Roavina

City guide · Canada

Quebec City

A photograph of Quebec City
Photograph · Wilfredor · CC0

Québec City is organised around a compact historic core above and below the St. Lawrence River cliffs. Old Québec divides into Upper Town and Lower Town, with the Old Port beside the river. Parliament Hill, Montcalm and Saint-Jean-Baptiste extend west from the walls, while Saint-Roch and Limoilou form lower, more local districts. Central neighbourhoods are close together; outer attractions require bus or another planned connection.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Practical information
Language spoken
English and French
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+1
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 120 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
Water systems and advisories are managed by multiple jurisdictions

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Quebec City

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk and use RTC buses
  1. January: recurring difficult conditions
  2. February: recurring difficult conditions
  3. March: recurring difficult conditions
  4. April: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  5. May: best time to visit
  6. June: best time to visit
  7. July: good time to visit
  8. August: good time to visit
  9. September: best time to visit — current month
  10. October: good time to visit
  11. November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  12. December: recurring difficult conditions
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

54 places match

Category

Historic monuments 14 Museums 9 Places of worship 8 Nature sites 11 Viewpoints 1 Food and drink 1 Markets and shopping 1 Entertainment 1 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 1 Art and culture 4 Activities 3

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 34 1 to 2 hours 20

Interests

History 5 Art 2 Museums 2 Nature 1 Sea and beach 1 Viewpoints 0
  1. Old Quebec Old Quebec
    01 2 hours

    Old Quebec

    Vieux-Québec

    Old Quebec, known locally as Vieux-Québec, is the fortified historic core of Quebec City.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  2. Château Frontenac Château Frontenac
    02 2 hours

    Château Frontenac

    château Frontenac

    Château Frontenac is a landmark hotel in Quebec City’s Upper Town, beside Dufferin Terrace and above the St. Lawrence River. Its steep roofs, turrets, and ornate gables give the building a château-like silhouette that dominates the Old Quebec skyline.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  3. Montmorency Falls Montmorency Falls
    03 1 hour

    Montmorency Falls

    Chute Montmorency

    Montmorency Falls, or chute Montmorency, is a major waterfall east of Québec City. The Montmorency River drops over a cliff into a basin below, creating a dramatic natural landmark close to the provincial capital.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  4. Plains of Abraham Plains of Abraham
    04 45 min

    Plains of Abraham

    Plaines d'Abraham

    Plains of Abraham is a historic battlefield landscape and major urban park beside central Québec City.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  5. Citadelle of Quebec Citadelle of Quebec
    05 45 min

    Citadelle of Quebec

    La Citadelle de Québec

    La Citadelle de Québec is an active military fortress on Québec City’s Cap Diamant, not a conventional museum built solely for display. Its star-shaped defensive form, stone ramparts and elevated position above the St.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  6. Petit Champlain Petit Champlain
    06 2 hours

    Petit Champlain

    Petit Champlain is a historic quarter in Québec City's Lower Town, situated at the foot of Cap Diamant beneath the Château Frontenac escarpment. The area comprises narrow cobblestone streets and heritage buildings dating to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  7. Musée de la civilisation Musée de la civilisation
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Musée de la civilisation

    Musée de la Civilisation de Québec

    Musée de la civilisation is one of Québec City’s most engaging indoor introductions to the province’s stories, identities, and cultural life.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  8. Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

    Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is Québec City’s national art museum beside the Plains of Abraham.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  9. Île d'Orléans Île d'Orléans
    09 2 hours

    Île d'Orléans

    île d'Orléans

    Île d’Orléans is a large agricultural island in the Saint Lawrence River downstream from Québec City. It is about 34 kilometres long and up to 8 kilometres wide, connected to the mainland by the Pont de l’Île bridge.

    • Must see
    • Activity
  10. Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
    10 30 min

    Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

    basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

    The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a major Catholic pilgrimage basilica on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, northeast of Québec City. Dedicated to Saint Anne, it has attracted pilgrims for centuries.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  11. Fortifications of Quebec Fortifications of Quebec
    11 2 hours

    Fortifications of Quebec

    fortifications de Québec

    The Fortifications of Quebec are the defensive walls, gates, and ramparts that encircle Old Quebec, forming the only remaining fortified city walls in North America north of Mexico.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  12. Dufferin Terrace Dufferin Terrace
    12 2 hours

    Dufferin Terrace

    terrasse Dufferin

    Dufferin Terrace is a historic boardwalk in Québec City's Upper Town, running alongside the Château Frontenac. This elevated promenade overlooks the St.

