I wish we had known about this beautiful island the last time we were in Quebec. It was one of our…read morehighlights on this trip. As it turns out the day was the only rainy one all week, but that didn't matter since we spent the afternoon driving from cidery to brewery to distillery, all within a few miles or less of each other. We even got to sit outside under a porch roof with blankets to keep warm while we had a wine flight as it poured. Quite memorable. Next time we will turn right when we get onto the island and see where it leads us.

Ile-d'Orleans is an island in the Saint Lawrence River. The island is about 3.1 miles east of…read moredowntown Quebec city. It is a nice day trip from the city and it can be combined with a nearby visit to Morntmorency falls and Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. The island is 21 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is accessible from the the mainland of Quebec by the Ile-d'Orleans bridge. The Chemin Royale road encircles the entire island. While traveling the Chemin Royale road you will encounter small cottage industries specializing in various agricultural products. Cassis Monna & Filles winery has tours and tasting. Fromagerie Biese d' Epinelle specializes in cheese and dairy products. Chocolaterie de-Ile Orleans haschocolate, fudge and other chocolate based products with no preservatives. La Boulange-Saint-Jean-de-Ile-Orleans sells bakery goods and pasteries while LaCuisine d'Ete-Saint-Laurent-de-Ile'Orleans has exceptional maple syrup. There are also histirical stops along the way. The Manor Mauvide Genest built in 1734 was the home of Jean Mauvide, who was the surgeon for King of France. Stop by one of the many churches along the way. I recommend Eglise de Saint Jean Saint Pierre. With the Laurentian Plateau to the North, the Appalachian Mountains to the South and views of the Atlantic Ocean and Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Chemin Royale road is a scenic drive in it's own right. Enjoy small cottage industries in a rolling hills pastoral setting.

Montmorency Falks is a beautiful place to visit while in Quebec City. It's located about a 10 min…read morecab ride from Old Town in Parc de la Chute-Montmorency. It's a sight to behold and you can spend a few hours there. My recommendation is to start at the very bottom and take the cable car up. You get a beautiful view of the falls in all its glory. There is also a mini museum and souvenir shop when you reach the end of the cable car. It's a little walk when you will reach a suspension bridge right over the falls and cross it. It's an amazing sight to see all of the surrounding area and the St Lawrence River. After you come all the way back down via the cable car, there is another walkway that takes you to the edge of the waterfall looking up. They have places to sit if you're not a walker or need a break. They also have a stairway with 487 steps alongside the cliff. Sadly when I was there in May 2026 the stairs were closed. I guess I'll have to return another time to conquer those! I highly recommend this while visiting Quebec City!

An amazing view and not that expensive to get into the park…read more We realized how out of shape we were just walking from the parking lot to the suspension bridge. So, rather than walk down the hundreds of stairs to the lower lot and take the cable car back up, we decided to go back the way we came and get lunch at the restaurant in the park. Come to find out the restaurant was still closed for the season (hard to believe since it was mid-June), so that was a big disappointment. We ended up driving back into the old city and finding a place to eat instead.

Loved the bad art museum! So delightful to wander through and gaze at the collection.read more

Great nonprofit multi-use space. Currently a group show of artists raging from amusing to thought…read moreprovoking. Free to enter and located at the lower part of Old Quebec city in the tourist district.

For my 2000th review, I wanted it to be a special review. For my 1000th review, I reviewed my…read morehometown of Toronto. I have since already reviewed all the other cities I've lived in and all the cities I visit regularly, but Quebec City remains, as a city I've only been to a handful of times (over the span of 20+ years), but have enjoyed visiting immensely. I give it 5 stars for it's rich history, European flair, beauty and charm. The majority of my visits to Quebec City have been via train. Their central train and bus station (Gare du Palais, which translates to Palace Station) is absolutely beautiful. Built in 1915, it's aesthetic really lives up to its regal name. The park and fountain in front of it also make for a very picturesque welcome to the city for those arriving by train. Old Quebec City with its cobblestone streets is really a sight to behold. For history buffs, the ramparts surrounding Old Quebec City are a must see! While Quebec City is the capital of the province of Quebec, in terms of tourism, it seems to be less popular than Montreal. I feel the cities are very different and I enjoy doing different things in them. I go to Montreal to shop for good deals on high fashion and eat at their culturally diverse restaurants. I go to Quebec City to walk hand-in-hand with my love and take in the beautiful sights, and enjoy French cuisine. This may be in part because I am truly more of a tourist in Quebec City, as I have never lived there, while I spent many years living in Montreal, and so return as not fully a tourist ;) Nonetheless, the 2 cities have a distinctly different feel to them, so I do encourage those who have been to Montreal but never Quebec City, to give the latter a visit. Of note, Quebec City is very hilly. So walking around, everyday is leg day! ;) Also to know, in the downtown touristy areas, almost everyone speaks both French and English, but if you travel outside of this core, you will find less people who speak English. Just a note for those who don't speak French.

