25 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN QUEBEC CITY

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The Quebec City (in the province with the same name) it was the most east that we arrived on our trip to Canada, and the truth is that we wanted to know this French corner, on the other side of the Atlantic. Everything we read on the internet about this place excited us, but we didn't lie if we say that reality exceeded expectations! They say that walking through this city is like doing it for a typical European medieval city and it really is, although when you see the tall buildings of the new area of the city, and when you smell the unmistakable smell of poutine, you will remember that you are still in Canada. We definitely recommend with your eyes closed to include this city in your itinerary through Canada, and to help you plan it, here we tell you 25 things to see and do in Quebec City .

And remember that at the end of the article we give you a lot of useful information for you to plan your visit to Quebec for free!

1. Take your time to go Old Quebec (or Viex-Quebec). The historic center of Quebec is larger than that of its neighbor Montreal (neighbor in Canadian terms), so it will take you a while to discover all its corners. But first you have to know that the old part of the city is divided in two: the upper part (Haute ville) perched on top of a hill, and the lower part (Basse Ville), which extends next to the old port and where the Petit Champlain neighborhood is. In both you will find charming streets, where you will have the feeling of having made a trip in time. In the following points we will tell you which are the most interesting places of both, prepare the camera because there are several super photogenic.

2. To go from one part to another, you can do it in a cable car (3CAD) that climbs the steep hill. Although our advice is that you walk through theEscalier Casse-Cou, which literally means "the ladder-breaker", one of the oldest in the country, with wonderful views over Rue du Petit Champlain.

3. The streets Main, full of historic buildings, palaces, small businesses and restaurants are: in the upper part Rue Saint-Jean (walk it both in the old part, east of the Porte Saint-Jean, and on the other side) and Rue Saint Louis. As for the lower part, the most beautiful are Rue du Petit Champlain Y Rue du Trésor.

4. The Royal place It is from our favorite places. This little square hides a curious story: it was right here where, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City. Do not miss the mural that tells the history of the region and the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, of the oldest in North America, which began to be built in 1687.

5. Although if there is a place that took the hiccups in Quebec, it was the Château Frontenac, a huge building that crowns the highest area of the city and that, although it looks like a castle, is a hotel (by the way, they say that the most photographed in the world too much). It was built in 1893 by the Canadian Pacific Railway company in the series of hotels that were built throughout Canada with the intention of promoting inland tourism. Staying is not cheap (here you can check it out) but you can visit it inside without problem and see a small part of the luxury of this hotel.

Château Frontenac

6. Near there is the Terrase Dufferin, a wooden walk perched on the cliff that offers the opportunity to stretch your legs (not the leg), while you get beautiful views of the lower town and the San Lorenzo River. In winter a free snow slide is enabled for those who want to remember their childhood years (be careful because they reach up to 70km / h), while in spring and summer you will find many street artists, so the atmosphere is guaranteed.

7. If you continue walking past Terrase Dufferin, you will see that there is a walkway that ascends and borders the Citadelle du Quebec, an active military fortification and one of the two official residences of the governor of Canada (who would be the representative of Queen Elizabeth II). From outside you can get to see a little, although if you want to visit inside, the entrance costs 16CAD. Something curious to see for free (from June to October) is the changing of the guard (every day at 10am). We went in May so we missed it.

If you were only visiting Montreal and without time to go to Quebec, we recommend you sign up for this day trip. Includes visits to the most important places in Quebec, and even goes to the Montmorency Falls

8. The Citadel is located at one end of the walls Surrounding the old city. Because beware, Quebec city is the only walled city in the Americas (north of Mexico, of course). The best thing is that there are parts enabled to walk on them, or go through doors which, in the past, were the only way to access the city. The one we liked the most was the Porte Saint-Jean, which looks like a real urban park, with a nice meadow where you can take a nap and from where there are unbeatable views of Youville Square on one side, and the historic center on the other. Other cool doors are the Porte kent, the Porte Saint-Louis wave Porte prescott on the other side of the city and with a newer look.

9. If the day does not accompany or you simply want to cultivate a little more (it never hurts, huh?) We propose two plans: the first is to visit the Museum of Civilization, where you can learn more about the history of Quebec and the different civilizations of Canada, in an interactive and entertaining way. Price: 15CAD Open every day from 10 to 17 (except Mondays).

10. The second will please art lovers, as we talk about Muséé National des Beaux-Arts, which has a collection of almost 40,000 works (from the 17th century to the present). It costs 20CAD and opens every day from 10 to 17 (except Mondays).

Quebec views from the Porte Saint-Jean

11. A rather striking building is the Québec Parlement, which offers a free 45-minute tour to learn more about the politics of Canada and the Quebec region. Whether or not you do the tour, come closer even to see the building and look at the fountain right in front of it, it is called Fountaine de Tourny and belonged to the city of Bordeaux, in France.

