One of North America's most underappreciated destinations, Quebec City is a deeply charming and historic little city with a gorgeous old town and incredibly walkable sights.
Quebec City is an especially great place to visit if you live in North America and want to soak up some European vibes without crossing an ocean. In fact, Quebec City is so close to many places in the Americas that it’s an easy destination for a three-day weekend.
Good news: three days is the perfect amount of time to explore Quebec City. You'll see all the top sights, eat at charming restaurants, experience the city from the river, and even venture outside the historic core to check out an amazing waterfall.
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Here are a few key things to know before you arrive in Quebec City.
How to Get to Quebec City
Unless you live within driving distance, Quebec City is easy to reach by plane. In fact, if you’re traveling from New York, Chicago, or Philadelphia, you can find direct flights under 3 hours at certain times of year (there are direct flights to Quebec City from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale too!). Just make sure you put in “YQB” when searching for your destination — otherwise, your flight search might also show you results for Montreal (which is not far away).
When you arrive at the airport, you can get to the city by (1) bus (take the number 80), (2) taxi (expect to pay between $40-50 to reach the heart of Quebec City), or (3) Uber (Lyft does not operate in Quebec City).
Alternatively, if you’re traveling from Ottawa or Montreal, you can reach Quebec City by train or bus.
Where to Stay in Quebec City
On my most recent visit to Quebec City, I stayed at an Airbnb just outside the city wall, a few blocks past Porte-Saint-Jean. This was a great location, as it was quite a bit cheaper than staying in Old Quebec proper, but all the city’s sights were still within easy walking distance.
If you'd prefer to stay within Old Quebec, consider these options:
Le Chateau is the huge hotel that dominates Quebec City’s skyline. It’s pricey, but ideally located.
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Language in Quebec City
Quebec City was colonized by the French, and the Quebecois continue to have a very strong identity that’s distinct from other parts of Canada. As such, the city is still full of French vibes — and, importantly, the French language. People speak French, streets have French names, signs and menus are in French.
But as a general rule, people also speak English — especially those who regularly interact with tourists. You won’t have a problem getting around if you don’t speak French (though it’s always a good idea to learn a few basic phrases!)
Quebec City Itinerary: Day 1
Kick off your time in Quebec City with hours exploring Old Quebec, then cap off your day with a spooky ghost tour.
Fuel up for lots of walking at this delicious breakfast spot.
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Wander Around Old Quebec
My favorite thing to do in Quebec City is just wandering around the beautiful old town. That’s how I recommend you start your visit: explore Old Quebec, following your whims and heading down any street that looks interesting. Quebec City is small and incredibly walkable, so it’s easy to see a lot of the old town in a short amount of time.
If you’d prefer a little bit of structure to your exploration, follow a self-guided walking tour, like this one from Lonely Planet:
Rue Saint-Jean is one of the oldest streets in historic Quebec City, and today is one of its main commercial stretches. It’s a lively place with plenty of street performers — and plenty of tourists, too, but don’t let that deter you.
Place Royale is a picturesque little square that once served as the town marketplace and, according to some, is even the precise place where Samuel de Champlain founded the first French settlement in the Americas. Today, you can find shops, restaurants, and a bust of Louis XIV. This is a lovely place to enjoy a coffee or a meal.
Take a break for lunch at La Pizz, which is located right in Place Royale (snag one of the tables looking toward the plaza if you can!). I enjoyed my salmon salad so much that I went back and ordered it again the very next day!
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More Wandering Around Old Quebec
After lunch, keep exploring Old Quebec, including these spots:
The funicular connects the lower part of Old Quebec to the upper part (where the Château is located). The stairs in Quebec City are no joke, so the funicular might be worth the cost (and the wait)!
Maison de la Littérature is a beautiful library in a building that formerly served as a Methodist church. As a person who (1) is obsessed with books and (2) walks into absolutely every historic church I pass whenever I travel, this place feels made for me specifically. You don’t need to spend a lot of time here — unless you’re looking for a quiet place to relax for a few hours! — but it’s worth a peek.
While Quebec City has quite a few charming and historic churches, the Notre-Dame is arguably the most impressive — and it’s the oldest church in Canada!
I’m not usually a huge fan of stuff that feels more or less engineered to look great on Instagram, but I can’t resist this one. Umbrella Alley is simply a small pedestrian street — a corner, really — where at certain times of the year you can find fun umbrellas hanging over restaurants and passersby. At the end of the street is a great view of both the umbrellas and the Château, hovering high over the old city.
