I’ve been to Québec City several times, once for a two-week French course with Eduinter several years ago and most recently this past summer with my family. Québec is mostly French speaking and Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s safe to say I love Québec and with the culture, history, nightlife and food scene I’d say Québec is Canada’s most unique city. In Québec you feel like you’re stepping back in time, its historical, and the architecture and cobblestone streets make you feel like you’re in Europe. It’s a relatively small city so it’s easy to explore and there are plenty of cool day trips you can experience all while staying in Québec.
The Experience
Like Montréal, the people of Québec’s first language is French, and even more so in Québec City. When I went years ago, there was a lot less English; but this recent visit I felt like there was more English and I really didn’t need to use French to survive. Although, a few “bonjours”, “comment ca-va?” et “merci beaucoup” will go a long way. So, you’re in Canada but French is the first language, and another cool thing is the history.
Québec City is one of North America’s oldest cities, and it dates back to 1608 when Samuel de Champlain founded a permanent settlement along the St. Lawrence. Much of the architecture has been preserved, that’s why Old Québec is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can find cobblestone streets, old buildings and fortified walls. The walls which surround Old Québec, date back over 300 years and make Québec the only fortified city in the Americas north of Mexico.
Québec City’s history makes the city cool, but Québec also hosts several cool summer festivals like Festival d’ete de Québec, Just For Laughs, the New France Festival and more. What’s cool is Québec is relatively small and even when these festivals are spread out, you can explore most by foot. Festival d’ete de Québec is my favorite; it’s a 10-day music festival with good daily lineups, and tickets are cheap! The stages are set throughout Grand Allée, Old Québec and the Plains of Abraham, giving the city a major buzz which you can feel as you walk around. And like I said, Québec City is small so it’s walkable and you can walk from one stage to the next all while stopping and enjoying festivities along the way. And asides, from the main neighbourhoods, where many of the festivals take place, there are several cool neighbourhoods to check out.
Québec City Neighbourhoods
The must-see neighbourhood is Vieux-Québec or Old Québec. Here you’ll find the Fairmont or Château Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world. And when you see it, there’s no wonder why. You’ll find cobblestone streets and buildings dating back to the 1600’s. Old Québec is also fortified and surrounded by stone walls. You can find cool shops, restaurants and some famous streets like Rue du Cul-de-Sac, or Umbrella Alley, which gives views of Château Frontenac. Near Rue du Cul-de-Sac is the historic Petit Champlain which is one of Canada’s oldest commercial districts. Here you’ll feel like you’re walking through a fairytale with the narrow cobblestone streets and quaint shops. And then there’s Place Royale a historic public square that feels like Medieval France.
Old Québec is amazing, but it can get packed with tourists and hot in the summer, especially when the heat gets trapped within the stone walls. Next to Old Québec is the almost as famous, Grand Allée. On Grand Allée you’ll find upscale, trendy restaurants, lit up terraces and nightlife. The restaurants are excellent but can get pricey.
And for a change from the typical scenery and a bit more of a local experience, head west a few minutes down Grand Allée to Avenue Cartier. Here you’ll find less tourists and lots of coffee shops, restaurants and a few pubs. It’s worth an afternoon stroll or even dinner.
Another area where you’ll find more locals and less tourists is Rue Saint-Jean which is an old but vibrant commercial district in Québec. Here you’ll find more local restaurants and local nightlife spots.
All of these neighbourhoods are worth exploring, and what’s nice about Québec is that they’re all within walking distance of each other. As long as you don’t mind walking up and down the occasional hill. These are all good neighbourhoods to stay in, but probably your best bet is a bit further down Grand Allée just outside the craziness.
Where to Stay
On this past trip we stayed at B & B Manoir Mon Calme, which is on Grand Allée and only a block from all the restaurants and bars. It was a charming bed and breakfast and in an excellent location, right next to the Plains of Abraham and the terrasses of Grand Allée. I’d recommend this area, which is called Montcalm as it is right next to Grand Allée, next to the Plains of Abraham and walking distance from Avenue Cartier and Old Québec.
Of course, many people want to stay in Old Québec, but it won’t be as quiet and will be much pricier. Although if you got extra cash, staying in Old Québec would be nice.
