The Best Spots to Visit on a Tour of Île d'Orléans

Taste the wines, visit the vineyard, and enjoy the view of Montmorency Falls. If you’re there in the summer, be sure to have a glass of wine and a meal at their restaurant which has three terraces overlooking the Montmorency Falls.

Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans has everything to recommend it, starting with the ice cream and chocolate. From there, you can take a stroll down Rue Horatio-Walker for a superb view of Québec City and admire the mansions on the tip of the island. 

Stop by the only organic strawberry farm on the island to pick your own from late June to mid-July. A number of farms have a pick-your-own option for strawberries and other berries (including raspberries, blueberries, and black currants), and sell their seasonal harvests at roadside stands. 

Made exclusively with berries grown on Île d’Orléans, the jams at Confiturerie Tigidou are a taste sensation. Plus, the 1920s-inspired interior is highly Instagrammable.

In the 1830s, the parish of Saint-Laurent was home to some twenty rowboat builders and a few family shipyards. A visit to the maritime park is a trip back in time to the era of wooden boatbuilding, with an authentic 19th-century chalouperie where rowboats were built.

New in 2021: you can enjoy a meal that showcases local products at the Panache Mobile installed on the site of the maritime park. Psitt! You must book ahead.

Built in 1734 in the time of New France, this gorgeous country manor is one of the last seigneurial homes still standing in Québec. Take the guided tour to learn about Jean Mauvide and Marie-Anne Genest and their sumptuous home, which is full of artefacts from life in the 18th century. 

With its red-roofed church and rows of mid-19th century neoclassical homes, this charming village is a must-visit. Take a walk along the beach and pop in to try Du Capitaine’s craft vinegars and products. 

The five gardens and sprawling lavender fields at Seigneurie de l’Île are one of the island’s best-kept secrets. The grounds are open to visitors from June to October, as is the shop, where you’ll find a vast selection of products made with lavender essential oil. 

From the top of the observation tower at this municipal rest stop, you can see the archipelago islands, Cap Tourmente, and the St. Lawrence River Estuary. Fun fact: the estuary is where the St. Lawrence’s fresh and salt waters mix, so there are all kinds of fish living in it. 

Travel back in time to the 17th century and taste the very first cheese made in America at Fromages de l’isle d’Orléans. The shopkeepers are dressed in period clothing and serve up their fabulous fromages. There’s a faisselle-style unripened cheese, a roasting cheese called the Paillasson de l’Isle, a soft cheese called the Raffiné that’s sold only at the cheese shop, and plenty of other local goodies.

La Maison Drouin is one of the first homes built on Île d’Orléans in the 17th century and is the only authentic historic home that’s open to the public. It’s been converted into an interpretation centre where you can learn all about the history of Île d’Orléans and its rich heritage. 

Not far from there, Maison de nos Aïeux houses genealogical records on the 300 founding families from France that landed on Île d’Orléans before spreading out across America. Both attractions are located in the oldest parish on the island, which boasts a superb view of Côte-de-Beaupré and Mont Sainte-Anne. 

The patio at the island’s only microbrewery is perfect for taking a break. Sample their fine craft beers named after some of the island’s historic figures. 

Île d’Orléans is a choice destination for a sugar shack experience. Most sugar shacks are only open for meals in the spring, although some accept group bookings all year round. You can pick up maple syrup treats year-round at Relais des Pins. They even serve maple taffy on snow in the summer!

After the abundance of berries in the summer, the island’s apples are ripe for the picking in September and October. Many orchards turn into family fun zones, with entertainment, inflatables, and tractor rides. Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau has cider tastings and apple products galore, including Madame Bilodeau’s famous apple pies! 

Seeing the abundance of wild grapes growing on Île d’Orléans, Jacques Cartier dubbed it the “Isle of Bacchus” when he landed here in 1535. Centuries later, Isle de Bacchus embodies that same pioneering spirit, blazing a trail for vineyards in the province. The main building is a converted 18th century home with a fabulous wine cellar and bistro. Pull up a chair on the patio for a taste of the terroir. 

Visit this famous black currant grower and take a tour of their mini museum. There are tons of black currant products to try, including their award-winning black currant liqueur and their ice cream, sold only in the summer. 

This interpretation centre dedicated to the life and work of Félix Leclerc is also a show venue for singer-songwriters from Québec and France. Take a quiet moment to walk along the path scattered with poems by Leclerc, a man who loved his island.