About Quebec City
Québec City is the rather European-flavored capital of Québec province. The city is divided between an Old Town bristling with historic ramparts, churches, narrow lanes and former battlefields, and districts revamped with museums, cafes, bars, restaurants and all the other mod-cons of international tourism.
Explore Canada
Overview
Québec City, c’est bon! This stylish capital of Québec province speaks with a French accent. Its charming Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts equal parts European heritage and Canadian charm. In Canada, the great outdoors is never far away. Just fifteen minutes from downtown Québec City, magnificent Montmorency Falls and Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier will simply take your breath away. Glorious cathedrals, such as the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine, inspire the soul; and a stroll through the captivating cobblestone streets of the Old City will capture your heart. The fascinating Aquarium du Québec offers a look beneath the sea.
It’s really the people, from the Huron-Wendat Nation at Wendake, First Nations aboriginal tribes and modern French Canadians, who keep the city’s pulse beating. Once the North American capital of the French empire, the region’s British population greatly increased during the 19th century. Today, Québec City remains a bastion of French culture and North America’s only French-based government. Areas such as the Grande Allée’s chic sidewalk cafés, mesmerizing architecture, and vibrant nightlife continue to attract a lively, international crowd.
What To Do
Québec City abounds with museums and cultural attractions. Take a ferry ride on the St. Lawrence River for stunning views of Québec City’s most impressive sites, such as the Cap-Diamant promontory, regal Fairmont Château Frontenac and delightful Dufferin Terrace riverside walkway.
Visit the interactive Musée de la civilization to understand more about Québec’s heritage and culture; or the expansive Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, showcasing over 38,000 works of art from the 17th century through the modern age.
Shop for designer goods, art and souvenirs in North America’s oldest shopping area, the quaint Petit Champlain District. Ride the Québec-Lévis ferry across the mighty St. Lawrence River.
Visit the exquisite Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine, with its colorful paintings, mosaics, stained-glass windows, and sculptures. Sample the local cuisine, such as poutine, a hearty Quebecois dish of French fries, cheese curds and brown gravy, or a traditional tourtière, a meat pie overflowing with minced pork, beef, or wild game. Learn about the sweet history of chocolate from the Mayans to the present at the city’s delectable Chocolate Museum. Speak French with the locals.
When to Go
Québec City's winter brings plenty of snow and sleet, with temperatures averaging between -25°C (-13°F) and -5°C (23°F). January alone averages 78cm (31in) of snow. Summer is a mixed bag, with occasional humidity, and temperatures fluctuating between 10°C (50°F) and 30°C (86°F).
Getting Around
The only transport mode between town and the airport is taxi.
Québec City is covered by a reasonably priced and efficient bus system, the hub of which is Gare Centrale d'Autobus on Boulevard Charest Est in St Roch.
Horse-drawn coaches (calèches) are a much more expensive treat.
Finally, those who like to get around under their own steam can rent a bicycle for a day and explore the city's network of cycle paths.
Health and Safety
Violent crime is rare (especially involving foreigners) but petty theft is more common. Watch out for pickpockets in crowded markets and public transit places, and use hotel safes where available.
Cars with foreign registration are popular targets for smash-and-grab theft. Don't leave valuables in the car, and remove registration and ID papers
Fast Facts
Quebec City is the capital of Quebec province. Its name is derived from the Algonquin “Kebec,” meaning where the river narrows.
The city is actually located at the intersection of the St. Lawrence and the St. Charles River. North America’s oldest grocery store, J.A. Moisan Epicier, is located here. It first opened in 1871.
More than 95 percent of the population speaks French, and 30 percent speak both French and English.
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