Saint John
Visitors come to Saint John to watch Bay of Fundy tides push back up the Saint John River at Reversing Falls, then spend the rest of the day on the harborfront.
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Saint John is New Brunswick's largest city, on the Bay of Fundy where the Saint John River meets the sea. The bay has some of the highest tides in the world. At Reversing Falls, the incoming tide pushes back against the river twice a day, so the current in the gorge runs one way and then the other. People come for that tidal change, then spend the rest of the day on the harborfront and in the older uptown, which grew out of the city's years as a shipping port.
Saint John works well for a two- or three-day trip. Spend one day on the tides and the waterfront, one on uptown and its museums, and a third if you want to head out along the Fundy coast. Loyalists arrived in 1783 after the American Revolution, and that history still shapes much of the old town. The tides run all year, so the falls are worth planning around in any season.
Saint John in five
- Time your visit to the tide tableDiscover Saint John says the Bay of Fundy tides rise and fall 8.5 m (28.5 ft) twice daily at Saint John. It publishes a Tide Watch with times, so check it before you plan a lookout stop.Fundy Tide Watch
- Watch the Reversing Falls Rapids at the right hourDiscover Saint John says the river and bay collide to form rapids at low and high tide, with a brief slack tide between. The Plank shows a 13-minute film and a rooftop lookout.Bay of Fundy page
- Drive the Fundy Trail Parkway for cliffs and beachesDiscover Saint John describes a 30 km drive hugging the coast, with waterfalls, cliffs and lookouts, connecting Alma, Sussex and Fundy-St. Martins in a 6,323-acre park.Coast guide
- Check the Digby ferry before you plan a loopBay Ferries runs MV Fundy Rose daily between Saint John and Digby, Nova Scotia, in just over two hours. Vehicles check in 60 minutes before departure, and reservations are strongly encouraged.Bay Ferries schedule
- Pair it with PEI and Halifax on a Maritimes loopSaint John sits between the Confederation Bridge and the Nova Scotia border. It works as the New Brunswick stop on a Halifax and Prince Edward Island trip.The Maritimes
Things to do in Saint John
See all attractions in Saint John
Need to know
- Airport
- Saint John (YSJ); many visitors drive in from Moncton or Halifax
- Getting there
- Highway 1 and the Trans-Canada route; Digby ferry across the bay
- Getting around
- Car for the coast; the uptown core is walkable
- Best base
- Uptown Saint John near the City Market and harbor
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days; 3 with the Fundy Trail Parkway
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow13 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh0°Low-8°Cold, quietJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 133 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh0°Low-8°Cold, quietFebruaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchSnow13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh3°Low-4°Late winterMarchSnow
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Late winter
- AprilRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Spring thawAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring thaw
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Spring, fogMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fog
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Early summerJuneRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 157 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Early summer
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, fog riskJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fog risk
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, fog riskAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fog risk
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Fall, fewer crowdsSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 121 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall, fewer crowds
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Fall colourOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 143 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall colour
- NovemberRain11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cool, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 164 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberSnow12 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh2°Low-4°Cold, snowDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 203 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
Average daily high and low in Saint John, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Saint John
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 53%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 6%
Saint John
06:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°6°6%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Tue12°6°52%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Wed14°8°77%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 77%.
- Thu15°10°27%Thursday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 27%.
- Fri16°12°55%Friday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Sat15°12°64%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 64%.
- Sun13°8°59%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 59%.
Updated 02:22 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · 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
- Fundy Trail Parkwaya half to full day by carA 30 km coastal drive with lookouts, per Discover Saint John.
- Fundy-St. Martins sea cavesa short drive eastTide-carved sea caves reached by guided hike or kayak tour, as the tourism site lists.
- Halifax and Prince Edward Islanda long drive or ferry crossingThe usual Maritimes pairings, by road or by the Digby ferry.Read the guide
Before you go to Saint John
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Saint John, checked
- Discover Saint John: Fundy tides rise and fall 8.5 m (28.5 ft) twice daily; Saint John is the only city on the Bay of Fundy.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Discover Saint John: the Fundy Trail Parkway is a 30 km drive in a 6,323-acre park connecting Alma, Sussex and Fundy-St. Martins.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Saint John
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI on one loop
Read the guideHalifaxThe Nova Scotia gateway, a long drive away
Read the guidePrince Edward IslandAcross the Confederation Bridge
Read the guideCape Breton IslandThe Cabot Trail on the far side of Nova Scotia
Read the guideGetting around CanadaCar hire and ferries
Read the guideAll of CanadaeTA, regions, cities and money basics
Read the guideSaint John FAQ
What are the Reversing Falls in Saint John?
Rapids where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy tides. At low tide the river flows into the bay; at high tide the tide reverses the flow, with a brief slack tide between, per Discover Saint John.
When is the best time to see the Reversing Falls?
Check a tide table or Discover Saint John's Tide Watch, since the rapids change with the tide. The brief slack tide is calm, while the strongest flow comes between slack water and the extremes.
How many days do you need in Saint John?
One to two days cover the city, the Reversing Falls and the market. Add a third for the Fundy Trail Parkway, which is a 30 km coastal drive described by the local tourism office.
Is there a ferry from Saint John to Nova Scotia?
Yes. Bay Ferries sails MV Fundy Rose between Saint John and Digby, Nova Scotia, in just over two hours, and strongly encourages reservations. Check the schedule and any maintenance notices on ferries.ca before planning a loop around the Bay of Fundy.
Do you need a car in Saint John?
For the city, no, since the uptown core is walkable. For the Fundy Trail Parkway, Fundy-St. Martins and most coastal stops, yes, or join a guided tour.