12. Relax in the park Plaines d'Abraham, the green lung of Quebec City. It seems a lie, but what today is a haven of peace, in its day was the battlefield that saw the defeat of the French at the hands of the British army.

13. Go up to ferry going to Lévis, the city on the other side of the river. The reason is simple: the panorama of Quebec from the The Terrasse de Lévis It is perfect to see it from another perspective. The ferry costs 15CAD (round trip).

14. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the oldest in all of Canada (1647), although the fire swept through it twice (the second one in 1922 caused by the Ku Klux Klan) and had to be rebuilt. They emphasize its two asymmetric towers on the facade and its stained glass windows inside. The truth is that from the outside it is not particularly striking, so much so that the first day we passed by and did not even notice.

15. Walk through the old Port, from where there are beautiful views of the city above. Be sure to have a drink at the famous Café du Monde overlooking the San Lorenzo River, and finish in the small Puerto Viejo Market.

Lower Quebec City from the Escalier Casse-Cou

Tired? There are still a few more things to see and do in Quebec City! cheer up!

16. Follow the route to the beautiful Gare du Palais, the main train station. It was built by the company of the Canadian Pacific Railways, which if you have a good memory, you will know that it took care of the Château Frontenac hotel, in fact it is given an air from the outside. Inside the thing even improves!

17. Book lovers expect a surprise in Quebec: the Maison de la Littérature. It is an old church converted into a library and cultural center, with a great variety of books and other interactive material.

18. One of the most historic buildings in the city is the Hôtel-Dieu, which is neither more nor less than the first hospital in all of North America (north of Mexico), founded in 1637. Today it is still functioning and is one of the most important hospitals in Canada.

19. If you like craft beer, approach the Brasserie Griendel. Another cool place to have a beer is the Ninkasi Saint-Jean, We passed by and we could not resist happy hour (5CAD a pint!).

20. And if you are looking for the best Poutine the thing is between Poutineville Snack Bar Saint-Jean Y Chez Ashton. We tried both and we stayed with the last one!

Place Royal, in the Lower City of Quebec

21. If you have several days you could dedicate (at least) means to make an excursion to the Montmorency Falls, impressive waterfalls that are located about 15km from the city. Curiosity: they are higher than those of the Niagara! To get there you can go by bus 800 (the ticket costs 3.50CAD and you have to pay it in cash, it does not change) and it takes about 40 minutes to arrive (leave right next to the waterfalls). For us it is a must to see in Quebec City.

22. The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine (30 km east of the city) is undoubtedly the most beautiful and visited religious building in Quebec and it is simply beautiful. They expect endless windows, sculptures and mosaics.

23. Another excursion that is very worthwhile is the one that takes you to the Orleans Island, it will be like being submerged in the most authentic Quebec a few km from the city.

24. Explore the Jaques-Cartier National Park, the best getaway according to the inhabitants of Quebec. The truth is that there are activities for all tastes: from hiking to biking or kayaking, and even climbing or camping.

25. Now, if you want to live an unforgettable day, another option is to sign up for a whale watching tour, like this. As we were told, it is a responsible company, where whales are sighted, not chased.

Montmorency Falls

Here you have a map with the location of everything to see and do in Quebec:

As you see, there are many things to see and do in Quebec City (and in the surroundings we don't even tell you!), but with these 25 you have for a first and unforgettable trip. Enjoy a lot and hope you like the city as much as we do 🙂

Useful information

:: Where to sleep in Quebec?

We stayed 3 nights at HI Quebec. It is perfectly located in the upper part of the historic center, next to Rue Saint-Jean, in a historic building, but very well maintained. There are both bedroom options and very nice private rooms. Breakfast is included, and we also feel very comfortable with the staff. As in all HI hostels, every day they propose some interesting activity, such as walking tours of the city, trips to the Montmorency Falls, etc.

:: How to get to Quebec from Montreal?

The most comfortable way is to do it by train, although there are also buses that make this route. It takes about 3 hours and we pay 35CAD per person. Check schedules and make the reservation on the ViaRail website.

:: How to get around Quebec?

The city is small, so you will have no trouble moving on foot to reach all points of interest. The visit we recommend if or if in the surroundings is at Montmorency Falls. To get there take bus 800 (it does not pass through the historic center, but if close), be careful because according to what they told us, the last one is at 5pm. Here you have the travel map. The price is $ 3.50 if you pay on the bus (cash only and does not change) or $ 3.05 if you buy it at any of the points of sale (such as tobacconists).

:: Where to eat in Quebec?

Here we suggest 7 good and beautiful restaurants to eat in Quebec.