St. Anthony (L'Anse aux Meadows)
The northernmost town on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula, calling itself the 'Iceberg Capital.' Icebergs and whales can be seen here, and nearby L'Anse aux Meadows is the only confirmed Viking site in North America.
St. Anthony is the largest town at the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, with a population of about 2,000. It is the medical, supply and transport hub of the region, and calls itself the 'Iceberg Capital.' About 45 km north of town, L'Anse aux Meadows is the only confirmed Viking site in North America. Viking settlers from Iceland and Greenland briefly lived there around the year 1000. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1978, and the nearby Norstead Viking Port recreates Viking-age life in a living-history format. St. Anthony itself has Fishing Point Park at the end of the harbour, where steps let you look out over the icebergs, the Grenfell Historic House Museum and the Tea House Hill Trail. Boat tours from the harbour take you close to icebergs and humpback whales. At the northern tip of the peninsula are the Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve, which is home to rare plants, the Quirpon Island Lighthouse and Pistolet Bay Provincial Park, which is good for camping.
The seasons are strongly marked. May–June is peak iceberg season, June–August is best for whale watching, and the Viking site is generally open from about June to September. Winters are long and severely cold, and most sights close. Getting there: St. Anthony Airport has flights connecting to St. John's, Deer Lake and other places. More commonly, visitors drive the Viking Trail (Route 430) from Deer Lake, about 5–6 hours, passing through Gros Morne National Park. A stay of 2–3 days is suggested. Accommodation is limited in summer, so book in advance. The weather is often foggy and windy, so bring warm, windproof clothing.
Top sights
- L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site – The only confirmed Viking site in North America, with turf longhouse remains from around 1000 CE and reconstructed buildings; a UNESCO Worl…
- St. Anthony Iceberg & Whale Tours – Boat trips from St. Anthony Harbour out to see icebergs drifting down from Greenland up close; summer often brings whales, dolphins and sea…
- Fishing Point Municipal Park – A headland park at the end of St. Anthony harbour, where 476 steps climb to the clifftop and you can watch icebergs and whales from shore.
- Norstead Viking Village – A reconstructed Viking-age trading port about 2 km from the Viking site, with full-size Viking ship replicas and hands-on experiences.
- Grenfell Historic Properties – Commemorates Sir Wilfred Grenfell, who brought medical care and education to northern Newfoundland. It includes his house, an exhibition ce…
- Tea House Hill Walking Trail – A short trail behind the Grenfell House, climbing to a viewpoint on the site of the old tea house with views over St. Anthony harbor, where…
- Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve – A limestone barren reserve at the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula, home to over 300 Arctic and alpine plant species, many of t…
- Quirpon Island Lighthouse – A lighthouse island at the northern tip of Newfoundland, where the lighthouse keeper's house has been converted into an inn. Whales and ice…
- Pistolet Bay Provincial Park – A rare campground park at the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula, with campsites in lakeside spruce forest. It is a base for visi…
Where to eat
- Lightkeepers Café – A seafood restaurant opened in 1993 in the former lightkeeper’s house at Fishing Point, overlooking Iceberg Alley, wher…
- Norseman Restaurant – A waterfront seafood restaurant in L’Anse aux Meadows, recommended by Fodor’s. Diners can pick live lobsters from woode…