Quebec, CanadaThe Old Capital
Quebec City
A walled old city on a cliff above the St. Lawrence, with cobbled lanes, a grand hotel and French spoken everywhere. It works best on foot, in any season.
- Best months
- Feb to Dec
- Ideal stay
- 2 to 3 days
- Train
- Not confirmed
- Bus
- Not confirmed
Photo by Arpita Ghosh on Unsplash
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Best months
- January
- February, a good time to go
- March
- April
- May
- June, a good time to go
- July, a good time to go
- August, a good time to go
- September, a good time to go
- October, a good time to go
- November
- December, a good time to go
Known as
- Historic
- Capital
- River city
Getting there
- Highway / road trip
- Commercial airport
- Local public transit
- Ferry
Train and bus
- Train
- Not confirmed
- Bus
- Not confirmed
People
549,459
in the city, 839,311 in the metro area
Languages
French, English
Quebec City is the capital of French Canada, and the old town rises on a cliff above the St. Lawrence River. Stone ramparts still circle Upper Town, the Château Frontenac towers above the river, and narrow lanes drop down to Lower Town. The language is French, and while English is widely spoken in the tourist districts, a few French words go a long way. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it feels like a European city set down in North America. Outside the walls, Saint-Roch and Montcalm give you a contemporary side.
The best way to see the old city is to walk. Dufferin Terrace runs along the cliff beside the Château Frontenac, and from there you can descend to Place Royale and the Petit Champlain district by the funicular or the Breakneck Steps. The ramparts offer a walk with views. The Plains of Abraham are a large park where the 1759 battle took place, and the Citadelle is an active military base with a museum. The Musée de la civilisation and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec are good for rainy days. Montmorency Falls are a short drive east.
Food is a main reason to come. Quebec favours hearty French Canadian cooking: tourtière meat pie, pea soup, poutine, maple syrup everything, and soft cheeses from the region. French bistros and crêperies line the old town, and rue Saint-Jean and Saint-Roch have a younger scene with cafes and wine bars. Ice cider and local cider make a good evening drink, and microbreweries are easy to find. At night, the old town has candlelit bars and pubs, while Saint-Roch has cocktail rooms. Breakfast is often bakery pastries and strong coffee, and cafes fill up early on weekends.
Staying inside the walls of Upper Town gets you the best atmosphere. Lower Town and Petit Champlain are quieter at night and close to the river. Saint-Roch is a modern base with a more local feel, a short walk or bus ride from the old town. Parking in the old city is limited and hard, so leave the car at the hotel or in a garage. The city is compact, and walking is the main way to get around. RTC buses cover the wider area, and a ferry crosses the river to Lévis for a view of the skyline.
Every season has its draw. Summer is warm and busy with festivals. Autumn brings colour in the surrounding hills and a quieter old town. Winter is cold and snowy, and the Winter Carnival in February fills the streets with ice sculptures and parades. The Christmas season is charming. Spring is slow and muddy. Two days is enough for the old town, the museums and a meal or two. Three days lets you add Montmorency Falls and Île d'Orléans, and visitors who love atmosphere often stay longer. Snow and ice can make cobbles slippery.
Quebec City sits on the St. Lawrence, a few hours northeast of Montreal by road or on VIA Rail trains from Gare du Palais. East of the city, the Île d'Orléans is full of farms and orchards, and the Charlevoix coast runs toward the Saguenay fjord and whale watching at Tadoussac. South, the road leads to the Maine border and the Eastern Townships. It makes a natural endpoint to a Montreal and Ontario route and a starting point for the Gaspé. Tadoussac lies along the Saguenay, and the Mont-Sainte-Anne ski area is close to the east.
Highlights
- Château Frontenac
The grand hotel on the cliff that dominates the skyline.
- Dufferin Terrace
A wide boardwalk above the river, beside the Château.
- Petit Champlain
A lane of shops and cafes in Lower Town, reached by funicular or stairs.
- Place Royale
A square of stone houses in the oldest part of the city.
- The ramparts
A walk along the old city walls and gates.
- Plains of Abraham
A large park on the battlefield above the river.
- Montmorency Falls
A tall waterfall beside the St. Lawrence, a short drive east.
