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Old Quebec
Vieux-Québec
Old Quebec, known locally as Vieux-Québec, is the fortified historic core of Quebec City.
- Must see
- Historic monument
City guide · Canada
Quebec City
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 t...
Photograph · Wilfredor · CC0
1,857
Places
- Suggested stay
- Not recorded
- Getting around
- Walk and use RTC buses
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.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
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.
Checked 2026-08-26
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
Planning a visit
September · September cools to a comfortable 19.1°C daily maximum in Quebec City, with no normal snowfall.
- January: recurring difficult conditions
- February: recurring difficult conditions
- March: recurring difficult conditions
- April: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- May: best time to visit
- June: best time to visit
- July: good time to visit
- August: good time to visit
- September: best time to visit — current month
- October: good time to visit
- November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- December: recurring difficult conditions
- Best time
- Good time
- Viable with trade-offs
- Difficult conditions
Sources
- climate.weather.gc.ca Checked 2026-08-28
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
7 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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02 2 hoursChâteau 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
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03 2 hoursPetit 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
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04 2 hoursFortifications 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
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05 2 hoursPlace 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
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06 2 hoursMorrin 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
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
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.