From vibrant markets to hidden kayaking routes, Fredericton, New Brunswick, is perfect for a quick getaway or stop on your east coast itinerary. Here’s a list of things to do in Fredericton that you can’t miss for your visit.
Who Should You Visit Fredericton With
This is a great trip for everyone, but I think it’s an amazing friend group destination! There were many birthdays, bachelorettes and bachelor parties when I was there.
I also saw lots of couples and families enjoying a trip here. It’s also a very dog-friendly city if you like travelling with your pup!
How Long Should You Visit Fredericton, NB
I would carve out at least two days in Fredericton, longer is possible! I spent a long weekend here and felt it was a good amount of time, but I will be back to cross off more items on my list or possibly visit a new season. For this trip, I focused on downtown Fredericton, but there are plenty more activities to add on in the capital region.
What’s the Best Time To Visit Fredericton, NB
I visited in the summer and loved it! There are many fun summer activities, and I loved visiting the Garrison Night Market. I would visit in summer again in a heartbeat, but I’d also love to visit in Fall and Winter. Each season brings new events and activities to the city.
Best Way To Get to Fredericton
From Ottawa, you can take the direct flight with Porter Airlines, and you’ll be in Fredericton in 1.5 hours. It’s a quick trip with great snacks and beverages along the way.
Once you arrive at Fredericton International Airport (YFC), take a cab to downtown Fredericton, and it will be easy to bike/walk the rest of your trip. This flight with Porter makes Fredericton a great option for a weekend trip.
If you’re already driving to the East Coast, Fredericton is a great first stop from Ottawa or Montreal. I recommend spending a few nights. Read below for some ideas for your trip. It’s about a 10-hour drive from Ottawa and an 8.5-hour drive from Montreal.
Things to Do in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Stay at Atlantic Canada’s Only Urban Resort
You could easily spend your whole stay enjoying Delta Hotels by Mariott Fredericton, but with so many fun things to do in Fredericton, I’m sure you’ll also want to explore the town!
This is a great stay, from beautiful room views to incredible sunset nights with a cocktail by the pool! There are plenty of things to do on-site that make the hotel a destination.
The rooms were a great place to land after a day of exploring, and I loved looking out at the Saint John River. The hotel itself is beautiful with modern decor.
The hotel is a 15-minute walk or a 4-minute bike ride to downtown Fredericton. If you’re a local, you could even boat over to the hotel.
There are plenty of amenities, including a gym, outdoor sauna, indoor pool, outdoor pool, restaurants and more.
Driftwood Pool Bar
Enjoy an afternoon lounging by the pool with a cocktail and listening to live music at Driftwood Pool and Bar. There’s a great vibe here, and you’ll get stunning views of the Saint John River simultaneously. Make sure you watch the sunset here one night. Enjoy sitting in one of the hammocks or sitting at the bar.
Even the entrance is beautiful with the neon Drift sign and welcoming twinkle lights.
Stmr.36 BBQ and Social
Enjoy delicious barbeque fare with water views at Stmr. 36 BBQ and Social inside the Delta. Go hungry because the portions are generous! I went with the slow-cooked brisket with mac n cheese and sweet potato fries, which was delicious! You can also do whiskey and bourbon flights here.
I also enjoyed breakfast here, and I loved that it was just steps from your hotel room, and you could sip on your morning coffee with water views. I was torn between the buttermilk bourbon pancakes and breakfast poutine.
Visit A Fredericton Market
Fredericton’s market scene surprised me in the best way. I had heard great things, but experiencing them in person surpassed my expectations. If you can, I’d attend all three.
Garrison Night Market
Every Thursday night in summer, the Historic Garrison District is transformed by the lively Garrison Night Market. If you can line your visit up with this event, I highly recommend it. The Garrison Night Market has an incredible mix of food vendors, local shops, music and dance performances and more.
It felt like a mix of my favourite markets abroad, with many international vendors and multicultural music and dance. I travelled the world through my taste buds from El Salvador pupusas, Jamaican patties, Indonesian mie goreng and more.
It was also a great opportunity to explore local businesses, from coffee to woodworking. One of the most creative booths was “Poems on the Spot,” where you could have a poem written about a theme or on sight.
All ages were out to enjoy this night market. I spent a few hours walking around, soaking it all in, and trying new food. There was also a beer garden with Graystone Brewing where you could enjoy a beer.
The Garrison Night Market is 4:30-9 pm until September 7th.
ReCap Night Market
Keep the good vibes at the ReCap Night Market in front of The Cap starting at 8 pm. This market is a smaller version of the Garrison Night Market with a mix of local vendors surrounded by restaurants and patios. Stalls included vintage, thrifted and re-worked/repurposed items of clothing, records and more. There was a live band that instantly had people dancing under twinkle lights.
Browse the market and head to a nearby restaurant for a drink. The Cap has a great patio overlooking the market and is also home to the famous Fredericton “Dave Matthews” cocktail that’s popular throughout the east coast. It’s made of coconut rum, amaretto, cranberry and pineapple. The story is that bartended Wes Ward was experimenting with cocktails when he created this one when a Dave Matthews song came on.
Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market
Kick-off Saturday with the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market. There are more than 200 vendors to explore, from handcrafted items, plants and veggies, baked foods, savoury bites and more. Many locals recommended the orange juice and samosas, and they didn’t disappoint. There are two samosa stands, one offering traditional samosas and another offering creative spins like donair or feta samosas. I also tried empanadas and baklava. There were lots of great food stalls to try from.
