20+ Amazing Things To Do In Quebec City For First-Timers [SUMMER 2018]
by Marie-Eve on 24/01/18 at 1:00 am
As the official capital of the province of Quebec and one of the oldest settlements in North America, Quebec City requires very little presentation
In fact, I get a lot of emails about visitors planning a day trip to Quebec City from Montreal – but every time, my answer is the same: stay overnight. Not only are the train and bus schedules rather restrictive for day trips, but the city is just magical after nightfall and truly deserves a lot more than a rushed, quick-let’s-move-on-to-the-next-place few hours.
First time in Quebec City? Here’s everything you need to know.
Things To Do In Quebec City If You’re Visiting For The First Time
Take the ferry to Lévis
To get the best view of Quebec City, you need to leave Quebec City – just for a few minutes! There’s a ferry service between the capital and its adjacent neighbour Lévis, which means that for a handful of change you can cross the St. Lawrence River, sit back, and enjoy the view that unfolds before your eyes.
https://www.traversiers.com/en/our-ferries/quebec-city-levis-ferry/home/
Go on a food tour in Old Quebec
Gone are the days where Quebec City was the laughing stock of ultra foodie Montreal; in fact, Quebec has undergone a total revitalization in the past few years and is now home to numerous forward-thinking, imaginative restaurants that are well worth a visit.
The 3-hour Old Quebec food tour features five culinarily and culturally significant spots showcasing the area’s historic European heritage as well as the city’s inventive streak. Bring your eating pants!
- When: 11:00 AM on Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
- How much: 65$ CAD +tx & fees
- What: 5 Stops and 8 different tastings
Walk on Dufferin Terrace
Wrapped around Château Frontenac, this 200-years-old wooden promenade connects the leafy historic battlefields to the Old City and features several noteworthy sights, including Russian cannons captured by the British army during the Crimean War as well as the original fortifications of the Upper Town.
READ MORE: 25 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO DO IN OLD QUEBEC
Marvel at the Château Frontenac
Sitting predominantly atop Quebec’s upper town, Château Frontenac is the capital’s emblem and most visited attraction. But despite its somewhat contradictory name, it was never a castle; the National Historic Site of Canada was actually built in the late 19th century as part of the series of “château” style hotels for the Canadian Pacific Railway company throughout Canada.
While the now-Fairmont-owned hotel no longer offers guided tours, it is possible to step inside for a drink or a meal – check out make-your-own negronis at 1608 or the opulent brunch at Champlain Restaurant.
Go 400 years back in time at Place Royale
Set foot in the cradle of French Canadian civilisation by visiting the very place where Quebec City was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain after having opened the very first trading post. The small square is awash with history and is flanked by exceptional New France architecture.
Morrin Centre
Formerly a prison, now Quebec City’s flagship English-language cultural hub, the Morrin Centre is a stunning 200-year old building filled with history and obscure inmate stories. It also features a Victorian-era library containing 25,000 books, an old-timey chemistry lab, and is home to Canada’s first learned societies.
It’s even possible to book a traditional afternoon tea, complete with period costumes and Victorian etiquette lessons.
Visit Maison de la Littérature
And while you’re at it, hop over next door to Maison de la Littérature, a completely renovated building with a Scandinavian feel to it and infinitely strong Instagram game. It is entirely dedicated to Québécois creativity, with an obvious focus on literature.
Learn all about military history at Citadelle de Québec & Plaines d’Abraham
As one of Canada’s most historically-significant places, the Plains of Abraham are not to be missed. This is where the French and the British armies fought on multiple occasions in the hope of keeping their respective grip on the North American continent, until the decisive 1759 conquest.
The Citadelle de Québec – the largest British-built fortress in North America – is an utterly fascinating stronghold encompassing over 300 years of military history.
http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en/
Explore the quaint district of Petit-Champlain
Once a tiny riverside hamlet, now a thriving destination, this touristy yet incredibly quaint part of Old Quebec encompasses the most picturesque streets in the province; think multi-centennial colourful townhouses and cobblestone alleys among cosy bistros and theatres.
