A trip to Quebec City
Why you should go
As one of very few walled cities in North America, Quebec City is truly something unique.
It is, perhaps the most stunning city in North America. It is unexpectedly European, it feels French and very romantic. As if that wasn’t enough, it is located on a hill, which provides a stunning view of the surrounding nature.
What to do in Quebec City?
The historic part of the city is Old Quebec. Developed in the 1600s, this is where you’ll find most of the landmarks and iconic buildings. It is divided into two parts: upper town and lower town. They are connected with a funicular, (a short distanced-railway) than you can ride for $ 3.50. Below, you will find my tips on what to focus on when strolling around Old Quebec.
1.Chateau Frontenac
2. Dufferin Promenade
3. Place D’Armes
4. Place Royale & Quartier Petit Champlain
4. Take the ferry
The ferry from Quebec to Levis takes about 12 minutes, it’s $ 3.60 for an adult and offers unobstructed, stunning views of the city. Levis is quite a small town, so there isn’t that much to do there, but the views of Quebec City are worth the boat trip alone.
5. Visit a park
Quebec City has many beautiful parks. One great option is Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine, which offers stunning views of the St Lawrence River and the city skyline.
6. Visit Siberia Station Spa
About 20 minutes from Quebec City, at a gorgeous wooden chapel in the forest, I’ve found a Scandinavian style spa. Now, as a Scandinavian, it might seem odd to go to Canada for a Scandinavian spa experience, but this place is stunning and surrounded by beautiful nature. My next visit to Quebec City will be in the middle of winter, and I’m picturing myself relaxing in a hot spring in a forest, with metres of snow around me.
7. Visit Montmorency Falls
Sometimes referred to as Niagara Falls little sister, Montmorency Falls is a huge waterfall along the Montmorency River. It is actually even higher than the slightly more famous Niagara Falls. The waterfall can be enjoyed from the base, the sides and even suspension bridge that runs over the crest of the falls. To get to the base of the waterfall, you ride by cable car that offers incredible views of the waterfall, river and surrounding landscape. Since Quebec gets quite cold, I’d suggest visiting the waterfall during the warmer months unless you’re up for a challenging adventure. The waterfall freezes during winter, and the sight turns into a spot for winter activities such as ice climbing and snow camping.
8. Ile D’Orleans
Located about 17 km from Quebec City, this island is a great option for a day trip. The island is home to historic homes and churches, vineyards, sugar shacks, strawberries known to be legendary, lovely bakeries and gorgeous scenery. The best way to explore the island is by car as you are able to drive around and stop where you please. For more on this island, check out this article for a thorough guide of the island. I saw something about a Chocolaterie that’s definitely made it to my list of sweet treats to try when I’m there.
Where should you stay in Quebec City?
1.Chateau Frontenac – It is impossible to miss this place, and it is every Quebec visitor’s dream to stay here. Everything about this hotel is a dream. Unfortunately, it is a bit expensive, so I have a few other suggestions below.
2. Hilton Quebec – I enjoy the Hilton hotels, you know what you’re getting, and you know that it will be good. The prices really vary depending on the city, but from what I saw they were pretty reasonable in Quebec. The location is really good as well.
3. Hotel Acadia – Cozy hotel decorated with beautiful brick walls in each room. It is perfectly located in a beautiful quiet street that looks like it’s taken straight from France in the middle of Old Quebec.
Where should you eat?
- 1608 Wine & Cheese Bar – Located inside the Chateau Frontenac, serving primarily French wine and cheese, this is as iconic Quebec as it gets. The venue is stunning and has a wide variety of wine, cocktails and other drinks. There is plenty of cheese available, and other food as well.
- Tournebroche – A beautiful restaurant that hasn’t been around for too many years. The food is good, but the main reason to go here instead of somewhere else is the desserts. They offer a new flavour of creme brûlée for each day of the week. It was maple bacon when I was there, which is a Canadian classic. Bacon in a creme brûlée tasted surprisingly great, so I definitely recommend giving it a go if you have the chance.
3. Infamous as a Canadian hangover cure, Poutine is very beloved in Quebec. This is also where poutine first originated, so it would be a shame not to have it here. The best place for poutine in Quebec City is supposedly Casse Croute Chez Gaston, a casual and greasy little joint where the poutine dreams come true.
4. If you want more in depth information about the food scene in Quebec City, here is an article that will take your food experiences in Quebec to the next level.
What else to think of in Quebec City
- It gets cold, and it gets cold early. The city can also be very windy so dress warm, and go during summer if you want warm weather. My next trip will be in December, as Quebec City is the perfect Christmas destination, but I will definitely make sure to bundle up!
- Most people speak English, but are a lot better in French, so use your French if you can. All signs and menus are in French, so it will definitely be an advantage to have some basic French knowledge.
- Don’t expect to find as much of the typical American food and coffee chains in Quebec City, or the Quebec region in general. That’s however a good thing, because QC has a lot of local flavours to offer, and you would miss out if you didn’t try them.
- The amount of time you need here varies depending on how much you want to do. If you just want to see the city, a weekend is enough. If you want to take things in a more relaxed pace and maybe fit in a day trip or a spa trip, then I’d suggest four to five days.
I hope you’ve found my post on Quebec City interesting. The city is one of the most stunning places I’ve ever visited and I have definite plans to go back.
If you have any tips on what to do, see, eat or where to stay in the area (or any other information, such as exciting day trips) make sure to let me know in the comments below.
