New Brunswick
Visit for the Bay of Fundy's tidal shoreline, Acadian coastal villages, and drives through forest, harbor towns, and small villages.
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New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces, on the Atlantic coast between Quebec, Nova Scotia and the US state of Maine. It is the country's only officially bilingual province, with English and French both official, and its large Acadian community shapes the language, music and food of the north and east coasts.
The province is best known for the Bay of Fundy, where some of the highest tides in the world rise and fall twice a day and change the shoreline at Hopewell Rocks and in Fundy National Park. Saint John, the largest city, sits at the mouth of the Saint John River, with a working harbor and the Reversing Falls, where the tide reverses the river's flow. Plan four to six days to cover the bay, the city and an interior or Acadian coast loop. Summer and early fall suit hiking and time on the water best.
New Brunswick in five
- Check the eTA before you flyVisitors from visa-exempt countries who fly in need an eTA, the electronic travel authorization, unless they are US citizens or already hold a visa. Apply online before you buy flights.Visas and entry
- Set up an eSIM or offline mapsPhone signal can drop on the drive to the Fundy coast and in the parks. Download offline maps for the routes to Reversing Falls and Hopewell Rocks before you leave Saint John.Phones and eSIM
- Check the tide tables before you goThe river at Reversing Falls reverses with the tide, and at Hopewell Rocks you can walk on the sea floor only at low tide. Use the tide tables from Fisheries and Oceans Canada at tides.gc.ca.
- Rent a car for the Fundy coastDowntown Saint John is walkable, but the Fundy sights are a drive away, so a car or a tour is the practical way to reach them.Getting around
- Pack a warm layer for the bayFog and wind come off the Bay of Fundy quickly, even on warm days, and coastal walks are exposed.Clothing
Things to do in New Brunswick
See all attractions in New Brunswick
Need to know
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD)
- Entry
- eTA for visa-exempt visitors flying in; US citizens exempt
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected: 15 to 20 percent in restaurants, taxis and bars
- Time
- UTC-4, Atlantic Time; UTC-3 during daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow
- FebruaryCold, snow
- MarchIce, cold
- AprilEarly spring
- MaySpring, fog
- JuneWarm, fog
- JulyWarm, long days
- AugustWarm, summer days
- SeptemberMild, calm
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberCold, quiet
Right now in New Brunswick
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 54%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 4%
New Brunswick
04:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°4°4%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Tue10°3°52%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Wed14°2°97%Wednesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Thu18°11°15%Thursday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Fri18°12°51%Friday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Sat15°12°79%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 79%.
- Sun13°5°74%Sunday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 74%.
Updated 12:23 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Hopewell Rocksabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadFlowerpot rock formations that are walkable only at low tide.
- Frederictonabout 1.5 hours by roadThe provincial capital on the Saint John River, with a riverside walk.
- St. Andrewsabout 1.5 to 2 hours by roadA seaside town on Passamaquoddy Bay with a historic core.
Before you go to New Brunswick
Rules for New Brunswick, checked
- Declare all food, plants and animal products on arrival; undeclared goods can be seized or fined at the Canadian border.Source
- Cannabis is legal for adults in Canada, but bringing it across the US border is illegal.Source
- The legal drinking age in New Brunswick is 19; bars and liquor stores ask for photo ID.
- Check the tide tables before walking on the sea floor at Hopewell Rocks, because the tide rises quickly.Source
Plan around New Brunswick
Uptown, the harbor and Reversing Falls
Read the guideGetting aroundBuses, rental cars and Fundy day trips
Read the guideVisas and entryeTA rules, passports and border declarations
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, tipping and typical daily prices
Read the guideWhere to stayUptown hotels, waterfront bases and budget rooms
Read the guideAll of CanadaProvinces, rail and national entry rules
Read the guideNew Brunswick FAQ
Is Saint John worth visiting?
Yes, for a harbor city with a walkable uptown, the tidal rapids at Reversing Falls and access to the Fundy coast. Allow two or three days if you plan day trips.
How many days do you need in Saint John?
Two days cover the city, and three days leave time for Hopewell Rocks or St. Andrews. Spend the first day in town, then drive to the coast when the tide suits your plan.
Do you need a car in Saint John?
Not for the city, but yes for the Fundy coast. Hopewell Rocks and St. Andrews are a drive away, and a car lets you time your visit to the tide.
When is the best time to visit Saint John?
July to October is the best period to visit, with September and October for autumn color. Fog is common on the bay in early summer, so check the forecast before a coastal walk.
Can you visit Hopewell Rocks as a day trip from Saint John?
Yes, by car or tour, in about 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Plan the visit around low tide, when you can walk on the sea floor.
Do you need to speak French in New Brunswick?
No. English and French are both official languages in New Brunswick, and you can get by in Saint John in English.