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Dinner
For dinner, I'm partial to the restaurants that line the Breakneck Steps. They won't be your least expensive dining option in Quebec City, but they're ideal for people watching. Consider this spot, for example:
L'Escale gets mixed reviews, but I enjoyed my meal there -- and I loved watching all the people climbing up and down the steps right beside the restaurant's terrace.
Cap off your day with this 90-minute walking tour, which will take you all over Old Quebec as you learn about centuries of history (both haunted and otherwise).
Heads up that at the end of this ghost tour, you’ll sit in a darkened church listening to, well, ghost stories. If you’re not a scaredy-cat like me, this may be nothing, but I must admit I found it spookier than these types of ghost tours tend to be. In a good way!
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Quebec City Itinerary: Day 2
On your second day in Quebec City, you'll visit an art museum, explore historic sites, and take a leisurely boat ride.
This huge plateau now largely serves as a public park, but it’s most notable as the site of a critical battle in the Seven Years’ War. In 1759, Britain defeated France in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, leading to the British capture of Quebec and, ultimately, contributing to the creation of the nation of Canada.
As you walk through the park, keep an eye out for the Plains of Abraham Museum, where you can learn much more about the battle and the history of the plateau.
At the end of the park closest to Old Quebec and the Château is this huge citadel, which contains plenty of historical information and other attractions.
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Boat Ride
In the late afternoon, catch the 90-minute tour with Croisières AML, which will take you downriver toward the Île d’Orléans — a nearby island — and give you a distant-ish view of Montmorency Falls. You’ll also get great views of Quebec City itself.
Make your way to the outskirts of the city, where you’ll find Montmorency Falls — a rather impressive waterfall that’s actually higher than Niagara Falls (though, admittedly, much lesser in volume).
While the falls look great from the ground, I recommend seeing them from above as well. There are at least two ways to accomplish this: (1) a cable car that takes you up to viewpoints, trails, and Montmorency Manor (where you can find food, drinks, and information), and (2) a winding set of nearly 500 stairs (free, except the cost to your short-term energy levels). When you’re facing the falls, the cable car is on your left and the stairs are on your right. Even if you choose not to climb the stairs, make sure you explore the boardwalk below them, which has great views of the falls.
Don’t miss the suspension bridge that crosses the top of the falls. If you dare, ride the zipline, which whizzes across the falls for 1000 feet.
Legend holds that the shrine is the site of many miracles — and in fact, several pillars inside the cathedral are covered in crutches, canes, and other implements formerly used by pilgrims who claim they were healed there.
Whether or not you believe that, the basilica is quite striking. I love visiting historic churches wherever I travel, and Sainte-Anne’s basilica impressed me more than most.
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You can combine your trip to Montmorency Falls and the cathedral through a guided tour like this one:
Cap off your night with cocktails at this cozy jazz club.
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Final Thoughts
Quebec City is one of my favorite places in North America: a taste of Europe, but much closer to home for Americans like me!
It’s also the perfect weekend destination, making a three-day visit just right. I hope with this three-day itinerary, you also discover all the best charms of Quebec City!
Hey there! I'm Karissa.
In mid-2023, I quit my job as a lawyer to travel the world full-time for one year. During my year of travel, I walked 500 miles across Spain, saw dozens of wild Sri Lankan elephants, ate countless bowls of dal makhani in India and cacio e pepe in Italy, played golf in Ireland, zipped around on motorbikes in Vietnam, went ballooning in Laos, and so (SO) much more.
I'm back in the USA now, but I'm putting all that I learned during my year of travel to work for YOU. I've got countless new travel tips for short-term travel, long-term travel, and solo travel -- not to mention all kinds of current knowledge about the 30 (yes!) countries I visited during my sabbatical year.
So, am I the right person to help you plan your perfect trip? Here's what to know about me:
- I've spent more than 300 days traveling solo, so I'm well-equipped to advise solo travelers (especially solo women!) -- but I still spend plenty of time traveling with friends and family, so I'm here for pairs and groups too.
- I've visited 45 countries in five continents, so I have a wide array of experience and ideas about what would be the perfect place for YOU.
- When I'm planning my own trips, I lean hard on exploring art, culture, and history, but I'm also a big fan of hiking, food & drinks, and travel photography.
- I'm, like, really really good at Mario Kart. (Okay, that one might not be relevant.)
I'd love nothing more than to help you plan the best trip possible...in old cities and beyond! Check out my pre-planned travel guides and itineraries, book a consultation chat, or dive right into requesting a custom itinerary or personalized guide.
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