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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 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
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.
Planning a visit
- Suggested stay
- Not recorded
- Getting around
- Walk and use RTC buses
- 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
20 places match
20 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 1 hr 30 minMusée 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
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05 1 hr 30 minMusée 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
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06 2 hoursÎle 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
-
07 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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08 2 hoursDufferin 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
-
09 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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10 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
-
11 2 hoursMusée 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
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12 1 hr 30 minMusée 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
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13 1 hr 30 minArtillery 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
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14 1 hr 30 minPlains 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
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15 1 hr 30 minMusée 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
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16 1 hr 30 minLe 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
-
17 1 hr 30 minAquarium 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
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18 2 hoursvillage 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
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19 1 hr 30 minCartier-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
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20 1 hr 30 minMaison 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
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.