Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
A tiny piece of France off Newfoundland, with colorful wooden houses, French baguettes, the old fishing village of Île aux Marins, seals in the Miquelon lagoon and wild horses on the dunes — Europe within a short hop for North American travelers.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is France's last remaining territory in North America, lying about 25 km off the south coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It consists of Saint-Pierre, Miquelon-Langlade (two islands joined by a 12 km sand-dune isthmus) and several smaller islets, with a population of about 6,000; French is spoken and the euro is the currency. The town of Saint-Pierre is the capital and main base: colorful wooden houses around the harbor, French bread and wine, a Basque pelota court, and the uninhabited fishing village of Île aux Marins just offshore can all be covered in half a day to a day. Miquelon is known for its Acadian fishing village, the seal colonies of the Grand Barachois lagoon, wild horses on the dunes, and the beaches and forests of Langlade — worth staying an extra night. The climate is cool and foggy; June–Sep is the mildest period and the high season for whale watching, puffins and ferries, while winters are bitterly cold and windy and many services shut down. Getting there: take the ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland (about 1.5 hours), or fly Air Saint-Pierre from St. John's, Halifax or Montreal; ferries and small planes link the islands. Allow 2–4 days. Note: the territory is part of France but not in the Schengen Area, so Chinese passport holders need a separate visa for French overseas territories (check the latest rules from the French embassy and consulates in China). Summer accommodation is limited and should be booked ahead; bring windproof and waterproof layers for outdoor activities.
Top sights
- Saint-Pierre Town & Harbour – The capital of the archipelago, a small town with rows of colorful wooden houses along the harbor, French-style bakeries, and cafés. Everyt…
- Île aux Marins – An uninhabited fishing village on a small island just outside the harbor, with colorful fishermen's houses, a wooden chapel, and a former s…
- L'Arche Museum – The archipelago’s main history museum, telling the story of fishing, the bootlegging era, and the Anglo-French rivalry over the islands thr…
- Saint-Pierre Cathedral – A stone bell-tower cathedral by the harbor, with a Basque-style facade and stained-glass windows gifted by the French government.
- Pointe aux Canons Lighthouse – A small red-and-white lighthouse and old gun batteries on the east side of the harbor, with views over the bay, the colorful town, and Île…
- Zazpiak Bat Fronton – A Basque pelota court built in 1906 that reflects the archipelago’s Basque fishing heritage, hosting matches during summer festivals.
- Musée Héritage – A small family-run private museum displaying fishing tools, old photographs, and objects from the bootlegging era.
- Cap à l'Aigle – A headland trail northeast of Saint-Pierre that follows the cliffs with views of Grand Colombier Island and the Atlantic, where seabirds an…
- Grand Colombier – A seabird island off the north coast of Saint-Pierre, best viewed by boat in summer for close-up sightings of puffins, razorbills, and gull…
- Galantry Lighthouse – A headland lighthouse at the southeastern tip of Saint-Pierre Island, surrounded by wilderness and sea cliffs, a good place to watch the su…
- Anse à Henry – A remote bay on the north coast of Saint-Pierre Island with an ancient Indigenous archaeological site and wide-open moorland and sea views…
- Étang de Savoyard – A freshwater lake on the western side of Saint-Pierre Island, with picnic areas and walking trails, popular with locals on weekends.
- Miquelon Village – A quiet fishing village on the north tip of Miquelon Island, with an Acadian-style wooden church and wild horses on the grasslands, at a sl…
- Grand Barachois – A large saltwater lagoon at the southern end of Miquelon Island, where hundreds of harbor and grey seals bask on the sandbars. Birdwatching…
- Miquelon-Langlade Isthmus – A 12 km sand-dune isthmus linking Miquelon and Langlade islands, where beaches, wild horses, and shipwreck remains create striking scenery.
- Langlade & Anse du Gouvernement – The most lush island in the archipelago, where the beaches of Anse du Gouvernement and forested river valleys make a popular summer retreat…
Where to eat
- Le Feu de Braise – A long-running French restaurant on the main harbour street in Saint-Pierre, open seven days a week, where scallops and…
- Les P'tits Graviers – Ranked first among family restaurants in Saint-Pierre on TripAdvisor, serving French home cooking made with local ingre…
- Le Bar à Quai – An elegant restaurant and art gallery that cooks with local fish, mushrooms and wild berries, with live music most even…
- Auberge de l'Île Miquelon Crêperie Café – A café in the village inn on Miquelon, run by an owner who trained in Brittany. Savoury buckwheat galettes with local s…
Itineraries
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon Dual Island Tour – French-style towns, L'Île-aux-Marins fishing village, and Miquelon lagoon seals, staying on both islands with slow boat…
- Newfoundland Avalon Peninsula & Saint Pierre – Drive from St. John's to Fortune, leave your car at the pier, and take the ferry to the French islands for a three-nigh…