city guides: st.john's

Given its recent popularity, it’s no surprise that St. John’s International Airport has just finished a top-to-toe renovation. Its decor is nautical in theme, and its walls and passageways serve as an impromptu gallery for works by local painters, photographers and sculptors. Here’s what you need to know about traveling through:

From the U.S., you can fly here with Continental, Air Canada or WestJet; keep in mind that most flights are routed through Toronto, Montreal or Halifax. European carriers include British Midland, Lufthansa and SAS.

Newfoundland has its own unique time zone—it’s one-and-a-half hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time—so reset your watch when you land or leave.

Non-Canadian visitors go through Canadian Customs at the airport, but there’s no U.S. Customs and Immigration office in St. John’s. Since you don’t need to budget extra time at the airport for this process, travelers are generally advised to arrive 90 minutes before a flight to the U.S. (but check with your airline).

From the airport, taxis to downtown have a flat rate of $20 (no toll charges). There are several car rental agencies at the airport, including Hertz and Avis. There are no public transportation options from the airport.

Airport dining options are limited. They include a pub that serves local beers from the Quidi Vidi Brewery and light snacks, and a casual restaurant that serves salads, burgers and fish and chips. The private Maple Leaf Lounge is for Air Canada’s executive–class passengers only.

Wireless Internet service is available in the passenger lounge after you’ve cleared security.

Most people don’t realize that there’s a viewing area on the top floor, but any passenger can go up to watch the planes or see the sun rise or set.