Useful Tourism Information for Québec City

Why visit Québec City? One of the top destinations in Canada, Québec City is best known for the historic buildings and ambiance of Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Château Frontenac, and its unique French culture.  A vibrant city with great outdoor activities nearby, delicious food (hello, poutine!), and many festivals and events throughout the year. In winter, Québec City is best known for its winter wonderland vibes (at their top for Christmas and the Holidays!), sparkling Ice Hotel, and winter carnival, Carnaval de Québec. 

Deciding what to do in Québec City can often be the best part of planning your trip. We recommend starting with a walk in Old Québec, surrounded by historic buildings, shopping, and great restaurants. Whether you visit in summer or dream of a winter wonderland experience, Old Québec is a great place to start. 

From there, we suggest visiting central neighbourhoods for some local flavour. There are so many great activities in both summer and winter in Québec City. Take a guided walking tour to get to know the city’s rich history. Spend time along the St. Lawrence River enjoying a boat tour or dinner cruise, cycle the Samuel-De Champlain promenade, or admire the city’s skyline from an International cruise ship. 

Old Québec is the perfect place to start your trip to Québec City. Enter the Château Frontenac on your own, or take a guided tour. Enjoy beautiful views of Old Québec and the St. Lawrence River from Dufferin Terrace and Pierre-Dugua-De Mons Terrace. We like to walk down the Breakneck Steps and do some shopping in Petit-Champlain, followed by a stop in Place-Royale and a wander through Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church. 

We also recommend walking along the fortification walls, visiting Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica Cathedral, the Citadelle, Plains of Abraham and the Parliament building. 

We love discovering what to do around Québec City, and you will too. A day trip to Montmorency Waterfalls and Île d’Orléans will feed your soul, and your tummy! Outdoor activities abound in Jacques-Cartier National Park and Charlevoix. A drive up to Tadoussac is picturesque and perfect for anyone wishing to go whalewatching. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine is a go-to for religious pilgrims, and we like to spend time exploring the rest of Côte-de-Beaupré as well. Wendake is a must for memorable indigenous experiences, and Portneuf is filled with charm and adventure. In winter, make sure not to miss the Ice Hotel. 

The best time of year to visit Québec City depends on the type of activities you want to do while you’re here. Québec City’s monthly weather can change quite a bit.  Summer is the busiest season, with several fun festivals and events, exciting outdoor activities, and beautiful restaurant patios to enjoy. In fall, the city is full of vibrant colours, with warm days and cool nights. Winter is pure magic as the city transforms into a winter wonderland, the Ice Hotel opens its doors, and Carnaval de Québec gets everyone excited. Spring is a laid back season with flowers blooming and plenty of opportunities to enjoy Québec City like a local. 

French is the official language of Québec, however, English is widely spoken in tourist areas. If someone does not speak English, they will let you know, while also doing their best to help you. Learning some French words before your trip to Québec is always a good idea, especially if you’re planning to explore smaller towns outside the city. Downloading a translation app on your phone might also be helpful. 

We recommend spending a minimum of 3 days in Québec City to get a feel for the city, its people and authentic French Canadian culture. Our Québec City itineraries are filled with suggestions on things to do in Québec City, whether you’re coming for a weekend getaway or planning to stay longer. Planning a Eastern Québec (or Canada) road trip or riding the rails with VIA Rail? Québec City is the perfect location to start or end your trip. 

Québec City is an affordable city. Travelers with a mid-range travel budget will find plenty of fun activities to enjoy, as well as a cornucopia of restaurants and cocktail bars to experience. Looking for ways to experience Québec City on a budget? Like every city in the world, there are tips to save money and still have a memorable Québec City vacation. 

Yes, you can use US Dollars in Québec City, however, Canadian dollars and American dollars are not at par. American currency is accepted at most establishments, but the rates of exchange fluctuate. Your money matters, so be sure to budget for exchange rates, sales tax, and tipping. 

Québec City is a very safe city, with a low criminal rate. You can safely walk around the city any time of the day or night. Public transit makes it easy to get around, whether you want to take the bus, a taxi or uber. Similar to other destinations, following basic travel safety tips is something everyone should do. 