Taste local craft beers in one of the many brewpubs
Beer is no laughing matter in this province. Québécois take their brews very seriously, which is certainly why there are so many microbreweries throughout Quebec City. These are my favourite:
- Griendel (195 Saint-Vallier Ouest)
- La Souche (801 Chemin de la Canardière)
- La Barberie (310 Saint Roch Est)
- La Korrigane (380 Dorchester)
- Noctem (438 du Parvis)
Discover Montcalm: Quartier des Arts
As it is often overlooked by tourists in favour of more popular Petit-Champlain, this portion of Quebec City is very authentic and retains a strong local feel. Here are a few suggestions on where to start:
- Stroll the streets of Montcalm right up to the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum) and historic Plains of Abraham
- Marvel at the English architecture and bourgeois feel of the neighbourhood. Walk along Braves Avenue and see the mansions once built to house ambassadors from around the world
- Step on Cartier Street and enjoy the epicurean shops, fine restaurants, cinemas, and indoor food markets
- Take a breath of fresh air in the luxuriant Jardin Jeanne d’Arc
Go on a day trip
One of the few advantages Quebec City has over Montreal (what can I say, a girl’s gotta represent) is its volume. Being of a more modest size, the capital doesn’t take as long to visit and is easier to navigate, much like its neighbouring attractions. Here are a few ideas:
- Road trip along King’s Road between Saint-Augustin and Neuville
- Exhilarating outing at the Massif Ski Resort in Charlevoix, home to North America’s longest luge track (better hold on to your
hattuque!) - Relaxing day trip at Sibéria spa
- Bucolic and slow-paced day at Île d’Orleans
- Thrilling canoe and canoe-camping adventure at Bras du Nord Valley
- Jaw-dropping Montmorency Falls, the tallest in Canada (yes, more so than Niagara!) at Parc de la Chute-Montmorency. If you’re by car, why not follow the Route de la Nouvelle-France up to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, an impressive church which is famous among pilgrims for its healing miracles. On your way back to the city, stop at Microbrasserie des Beaux-Prés and enjoy some local brews right on the St. Lawrence River.
Attend one of the many outdoors festivals
Despite its old age and timeless attractions, Quebec City still knows how to throw a damn good, generally-free-of-charge party.
Whether you prefer musical events (Festival d’été de Québec, Envol et Macadam), historic festivities (Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France), artsy displays (Loto-Québec fireworks festival) or if you’re brave enough, winter celebrations (Carnaval de Québec), there’s undoubtedly a festival that will tickle your fancy in this lively, cheerful town.
Get a bird’s eye view at Observatoire de la Capitale
Take an elevator (thank God!) to the 31st floor of the iconic Marie-Guyart building, which offers unobstructed, 360-degree views of not only both the lower and upper towns, but also the mighty St. Lawrence River and even the Laurentians Mountains on clear days.
Treat yourself to a darn good meal
I’ve made it abundantly clear that Quebec City is now blessed with a very dynamic, rapidly-evolving food scene. I get so many emails from readers asking where they should have a Québécois dinner, or whether there’s a brunch place worth getting up early for. Below, a few of my favourite restaurants in Quebec City:
- Le renard et la chouette (125 Saint-Vallier Ouest) lerenardetlachouette.com
- Le clocher penché (203 Saint-Joseph Est) clocherpenche.ca
- Laurie Raphaël (117 Dalhousie) laurieraphael.com
- Chez Boulay (1110 Saint-Jean) chezboulay.com
- Le lapin sauté (52 du Petit Champlain) lapinsaute.com
- Nina pizza napolitaine (410 St-Anselme) ninapizzanpolitaine.ca
Grab a gourmet coffee
The third-wave coffee shops have reached Quebec City, for the enjoyment of those who can’t stand Tim Hortons (not all Canadians enjoy it, contrary to popular belief). If you want to have a high-quality, masterfully crafted cup of joe, you’ll need to pay a visit to the St-Roch area:
- Nektar caféologue (235 Saint-Joseph) nektarcafeologue.com
- Saint-Henri microtorréfacteur (849 Saint-Joseph) sainthenri.ca
- Maelstrøm (181 Rue Saint-Vallier) maelstromcafe.com
Food tour in Saint-Roch district
If you’re truly a foodie, then this second food tour of Quebec City will definitely be up your alley. Focusing on the up-and-coming St-Roch, which is vastly different from Old Quebec, this Quebec City food tour tackles six of the best eateries while acknowledging the historical sights and recent developments along the way. A real treat for Quebec City connoisseurs.
Stay at the Hôtel de Glace
If you time your visit right, you might even be able to visit, better yet stay overnight, at the world-famous Hôtel de Glace right outside Quebec City. The only one of its kind in all of North America, the Ice Hotel encompasses 500 tonnes of ice and 30,000 tonnes of snow covering just shy of 3,000 square metres. There’s a bar, plenty of rooms, a spa, and even a chapel!
The hotel is just twenty minutes from the city centre by car or via the Old Québec Tours shuttle.
Visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts
While the museum as such has been around for a while, what visitors truly cannot miss on their visit is the sparkling new Lassonde wing. Ultra modern and highly interactive, it hosts an abundant collection of more than 38,000 works surveying the history of Québec art focusing specifically on contemporary pieces.
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