A photograph of Quebec City

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.

Plan Quebec City

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.

  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

Sources

Top things to see

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

  1. Citadelle of Quebec Citadelle of Quebec
    02 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
  2. Parliament Building of Quebec Parliament Building of Quebec
    03 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
  3. Onhwa' Lumina
    04 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
  4. Henry-Stuart House Henry-Stuart House
    05 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
  5. Jesuit House of Sillery Jesuit House of Sillery
    06 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

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

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.