Do not sleep on visiting Quebec City! It’s a mini-European getaway right in Canada. Feels like you’re vacationing in France! We visited for 2 days in July and had the best time, so here are our favorite things to do in Quebec City!
Things to do in Quebec City
Use the map below for all the things on this list, plus more that we didn’t get to!
Where we stayed
We stayed right in the heart of Quebec City’s old town at Hôtel du Vieux-Québec. The staff were absolutely amazing, and even had a crib ready for our 1 year old! We loved the common space and old architecture of the building. Such a great location, too!
Things to do in Quebec City
Cafe La Maison Smith Notre-Dame
This coffee roaster sits in a building that dates back to 1653 and offers great coffee and pastries. Grab a table outside and enjoy Place Royal while you’re there.
Place Royale
This little cobblestone square was my favorite of all things to do in Quebec City. We sipped coffee and ate croissants at the coffee shop mentioned above, watched our toddler waddle around the streets, and visited a 17th century stone church. So beautiful!
Rue Sous-le-fort
One of the most trafficked streets in Quebec City is Rue Sous-le-fort, and for good reason. It’s so picturesque! Visit the cute shops and cafes before taking the Funiculare du Vieux back to the upper part of town. Know that they only take cash!
Dufferin Terrace
Part of upper town, stroll the Dufferin Terrace right at the base of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world which was built in 1892. Take in the views of the castle-like hotel and St Lawrence River! Note that you can ride old-school tobagins here in the winter!
Le Casse-Crêpe Breton
It’s a must to grab a crêpe while in Quebec City, and this is the best spot to try one! Choose from sweet or savory, these crêpes are hearty. Just make sure to get there early or be prepared to wait in a line as it’s a small restaurant.
Cassis Monna & Filles
If you have a car, you MUST drive the quick 15 minute trip over to Île d’Orléans to get a little break from the city and sip on some local wine! The island is known for its black currant wine. At Cassis Gonna & Filles you can sip on wine or sangria as you look over the St Lawrence River, grab lunch on the balcony (SO YUMMY), or try some of their homemade ice cream, also made with black currant!
Montmorency Falls
For a small fee (only a few $$), visit the amazing Montmorency Falls on your way back to Quebec City from Île d’Orléans. It’s only about 10 minutes outside the city and such a magnificent site! You are able to cross over the bridge and even walk down hundreds of stairs to get a full view of the falls. This place gets busy, so go early if you can!
Korrigane
A great spot to grab some local brews is Korrigane. We loved the beer and were eyeing the food while we sat on their cute patio. This spot is located outside of old Quebec City if you are up for venturing out of that area!
Aquarium du Québec
We wanted to get some of our 1 year old’s wiggles out, so we visited the local aquarium. It was nice, however is more like a traditional zoo in the US with just a few buildings for sea life. I would highly recommend only visiting on a weekday or very early on a weekend. It was insanely packed on a Sunday afternoon!
That’s a wrap of our favorite things to do in Quebec City Canada. Hope you enjoy your time there!
Loved it! Quebec City was an amazing experience for me. The city’s historical and cultural richness is truly captivating. I’m definitely considering a return visit!