
Turn north on Highway 430. Stop for 2–3 nights in Gros Morne National Park — it’s right on the route.
3
Continue north through Port aux Choix, Flower’s Cove to St. Anthony total 8–9 hrs from St. John’s.
4
L’Anse aux Meadows is 35 minutes north of St. Anthony on Route 436.

🗓️ Plan at Least 2 Nights Near St. Anthony

The site deserves a full day, and the surrounding area icebergs, whale watching, Quirpon Island, coastal trails easily fills another full day. Most visitors who rush regret not staying longer.

🎟️ Parks Canada Discovery Pass

An annual pass covers both L’Anse aux Meadows and Gros Morne National Park (and all other national parks and historic sites). If you’re visiting both on the same trip, it’s significantly cheaper than paying per entry.

🚗 Book Your Rental Car Early

Rental cars in Newfoundland sell out in peak season (July–August). Book at least 3 months ahead. Pick up in Deer Lake or St. John’s and drive the Viking Trail the scenery along the way is half the experience.

🌦️ Pack for Northern Weather

The Northern Peninsula can be cold, foggy, and windy even in summer. Always bring a warm layer, waterproof jacket, and sturdy footwear. The unpredictable weather is part of the rugged charm.

📞 Site Information: 709-623-2608

Contact Parks Canada directly for current opening hours, program schedules, and accessibility information before your visit. The Visitor Centre staff can help plan your time on site.

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Our Travel Guide

Get the Official L’Anse aux Meadows Travel Guide

Our expertly written digital guide covers the complete history of the site, what to see and do, the best tour options, day-by-day itineraries for the Northern Peninsula, and insider tips that help you make the most of every hour. Available for instant download.

$18
CAD · Instant PDF Download
Download the Guide
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Walk Where the
Vikings Walked

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