Don't use the directions on Yelp. It's nearby…read more Where to start to see some of these old school. Lots of busy roads in and out of this old town. Can see the juxtaposition of old and new. Hubby wasn't keen on stopping much to walk, felt rushed to move along.

Old Quebec is amazing with such great history, food, views, and. architecture. Quebec is our…read morefavorite city we visited. Be sure to check out both the upper part of Old Quebec, the Chateau Frontenac where we stayed but can also tour, Dufferin Terrace, and Lower Town. The Citadel and Parliament are must sees as well as the Plains of Abraham (although I wish we looked around more and saw the museum) and the Museum of Civilization is amazing too

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.

This popular shopping street is especially lively in the summer. Snap pics of it from atop…read moreSaint-Jean Gate or when it's closed to traffic on summer days. We were staying in nearby AIRBNB and every morning we started our day from Place D'Youville and passed through St jean street to Upper/lower Quebec. what beautiful streets, full of souvenir shops, and famous cafes [Baguette & Chocolate, Paillard] If you're heading into Old Quebec City from the west end, then you'll likely be passing through Porte Saint-Jean (the old city walls that you can walk on top of). Just beyond the city wall is where you'll find one of the main walking streets on Rue Saint-Jean. Rue Saint-Jean is one of Québec City's oldest commercial stretches. In the 19th century, merchants settled there in droves in houses that doubled as their place of business, lending the street its special charm. Their shops did so well that soon the street had to be widened. On winter evenings, the skating rink and festive lights are simply magical!

POPULAR AREA IN OLD QUEBEC…read more Rue Saint Jean is one of the main streets in Old Quebec. The changing street names can be confusing - the street starts out as Cote de la Fabrique and then becomes Rue Saint Jean at the intersection of Rue Couillard. Exit Old Quebec to the Quebec City neighborhood known as Saint Jean Baptiste through Porte Saint Jean (Saint Jean Gate), one of the historic stone arch gates that is part of the Fortifications of Quebec. We enjoyed visiting shops along Rue Saint Jean including the large bookstore Librairie Pantoute (it was fun seeing French translations of our favorite children story books). There are also many restaurants here and during our late summer trip, a part of Rue Saint Jean was closed to car traffic for outdoor dining. Not sure how McDonald's managed to get a foothold inside historic Old Quebec but it was weird to see the fast food chain next to popular local spots such as Paillard Bakery, Casse Crepe Breton and L'Entrecote Saint Jean.

USE THE CHARLES BAILLARGE STAIRS - A DIFFERENT WAY TO VISIT THE LOWER TOWN…read more Having walked down the Breakneck Stairs once, we looked for an easier and less crowded way to revisit the Lower Town. On Google Maps, we found a different staircase that we did not know had a history as well as a name :o) We later learned that this staircase was called the Charles Baillarge Stairs. Formerly known as the Buade Stairs, the staircase was renamed in 1980 to honor Charles Baillarge who was Quebec City's chief engineer in the late 1800s. Monsieur Baillarge was behind many urban projects that included replacing the wood stairs of Breakneck Stairs with wrought iron stairs. Compared to Breakneck Stairs, the Charles Baillarge Stairs is a wider and less steep staircase with fewer stairs. It is also conveniently located near the Monument de Francois de Laval and the old post office building and a short distance from Notre Dame de Quebec Basilica. Follow Google Maps - walk down the staircase to Cote de la Montagne - Cote de La Montagne will then lead you to the same Lower Town - Quartier Petit Champlain shopping area where Breakneck Stairs also ends.

what a view of Petit Champlain Street, and the perfect place to take photos as well (of course be…read moremindful of fellow tourists). it offers a wonderful view of one of Canada's most picturesque streets: rue du Petit-Champlain. This outdoor staircase, the oldest in Québec City, dates back to the beginning of the French colony. The 59 steps of the Breakneck Stairs connecting côte de la Montagne to rue du Petit-Champlain are just one of the ways to move between Upper and Lower Town. first, when I was researching about this, I was like "It might be like 200-300 steps to reach the upper side" but it's fairly easy. I did not even break a sweat. locals told us that in the winter, the scene is even more sublime when Christmas lights are twinkling and the snow gently falling. In the summer, the ultimate experience on the Stairs consists of eating or having a drink at one of the restaurant terraces located on the different landings.

The 19th century Old Port (Vieux Port) in Québec is a national historic site. The perfect place to…read moreget away from it all by the water, the Old Port offers stunning views and loads of laid-back charm. Québec City's Old Port stretches out along the St. Lawrence River and is home to a marina, cruise ship terminal, and plenty of picturesque little streets. at the same time- Place des Canotiers is a wonderful urban park at the confluence of the St. Lawrence River, the port, and the city. With its unbeatably gorgeous view of Château Frontenac, the Petit-Champlain, and Old Port districts, it's a favorite spot for locals and tourists looking to soak up the sights, check out the action on the river, and just enjoy life. Also on the waterfront, the daily Marché du Vieux-Port is a public market with everything from local farm produce to bicycle rentals. Take the time to explore Rue Saint Paul, Rue Sous le Cap, Rue Sault-au-Matelot, and Rue Saint-Pierre. It's the perfect place for a stroll.

