QuebecTravel Guide

The best place to stay in Québec City, hands down, is in Old Québec. Not only are the best four- and five-star hotels there but you’re also within walking distance of attractions, shops, restaurants, the port and nightlife. Of course, the hotel everyone wants to stay at is the magical, five-star Château Frontenac. Built between 1892 and 1893, it has the honour of being world’s most photographed hotel (no surprises there) and it’s a National Historic Site. Wine your time away at the fabulous 1608 Wine & Cheese Bar or luxuriate at the spa. Prefer suburbia? Then the Plaza Quebec should do just fine. While a modern four-star hotel, it’s been decked out in a cathedral façade. Go figure. Some features are a hot tub, spa, indoor pool, children’s playground and it’s close to malls and the Parc Aquarium du Quebec. Want the best of both worlds? The Hôtel Palace Royal is at the entrance of the city walls – near to the highways and Old Québec. Its claim to fame is an indoor garden oasis.
 

As you’d expect from Old Québec, historical sites and museums can be found en masse (see what we did there?). There’s also a funicular and sugar shacks to sweeten your visit.

Well, where do we even start? Québec is a culinary hotspot with something for every palate and every kind of diner.

 

Something old, something new, shopping in the city is nothing if not eclectic and vibey. In Old Québec, head to quaint Rue de Petit Champlain, the happening street for shopping. Surrounded by 18^th century French architecture, you’ll be treading the cobblestones and discovering alleyways with boutiques, art galleries, artisanal creations and jewellery. If malls are more your vibe, you’ll want to see what all the fuss is about at Laurier Québec. After Old Québec, it’s the biggest tourist attraction, with 12 million visitors every year. Next door is Place Ste-Foy, a modern fashion hub stocking all the big-name brands, with several exclusive boutiques and stores. The two malls combined stock more than 400 top fashion and lifestyle brands – a shopaholic’s dream. Craft markets are so Québec, with the Lachute Flea Market one of the biggest – a treasure trove of clothing, antiques, horse tack, pottery and bronze items. Another goodie is the Jean-Talon Market in Charlesbourg. A huge warehouse-like space, browsing all the antiques, electronics, second-hand gems and fashion could take a chunk out of your day – but you won’t regret it.

It’s easy to get around the city with the urban public transport system, Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC). Their metrobuses are tops – inexpensive, operating seven days a week, transporting you to malls, attractions and heritage sites. There’s even a weekend ‘night owl’ service for the party people in the house. The Flexibus is an on-demand transport service you can use for getting around Québec or to parks and trails on the outskirts. Hail a ride on the app and off you go. Best of all, it costs the same as a regular bus trip. Because Québec City is river-side, ferries are part of its history and transportation system. Take the Québec–Lévis ferry, conveniently located near the Petit-Champlain district and accessible on foot, by bike or by car. The 1km water-trip connects the north and south shores of the St Lawrence River, rewarding you with stunning views of Old Québec and the Château Frontenac. Biking it in the city is cool because, well, it’s so French. But pimp your ride and opt for an electric bike. àVélo has 40 stations and 400 electric bikes that you can use for short-distance trips. Rent one on the àVélo app. Québec City also has Uber and Lyft and regular taxis. 

Green spaces abound on both sides of the St Lawrence River, but a must-visit is the Parc de la Chute boasting a waterfall higher than Niagara. 30m higher to be exact. We dare you to do a zipline. Ok, so there’s also a cable car…In Lévis, opposite the city and across the river, the Quai Paquet urban park offers a delightful sanctuary, but it’s the magnificent fountain display that tourists flock to see: For history buffs, we recommend Battlefields Park, the first national historic park to be established in Canada. Exhibitions at the Plains of Abraham Museum on-site are world-renowned, depicting some epic battles fought in the 1700s, during Québec’s formative years. You can also have a field day in national parks and wildlife reserves. There’s hiking and kayaking at the Jacques Cartier National Park, or you can simply lounge by the lake. has one of the most scenic golf courses around. And for some major thrills, head to the Canyon Sainte-Anne. Cross the suspension bridges or try out the via ferrata climbs (a combo of rock climbing and scrambling).

 Hit the great Québec outdoors. 
 

The Alps is so last season. There. We said it. Did you know, the province of Québec gets 400cm of crispy, crunchy snow in the winter and has more than 50 ski centres to choose from? Even Québec City has ski mountains to herself. In less than half an hour, you can hit the sweet slopes of Le Relais (a family-friendly resort) or Stoneham, known for night skiing under the stars. A bucket-list activity right there. About an hour out of the city, Le Massif de Charlevoix is said to have the highest vertical drop east of the Rocky Mountains. Several long runs seem to be heading straight for the St Lawrence River – for an added adrenaline rush.
Then there’s Mont-Sainte-Anne, the largest cross-country ski centre in Canada, with 200km of trails to enjoy. With an altitude of 803m, this resort is popular for downhill skiing and snowboarding, and it’s only 40km from downtown Québec. Good to know is that all ski resorts work with the Quebec Ski Area Association, and together they set up safety rules for their visitors. But keep in mind that ski season is December to April. We don’t want you landing to a ‘Closed for the Season’ sign.