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Capital city of New Brunswick, Canada
Photo: Amqui, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Fredericton is the capital of New Brunswick, Canada. It is located along the St. John River. Fredericton is the cultural, artistic and educational centre of the province. Fredericton is home to two universities - the University of New Brunswick and the liberal arts-focused St. Thomas University. Fredericton is also home to cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Fredericton Region Museum and the Playhouse, the latter which serves as a venue for local talent/writers. Adding to the city's rich cultural milieu, Fredericton is the annual Harvest and Jazz and Blues Festival every fall which attracts regional and international jazz and blues artists. The city's IT and commercial sectors are growing, and it has the highest percentage of residents with a post-secondary education in the province and one of the highest per-capita incomes.
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Take an afternoon to walk around the historic district with some historic residences dating back to the late 18th century and the arrival of the British Empire Loyalists. The historic district is located behind the beautiful homes fronting Waterloo Row along the Saint John River.
The seat of democracy in New Brunswick since 1882, when it replaced a building that had been destroyed by fire two years earlier. It is a three-story sandstone building with mansard roof and corner towers built in the Second Empire Style. Its central octagon domed tower rises 41 m above the main roof level.
Visit this National Historic Site in the city's downtown and spend the day discovering the colourful Changing of the Guard, the Guard House, Soldiers Barracks, York Sunbury Historical Society Museum, City Hall tapestries depicting the history of Fredericton, Lighthouse Adventure Centre, museums, fine craft shops, walking tours, and outdoor theatre.
Historical settlement outside Fredericton north on the Trans-Canada Highway. King's Landing is a 300-acre (121-hectare) outdoor living history museum. The Landing recreates the sights, sounds and feel of rural New Brunswick in the 1800s. Staff, with authentically reproduced costumes work in the homes, shops, school, church, and theatre. Kings Landing was the winner of Attractions Canada Top International Attraction Award in 1999.
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is New Brunswick's provincial art gallery. It is named after William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, who funded the building of the gallery and assembled the original collection. It has over 300 works, including paintings by J.M.W. Turner and Salvador Dalí.
Elegant manor where galas and balls were hosted in yesteryear. Built in 1828, this important national and provincial historic site has been restored to its earlier splendour, and is the official residence and office to the Province's Lieutenant Governor. It features many antiques original to the house, a New Brunswick art gallery, gift shop, and interpretation centre which tells the story of the city and province's past.
The cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton. Construction began in 1845 and it was consecrated in 1853. The Gothic Revival cathedral is modelled after St. Mary's Church, Snettisham, Norfolk, and has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada. There are organizing recitals (by donation) every Friday at 12:10PM.
Interactive science museum that uses innovative, interactive science exhibits to demonstrate basic science concepts, prompt curiosity and foster interest and understanding of science. The museum also features travelling exhibits. It is housed in the former York County jail. Constructed in 1842, the jail is a tourist attraction itself.
formerly York-Sunbury Museum
Focuses on preserving the history of the York and Sunbury region and of central New Brunswick. The museum possesses a large and diverse collection of artefacts, displaying a 100-year-old cake, the Coleman Frog, Victorian gowns, and a 10,000-year-old Clovis Point. The museum has displays that include the Acadians, Loyalists, New Brunswick's Aboriginals, and a First World War trench.
Play your favourite game in the Sports Simulator, experience the stories of the inducted members in the Virtual Locker Room and see the science behind sports in the Biomechanics and Sports Discovery Centre.
This small wooden country church was built in 1837. Besides its rural cuteness, the church has the historical distinction of being one of the first in Canada to have a racially integrated congregation (white and Black). A Black family helped build and maintain the church. The church cemetery was also integrated at a time when graveyards were segregated in Canada.
Large preserved forest area. Its trails and wooded areas are a favourite for hiking, jogging, dog walking, and cross-country skiing for city residents.
The Saint John River is Fredericton's main geographic feature. It is the largest river between the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi and is about 600 m wide at Fredericton. The South River Front Trail runs about 3 km along the river beside the centre of the city, and the Walking Bridge, about 800 m, connects the south and north halves of Fredericton. Both are mixed-use and connect to about another 110 km of mixed-use trails in the city. The river itself suited to boating, with canoes and kayaks for rent at a few locations, although boaters should be aware that strong currents are possible during high water in spring. Swimming is not recommended.
Usually held in the middle of September and should not be missed. It is a very beautiful time of year and the festival music is top notch.
Established in 1979 Calithumpians Theatre Company continues to provide the humorous and historical theatrical entertainment that they have become known for locally and throughout North America.