    • Must see
    • Activity
  13. Place Royale Place Royale
    13 2 hours

    Place Royale

    Place Royale is a historic public square in Quebec City's Lower Town, widely recognized as the restored birthplace precinct of French North America.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  14. Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City
    14 30 min

    Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City

    Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires

    Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church is a historic Roman Catholic church located on Place Royale in Quebec City's Lower Town.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  15. Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral
    15 30 min

    Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral

    Basilique cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec

    Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica-cathedral located in Old Québec within the fortified city walls.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  16. Parliament Building of Quebec Parliament Building of Quebec
    16 45 min

    Parliament Building of Quebec

    Hôtel du Parlement

    The Parliament Building of Quebec, known locally as Hôtel du Parlement du Québec, serves as the seat of the National Assembly of Quebec. Constructed in the Second Empire architectural style, this prominent structure anchors the capital district of Quebec City.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  17. La capitale Observatory La capitale Observatory
    17 1 hour

    La capitale Observatory

    Observatoire de la Capitale

    Observatoire de la Capitale is an indoor panoramic viewpoint in the Marie-Guyart Building. Its appeal is the elevated view over Québec City and the chance to understand the city’s geography from above.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
  18. Morrin Centre Morrin Centre
    18 2 hours

    Morrin Centre

    The Morrin Centre is a cultural institution occupying a landmark building in Quebec City's Old Town. The structure served as a prison from 1812 to 1868 before conversion to an educational facility.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  19. Musée de l'Amérique francophone Musée de l'Amérique francophone
    19 2 hours

    Musée de l'Amérique francophone

    The Musée de l’Amérique francophone is a history museum in the Séminaire de Québec complex in Québec City. It explores French-speaking communities across North America, linking regional history with wider stories of settlement, migration, religion, education, and cultural continuity.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  20. Musée de la place Royale Musée de la place Royale
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Musée de la place Royale

    Musée de la Place-Royale is a place-based museum in Québec City’s Lower Town, centred on the history and urban character of Place Royale.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  21. Artillery Park National Historic Site Artillery Park National Historic Site
    21 1 hr 30 min

    Artillery Park National Historic Site

    Artillery Park is a staffed national historic site within the Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site. It preserves military heritage buildings and grounds that served defensive functions from the 18th to 19th centuries.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  22. Governors' Promenade Governors' Promenade
    22 1 hour

    Governors' Promenade

    Governors’ Promenade is a cliffside pedestrian boardwalk in Québec City, linking Dufferin Terrace with the Plains of Abraham.

    • Must see
    • Activity
  23. Plains of Abraham Museum Plains of Abraham Museum
    23 1 hr 30 min

    Plains of Abraham Museum

    Musée des plaines d'Abraham

    The Plains of Abraham Museum provides an indoor historical introduction to Québec City’s famous battlefield landscape. It explains the events and context that give the surrounding park its significance.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  24. Musée des Ursulines Musée des Ursulines
    24 1 hr 30 min

    Musée des Ursulines

    Musée des Ursulines de Québec is a historic convent museum in Québec City’s Upper Town, near the basilica. The Ursuline order founded the institution in 1639 and established an early school for girls in New France.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  25. Le musée du Monastère des Augustines Le musée du Monastère des Augustines
    25 1 hr 30 min

    Le musée du Monastère des Augustines

    Monastère des Augustines is a Québec City heritage complex rooted in the Augustinian Sisters’ medical and spiritual work. The sisters established the first hospital north of Mexico in 1645.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  26. Chapelle des Ursulines Chapelle des Ursulines
    26 30 min

    Chapelle des Ursulines

    Chapelle des Ursulines is a historic chapel in Old Québec shaped by the Ursuline presence, religious use, sacred art, music, architecture, and decoration.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  27. Aquarium du Québec Aquarium du Québec
    27 1 hr 30 min

    Aquarium du Québec

    Aquarium du Québec is a dedicated marine-life attraction in Québec City’s Sainte-Foy area, where the visit centres on observing living creatures in a purpose-built aquarium complex.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  28. Onhwa' Lumina
    28 45 min

    Onhwa' Lumina

    Onhwa' Lumina is a night-time Indigenous storytelling experience in Wendake near Québec City. Its core is an outdoor night walk combining light, sound and a defined route to present contemporary Indigenous storytelling.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  29. village vacance valcartier village vacance valcartier
    29 2 hours

    village vacance valcartier

    Village Vacances Valcartier

    Village Vacances Valcartier is a large recreational complex northwest of Québec City. The destination combines a waterpark and winter playground, making it a major seasonal attraction for families seeking outdoor entertainment.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
  30. Manoir Montmorency Manoir Montmorency
    30 1 hour

    Manoir Montmorency

    Manoir Montmorency is a historic manor above Montmorency Falls in the Québec City region. Its position on the heights gives the building a clear relationship with the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.

