Best Things To Do in Quebec City

Quebec is a multicultural city with locals delighted to receive visitors and show off their traditions. For this reason, you should take advantage of a vacation in this unconventional destination, which fuses European charm with North American lifestyle traits. The perfect place to start a route is the historic district, which is strategically divided in two and hides some of the most fascinating monuments.

But that's not all! Quebec is also characterized by the secrets of the best local museums, as well as ancient fortifications and castles from other eras. You can't miss a cable car ride or a relaxing boat tour here either. If you are looking for a more traditional activity, you might want to visit Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.

This is a complex city, but don't worry! To better understand its layout, start with Vieux Québec, also known as Old Québec. Two very important areas coexist in this district, as it is the entrance to both the Upper and Lower Town. The history dates back to 1608, when the Canadian territories were still called New France.

The Lower Town is the first thing you will see at the foot of the cliff, it is right next to the harbor and is a prime entertainment area. It is characterized by picturesque streets and historic sites. The Upper Town, on the other hand, is at the top of the hill and its neoclassical architecture makes it a must-see.

It can be confusing at first so I recommend joining the best Quebec tours that can give you the most complete route. This way, a tour guide will show you the streets, making you a real local. Here are some of the things you can see in each area.

Upper Town

• Château Frontenac: booking a guided tour of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a great option, as it is one of the most photographed buildings in the city with a compelling history.
• Notre Dame de Quebec Cathedral: it is one of the most important and beautiful religious sanctuaries, which looks impressive from the nearby viewpoints.
• Quebec Citadel: currently the residence of the Governor and monarchs, it also has more than 200 years of history that can be discovered through enchanted tunnels and the changing of the guard in summer.
• St. Louis Gate or Porte St. Louis: it is one of the walled entrances that preserve features of ancient history.

Lower Town

• Petit Champlain district: it is a very picturesque shopping area with charming houses and a variety of stores, restaurants and activities.
• Place Royale de Québec: this is the artistic area par excellence where you will find murals and craft galleries.
• Church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires: it is a beautiful stone church, considered a real jewel of North America.

Of course, Quebec deserves to be admired from different perspectives, so you have to go to the Chute-Montmorency Park. It is a space surrounded by nature trails where you can enjoy a pleasant walk. The wild flowers of its gardens are very beautiful, but most tourists come to see the Montmorency Falls, which are higher than Niagara Falls.

I recommend you to buy tickets that include the round trip in the cable car, as it is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to the top and appreciate the wonderful waterfall. Otherwise, you will have to climb 487 steps and at the end of the stretch you will be too tired. Keep in mind that, from other angles, the natural mist of the falls obscures the view, but this point allows you to appreciate them in their maximum splendor.

The entrance fee starts at 19 euros and additional activities are also offered, such as jumping on a zip line over the waterfall. There is also a suspension bridge where you can walk at your own pace.

An artistic jewel that you cannot underestimate is the Albert Gilles Museum, an excellent stop during your trip in Quebec. This place is famous for the production of copper art and owes its legacy and name to its creator, who was a specialist in ornamentation for churches and was responsible for the details of the Basilica of Saint Anne de Beaupré.

A guided tour of its interior can be ideal to learnthe secrets hidden within its walls since 1927. In this way, you will be able to explore a copper mine and appreciate the process of transformation of the mineral. Note that you can join cultural workshops where you will become an artist and goldsmith. In addition, the museum is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00, while Saturdays and Sundays it operates from 13:30 to 16:00. If you plan to visit Quebec at Christmas, it is good to know that it is closed, as well as on New Year's Day.

Are you a collector of stories? Then you must stop at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a must-see gem during your visit to Quebec. This place will make you feel like you're in a period movie, as it went from being a simple lodging to a local icon. For decades it has hosted iconic celebrities, becoming a hall of fame.

If you plan to spend about 2 days in Quebec you can't miss this interactive experience, as guided tours of the facilities are usually offered with a guide dressed as an authentic period character. Inside, legends of actors, dignitaries, monarchs and more await you, so there's no room to get bored.

If you love animals you should consider a whale watching adventure. The best thing to do is to take advantage of Quebec boat tours that immerse you in a fantastic cruise with dreamlike panoramic views.

You will feel like a French-Canadian explorer and you will appreciate a great variety of cetaceans that come all year round, but predominantly in summer. The most famous are humpback whales and white beluga whales, but whale watching is full of surprises.

Note that organized excursions from Quebec offer endless possibilities to discover these friendly cetaceans, but if you want to do it on your own, I recommend you to go from June to October. Specifically, the most suitable locations are:

• The Saguenay-Saint-Laurent National Marine Park.
• The Bay of Gaspé.
• The Gulf of St. Lawrence.

