These tiny French islands are just 90 minutes from Canada and feel like a European escape
If you've ever dreamed of strolling through a charming French town, indulging in buttery croissants, and sipping wine by the sea — all without crossing the Atlantic — there's a place where you can do just that. Just 90 minutes from Canada, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is a tiny slice of France tucked away in the North Atlantic.
Despite being only 25 kilometres from Canada, these islands feel worlds apart. The geography may be similar to Newfoundland's rugged coastline, but the atmosphere is entirely European.
The moment you step onto Saint-Pierre, you'll feel like you've been transported to another continent. The streets are lined with colourful European-style houses, French is the primary language you'll hear, and each cafe and bakery could easily belong in a Parisian neighbourhood.
Shops close for a midday break between noon and 2 p.m., and most don't open at all on Sundays. In the mornings, you'll find people lined up outside the bakeries for fresh croissants. In the evenings, restaurants start serving dinner later than you might expect — just like in France.
What's more, the locals pay in euros, the cars have European license plates, and even the electrical outlets require an adapter. You'll need a passport to visit, too because, technically, you're in France.
Don't forget, Canadian cell phones will incur international charges as well!
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are the last remaining French territories in North America. Over the centuries, the islands have changed hands multiple times, with the British and French fighting for control. By 1816, France reclaimed them for good, and they've remained part of the country ever since.
Today, the islands have a population of around 6,000, most of whom live in the lively town of Saint-Pierre. Miquelon, the larger island to the north, is wilder and more remote, home to just a few hundred people, vast landscapes, and incredible wildlife.
The town of Saint-Pierre is small but full of character, with winding streets, quaint shops, and cafes serving fresh pastries that taste like they came straight from a Paris bakery.
You'll find charming bistros where you can enjoy classic French dishes, all paired with wine imported from Bordeaux itself.
For history lovers, the islands have plenty of stories to tell. The Heritage Museum dives into Saint-Pierre's past, from early Basque fishermen to the Prohibition era, when the island became a smuggling hub, supplying alcohol to the U.S. in the 1920s.
During American Prohibition, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon played a key role in bootlegging, with infamous mobsters setting up operations on the island. Even Al Capone was supposedly a client of Hotel Robert, a historic hotel that still operates today.
Just off the coast, Île aux Marins is an abandoned island that was once a thriving fishing village but is now a ghost town of stone houses, an old schoolhouse, and a picturesque chapel.
For those who love the outdoors, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon offer incredible landscapes and wildlife. In the summer, look out for humpback and minke whales, which frequent the waters around the islands. Birdwatchers flock here to see puffins, gannets, and other seabirds nesting along the cliffs.
The islands' unique quirks don't stop at the culture. Newfoundland is already known for its unusual 30-minute time zone, but Saint-Pierre and Miquelon take it a step further. Their time zone is another 30 minutes ahead of Newfoundland—meaning if it's noon in St. John's, it's already 12:30 p.m. in Saint-Pierre.
And because you travel west by ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland, to reach Saint-Pierre, it's one of the few places in the world where heading west means moving your clock forward.
Despite its remote location, getting to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is surprisingly easy. Most visitors take the ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland, which runs regularly in the summer and takes just 90 minutes.
There are also flights from St. John's, Halifax, and Montreal.
Whether you're wandering through the charming streets of Saint-Pierre, hiking through Miquelon's wild landscapes, or enjoying a quiet moment with a fresh croissant and coffee by the sea, the islands offer a travel experience unlike anywhere else in North America. It's France — closer than you ever imagined.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
