French culture is the main attraction here, but its beautiful landscapes, mild climate, and delicious seafood make it an excellent destination to visit. The history is fascinating, the locals are friendly, and the architecture is unique. A 7.5-mile dune connects the two islands. The tourist office here offers tours, as does the cruise line. Both the Canadian dollar and the Euro are accepted here, and the official language is French. It is rare our knitting cruises visit these two islands.

Control here went back and forth between the UK and France until 1816, when France took control permanently. Like Newfoundland, with its wonky 30-minute time zone, St. Pierre and Miquelon have their own time zone entirely and is the first place in North America, because of this, to celebrate the New Year.

Saint-Pierre is the smaller of the two with, the larger population, and Miquelon is the more significant island with fewer inhabitants. Saint Pierre has a population of 5,500 and Miquelon 600. There are also several uninhabited islands nearby. Here you find Basque and Acadian history, abundant wildlife, and farming. The town of Miquelon is smaller than Saint-Pierre and has fewer services for visitors.

Ship Location

Cruise ships dock about a twenty-minute walk from the small town of Miquelon.

Getting Around

The port area is small, so it is easy to get around on foot or scooter. The topography is hilly, so taxis are available and offer guided tours. There are very few rental cars.

Attractions

There is a tourism office on the main square and the staff speaks English. There are walking tours of Old Town, a small museum and zodiac tours where you can enjoy the coastal areas, coves and cliffs while seeing marine mammals including seals and sea birds. Most tours here are short due to the tiny nature of the place so there is time to do pretty much everything you want to do while here.

Saint Pierre has a cathedral and the Musée Heritage, featuring regional history. There is another island nearby, Île-aux-Marins, features an abandoned fishing village, that is only visited during the summer months.

Staying in Touch

Unlike in Canada, mobile service is limited here. Ask your provider, but in most cases, text and calls are your only two options. Internet access is available at cafes, and you can also ask at the visitor center for places to go online.