    • Must see
    • Restaurant or café
  31. Grand Théâtre de Québec Grand Théâtre de Québec
    31 1 hour

    Grand Théâtre de Québec

    Grand Théâtre de Québec is a major performing-arts complex in Québec City, presenting orchestral music, opera, dance, and theatre. It is associated with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec and functions as one of the city’s principal destinations for professional performances.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  32. Le Diamant Le Diamant
    32 1 hour

    Le Diamant

    Le Diamant is a contemporary theatre in Old Québec, created through the reinvention of a heritage building.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  33. Théâtre Petit Champlain Théâtre Petit Champlain
    33 1 hour

    Théâtre Petit Champlain

    Théâtre du Petit Champlain

    Théâtre Petit Champlain is a compact performing arts venue in Quebec City's historic Lower Town. It functions as a French-language music and theatre room, serving as a cultural landmark within the Petit Champlain district.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  34. Palais Montcalm Palais Montcalm
    34 1 hour

    Palais Montcalm

    Palais Montcalm is a restored art-deco performance hall in Québec City, focused on classical and jazz music.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  35. Roger-Van den Hende botanical garden Roger-Van den Hende botanical garden
    35 1 hour

    Roger-Van den Hende botanical garden

    Jardin botanique Roger-Van den Hende

    Jardin botanique Roger-Van den Hende is a botanical garden operated by Université Laval in the Sainte-Foy district of Quebec City. It serves as both a public horticultural destination and an academic resource for the university.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  36. Saint-Roch Church Saint-Roch Church
    36 30 min

    Saint-Roch Church

    Église Saint-Roch

    Saint-Roch Church, or église Saint-Roch, is a major historic church in Quebec City's lower-city Saint-Roch district. Its monumental scale makes it one of the neighbourhood's most recognisable landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  37. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church
    37 30 min

    Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church

    Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste

    Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church is a Roman Catholic church located in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood of Quebec City. The local name is église Saint-Jean-Baptiste. This sacred building serves as a significant religious and architectural landmark within its district.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  38. Jesuit Chapel Jesuit Chapel
    38 30 min

    Jesuit Chapel

    Chapelle des Jésuites

    Chapelle des Jésuites is a nineteenth-century chapel in Quebec City's Montcalm district. The heritage building has been adapted for concerts and cultural events, giving travellers a chance to encounter historic religious architecture in a contemporary setting.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  39. Henry-Stuart House Henry-Stuart House
    39 45 min

    Henry-Stuart House

    Maison Henry-Stuart

    Maison Henry-Stuart is a preserved 1849 house and garden near the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. It offers a close look at domestic life in a nineteenth-century residence, with the building itself providing the main historical experience.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  40. Jesuit House of Sillery Jesuit House of Sillery
    40 45 min

    Jesuit House of Sillery

    Maison des Jésuites de Sillery

    Maison des Jésuites de Sillery is a historic house in Quebec City's Sillery district and a surviving part of a former Jesuit estate established in the seventeenth century.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  41. Bois-de-Coulonge Park Bois-de-Coulonge Park
    41 1 hour

    Bois-de-Coulonge Park

    Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge

    Bois-de-Coulonge Park, known locally as parc du Bois-de-Coulonge, comprises landscaped former vice-regal grounds situated along a riverside in Québec City. The property served as the residence of Quebec lieutenant-governors, reflecting its historical significance in provincial governance.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  42. Domaine de Maizerets Domaine de Maizerets
    42 1 hour

    Domaine de Maizerets

    Domaine de Maizerets is a historic estate on Quebec City's east side, encompassing extensive gardens and parkland. The property functions as a public green space where visitors can experience landscaped grounds with heritage character.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  43. Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site
    43 1 hr 30 min

    Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site

    Lieu historique national Cartier-Brébeuf

    Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site is a riverside historic place beside the Saint-Charles River in Québec City. It commemorates Jacques Cartier’s wintering at Stadacona in 1535–1536 and the later mission associated with Jean de Brébeuf and other missionaries.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  44. Parc Chauveau Parc Chauveau
    44 1 hour

