Smart Self-Managed Tours

City guide · Canada

Quebec City

A photograph of Quebec City
Photograph · Wilfredor · CC0

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.

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.

Plan Quebec City

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk and use RTC buses
  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
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

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

  1. Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City
    02 30 min

    Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City

    Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires

    Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church is a historic Roman Catholic church located on Place Royale in Quebec City's Lower Town.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  2. Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral
    03 30 min

    Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral

    Basilique cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec

    Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica-cathedral located in Old Québec within the fortified city walls.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  3. Chapelle des Ursulines Chapelle des Ursulines
    04 30 min

    Chapelle des Ursulines

    Chapelle des Ursulines is a historic chapel in Old Québec shaped by the Ursuline presence, religious use, sacred art, music, architecture, and decoration.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  4. Saint-Roch Church Saint-Roch Church
    05 30 min

    Saint-Roch Church

    Église Saint-Roch

    Saint-Roch Church, or église Saint-Roch, is a major historic church in Quebec City's lower-city Saint-Roch district. Its monumental scale makes it one of the neighbourhood's most recognisable landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  5. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church
    06 30 min

    Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church

    Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste

    Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church is a Roman Catholic church located in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood of Quebec City. The local name is église Saint-Jean-Baptiste. This sacred building serves as a significant religious and architectural landmark within its district.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  6. Jesuit Chapel Jesuit Chapel
    07 30 min

    Jesuit Chapel

    Chapelle des Jésuites

    Chapelle des Jésuites is a nineteenth-century chapel in Quebec City's Montcalm district. The heritage building has been adapted for concerts and cultural events, giving travellers a chance to encounter historic religious architecture in a contemporary setting.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  7. Saint-Dominique Church Saint-Dominique Church
    08 30 min

    Saint-Dominique Church

    Église Saint-Dominique

    Église Saint-Dominique is a Dominican parish church on Grande Allée in Québec City.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship

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.