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.

Filter the list

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Category

Historic monuments 7 Museums 28 Places of worship 0 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 10 Nightlife 96 Family attractions 5 Art and culture 0 Activities 2

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 1092 1 to 2 hours 148

Interests

History 21 Art 0 Museums 21 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Old Quebec Old Quebec
    01 2 hours

    Old Quebec

    Vieux-Québec

    Old Quebec, known locally as Vieux-Québec, is the fortified historic core of Quebec City.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  2. Château Frontenac Château Frontenac
    02 2 hours

    Château Frontenac

    château Frontenac

    Château Frontenac is a landmark historic hotel in Quebec City's Upper Town, positioned prominently above the St. Lawrence River and adjacent to Dufferin Terrace.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  3. Petit Champlain Petit Champlain
    03 2 hours

    Petit 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
  4. Musée de la civilisation Musée de la civilisation
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Musée de la civilisation

    Musée de la Civilisation de Québec

    Musée de la Civilisation de Québec is a civilisation museum in the Québec City visitor region. The editorial ranking identifies this exact production record among ten highest-priority publishable POIs.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  5. Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

    Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is a national art museum in the Québec City visitor region. The editorial ranking identifies this exact production record among ten highest-priority publishable POIs.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  6. Île d'Orléans Île d'Orléans
    06 2 hours

    Île d'Orléans

    île d'Orléans

    Île d'Orléans is a large island in the Saint Lawrence River, located downstream from Québec City. The island measures approximately 34 kilometres in length and 8 kilometres at its widest point.

    • Must see
    • Activity
  7. Fortifications of Quebec Fortifications of Quebec
    07 2 hours

    Fortifications 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
  8. Dufferin Terrace Dufferin Terrace
    08 2 hours

    Dufferin 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
  9. Place Royale Place Royale
    09 2 hours

    Place 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
  10. Morrin Centre Morrin Centre
    10 2 hours

    Morrin 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. Musée de l'Amérique francophone Musée de l'Amérique francophone
    11 2 hours

    Musée de l'Amérique francophone

    The Musée de l'Amérique francophone is a history museum located within the Séminaire de Québec complex in Quebec City. It interprets the history of French-speaking populations across North America.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  12. Musée de la Place-Royale Musée de la Place-Royale
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Musée de la Place-Royale

    Musée de la place Royale

    Musée de la place Royale is a historic-place museum in the Québec City visitor region. The editorial ranking identifies this exact production record among ten highest-priority publishable POIs.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  13. Artillery Park National Historic Site Artillery Park National Historic Site
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Artillery 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
  14. Plains of Abraham Museum Plains of Abraham Museum
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Plains of Abraham Museum

    Musée des plaines d'Abraham

    Musée des plaines d'Abraham is a battlefield interpretation museum in the Québec City visitor region. The editorial ranking identifies this exact production record among ten highest-priority publishable POIs.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  15. Musée des Ursulines Musée des Ursulines
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Musée des Ursulines

    The Musée des Ursulines de Québec occupies a historic convent founded in 1639 by the Ursuline order, making it one of North America's oldest institutions of women's education.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  16. Le musée du Monastère des Augustines Le musée du Monastère des Augustines
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Le musée du Monastère des Augustines

    The Monastère des Augustines is a heritage site in Quebec City rooted in the history of the Augustinian Sisters, who established the first hospital on the continent north of Mexico in 1645.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  17. Aquarium du Québec Aquarium du Québec
    17 1 hr 30 min

    Aquarium du Québec

    Aquarium du Québec is a public aquarium and family attraction in the Québec City visitor region. The editorial ranking identifies this exact production record among ten highest-priority publishable POIs.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  18. village vacance valcartier village vacance valcartier
    18 2 hours

    village 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
  19. Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site

    Lieu historique national Cartier-Brébeuf

    Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site is a Parks Canada-administered place on the Saint-Charles River in Québec City. It commemorates Jacques Cartier's 1535-1536 wintering at Stadacona and the later Jesuit mission established by Jean de Brébeuf and companions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  20. Maison Alphonse-Desjardins Maison Alphonse-Desjardins
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Maison 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
  21. Chateau St. Louis
    21 1 hr 30 min

    Chateau St. Louis

    Lieu historique national des Forts-et-Châteaux-Saint-Louis

    • Must see
    • Museum
  43. Bora Parc
    43 1 hr 30 min

    Bora Parc

    • Notable
    • Family attraction
  44. Parc d'eau
    44 1 hr 30 min

    Parc d'eau

    • Notable
    • Family attraction

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

Nearby districts and related places

Nearby places

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.