The market is every Saturday from 7 am-1 pm at 665 George Street. It’s a great spot to head to before exploring downtown.
Kayak To a Hidden Lagoon
You’ll find Second Nature Outdoors along the Fredericton Waterfront Trail. Second Nature Outdoors offers kayak rentals, bike rentals, and guided or self-guided tours. Refuel at their on-site cafe, The Lily Dipper, after your adventure.
We did a self-guided kayak adventure. Head across the Saint John River and reach a peaceful stream covered with overhanging trees. It’s a beautiful hidden gem with reflections in the water. We had the palace all to ourselves.
We went on a 2-3 hour kayak adventure, but I easily could have spent longer. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you paddle through.
Cruise Around Fredericton on A Bike
Fredericton is a very bike-friendly city. I loved the Fredericton Waterfront Trail that I could take from the Delta to downtown Fredericton and beyond, with scenic views the whole time. I rented a bike from the Delta. E-scooters are also very popular in Fredericton.
I loved cruising on a bike at my own speed and stopping for attractions, from local art to views. One of my favourite biking activities was the Taproom Trail.
Explore the Fredericton Taproom Trail
Did you know the Fredericton Capital Region ranks amongst the most taprooms per capita in Canada, with one taproom per 5,400 people? If you want a local experience, you need to bike the Taproom Trail. You could tell this was popular with locals, with many spending friend groups joining together for an afternoon with friends biking to different stops.
Bike through Fredericton and cross off spots in the Taproom Trail passport. You’ll find many local breweries and cideries to grab a drink or flight from along the way. Many of the stops along the way are dog friendly if you’re travelling with your pup! All three stops below are dog friendly.
I started my adventure at the Delta, biking the scenic Fredericton Waterfront Trail and bridge to Picaroons. There are 11 different stops along the Taproom Trail. Here are a few that I visited:
Picaroons Brewing Company
Turn off the Fredericton Bridge, and you’ll find Picaroons Brewing Company tucked away behind the trees. This brewery has an amazing patio full of inviting red chairs and tables. There’s also a restaurant, 540 NORTH, so it’s a great spot to pair brews and bites. I recommend the nachos, with hints of sweet and savoury.
There’s also indoor seating but on a nice summer day, I had to soak up the sunshine outside.
One of the first beers that stood out to me was their Melonhead brew. It has a distinct can with a cat and watermelon hat. I learned that each year they have a contest for which local cat will be on the label.
Trailway Brew Co.
Trailway Brew Co. is a great spot to get a flight. They have an impressive selection, including sours, seltzer, IPAs and more. The artwork around the brewery is labels of beers they’ve had in rotation. They have fun flavours like Blue Raspberry Seltzer and Sunny C sour ale with orange.
Enjoy a beer inside or on their patio. A food truck on site also offers burgers, cauliflower bites and more. Trailway Brew Co. has a relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of locals popping in to enjoy a drink.
Graystone Brewing
I had to go for their Wild Child Radler, a light-bodied traditional grapefruit radler. Choose from classic craft brews or one of their seasonal brews. Their taphouse has 23 taps with a mix of their brews and other local beers and ciders.
In summer, enjoy their outdoor patio and hammocks and food trucks outside. In the colder months, cozy up by the fireplace inside.
Find more stops for the Fredericton Taproom Trail here.
Explore Downtown Fredericton
I loved walking around downtown and admiring the historic buildings, rainbow crosswalks, murals and local shops and restaurants.
Wasted Fashion is a stylish local boutique perfect for finding a new outfit.
The Dandy Paint Lounge is a social spot for painting and drinks. It caught my attention with their beautiful umbrella installation outside.
As you walk around downtown, keep an eye out for beautiful murals.
Indulge in Fredericton’s Food Scene
11th Mile
11th Mile is a chef-owned restaurant specializing in delicious small plates and craft cocktails in an intimate space. They offer modern Canadian cuisine with maritime hospitality and locally sourced ingredients.
Each dish was full of flavour. I recommend getting the scallion pancake, beef tostada, charred napa cabbage salad, gnocchi and the daylight savings cocktail.
J’s Asian Kitchen
Enjoy Asian fusion specialties from sushi to Korean fried chicken to curry bowls. I got their takoyaki and dined on the picnic tables outside.
Lighthouse by 540
Dine in a lighthouse at Lighthouse by 540. They have a scenic patio with greenery and twinkle lights overlooking the Saint John River.
Claudine’s Eatery
Claudine’s Eatery is a family-owned restaurant known for its east coast comfort food. We headed here for brunch, and I couldn’t resist the lobster eggs benedict. Make sure to check out this local spot when you’re in Fredericton.
Chess Piece Patisserie
Refuel with coffee or tea at this coffee shop right downtown. Take a moment to enjoy it in the alleyway full of murals right beside it. They’re also the owners of Queen Street Creamery if you’re looking for a cool and sweet treat.
Beaverbrook Art Gallery
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery not only celebrates the masterpieces of the past but also supports contemporary artists, making it a vibrant hub of artistic innovation. With its stunning architecture, serene surroundings, and thoughtfully curated exhibitions, the gallery provides an immersive experience that engages and inspires visitors. It’s also home to a beautiful cafe.
Check out local events happening before your visit here.
Thank you to Fredericton Tourism for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I hope you have as much fun exploring Fredericton as I did. I’d love to see your adventures. Feel free to tag me on Instagram and Tik Tok.
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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