The Latest and the Greatest of Summer 2021

Main streets are closed to vehicles every weekend this summer, making it even easier to explore the city’s various neighbourhoods on foot. That also leaves more space for restaurant patios, which means there are plenty of options for dining in the sun! There are also pop-up installations with outdoor furniture throughout the city centre so you can rest or have a bite between activities. 

The city is also allowing alcoholic beverages and propane barbecues in certain parks this summer, giving you even more ways to have fun at a safe distance. 

And there’s a terrific summer program of artistic and cultural installations and pop-up performances in the works, presented by the City of Québec. Stay tuned! 

Picasso is spending the summer in Québec City! Don't miss these two major exhibitions (reservations required): 

• Picasso. Bodies at Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec: Explore the representation of the human body in all its facets—one of Picasso’s main subjects throughout his career. The exhibition is a Canadian exclusive. June 12 to September 12, 2021
• Imagine Picasso at the Québec City Convention Center: Walk through more than 200 Picasso's paintings thanks to this immersive exhibition presented as a North American premiere. From mid-June

At its height over 2,600 years ago, Maya civilization was one of the most advanced in the Americas. Discover this fascinating culture in an exhibition of over 300 artifacts, many of which have never been seen outside Guatemala. Interactive displays, large-format projections, and soundscapes round out the experience. The exhibition is at Musée de la civilisation; reservations are required. 

Improvements to the main site at the base of the Montmorency falls give visitors even more ways to enjoy these spectacular waterfalls. 

• A bridge over the river lets you see the falls from another angle, and it’s quite the view!  (June 12) 
• The concrete path on the eastern side of the pool has been widened, raised, and embellished by the addition of a rock garden. Standing on the promontory, you’ll feel the unbridled power of the falls.   (Juin 25) 
• On the western side of the pool, there’s a new boardwalk where you can cast a line or put your feet in the water.  (July 16) 

Starting in mid-July, locals and visitors will be able to rent one of a hundred e-bikes at ten different stations in Québec City’s central neighbourhoods thanks to a new bike-sharing service called àVélo. A handy green alternative for getting around town! 

Visiting Île d’Orléans is a must, especially in the summer. The food on the island is definitely one of the highlights, even more so with these recent additions: 

• Pub du Mitan – Microbrasserie de l’île d’Orléans: Recent renovations combine the heritage house at the front of the pub with brand-new buildings out back. The barn doors that open onto the patio are perfect for sunny days.  
• Ohbio-Ferme Jean-Pierre Plante : Stop at the farm’s new roadside stand to pick up organic berries and enjoy the fantastic patio that looks out onto the St. Lawrence River. 
• Confiturerie Tigidou : Stop at the farm’s new roadside stand to pick up organic berries and enjoy the fantastic patio that looks out onto the St. Lawrence River.  
• Les Saveurs de l’Isle d’Orléans : Saveurs de l’Isle d’Orléans has turned into a potato museum. From donuts to soup, discover the history of the potato as well as several potato products.

Swing over to the Laurier Québec shopping mall to see Ludovica Miniland, a Legoland-type exhibit with over 2,000 architectural replicas from around the world. From Québec City to San Francisco to Paris to Beijing, you’ll see the world’s most iconic buildings and learn all about their architectural features. 

See the Aquarium’s three polar bears in their new habitat, which features three pools connected by a river, new viewing spots, and a bigger and more natural enclosure that boasts the city’s two bridges as a backdrop. Reservations required.

• Réserve faunique de Portneuf :  With their cathedral ceilings and use of local timber, Horizon cabins are unique to the SÉPAQ park network. The 5 in the Québec City area are in the Lac Parke sector of the Portneuf wildlife reserve.
• Station touristique Duchesnay : The cabins built in the 1950s have been replaced by 14 new ones for 4–16 people. Featuring modern design and tons of natural light, these Oxygène chalets are seamlessly integrated into the resort complex and conveniently located near the new “festive” area, where you’ll find a beach, a volleyball court, playgrounds, watersport rentals, and more. 
• Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier : There’s a whole new camping area at Jacques-Cartier National Park! It has 23 sites with electricity and water hookups and 24 tenting sites, all conveniently located near the information and service centre, watersport rental centre, and hiking trails.  

Great news for anyone who loves the outdoors: you don’t have to wait until next winter to enjoy the spectacular view at Le Massif de Charlevoix. All-new activities for summer 2021 include mountain biking, hiking, trail running, canyoning, and gondola rides. With 20 km of new trails, mountain biking is definitely the resort’s main attraction this summer. All in all, this inaugural summer season promises to be the start of something good.