Are you traveling to Quebec City soon? The city may be small, but it packs a punch. If you are feeling lost and don't know where to start please check out our lists below.
Things to do and see: Ash and I were only in Quebec City for 5 days, and due to the nature of our visit, we didn't pack our itinerary as much in as usual. But this is not to say that we didn't have some enjoyable highlights we would like to share with you. If you are on your way to Quebec City, we recommend visiting the following places:
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: If it is your first time in Quebec, we recommend staying here due to the location and amenities it has to offer. Because it is not a cheap place to stay, be smart about booking. Check out some third party websites- the hotel will meet prices that websites are offering AND take an additional percent off [see here]. This saved us some money.
Toboggan Ride: Get ready- this thing flies. It is only 3,00$ CAD for a ride, but it is important to note that you do have to pick up your toboggan at the bottom of the slide and walk it up the icy planks to the top. Totally worth it.
Funicular: Although walking up and down the hill from Quartier Petit Champlain to Frontenac is not hard, we wanted to experience the Funicular at least once. Paying for a 3,50$ CAD ticket will offer you the opportunity to ride in a glass-encased carriage down into the French village below. The views are pretty cool.
Quartier Petit Champlain: Want to feel like you are in the middle of a scene from a fairy tale? Then come here. This little winter village is so quaint, and it is filled to the max with winter holiday decor. You will not find cozier shops and pubs to spend time in than in this part of the city.
Siberia Station Spa: Massages, hot pools, cold pools, saunas, relaxation rooms, and more. This Scandinavian spa has everything you need to have a peaceful experience in the woods. You really can't come to Quebec without experiencing this place.
Montmorency Falls: You can get here by car or by tour bus. This waterfall is actually taller than Niagara Falls... although not nearly as wide. You can pay 15,00$ CAD for a round trip in a cable car that takes you to the top of the waterfall and gives you the opportunity to explore the wooded area above. The falls are really cool to see in winter- I am sure they are just as fun in the summer months.
Chocolaterie de l'ile d'Orleans: On the Saint Laurent River is the island of Ile D'Orleans. From what we learned on our tour the warmer months offer wine tours and tastings, but since we were there in the dead of winter we stuck to visiting the chocolaterie. I would advice ordering their hot chocolate and stocking up on as many truffles as possible.
Albert Gilles Boutique et Musée: A small copper museum near Quebec City. If you enjoy art and copper, well, this place covers both.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré: We are not religious, but that doesn't matter when visiting this basilica. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre is a work of art, inside and out. The walls are covered in mosaic, and each pew is unique with intricate carvings displaying different religious symbolism. This church is a site to see.
Horse Carriages: If you have the chance try taking a city tour this way. Ash and I didn't take the full city tour, but instead haggled with the guide to take us to the bar by carriage. I would not recommend arriving to the bars this way if you are trying to save money.
Le Drague Cabaret Club: Although you can technically drink here, I would classify this as something to do because we had quite the dance party. Le Drague is a large queer night club outside of Old Quebec. If you go bring cash- they do not take cards. We found out the hard way.
Things to eat/drink: If you are a big meat eater, this is the place for you. Ash eats meat; I do not. I eat fish, and eggs, but "land meat" is not in my diet. That being said, there were still options for both of us. The following lists all the places we ate and drank in Quebec City:
Place Dufferin: We booked brunch here New Years Day and it was wonderful. Never have I seen so many choices of breakfast food. Overlooking the Saint Laurent River, we sat, ate, and sipped our morning coffee. This is definitely a place to go during the holidays.
Bistro Le Sam: Ash claims this was once of the top meals of their life. We also enjoyed the service and, like Place Dufferin, the view of the river as we ate was great.
Conti Caffe: Our first night in Quebec City, and what did we eat? Italian. Weird I know, but the food was excellent. Plus, this is a great place if you want to take a hot date (insert wink face here).
Le Petit Chateau Creperie: A very small creperie attached to the Chateau Frontenac, although I don't know if you can access it from inside the hotel. It was perfect for a light breakfast.
Pub Borgia: Cozy, cozy, cozy, although the Reggae music threw us off a bit. A great place in the middle of the bustling Quartier Petit Champlain to grab a pint.
Cafe La Maison Smith: It may be a coffee chain in this area, but it was still pretty cute. A good place to grab your morning caffeine and pastry.
1608: We hit this wine and cheese bar as many times as we could. the atmosphere is very chic, and the drinks are spectacular. Feel free to splurge on a charcuterie board- you won't regret it.
La Buche: It was a modern twist on French Canadian cuisine. Because I don't eat meat my options were limited, but Ash enjoyed their meal. If anything, the cozy space made the meal worth it.
L'omelette:
Deux22: A hip restaurant with a Latinx menu. Margaritas and tacos were had by all... meaning me and Ash.
L'Oncle Antoine: PLEASE GO HERE! It felt like we walked into a small pub scene from Lord of the Rings (Game of Thrones if you are into that). We grabbed a table right next to the wood burning fireplace and drank a few drinks. I could have sat here all day.
Chez Jules: We figured we should try at least one French restaurant while we were here. The restaurant itself had a cool vibe, but I wasn't as impressed with my meal as I wanted to be. Two thumbs up for the wine though!
L'Atelier: Oh wow- a can't miss bar. After receiving lessons from a couple locals on how to pronounce the name, and multiple attempts at saying it correctly, we finally (kind of) got it down. You walk into a multi-level, industrial space- walls decorated with plants and colorful lights. The friendly bar tender on the second floor will make you the best sour of your life. What more is there to want from a place?
Quebec City can be visited any time of the year, but Ash and I enjoyed our time here during the winter. I hope our lists can give you a starting point when planning your vacation, but as always we are open to hearing about what others have done or seen here. Any travel tips? Good places to eat? Fun things to see? Please share!
I do ask that this stays a positive and safe space for readers, so please, no hurtful language or remarks about other's experiences. Thank you.