- Île d'Orléans
An island of farms, orchards and cider houses.
Neighborhoods
- Upper Town
The walled area, with the Château Frontenac, churches and the ramparts.
- Lower Town
Narrow lanes along the river, with Place Royale and Petit Champlain.
- Saint-Roch
A former industrial area with modern cafes, bars and restaurants.
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste
A lively street of bistros and small shops below the walls.
- Montcalm
A residential area near the Plains of Abraham and the art museum.
- Limoilou
A working district with bakeries and a growing food scene.
Getting around
The old town is compact and best on foot, with a funicular linking Upper and Lower Town. RTC buses cover the wider city, and parking inside the walls is limited.
- Airport
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)
- Parking
- Hard downtown
- EV charging
- Some
Scores
Very good
- Rated by Route By Design.
- Crime Severity Index around 55 for the metro area; the Canadian figure is about 78. Source: Statistics Canada Crime Severity Index, 2024 (metro area).
- The other scores are estimated from the city’s size, attractions and transport links.
Where to stay
- Camping nearby
- Some
- Hostels
- Yes
Showing 1 to 6 of 11
HostelsAuberge Internationale de Québec19 Rue Sainte-Ursule, Québec, QC HostelsAuberge Jeunesse QBEDS Hostel625 Grande Allée E, Québec, QC HostelsAuberge Jeunesse Quebec Central386 Rue du Pont, Québec, QC HostelsAuberge de la Paix31 Rue Couillard, Québec, QC RV parksCentre Plein Air l'Etincelle270 Rue du Lac-Long S, St-Alphonse-Rodriguez, QC RV parksHalte VR Sainte-Marie883 Rue Notre Dame N, QC RV parksHalte de la Grande-Anse707 Av. de la Grande-Anse, La Pocatière, QC HotelsHôtel Clarendon57 rue Sainte-Anne, Québec, QC G1R 3X4 HotelsHôtel Manoir Vieux-Québec6 Rue de la Porte, Québec, QC RV parksParc de Motorises Godefroy185 Av. Godefroy, Bécancour, QC RV parksStationnement Bassin Louise VR155 Rue Abraham Martin, Québec, QC
Things to do
Showing 1 to 6 of 48
stadiumsAmphitheatre Gymnase Desjardins Universite Laval2300 De la Terrasse St, Québec, QC zoos aquariumsAquarium du Québec1675 Av. des Hôtels, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsArboretum of Domaine Maizerets1383 Av. D'Estimauville, Québec, QC stadiumsCANAC Stadium100 Rue du Cardinal-Maurice-Roy, Québec, QC climbing gymsCentre d'escalade Roc Gyms2350 Av. du Colisée, Québec, QC Sightseeing & toursChâteau Frontenac EntertainmentCinema Le Clap Place Ste-Foy2580 Boulevard Laurier, Québec, QC EntertainmentCinéma Beaumont541 Rue Saint-Vallier E, Québec, QC EntertainmentCinéma Cineplex Odeon Beauport825 Rue Clemenceau, Québec, QC Sightseeing & toursCitadelle de Québec1 Côte de la Citadelle, Québec, QC EntertainmentComediHa575 Rue Saint-Joseph E, Québec, QC climbing gymsDelire Parc1 Chemin de la Baie-de-Beauport, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsDog Park Pointe-aux-Lièvres25 Rue de la Pointe-aux-Lièvres, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsDomaine de Maizerets2000 Bd Montmorency, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsDufferin Terrace climbing gymsDÉLIRE Escalade950 Avenue St-Jean-Baptiste, Québec, QC climbing gymsDélice Pierre-Bertrand955 Pierre-Bertrand Blvd, Québec, QC zoos aquariumsFerme Genest2091 Rte Marie-Victorin, Lévis, QC zoos aquariumsFerme Origine1001 Chem. des Îles, Lévis, QC EntertainmentGrand Théâtre de Québec269 Boulevard René-Lévesque E, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsJardin Botanique Roger-Van den Hende2480 Bd Hochelaga, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsJardin Géologique de l'Université LavalCité-Universitaire, Québec, QC climbing gymsL'Accroché345 Rue Aubert, Lévis, QC Family activitiesL'Oasis du Port de Québec80 Quai Saint-André, Québec, QC zoos aquariumsLa Ferme a Frederique956 Chem. Vire-Crêpes, Lévis, QC EntertainmentLe Saint-Jean Comédie Club & Restaurant774 