Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site

Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site

Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site
4.5
About
Duration: < 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Top ways to experience Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site and nearby attractions

See what travellers are saying
  • Robin B
    Phoenix, Arizona1,427 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun to poke around
    My rating is five stars probably because we were able to see two whales very close off shore. Even if you don’t see whales, this is a fun area to explore for a couple of hours. There are trails, WWII batteries, two light houses (one of which you can go into for a fee), and the eastern most point in North America. We took lunch and had a picnic. Definitely worth a stop.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 17 June 2023
  • Caribby96
    Burnaby, Canada236 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do in St. John's!
    I have wanted to go to Cape Spear for a long time, and I am so glad that I finally had the chance to! I heard from many that you do not need to spend much time here, but I was able to spend hours here. It really depends on how foggy it is, I was lucky to go on an afternoon that was not foggy. You have the chance to tour the old lighthouse and there are many informational displays to look at. There are also many walking trails - I saw many whales during my stay! During the summer I was able to get there through the hop on/hop off bus. If you don't have a car, you can also take a taxi, but it was pricey. A must do while in St. John's!
    Visited July 2023
    Written 28 July 2023
  • Fred Quinton
    7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Next stop... Europe
    Historic lighthouse that saved many lives before modern NAV aids. Now a great destination for anyone with good knees and mobility. Great view of Europe if you squint. Most easterly point in NA.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 August 2023
  • Heather K
    Porters Lake, Canada34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cape Spear
    Beautiful day to visit Cape Spear lighthouse & take in the wonderful scenery. The trip was definitely worth it as this is the most easterly part of Canada, so who wouldn't want to visit. Wonderful trails and lots of signage explaining the history of the area. We also had a bonus of seeing an iceberg not far off the coast.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 6 August 2023
  • Olga K
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Eastmost point in North America - with gorgeous views!
    I visited Cape Spear on a foggy day. One would say it is not a perfect weather to visit, but I beg to differ. The place is absolutely magical. I think I can spend all day just watching the waves crash the shores and listening to the sounds of the ocean. The trails are very well maintained and are easily accessible (although there are some short stairs). Definitely a must-see.
    Visited August 2023
    Written 20 August 2023
  • BellBoy53
    Brisbane, Australia610 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Natural
    I visited Cape Spear on a rainy day and, despite the weather, managed a good time walking about the trails, admiring the ocean views, and spotting a few whales passing by. A great place to sit, watch and listen to the sounds of nature. There are some resources (gift shop, café, toilet) but it's worth a visit as this is the most eastern point in North America.
    Visited July 2023
    Written 24 August 2023
  • Ronald L
    Denver, Colorado2,952 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well Worth a Visit
    We got a cab to Cape Spear. Driver was from Libya and is a graduate student here in food packaging. He agreed to take us out and back for a set price. We went out to Cape Spear and walked to the two light houses, the oldest from 1836. There was not road out here until 1941 when this point was an important defensive position for WWII. Lots of historical information at the site and well worth your visit.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 September 2023
  • Karen H
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must See
    Was on a private tour. Exceptionally scenic spot. Iconic lighthouse, waves crashing on the rocks, strong winds blowing. The history of the tunnels was fascinating. If you are hiking the East coast trail and if you time it right, the cafe is a delicious and welcome stop.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 3 October 2023
  • David B
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic
    This is a must see for a few Good reasons. First, the historic happenings here are astounding. I never heard anything regarding the goings on here during WW 2. 2 Second, the ocean waves crashing along the rugged coast line is fantastic. You haven’t seen waves till you’ve seen them here. The only drawback was the parks Canada bathrooms and cafe were closed. Unbelievable!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 8 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,483 reviews
Excellent
1,780
Very good
611
Average
80
Poor
6
Terrible
6

David B
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
This is a must see for a few
Good reasons.
First, the historic happenings here are astounding. I never heard anything regarding the goings on here during WW 2.
2
Second, the ocean waves crashing along the rugged coast line is fantastic. You haven’t seen waves till you’ve seen them here.
The only drawback was the parks Canada bathrooms and cafe were closed. Unbelievable!
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen H
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
Was on a private tour. Exceptionally scenic spot. Iconic lighthouse, waves crashing on the rocks, strong winds blowing. The history of the tunnels was fascinating. If you are hiking the East coast trail and if you time it right, the cafe is a delicious and welcome stop.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ronald L
Denver, CO2,952 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
We got a cab to Cape Spear. Driver was from Libya and is a graduate student here in food packaging. He agreed to take us out and back for a set price. We went out to Cape Spear and walked to the two light houses, the oldest from 1836. There was not road out here until 1941 when this point was an important defensive position for WWII. Lots of historical information at the site and well worth your visit.

Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pete m
Moncton, Canada314 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Joked with family in England that we would wave at them when we visited, being the most easterly point in North America. The history of this iconic spot should be made more known for their efforts during WW2. Another Newfoundland spot with absolutely gorgeous views, You can see Signal Hill and the mouth of St. John's Harbour form here.
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Victoria D
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Friends
Beautiful spot, amazing view. And great Newfoundland history. Highly recommend visiting cape spear.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BellBoy53
Brisbane, Australia610 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
I visited Cape Spear on a rainy day and, despite the weather, managed a good time walking about the trails, admiring the ocean views, and spotting a few whales passing by. A great place to sit, watch and listen to the sounds of nature. There are some resources (gift shop, café, toilet) but it's worth a visit as this is the most eastern point in North America.
Written 24 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Olga K
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
I visited Cape Spear on a foggy day. One would say it is not a perfect weather to visit, but I beg to differ. The place is absolutely magical. I think I can spend all day just watching the waves crash the shores and listening to the sounds of the ocean. The trails are very well maintained and are easily accessible (although there are some short stairs). Definitely a must-see.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heather K
Porters Lake, Canada34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
Beautiful day to visit Cape Spear lighthouse & take in the wonderful scenery. The trip was definitely worth it as this is the most easterly part of Canada, so who wouldn't want to visit. Wonderful trails and lots of signage explaining the history of the area. We also had a bonus of seeing an iceberg not far off the coast.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fred Quinton
7 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Historic lighthouse that saved many lives before modern NAV aids. Now a great destination for anyone with good knees and mobility. Great view of Europe if you squint. Most easterly point in NA.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

illumin8me
St. John's, Canada81 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
We love coming here for walks or hikes. In the summer months you can see lots of whales playing in the ocean. The fresh air is good for the soul. Lots of beautiful wildflowers. Picture perfect location.
Written 5 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 2,397
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

CAPE SPEAR LIGHTHOUSE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site

According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site:


Restaurants near Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site: View all restaurants near Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site on Tripadvisor