In a destination that is pronounced in every season, the reasons to visit Québec City are endless. Its character, charm and beauty are distinguished at every turn from exploring Old Québec—designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985—to the lively culture scene to the seasonal and local foods that highlight the very best of the region to the warm embrace locals use to invite strangers in. The extraordinary masterpiece of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac towers over Old Québec while the Citadelle stands as the largest British fortress in North America. Fine dining and French cuisine are boundless when it comes to creativity and flavours—a global centre for everything a vacation should be all in one place. So come on mon ami, Québec City is waiting to show you how magnificent it truly is.
400 Years of Living History
Walking through the narrow cobblestone streets of a UNESCO World-Class Heritage site like Old Québec transports visitors back to what life was like within this fortified city. It emanates European beauty while encompassing the heritage of the Québecois culture, with boutiques, restaurants and outdoor cafés around every corner. Guests are emersed in 400 years of extraordinary history all while enjoying the present-day charm of Old Québec. Petit-Champlain, one of the oldest shopping streets in North America, is like being in a French fairytale—charming streets lined with restaurants and shops, housed within the fortified walls; bistro owners waving bonjour and welcome and the local artisans inviting people in to sample their specialties. The street is accessible through many staircases, the most popular being the Escalier Casse-Cou—the oldest staircase in Québec City, and one of the best places in the city to capture an incredible shot. Old Québec is a very walkable city but for a fun, aerial view of the neighbourhood and the St. Lawrence River, the Old Québec Funicular is the transportation of choice. Place Royale, the exact spot where the City of Québec was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, boasting French and British elements that can be seen bursting through the historical architecture found within the square. Here, visitors can admire one of the oldest churches in North America, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, which was built atop the ruins of Champlain's first outpost or sit back and relax at Maison Smith Café while taking in all the sights and sounds.
© Francis Fontaine, Destination Québec citéA Castle in the Sky
One of the greatest centrepieces in Québec City is the grandiose and magnificently structured, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. This iconic landmark offers sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River, Dufferin Terrace—a beautifully constructed, long wooden boardwalk that displays stunning views of the St. Lawrence and the Château Frontenac—and the Old Fortified City while guestrooms feature modern décor and amenities all while being encased in historical stature. The Frontenac has history within its own walls—in 1944, the hotel became the centre of the Québec Conferences of World War II, which involved U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. Even if guests are not staying at the Fairmont, they can still enjoy the culinary delights of several restaurants like Champlain Restaurant, a landmark space using regional cuisine for its dishes.
Québec City’s Citadelle
This National Historic Site is located atop Cap Diamant in Old Québec. Built by the British between 1820 and 1850 to defend the city, the Citadelle is not only the largest British fortress in North America, but its walls enclose 300 years of history on an extraordinary military heritage site which is also home to the Musée Royal 22e Regiment, housing one of the largest military collections in Canada. It is known as “the Gibraltar of the Americas” based on its strategic location, the Citadel has the star-shaped form characteristic of Vauban fortifications and offers stunning views of city and the St. Lawrence.
© Francis Fontaine, Destination Québec citéFeel The Vibrant Culture
Along with hundreds of years of history comes the lively culture scene of Québec City. Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec boasts the world’s largest and most extensive collection of Québec art. With more than 42,000 works displaying Québec’s art scene dating back to the 17th century, current exhibitions include Manasie Akpaliapik, Inuit Universe The Raymond Brousseau COLLECTION, a selection of 40 sculptures forged between 1997 and 2003 from the great Inuit art collector Raymond Brousseau who, in 2005, made a remarkable donation to the Musée. The Morrin Centre is another nationally recognized heritage site built over 200 years ago. Visitors can take a tour through one of the city’s first jails and delve into one of the world’s most beautiful Victorian libraries, housing more than 27,000 books; residing in the first neo-Gothic church in Québec, Maison de la Littérature is a major part of the Bibliothèque de Québec (Library of Québec) which consists of a public library, writing cabinets, a comic strip workshop, a creative studio, a residence for writers and a literary scene. It contributes greatly to the influence of Québec literature and authors here and abroad. Plains of Abraham was where French troops lost to the British during the Battle of Québec in September 1759 and is now a National Historic Park of Canada. The Plains of Abraham Museum is the gateway to the Park, offering exhibitions, activities, services and information during guests’ visit. Le Diamant—a unique cultural venue displaying contemporary national and international creations—is a non-profit organization, aiming at promoting culture whether it be through the performance arts or multimedia. In the heart of Old Québec, the Diamond takes contemporary expression and places it on display inside a historical building.
© Jeff Frenette Photography, Destination Québec citéLa Gastronomie
Poutine, smoked meat, pea soup and tourtière (meat pie) are some of the most notable dishes that Québec is known for. Having access to fresh, local ingredients is what makes the cuisine in Québec City stand out. La Bûche is situated in the heart of Old Québec and features traditional Québec cuisine with a twist. One unique feature is the year-round sugar shack in the form of a long snow bar where patrons can enjoy as much maple taffy as their heart desires. For a mix of fine dining and French cuisine, Le Champlain, inside the Château Fontenac, serves French and local cuisine based on traditional ingredients and local produce. With rabbit being their specialty, Lapin Sauté is in Québec's Petit-Champlain district. This lovely little neighbourhood restaurant delivers delicious grilled meat and gratins and on the weekend is known for its brunch menu. Bistro St Malo is situated by the Old Port and specializes in French cuisine include blood pudding, duck confit, rabbit bourguignon risotto with ratatouille and beef check with bacon and maple—because when in Rome.
The list of fine dining restaurants in Québec City are as bountiful as they are unique. Chez Muffy l’Auberge Saint-Antoine prides itself on being a farm-to-table restaurant inside an old warehouse from the 1800s; for 30 years, Laurie Raphaël has been working with Québec producers to develop authentic gourmet cuisine; restaurant Saint-Amour has been an institution in the city since 1978 plating French haute cuisine paired with regional local produce.
Agrotourism and local artisan producers go hand in hand when it comes to making up Québec City’s food scene. Whether it is visiting a local farmers or public market like Le Grand Marché de Québec, a hub for local flavours, visiting a cheese monger like Les Fromages de l'isle d'Orléans where their cheese is handmade solely on the island, taking in the smells of freshly baked artisan breads and pastries, and for those with a sweet tooth, stopping at Érico, a chocolate factory and museum all in one. With more than 30 microbreweries lining the streets and surrounding area, beer lovers can explore the city and sample the local flavours; in the Saint-Roch neighbourhood, La Korrigane brews high-quality suds using original and all-natural beer, incorporates local ingredients into its dishes, features a beautiful terrace, live entertainment and exhibitions; La Barberie blends wild creations in a relaxed atmosphere while local brewery Noctem Artisans Brasseurs opened its doors on rue du Parvis in 2015 pairing dishes of house-smoked meats with their cat themed beers like All Cats Are Beautiful Sour - Fruity Gose, the Kitty Kitty IPA Session and the CatKenny Cream Ale—meow!
© Francis Fontaine, Destination Québec citéIt goes without saying that the warm hospitality visitors receive when they visit Québec City is a warmhearted experience. From the moment you step foot into the city, the hospitality is one that you would receive from an old friend—the warm embrace feels like sunshine and strangers are no longer meeting, but friendships are evolving. It is what keeps visitors coming back year-after-year—some to visit their old friends.
No matter where you plan to travel, make sure you check the Travel Advice and Advisories page for your destination twice: once when you are planning your trip, and again shortly before you leave. Safety and security conditions may change between the date you book your travel and your departure date.