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC zoos aquariumsMiller Zoo20 Route Hurley, Frampton, QC Parks & outdoorsMontmorency Falls Museums & galleriesMusée de la civilisation85 Dalhousie St, Québec, QC Museums & galleriesMusée national des beaux-arts du Québec179 Grande Allée O, Québec, QC EntertainmentNinkasi Comedie Club811 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC Sightseeing & toursNotre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral16 Rue de Buade, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsParc Anse-à-Cartier45 Rue Jacques-Cartier, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsParc Canin2 Rue de Liverpool, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC Family activitiesParc Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde491 Bd Champlain, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsParc canin de la Pente DouceCôte de la Pente-Douce, Québec, QC stadiumsPavillon Guy-Lafleur1988 Rue de l'Exposition, Québec, QC AttractionsPetit Champlain Family activitiesPiscine Municipale380 de Verdun St, Québec, QC Family activitiesPiscine Municipale - Domaine de Maizerets2000 Bd Montmorency, Québec, QC Sightseeing & toursPlace Royale Parks & outdoorsPlains of Abraham EntertainmentProductions Strada801 4e Rue local 306, Québec, QC casinosSalon de jeux de Québec847 Rue Clemenceau, Québec, QC stadiumsStade TELUS-Université Laval2380 Rue du Peps, Québec, QC AttractionsThe ramparts stadiumsVideotron Centre250 Wilfrid-Hamel Blvd, Québec, QC Parks & outdoorsÎle d'Orléans
Food & dining
Showing 1 to 6 of 19
Breweries & wineriesApikol627 Boulevard Charest E, Québec, QC RestaurantsAux Anciens Canadiens34 rue Saint-Louis, Québec, QC G1R 4P3 Breweries & wineriesBrasserie Inox655 Grande Allée E, Québec, QC Cafés & coffeeCafé Pékoe433 rue Saint-Joseph Est, Québec, QC G1K 3B6 Cafés & coffeeCantook Micro Torréfaction575 rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1P5 Breweries & wineriesCherry River Distillerie - Québec1800 Chem. Saint-Louis, Québec, QC Bakeries & dessertsChez Boulay42 Côte du Palais, Québec, QC Bakeries & dessertsChez Hansel et Gretel242 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC Breweries & wineriesDistillerie Arsenal & Co.1195 Rue Taillon, Québec, QC Breweries & wineriesDistillerie Lore & Legends8780 Bd Guillaume-Couture, Lévis, QC Breweries & wineriesDistillerie Stadaconé235 2e Rue, Québec, QC Markets & food hallsHalles Sainte-Foy2500 Chem. des Quatre-Bourgeois, Québec, QC RestaurantsLe Cochon Dingue46 boulevard Champlain, Québec, QC G1K 4E8 Markets & food hallsLe Grand Marché de Québec220 Wilfrid-Hamel Blvd, Québec, QC RestaurantsLe Saint-Amour48 rue Sainte-Ursule, Québec, QC G1R 4E2 Markets & food hallsMarché de Proximité870 Av. De Salaberry Local 111, Québec, QC Bakeries & dessertsPâtisserie Chouquette778 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC Bakeries & dessertsQueues de Castor28 Boulevard Champlain, Québec, QC Bakeries & dessertsQueues de Castor1049 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC
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Work remotely
Quebec City scores 5.8 out of 10 for remote work (good), in the top 38% of the cities we score.
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Where to next from Quebec City
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5 cities within 120 mi of Quebec City by road.
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All 5 cities within 120 mi, with travel times
- Lévis Quebecabout 2 mi · about 3 min by car · estimated
- Baie-Saint-Paul Quebecabout 69 mi · about 1 h 18 min by car · estimated
- Trois-Rivières Quebecabout 89 mi · about 1 h 41 min by car · estimated
- Kamouraska Quebecabout 102 mi · about 1 h 56 min by car · estimated
- Drummondville Quebecabout 111 mi · about 2 h 6 min by car · estimated
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