Alright, gang. I hyped up my family about the old Port Marche only to find it had been demolished…read moreand replaced with a community style garden. I'm a little heartbroken and surprised...this seemed like a historic treasure for the city. I know there's another new market across town but this one was oozing with old wild charm. The port area is still nice with trails along the water and historic architecture but it lost a little bit of its magic with the marche no longer there.

I took an English‑language tour of the National Assembly of Québec, and it was excellent -- very…read moreinformative and well organized. You do need to show a piece of ID to enter, so it's good to have that ready. The building's architecture is stunning both inside and out. The exterior is remarkable, surrounded by a lovely park with benches where you can sit and relax before or after the tour. Inside, I was pleasantly surprised to see a work by folk artist Patrick Lavallée, and the portrait gallery of the presidents was a highlight. The modern section is especially interesting because each president chooses the artist who paints their portrait -- and finding a portrait by Jean‑Paul Lemieux, one of my favourite French‑Canadian artists, was a wonderful surprise. The tour takes you through many parts of the building, including the restaurant and the library, and ends near a boutique selling souvenirs. A very worthwhile visit.

Dominated by the majestic outline of the Parliament Building and graced by a splendid fountain in…read moreits forecourt, Parliament Hill exudes style. The spaciously laid out district, southwest of the old Upper Town, is the seat of Québec's provincial government. National Assembly and Legislative Council- these are open to the public. They would ask for some verification IDs, and you are good to visit this. The main façade is adorned with 26 bronze statues of men and women who shaped the province's history. Take a free guided tour of the building. The building can be explored by guided or unguided tours that take you through the lovely hallways, rooms, and legislative channels of the building's historic core. Its architecture, inspired by the Louvre Palace in Paris, makes it one of the only French-style institutional buildings in Québec City. It is Québec's oldest historic site and the seat of Québec's government. The building's main facade boasts 26 bronze statues erected to the memory of key historical figures Parliament Hill is located in the Upper Town, just outside the fortifications. It's home to several government buildings, the famous Plains of Abraham, and the festive section of Grande Allée. Tony Fountain is just in front of this amazing building.

bad luck strikes again - construction work was going on and we could not get a chance to go closely…read moreand observe this... anyway Near Place Royale, right where Côte de la Montagne curves around to intersect Rue Notre Dame, is the first and probably most known mural in Quebec City. La Fresque des Québécois was completed and installed in 1999 by Cité Création and local artists. you will see a mixture of different periods of history, elements from French settlers, British settlers, and immigrant groups, along with what looks like modern-day students, shoppers & tourists. There are also several important historical figures represented. Within the mural are 16 key figures important to the history of Quebec City, including: *** Samuel de Champlain - called the 'Father of New France,' Champlain was an explorer who founded Quebec City in July 1608, made the first accurate map of the area, and worked to find the first settlements. *** Marie Guyard de l'Incarnation - a nun, declared a saint, who established the Ursuline Order and who also founded the first girls' school in the New World. *** Lord Dufferin - Governor General of Canada, he was the first to make the Citadelle of Quebec a vice-regal residence and saved the city walls from destruction. The is also the 'Dufferin' of Terrasse Dufferin fame. and many more

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 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 browse through the books. The second mural is called the Fresque du Petit Champlain (also known as Fresque du Cap Blanc). This mural rips away the walls of rooms featuring glimpses into the lives of everyday people living in 1600-1800s Cap Blanc, then a working class fishing neighborhood in Quebec. There is a fence that prevents visitors from walking up close to the mural.

Great visit to the citadelle. Sunny day, good for unhurried exploration…read more The guides speak English and French. We joined an English tour. They take you through the parts of the grounds you can visit, which is largely everything not being used as an administrative or lodging building. We had plenty of time to cover it all with the guide. Everything is obviously pristine. This military post never saw a day of action. No combat. No scars or wear. Didn't have the gore or spectres you psychologically touch and tip toe through, say, the blood stained halls of the Tower of London. Fantastic views of Quebec City. It was worth admission alone to walk the exterior walls and look down on the waterfront. We spent too much time watching the band. They were very cute, though not great musicians, parading through a very length marching pattern in full costume. Bless them And we then spent too much time waiting in line to take a picture next to a goat, their mascot. Why did we do both? Because of herd mentality. Everybody else stayed. We were being polite. Then we spent too much time in the self-guided museum. Very few displays made sense to us. No baseline French comprehension We could have easily gained 2-3 hours of time back from the band, goat and museum visit. So if you're in a hurry, feel free to power walk through these. Spend the time on the beautiful promenade instead!

Visited the Citadelle de Québec and attended the changing of the guard ceremony, which was a…read morewonderful piece of history and tradition. It's an interesting and well‑organized show to watch, and I recommend arriving a bit early to get a good seat. A great stop for anyone who enjoys military history or is simply looking for a distinctive experience in Québec City.