    Parc Chauveau

    Parc Chauveau is Quebec City's largest park, situated along the Saint-Charles River. This extensive green space serves as a genuine riverfront outdoor destination for residents and visitors seeking natural surroundings within the urban environment.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  45. Parc des Moulins Parc des Moulins
    45 1 hour

    Parc des Moulins

    Parc des Moulins is a public park in Quebec City situated on the former grounds of the city's zoo. The site has been transformed into a broad garden space and family recreation area.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  46. Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy
    46 1 hour

    Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy

    Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy is an outdoor recreation centre in Quebec City’s Sainte-Foy district. Its setting brings nature-based activity into the city, with a lake, surrounding grounds, trails, and equipment rental forming the core of the visit.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  47. Quai Paquet Quai Paquet
    47 1 hour

    Quai Paquet

    Quai Paquet is a redeveloped public plaza and ferry terminal located in Lévis, directly across the Saint Lawrence River from Québec City.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  48. Terrasse du Chevalier-de-Lévis Terrasse du Chevalier-de-Lévis
    48 1 hour

    Terrasse du Chevalier-de-Lévis

    Terrasse du Chevalier-de-Lévis is an outdoor public terrace on the Lévis bluff, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River opposite Québec City.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  49. Maison Alphonse-Desjardins Maison Alphonse-Desjardins
    49 1 hr 30 min

    Maison Alphonse-Desjardins

    Maison Alphonse-Desjardins is a heritage house in Lévis, Quebec, preserved as a monument to Alphonse Desjardins, founder of the caisse populaire cooperative credit union movement.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  50. Rue du Trésor Rue du Trésor
    50 45 min

    Rue du Trésor

    Rue du Trésor is a narrow pedestrian lane in Old Québec, close to the Château Frontenac. It functions as an open-air gallery where artists display and sell their work directly to passers-by.

    • Must see
    • Market
  51. Place des Canotiers Place des Canotiers
    51 1 hour

    Place des Canotiers

    Place des Canotiers is a public plaza situated in Quebec City's Old Port area, positioned at river level beneath the elevated historic district of Old Quebec.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  52. Joan of Arc Garden Joan of Arc Garden
    52 1 hour

    Joan of Arc Garden

    Jardin Jeanne-d'Arc

    Jardin Jeanne-d’Arc is a formal garden within the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. Named for Joan of Arc, it combines seasonal flower displays with a statue of its namesake.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  53. fontaine de Tourny fontaine de Tourny
    53 45 min

    fontaine de Tourny

    Fontaine de Tourny

    The Fontaine de Tourny is an ornate public fountain situated on the grounds of the Parliament Building in Québec City's capital district. It serves as a significant public-art landmark within the parliamentary precinct.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  54. Saint-Dominique Church Saint-Dominique Church
    54 30 min

    Saint-Dominique Church

    Église Saint-Dominique

    Église Saint-Dominique is a Dominican parish church on Grande Allée in Québec City.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Upper Town occupies the fortified plateau around Château Frontenac and the main gates. Lower Town sits beneath the cliff around Place Royale and the Old Port, linked by steep streets, stairs and the funicular. Parliament Hill and the Plains of Abraham are west of the walls; Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Montcalm continue beyond them. Saint-Roch lies below the escarpment, with Limoilou farther north across the Saint-Charles River.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk between the central neighbourhoods, allowing for steep grades between Upper and Lower Town. The RTC bus network serves the city centre, central districts, suburbs, the airport and both train stations. Frequent Métrobus routes carry numbers in the 800s and are useful beyond the historic core. Use the official RTC trip planner and current notices because construction, weather and traffic can alter stops and schedules.

Checked 2026-08-26

Nearby districts and related places

Nearby places

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Québec City?

A fixed stay length is not recorded. Plan Upper and Lower Town first, then add Parliament Hill, Montcalm, Saint-Roch or an outer excursion according to your priorities.

Is Old Québec walkable?

Yes. Its principal areas are compact, but Upper and Lower Town are separated by a steep escarpment, stairs and sloping streets.

What is the difference between Upper and Lower Town?

Upper Town occupies the fortified plateau; Lower Town lies beneath it around Place Royale and the Old Port. Routes between them include steep streets, stairs and the funicular.

How do I get around beyond Old Québec?

Use RTC buses. The network serves central neighbourhoods, suburbs, the airport and both train stations, with frequent Métrobus routes on major corridors.

Are Québec City's central neighbourhoods far apart?

No. The official visitor guide describes them as concentrated in a relatively small area, though elevation changes can make short map distances more demanding on foot.