Quebec City Travel Guide - Travel Guide for Visitors to Quebec City

Experience

Quebec City offers an experience unlike almost any other in North America. Quebec City’s Old Town itself is a work of art: Cobblestone walkways, well-preserved 17th century architecture, café culture and the only North American fortress walls that still exist north of Mexico -- all of which has given it status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Quebec City is on the Saint Lawrence River in the province of Quebec, about a three-hour drive east of Montreal, just under nine hours from Toronto and Boston and just over nine hours from NYC.

Québec City Jean Lessage International Airport has 10 airlines flying to and from many North American, South American and European destinations. Taxis from the airport to downtown Quebec City cost about $30.

Daily VIA Rail Canada service travels between Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City. Visitors travelling by train from the USA come into Montreal via Amtrak, then transfer to VIA Rail Canada trains for Québec City.

Read about driving to Quebec city from NYC.

The most popular time to visit Québec City is during the summer months. Though the nights can be cool throughout the summer, the days are usually warm and rather sunny. From June to August, daily maximum temperatures range from 68°F/20°C to 77°F/25°C.

The so-called Indian summer arrives early in Québec City, lasting 2-3 weeks from mid/late September to early/mid October.

Winter in Québec City sees plenty of snow - up to 14 feet (3.5 meters) of it, with snow falling sometimes into May. Temperatures drop well below freezing from late November to early April. The average temperature in January varies from -8° C/18° F during the day to -17° C/1° F at night, but it can drop much lower, and the wind chill can make the cold extremely unpleasant.

Much of the pleasure derived from a visit to Quebec City comes from merely wandering the old, cobblestone streets of Lower Town and drinking in the history, so much of which is evident in the city's architecture. Strolling amongst the shops, galleries and bistros of old Quebec City can easily fill a day. Other places to check out:

• Musée de la Civilisation;
• Chateau Frontenac, the historic hotel that hovers majestically over the old town;
• Old Port, where you can stroll waterside or take a cruise;
• Battlefields Park (the Plains of Abraham) - site of the famous battle between the French and British armies;
• the Citadelle - historic fortification;
• Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec;
• the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré shrine near Mont Sainte-Anne.

Quebec City's most famous festival, the Quebec Winter Carnival takes place at the peak of winter at the end of January / beginning of February and is the world's biggest winter carnival, drawing tens of thousands of visitors.

The Quebec City Summer Festival takes place every July. Summer in Quebec also sees the New France Festival celebrate Quebec's heritage.

The Chateau Frontenac sits majestically over old Quebec City and the St. Lawrence River and has been beautifully restored over the years to highlight the exquisite 19th century architecture. Even if you don't stay at the Chateau, pop by for a look around, cocktail or tour.

If you want to stay in the old part of Quebec City and don't want to pay the steep Chateau price, choose one of the many B&Bs and boutique hotels, including ,Auberge St-Antoine, Clos Saint-Louis.

More accommodation, including bigger chain hotels like Marriott and Best Western, can be found outside of Old Quebec City.

For a truly unique experience, try the Ice Hotel, which opens from January - April (dates depend on weather).