Seemingly always in the shadow on Montreal, Quebec City is in many ways as good as the big M. If…read morehaving to choose my favorite city in this fair Provence, it would have to be the city that bares its Provence's name ... known to the Québecois as "Ville de Québec" (and to us English speakers) as Québec City. Quebec's most iconic site, La Château Frontenac, is hard to miss as it towers over the city from Upper Town (Haute-Ville). See it, marvel at it, go see it up close. While the winters are significantly more brutal than in Montreal, the summers (when I have visited) are quite superb. They have great parks even in the heart of the city, with lush plants and blooming flowers. I highly recommend Parc Félix-Leclerc (on Rue du Petit Champlain), Place d'Armes (right next to Le Château Frontenac) and their centerpiece, the sprawling Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine. Really, the start of any journey to Ville de Québec starts in Old Québec in the Lower Town (Basse-Ville). You'll be hard-pressed not to be transfixed by the classic old buildings and cobblestone streets. You'll probably be even more hard-pressed to not buy merch in the gift shops and clothiers lining the streets. I highly recommend keeping in mind the "Made in Quebec" stores ... great food, great maple syrup, great clothes ... great everything. Another "must-do" is taking the Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec. A funicular is an obscure but fun mode of transport, a cable on a railroad that in this case takes people back-and-forth between Lower Town and Upper Town (Haute-Ville). If you are in Lower Town headed up, you will find yourself on Terrasse Dufferin, overlooking the city, Île d'Orléans, the fork of the St. Lawrence River, and the cross-river city of Lévis. I highly recommend walking down Promenade des Gouverneurs and the 310 stairs to even better views. The City is my favorite place in Québec ... I hope it becomes your favorite too!

Quebec City has invested in and maintained huge murals throughout the city, they are very realistic…read morelooking, causing a double take if you aren't expecting it. It's easy to find yourself standing and craning your neck upward, finding little details near the end of Rue du Petit Champlain, is Fresque du Petit-Champlain, created in 2001. The mural shows life in the history of this small, working-class neighborhood of Quebec City. In addition to elements of seaport life and trade and a woman depicted as a sailor's wife awaiting his return, in the mural, look out for Lord Nelson - This is the same Horatio Nelson of the Battle of Trafalgar fame where he defeated Napoleon. (If you're not a history buff, just think Trafalgar Square in London, he's atop the column in the center.

BASSE VILLE'S WONDERFUL TROMPE L'OEIL MURALS…read more We enjoyed two trompe l'oeil murals located in the Basse Ville section of Old Quebec. Both murals were public art projects involving the joint efforts of French and Quebec artists. The first outdoor mural is called the Fresque du Petit Champlain (also known as Fresque du Cap Blanc). This mural rips away the walls of rooms offering glimpses into the everyday lives of people living in 1600-1800s Cap Blanc, then a working class fishing community in Quebec. You can almost hear the boisterous shouts of the workers hauling up the net full of fish and smell the ocean air as you watch the boat builders and sail makers work. A fence prevents visitors from walking up close to the mural. The second mural, Fresque des Quebecois, is a towering mural painted on the side of a tall building. It is a fun mural mixing historical figures in contemporary vignettes. We felt like we could step into the corner book store and start browsing through the books.

This semi‑pedestrian street connects the Petit‑Champlain to the Old Port by way of Place de la FAO…read moreon the corner of Rue Saint-Paul, where you'll find immaculate old buildings that house art galleries and chic boutiques, as well as a gorgeous fountain that pays tribute to the role of the St. Lawrence River in Québec City's history. this street that makes you feel like you are in Soho New York! It is less narrow than the other streets and features some taller/wider buildings that I can very much picture myself living in.

This was a very beautiful fountain. We came over here on a Tuesday night after 7 pm. Not too many…read morepeople. I believe in the daytime and sometimes evening, you'll get these massive tour groups. I would wait a few mins until they pass, then you can take as many pictures as you like. The fountain is turned off Nov to April due to the Canadian winters. It's a short walk away from all of those local restaurants.

This majestic fountain, adorned with numerous figures and boasting 43 water jets, stands in front…read moreof the Parliament Building. Inaugurated on July 3, 2007, the fountain was a gift to the City of Québec by La Maison Simons, a local family retail business, to mark the city's 400th anniversary. The nearly 7 m (21') tall fountain has been a source of pride for Québec City residents ever since it was first installed. It is illuminated at night, to the delight of passers-by. as you admire the fountain, enjoy the surrounding urban scenery. On the other side of the street, you can see the fortifications and St. Louis Gate, and behind the fountain is the Parliament Building. As you are right next to the Parliament building, why not visit the seat of the provincial government and take one of the free guided tours? The fountain is a very busy roundabout and it gets busy, so be careful