Things to Do in Québec
Québec has plenty of things to do, like exploring the neighborhoods and of course spend some time in Old Québec. Make sure you explore the views of the Château Frontenac from the Dufferin Terrace. On the Dufferin Terrace you can grab an ice cream, take in views of the Château Frontenac and the St. Lawrence River. Then turn the corner and catch some street performers in front of the Samuel de Champlain Monument. The Château Frontenac is worth checking out by day and night for completely different views and vibes. And make sure you take a stroll through the hotel, whether for a drink in the cocktail bar, fine dining or just to marvel at the architecture. Don’t worry, the Fairmont is packed with tourists just looking around and taking photos. Then of course check out Rue du Cul-de-Sac, Petit Champlain and all the cool areas of Old Québec.
Just a short walk from Old Québec is the Port of Québec. Here you’ll get different views of the city. And in the spring and summer months, check out La Cale du Port de Québec, a restaurant on the port that feels like you’ve stepped into a tropical resort. There’s food, drinks, music and not to mention the tables are in a shallow pool. It’s a lot of fun for both adults and kids.
Also, in the summer make sure you check out some of the festivals. Like I said, Festival d’ete de Québec is my favorite and I actually like it more than Montréal’s Osheaga Festival. This alone is worth a trip to Québec. And then there’s many other festivals to check out.
Then there’s the Parliament Building of Quebec which is worth visiting for politicos or if you just want to check out the architecture. Close by are the Plains of Abraham where the British and French forces battled in 1759 during the 7-year war. The Plains of Abraham are a massive urban park, with greenspaces, historical cannons and buildings, running and walking paths, benches to sit on, flower gardens and views of the St. Lawrence.
And for experiences outside the city there are plenty of cool daytrips that aren’t too far away. We booked a trip to Montmorency Falls, St. Anne and Ile d’Orleans with Get Your Guide. It was an excellent tour and to check prices and book CLICK HERE. Of course, you can do it on your own if you rent a car, and regardless of the method, I’d recommend a trip to Montmorency Falls which are Canada’s tallest waterfall. And a bit further away, there are other worthwhile trips like Parc Jacques Cartier for wilderness and wildlife or Tadoussac for whale watching.
Food
Like Montréal, Québec City is a foodie lover’s dream. Québec isn’t as big, so the food won’t be as diverse but for a city it’s size, Québec City packs a punch. Québec City’s culinary scene beautifully blurs the line between timeless French tradition, cozy Canadian comfort, and bold, modern gastronomy. Walk down any historic cobblestone street and you’ll find that the city’s top chefs are cooking up some magic. We mostly ate on the terrasses of Grand Allée, where you can find a diversity of high-end food options.
The breakfast at Au Petit Chalet was fantastic and the atmosphere was lively in the rustic Canadian decorated restaurant. We also had Japanese which was good. And one night we wanted high end food from an upscale restaurant so we ate at Mora, a fancy Italian restaurant with excellent pasta. For a more casual meal paired with freshly brewed craft beer try Trois Brasseurs a famous French brewery serving classic pub food. All in all, the food was excellent, but even better was the atmosphere while sitting on a terrasse on the lively Grand Allée while having a meal and a few beers.
I’ve also eaten on Avenue Cartier, which has more cafes and local restaurants, and it was good for a change from the high priced tourist spots. And of course there’s the high priced, but cool restaurants in Old Québec. Here you’ll find plenty of French, Canadian and Italian food dishes. But for a truly high end experience, you can try eating at one of the restaurants in the Fairmont or Château Frontenac. For our anniversary dinner, we decided to go with Bistro Le SAM which was classy and fine dining but not as upscale as the Champlain Restaurant.
As you step into the Fairmont, you instantly notice the luxury. From the rotating golden doors and golden panelled walls, you will realize why the hotel is so famous. The restaurant was fancy, had an elegant atmosphere and food was good, but I’ll talk about this in another blog.
In Old Québec there are also plenty of cool cafes and ice cream shops to check out too. But a must try is Beaver Tail, fried dough stretched in the shape of a Beaver’s tail and topped with a variety of sweet toppings. Québec City is where I first tried Beaver Tail and each time I visit, I keep going back to the location at the bottom of Old Québec beside Rue du Cul-de-Sac.
Final Thoughts
Québec City may not be as lively as Montréal, but for a city of its size it sure packs a punch. What Québec lacks in nightlife, it makes up for in history and charm. And the nice thing is that you can pair both cities with each other on the same vacation. Québec city is old, cool and probably Canada’s most unique city, it is definitely a must visit if you haven’t been yet.
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