Visiting Québec City for the first time? We suggest staying in Old Québec, a neighbourhood filled with 400+ years of history, and several 4-star and 5-star hotels. Explore streets which are off-the-beaten-path and admire the architecture, enjoy restaurant patios, shop, sip local cocktails, and more. 

If you’re returning to Québec City, or looking for a more local experience, we recommend staying in a central neighbourhood close to Old Québec. Saint-Roch and Montcalm are the best choices, easy walks from Old Québec, and filled with fabulous restaurants and shops. 

Staying at a hotel near downtown is often more affordable, and offers more flexibility. Hotels in Ste-Foy are perfect for families and those who want to spend time at the Aquarium or visit shopping centres. Hotels in Beauport are close to places like Montmorency Waterfalls, where you can hike, rock climb, experience via ferrata or zipline and more.         

Staying in the outskirts of Québec City provides a quiet escape, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Think about locations such as Île d’Orléans, Stoneham, Wendake, Saint-Raymond and Charlevoix. 

If you plan to visit only Old Québec and the central neighbourhoods, you definitely won’t need a car. But, similar to everywhere in North America, the region is huge and having a car makes moving around the city and surrounding areas easier. If you don’t have a car, there are ways to visit Québec City’s attractions without a car, including the bus, and shuttle services to places like Wendake, Jacques-Cartier National Park, the Ice Hotel and more. 

You want to travel, study or work in Québec City? Find practical information related to customs and immigration. 

The distance between Montréal and Québec City is about 250 km (155 miles).  

Driving from Montréal to Québec City? Take either Highway 20 or 40: depending on traffic, driving can take from 2.5 to 3.5 hours. If you’re in the mood for a scenic drive, take road 138 (Chemin du Roy), which is the first roadway built between Québec City and Montréal, where you’ll enjoy panoramas of the St. Lawrence River and quaint villages on your way. Don’t have a car? Take a bus (3 to 4 hours) or train (3.5 hours). 

Yes, Orléans Express offers bus service from Montréal to Québec City. Depending on the time of day, the trip can be anywhere from 3 to 4 hours. 

A bus ticket from Montréal to Québec City is about $59 CAD (prices subject to change, please check the Orléans Express website for current pricing and deals). 

Train tickets from Montréal to Québec City with VIA Rail start at $75 CAD, however, on Tuesdays tickets are often cheaper (prices subject to change, please check the VIA Rail website).

The train ride from Montréal to Québec City is about 3.5 hours.

Not at this time. There are two train routes from Toronto to Québec City. One makes a stop in Ottawa, the other in Montréal. We recommend taking the train which stops over in Montréal. 

Driving from Ottawa to Québec City? Taking Highway 50 and then Highway 40 is your fastest route, and will take about 4.5 hours, depending on traffic. You can also take Highway 20, which will add about 20 minutes to your drive. You can also take a bus (8 hours) or train (6 hours). 

Do you plan to drive in and around Québec City? Get information on parking in Old Québec, winter driving and various traffic regulations. 

This list of the statutory holidays and information on business hours will help you better organize your stay in Québec City.

You might be asking yourself “Can I travel with my dog?” Québec City is welcoming and full of discoveries to do with your canine companion. Here are the pet friendly hotels and some practical tips to make the most of your stay. 

Old Québec's beautiful cobblestone streets can be troublesome for people with reduced mobility. Check out our tips for travellers with disabilities. 

Daylight Saving Time (DST) comes into effect every year on the second Sunday in March when all timepieces are advanced by one hour. Canada reverts to Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the first Sunday in November when clocks are set back one hour. 

Québec City offers Wi-Fi free access points on many commercial streets. When travelling, look for the free Wi-Fi visual and follow the instructions to connect to the ZAP Quebec network. 

The purchase and consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are regulated by different laws. Learn about the different features. 

Consult the list of hospitals and other emergency services.  

Canada uses the metric system. Visitors find weather temperature reports given in Celsius degrees, gasoline sold by the litre (milk and wine by millilitres, and litres) grocery items in grams and kilograms, and speed limits posted in kilometres per hour. 

An incredible wealth of religious diversity can be felt in one basilica, 2 cathedrals including a basilica-cathedral, 130 churches and 20 chapels including 10 conventual, all of which bear witness to the many origins that colonized the region. Discover this uniquely North-American religious heritage.