The Best Eco-Friendly Hotels in Québec City

Équipe édito
Editorial Team
Updated on May 8, 2025
Escale au Lac - Mini chalet
Axelle Saint-Clair | @withaxie

Making your stay in Québec more eco-friendly is easy by choosing one of the region's sustainable accommodations. Whether you’re looking for a hotel in the heart of Old Québec or a nature retreat, there are sustainable options to suit every taste and budget.

On this page, we highlight the top-performing Biosphere-certified properties—a global certification system based on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals—that have earned six or more exceptional mentions. These pioneers in responsible tourism combine comfort, quality, and environmental commitment.

You’ll also find, further down, the full list of Biosphere-certified accommodations, each actively engaged in a sustainable approach.

  • 1

    Escale au Lac

    Located in the heart of nature, about a 1.5-hour drive from Old Québec, Escale au Lac stands out for its complete energy self-sufficiency. Powered entirely by solar panels, this property offers an immersive stay that blends comfort, tranquillity, and environmental awareness. Its wood-heated thermal experience invites guests to relax deeply while respecting natural resources. Every detail is thoughtfully designed to minimize ecological impact and raise awareness about sustainable practices—without ever compromising guest comfort.

  • 2

    Monastère des Augustines

    Founded in 1639, Monastère des Augustines was the first hospital in the Americas north of Mexico and is now a National Historic Site of Canada. The monastery is dedicated to preserving the tangible and intangible heritage of the Augustinian nuns and has long promoted wholesome, healthy living and sustainable development.

    Eco-friendly measures such as the installation of a geothermal heating system and the commitment to offering affordable respite stays for caregivers, healthcare workers, and companions of patients clearly reflect the desire to uphold the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility across all areas of operation.

  • 3

    Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

    Known around the world for its stunning architecture, this iconic Old Québec hotel is also a local leader in eco-friendly hospitality. This sustainable luxury hotel became the first historic hotel in Canada to achieve carbon neutrality in 2020. Fairmont Le Château Frontenac also holds a Platinum Planet 21 rating from the Accor Group, despite the challenges of being located in a historic building. There are also 70,000 bees in the hotel’s rooftop hives that produce honey used in the kitchens.  

  • 4

    Hôtel Nomad

    As the first hotel in the city to receive Biosphere certification, Hôtel Nomad puts reducing its environmental footprint at the heart of its mission. Since 2021, the hotel has been measuring and offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions and is powered entirely by renewable energy. Heating, lighting, and hot water are 100% electric, with no direct emissions. Its commitment is also reflected in everyday actions: elimination of single-use plastics, specialized recycling, water fountains, and the use of fully natural personal care products.

  • 5

    Hôtel Le Germain Québec

    Located in the historic Old Port district, Hôtel Le Germain Québec combines contemporary elegance with environmental consciousness. The hotel uses geothermal heating and cooling systems, along with heat recovery, to reduce its energy footprint. Energy-efficient lighting further supports this sustainable approach. Committed to supporting local communities, the hotel prioritizes sourcing Québec-made products and services, strengthening the regional economy while also reducing the environmental impact of transportation.

  • 6

    Best Western Premier - Hôtel Aristocrate

    Best Western Aristocrate follows an active reduce, reuse, and recycle policy: composting in food services, recycling of coffee pods and hygiene products, in-room dispensers to limit single-use containers, and recycling bins available in all areas. The hotel also prioritizes local purchasing and low-impact products. Staff awareness is a key focus, with mandatory training and a cross-departmental environmental committee ensuring that every action contributes to the ecological transition.

  • 7

    Entourage sur-le-Lac

    Entourage sur-le-Lac implements a wide range of concrete actions, including composting and recycling of residual materials, the use of biodegradable containers, and the installation of a compactor to reduce emissions related to waste management. The property also integrates responsible water management through retention basins and eliminates single-use bottles in guest rooms. In addition to prioritizing local hiring to limit commuting, the hotel is actively involved in its community through donations, scholarships, and partnerships with local organizations and businesses.

How Do You Choose an Eco-Friendly Hotel?

When looking for an eco-friendly hotel, check what they’re doing to reduce their environmental footprint and achieve carbon neutrality. Eco-friendly hotels usually have a page on their website dedicated to their sustainability initiatives and the actions they’re taking. Hotels that are further along in the process are often certified and sometimes receive awards for their efforts.

In Québec, the Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key classification system makes it easy to spot eco-friendly hotels. In Québec City, the Biosphere certification, the international sustainability management and certification system of the Responsible Tourism Institute, one of the founding organizations of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is used in order to certify responsible businesses. These types of certifications and awards can be good indicators when you’re looking to choose hotels that are committed to the environment. 

What Makes a Hotel Eco-Friendly?

Eco-friendly hotels implement various measures to reduce the environmental impact of their operations and move towards carbon neutrality. This is most often achieved through concrete actions such as banning single-use plastics or creating less paper waste. Some hotels go even further and adopt a sustainable development policy outlining the establishment’s guiding principles in its quest for carbon neutrality. 

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Équipe édito
Editorial Team

As proud residents of our beloved city, we’re delighted to be sharing our tips about the things and places we love most in the Québec City area. Always on the lookout for what's new, we have decades of experience for Québec City's official tourist guide. What a joy for us to help you discover everything this vibrant and welcoming city has to offer!

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