A First-Timer's Guide to Québec City, Canada
Claimed to be the most "European" feeling city in North America, Québec City is without question full of charm and history.
If you are yearning for an escape to a European-esque city, look no further than Québec City. Only a short 3-hour train ride away from Montréal, and easily accessible from the rest of Canada via a plane ride, Québec City has all the rich character that typically draws Canadians to European vacations, right here in our own country.
Recently visiting Québec City for the first time, I found myself fascinated by all the history and culture the city was built upon. Don’t get me wrong I do normally love visiting museums & monuments during my travels, but I wasn’t expecting to learn so much about my own country in my two-day visit to Old Québec. You could certainly say that I was pleasantly surprised!
So, without further ado, here’s a look into how I spent a few very fun-filled days exploring solo in Québec City:
MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS
🥇 My #1 pick
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: Without a doubt, this 5-star hotel can’t be skipped. Château Frontenac is the star of Québec City’s skyline and, with good reason, the most photographed hotel in the world. Taking a little wander through the hotel lobby you’ll find a few boutiques where you can window shop or pick up a gift. My favourite hidden gem was the small “museum-like” corridor near the entrance recounting the history of the hotel and the Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux that came before it. *If you’re curious, you can read more on it’s past here: History of Le Château Frontenac.
🌟 Other favourites
Dufferin Terrace: This boardwalk, found right next to Château Frontenac, will give you the best views of the hotel from all angles. You’ll find many benches where you can stop, people watch, and admire the hotel.
Quartier Petit Champlain: This area of Old Québec is made up of small little streets, with restaurants, cafés, and unique boutiques. Without question, it was my favourite place to explore and the area that made me really fall in love with the city!
Place Royale: This cute square, with a stone church, is where Québec City was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608! Right around the corner from Place Royale you will find an old Québec City mural that depicts what the city would have looked like back in the day. In front of the large artwork, a plaque identifies each of the prominent figures featured in the mural.
Old Québec Funicular: If you want a fun, quick ride (to avoid the never-ending stairs & hills in this city…) the funicular will take you from the old streets in Quartier Petit Champlain up to Dufferin Terrace & Château Frontenac.
*Activity Highlight*
Don’t skip a guided tour of the Citadelle of Québec! Usually I am a self-proclaimed guided/audio/anything tour hater… however, this one gets a pass. You learn so many interesting stories and tidbits about the French and the British arriving in Canada that you wouldn’t be able to pick up on by just wandering through. My guide did a great job to bring it alive and take us back in time.
RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS
🥇 My #1 pick
La Buche: This restaurant has a fabulous maple-syrup filled brunch menu, serving traditional Québécois cuisine. The interior is decorated like a rustic cabin and has all the best touches of “Canadiana.” And, if you’re in the market for any little souvenirs, they have a small shop next door selling tons of maple-flavoured treats.
🌟 Other favourites
Le Lapin Sauté: The perfect dinner restaurant on rue du Petit Champlain serving a variety of rabbit dishes - think rabbit stew, rabbit liver salad & even rabbit poutine.
Le Chic Shack: A tasty, easy hamburger restaurant just a stone’s throw away from Château Frontenac (bonus: they have gluten-free buns!).
Café La Maison Smith: With several locations, it was a great spot to grab a coffee and a quick bite before setting out for the day.
Le Petit Dep: With locations in Montréal as well, Le Petit Dep is a cute place (with fun quirky decor!) to pick up a tea, coffee, or sweet treat (many gluten-free & vegan options available).
*Hotel Highlight*
The 4-star Hotel Clarendon is perfectly placed and central for walking around Old Québec. The hotel is well maintained and the staff are very friendly. This is somewhere I would definitely recommend for any kind of traveller!
Although short, this trip to a new part of Canada really sparked my interest in exploring more of the vast country I grew up in. As someone who’s always trying to find the next new “undiscovered” country to visit ahead of the crowds, taking a moment to instead appreciate more of my own country felt really special.
I would love to get out further East and take a road trip through the Maritimes next! If you have any favourite “must-see” spots there, let me know in the comments!
xo chat soon