If your trip does not coincide with whale season or you prefer a more relaxing experience, you have the option of immersing yourself in a cruise through the sights surrounding the St. Lawrence River.

To discover the captivating stories of Quebec, you can travel back in time through the permanent and temporary exhibitions of the Museum of Civilization. This place was founded in 1984 and guarantees a pleasant experience for all ages. Upon entering you will find rotating models of the human body and Aboriginal stories through displays of ancestral crafts, sacred objects, jewelry and clothing.

In fact, the exhibition is called C'est Notre Histoire and is divided into five sections, where you will learn about decolonization, its roots and most important periods. In the building you will also find exhibits focused on artificial intelligence with robots and simulations that will test your mind. In addition, interactive activities are prepared every month and different events are organized to exalt the local culture.

I recommend buying tickets for the Museum of Civilization in advance to guarantee the experience.

Information of interest

• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
• Price: from 14 € per person.
• Advantage: they usually offer an audio guide and access to the museum's app, which offers an exciting learning journey.
• Recommendation: take the opportunity to visit the gastronomic area and the souvenir store.

If you like fairy tales and historical places, I recommend you to appreciate the raw treasures of Quebec. You can start with Dufferin Terrace, an antique lookout overlooking the St. Lawrence River and Old Quebec. It's also an ideal location for souvenir shopping or booking a Canadian food tour, as it's lined with street stalls, street performers and live entertainment.

It also often hosts seasonal events and is close to other attractions. Depending on the weather, you can grab an ice cream or savor a hot chocolate, but then be sure to stop by the Archaeological Museum which was founded in 1888 and houses the ruins of Château Saint Louis. This is an old Quebec building that was built in 1690 but, after several renovations and reconstructions, was officially demolished by fire in 1834.

A quick getaway never hurts, so if you plan to spend 3 days in Quebec you should consider the activities hosted by Cité Lévis, an enclave fifty minutes away on the Société de transport de Lévis bus.

However, I recommend taking the Traversiers ferry which takes you there in ten minutes and offers amazing views, both in summer and winter. Upon arrival, you will discover that its houses are wonderful and a real spectacle, but it also has fun attractions such as:

• Le Bunker de la Science: a science museum with playful activities including chemistry challenges, escape rooms, outdoor rallies, family workshops and evening games.
• Quai Paquet: has water jets and a fountain for cooling off, is completely free and is next to the island's ferry. In the evenings there is a light show, but in general it is a lively place with parties, bike rides and fireworks shows.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is a religious shrine that you have to see, as it is considered an emblematic monument of Quebec. You can start at the Altar of the Holy Family and start the tour from there. In every corner you can appreciate its antiquity, as it is the oldest construction of neo-Gothic architecture in Canada.

Every day at least 2500 people visit it and it is estimated that you can spend at least 20 minutes inside. This way, you will have enough time to see the deep blue vaulted ceiling, enjoy a light show, explore the stained glass windows and learn about the history of its construction. In addition, you have two identical towers that measure around 69 meters high and attract attention from any angle.

They seem like an insignificant detail, but one houses a bell weighing 11,000 kilos and the other a collection of 10 small bells. In addition, the choir events are usually organized next to them. Note that admission costs from €9, but if you want to see the internal light show the fee increases to around €22.

There are still many things to do in Quebec, but mainly I suggest you not to miss the art districts that embellish the city with street proposals, murals and galleries. You can start at the uNo Art Gallery that has permanent and temporary exhibitions with artists of different categories, being one of the most emblematic of the area.

However, it is not the only one you can see since in the county is the National Museum of Fine Arts with a large collection comprising about 38,000 works, some dating from the seventeenth century.

• Documentation: be sure to carry your passport in your bag, or at least a photocopy, as you may be asked for it for some attractions and excursions.
• Luggage: take clothes according to the season of your visit. For example, winters are usually extreme and it is difficult to survive without heaters and thermal jackets. Also, make sure you wear comfortable shoes on most trips.
• Travel insurance: you may be asked for it at customs and it is an essential requirement to ensure peace of mind during your trip. Keep in mind that health care in Canada is extremely expensive, so it is a thousand times cheaper to have insurance on hand.
• Visa: certain countries require a visa to enter the country.
• Planning: if you want to enjoy all the activities in Quebec, I recommend you to establish an itinerary with attractions, breaks and getaways to the surroundings. Also, buy tickets in advance to avoid selling out.
• Guided tours: for your first time in Quebec the smartest thing to do is to join the best tours of the city to know where to go and optimize your time to the maximum.
• Language: keep in mind that Quebec is a city with French roots, so in many establishments only French is spoken. However, you can help yourself with the translator and it is convenient to know some basic words. Another option is to communicate in English, since it is the second most used language.