This event takes place every year on Halloween at the Harrison House Residence on the University of New Brunswick campus. Event begins somewhere around 11PM. A very strange yet interesting ritual in Fredericton.
Championship golf course on Mactaquac Provincial Park, a year-round recreational facility with a 300-site campground, two beaches, a pair of marinas, nature trails and York Centennial Park, a day-use area.
Maritime's first cat cafe! The Cat Lounge - a room dedicated to temporarily housing rescued cats from all over the province of New Brunswick - is located to the rear of the Cafe through glass windows and doors - keeping the coffee and treats free of kitty fur, as well as allowing visitors with cat allergies to visit and enjoy from a safe distance!
Slices, pies and donairs. Open late.
Traditional stone-baked Montreal-style pizza, steaks, wings, ribs, chicken, donairs, salads or other Italian dishes. Eat-in, take-out or delivery. Fully licensed dining room.
German bakery selling Vietnamese bread. Lunch only. Their soups are good and there is generally a vegetarian choice.
This place could define the term greasy spoon restaurant. Typical diner.
Typical diner fare.
Good quality and tasty. The fatoush salad is great! Authentic, very garlicky, large portion, and possibly vegan.
A restaurant located at the Irving gas station on the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Oromocto. Truckers' stick-to-your ribs meals. Also a free wireless internet wifi hotspot.
Really good Greek food! The prices are very reasonable. Moussaka, souvlaki, and of course the usual hummus, salads, etc.
Cafe offering fair trade coffee espresso drinks, all day breakfast menu (eggs, wraps) lunch menu (paninis, soup & salad, rice dishes). Daily specials are unique and many use family Italian recipes. All items are made to order or homemade and prepared in their kitchen using fresh ingredients, locally sourced in NB if possible.
Chain restaurant. Breakfast and lunch only.
Seasonal dishes, focusing on fresh, local ingredients. Their sommelier has created an extensive wine list around their food style.
Pub Fare is prepared in traditional fashion, fries are cut fresh daily, burgers are made by hand, and very good beer.
Brightly-coloured dining room serving Caribbean food, with very friendly service. Locally-raised, grass-fed, organic and halal meat. Vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Authentic Chinese restaurant. They make their own tofu and offer a few vegetarian dishes. Many of their meat dishes can be made vegetarian if you ask (like the potstickers).
Family restaurant. Lunch ($13-17) and dinner ($15-26) Canadian-Chinese buffet (heavy on meat and deep fried items).
One of Fredericton's better Chinese buffet restaurants.
All dishes are made from scratch. Focus on local ingredients; wide selection of local beers; even New Brunswick wines are highlighted. Excellent desserts. On-going silent art auction. Gluten-free options are available - ask for their GF menu.
A wonderful deck looking out over the river. Friday night usually has a nice prime rib special and buffet.
Upscale decor for Vietnamese and Thai dining. Great service and drinks menu. The food is alright, but not up to the standards of Vietnamese food in larger cities. Not a bad choice, though.
Seafood, steaks, vegan and gluten-free options, pasta buffet, an extensive wine list. Waterfront location.
Dolan's Pub
The Cellar serves a full menu from 11:30AM to midnight and hosts live music, comedians and entertainers.
Excellent selection of whiskies and scotches.
UNB Campus. Offers reasonable rates for tourists & students (tourists restricted to summer). Walk-ins welcome! Note: closed since COVID, check their website to see if they have reopened!
Wandlyn Inn
Three rooms with private bath. 15 min walk to city centre. Quiet, nicely furnished. Friendly hosts and dog.
Backstreet has a large inventory of rare and hard-to-find selection of discs and records. It also has lots of used albums.
This is the place to be Saturday morning; it is not to be missed! Get there early because by 10:30AM it gets unbearably busy. The market opens at 6:30AM every Saturday. The samosas are very tasty. So much so, people seem to push and shove to get in line for them! The German bakers, fresh orange juice and the sausages are awesome.
Gallery 78 presents major solo and group exhibitions every month throughout the year in seven exhibition areas.
This shop has a wonderful assortment of gifts that you won't find anywhere else.
Westminster is the place to find books from local authors and maritime books.
By plane
Direct flights to Fredericton within Canada include from Montreal (1.25 hours) and from Toronto (1.75-2 hours).
By bus
By car
Streets in downtown Fredericton are in grid-like pattern and easily navigated. There are plenty of on-street parking and some parking garages in the downtown area.
By public transit
By taxi
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Fredericton · Regional · YFC
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