Unique Places to Stay in Newfoundland & Labrador

Sometimes you just want to experience something different. Something a little left of off-kilter, away from the everyday. That’s something you can always depend on about Newfoundland and Labrador. There’s always something here to surprise you. Around here, there seems to be a creativity infused into everything we do. And that includes in the places we share with our visitors.

Salt Box Houses 

There are many quaint B&Bs, inns, and vacation homes across the province, and staying in traditional salt box home is a must when travelling to Newfoundland and Labrador. Named for its shape, the salt box resembles the boxes that were used for shipping salt to the province during the cod fishery. The salt box traditionally has a shorter steep roof line in front and a longer steep slope in back. These one-and-a-half-storey houses grew in popularity between 1865-1920, and can still be found all over the province. 

The Old Salt Box Co.’s houses definitely stand out. The Old Salt Box Co. provides its guests with modern furnishings and a slew of amenities mixed with authentic antique pieces such as claw foot tubs and those iconic picture windows. They are really something else.

Nestled in the craggy cliffs of Quidi Vidi village, the Inn by Mallard Cottage is next door to the renowned Mallard Cottage restaurant, which has quickly become a favourite gathering place for explorers and locals. There are two guest houses influenced in design and aesthetic by the vernacular architecture of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Each house has 4 guest rooms, all creatively appointed with the best furnishings from the past and present. Time slows in Quidi Vidi village, creating space for spontaneity and adventure, so you never quite know what your days will entail. 

Traditional inns and B&Bs are also where you can have unique cultural experiences with locals. Coastal Cottages, vacation homes on 4 acres of ocean frontage, offers a "shed experience" where you can build an "ugly stick" and enjoy a traditional get together of song and dance. If you like lobster, then the Schooner Inn's lobster adventure is for you. You get to learn lobster cooking and eating techniques as you bake fresh homemade bread with the owner and take part in a traditional kitchen party. 

Heritage Homes

The historic village of Trinity on the Bonavista Peninsula is a protected coastal town tucked away in Trinity Bay. Its streets are lined with 19th century architecture and cultural significance preserved for residents and visitors alike. These heritage homes in this heritage community are more than just show pieces, you can also spend the night in them as accommodations. Among the places to stay is one of the Artisan Inn’s many vacation homes which are provincially registered heritage structures such as Nathaniel House (c. 1862) and the two oldest private vacation homes for rent on the island, Campbell House (c. 1840) and Gover House (c. 1840).

Glamping Tents

If you’re looking for something that’s really far off the beaten path, the Torngat Mountain Base Camp and Research Centre offers its visitors an experience they won’t soon forget. It’s located 200 kilometres north of Labrador’s most northerly community Nain. Out here, you will catch a glimpse of an untouched land filled with wildlife – including polar bears. Don’t worry though, the base camp has experienced bear guards and guides to ensure your safety at the camp. There are also helicopter tours available to get a bird’s-eye view of these spectacular mountains. If you want to enjoy some time on the water, there are two boats of note up there. One is called What’s Happenin’? and the other is Nothin’ Much. How funny is that?

Parks Canada offers a glamping (glamorous camping) experience in the form of oTENTiks, a permanent canvas and wood framed tent in Terra Nova National Park. Here, you can relax in comfort without sacrificing amenities while still experiencing the serenity and rejuvenation that camping in the wilderness provides. Parks Canada currently offers glamping in Newman Sound and Malady Head at Terra Nova National Park. While in Gros Morne National Park, you can glamp in Trout River, Berry Hill, Green Point, or Shallow Bay campgrounds. Malady Head in particular offers another level of serene seclusion, and includes woodstoves to keep you warm on your glamping adventure.

Luxury Stays 

If your version of roughing it includes a bidet and heated bathroom floors, then perhaps Fogo Island Inn is more your speed. The Inn is situated on Fogo Island, a place the Flat Earth Society refers to as one of the four corners of the earth. This Norwegian-style luxury accommodation gives guests a wide open panoramic view of the North Atlantic. And the food? The food is amazing. In fact, the restaurant at the Fogo Island Inn recently won the enRoute award for one of the 10 Best New Restaurants in Canada. That’s just the tip of the iceberg with this Inn. There’s so much to experience there – everything from food foraging, furniture building, and cod jigging. You’ll never be bored, that’s for sure.

Lighthouse Inns 

If you have never wanted to stay in a lighthouse inn overlooking the ocean, you do now. Think of it this way: A deserted island, icebergs and whales passing by, and staying in a beautiful historic structure.

Quirpon Lighthouse Inn in northern Newfoundland and Labrador allows you to do just that. The lighthouse was built in 1922 along the shores of “Iceberg Alley,” the stretch of Atlantic between the coast of Labrador and northeast coast of Newfoundland. If massive icebergs aren’t your thing, and we know they are, then just remember that whales are also a constant on this stretch of water off the coast of Quirpon. 

Cape Anguille Lighthouse Inn is another idyllic and inspiring destination. Situated in a beautiful corner of western Newfoundland, the Atlantic Ocean provides the temperamental backdrop to the peaceful landscape, dotted with horses, rare birds, and sheep wandering the meadows and hills.

If you want to make a trifecta lighthouse visit, Point Amour Lighthouse in Southern Labrador also offers lighthouse accommodations at Max's House. It was the residence for the very last Light Keeper Max Sheppard and his family. Besides exploring the historic property and the 530 million year old geological formations, it is also an ideal location for viewing whales, icebergs, seals and sea birds.

Fishing Premises

If waterfront accommodations have always had a special place on your bucket list, then we have some great places for you. The allure of the tides and the sound of surf lulling you to sleep is certainly a unique way to experience Newfoundland and Labrador. By staying at a fishing premises, you get a feeling of the rich history of the people that lived next to and off of the ocean for centuries. From Chart House on the south coast of the island in Recontre East, to Battle Harbour and the Battle Harbour Heritage Properties in Southern Labrador, a stay on the water will be an experience you won't soon forget.  

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The fact of the matter is, in a place where you expect to find the unexpected, there’s no end to the unique places you can stay. Even though all of these places are distinct, they all have one common theme, they are all filled to the brim with something Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are famous for – good old fashioned hospitality. So, whatever your taste, you’re bound to find something if you’re adventurous enough to step off of the beaten path.

To share all the great photos of unique stays along your adventure, follow us on Instagram @newfoundlandlabrador and use #ExploreNL.