Quebec; a wonderful city
Geographically, Quebec City is located practically in the center of Quebec, nearly 250 km from the city of Montreal. However, in its Capital authority, Quebec City is the epicenter of Quebec cities.
This city is recognized for its undeniable charm with its Old Quebec and its many tourist attractions such as museums and exhibition spaces as well as magnificent parks and green spaces.
Quebec City is also one of the oldest cities in North America. UNESCO declared Old Quebec as World Heritage in 1985. This capital is also known for its famous events throughout the year.
The unique activities of the Capital
Quebec City is full of various activities to do with family, couples, friends or even alone! The city offers the possibility of making guided tours of the city, whether by red bus or under the gourmet theme, you can discover the charming city in the way you like!
If you like religious history, you will be served in the capital, since it has ancestral places that recall the history of people who lived in the city of different origins and different religions such as Catholics, Anglicans, and the other Protestants.
The most popular buildings are the Notre-Dame de Québec basilica-cathedral, the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré sanctuary. You can also visit the cemeteries of Quebec which are famous places in the religious history of Quebec.
If you are interested in the history of Aboriginal people in Quebec, you will be served with a complete immersion in the heart of the communities by visiting Old Wendake and the traditional site of the Hurons. You will also be able to see the Kabir Kouba waterfall and taste the delicious indigenous cuisine that will dazzle your taste buds and make you taste the Amerindian past.
If you are more of a thrill-seeker, you can let go of your madman with activities such as rafting or kayaking on the magnificent Jacques-Cartier River. In winter, skiing is very popular on Mont Sainte-Anne with its various slopes and its breathtaking mountain.
You can also go rock climbing summer and winter with rock climbing in secure conditions. If you feel that you need to take a quieter time, several spas can be found in the city and the surrounding area such as the Spa Infima located in the Sainte-Foy district, the spa at Château Mont Sainte-Anne at the foot of the mountain, the Amerispa la Bonne understanding spa and many other incredible relaxation areas to make you dream of.
Are you looking for a family activity? We offer a wide range of activities starting with the Quebec Aquarium which is a fascinating place, as much for children as adults with its more than 300 aquatic living species and water animals such as polar bears, walruses, and others.
There is also the popular Valcartier Vacation Village with the Bora Parc open year-round to delight the little ones. You can stay there for several days or just for a day, but as their slogan says so well: “One day is not enough!”
Several other amusement centers are available to entertain the whole family such as RécréOFun, Carie Factory, Imaginarium, iSaute, Méga Parc, Delirium Tagball, and many more!
Old Quebec and its tourist charms
Old Quebec is a unique place to visit more than once in your life. This world heritage is worthy of European decor with its stamp of more than 400 years of history.
You can stroll through the Petit Champlain district, the Old Port, Place-Royale, the Plains of Abraham, Parliament Hill, Saint-Jean Street, and the Dufferin Terrace. Take out your wallet since shopping is a must in its small pedestrian streets full of charm and unique and attractive boutiques. You will not be able to resist it.
On the Dufferin terrace, you can have a panoramic view of the Saint-Laurent river as well as the famous Champlain castle, which is full of history. In winter, do not forget to go for a slide on the terraces, notice sensitive hearts, this slide gives strong sensations since we can reach speeds up to 70 km / h! Attach your tuque!
Between the castle and the Cathedral Basilica, you will find astonishing small artisan streets with exhibitors of all kinds that will amaze you for sure.
Between the Dufferin terrace and rue du Petit-Champlain is the Casse-Cou staircase, the city’s oldest staircase. Its name comes from the fact that it is on a steep slope and that it is easy to fall if you do not pay attention or you walk!
You can also take the funicular, accessible by Maison Louis-Jolliet if you are less of a daredevil type. You will have a breathtaking view of the St. Lawrence River and the Petit-Champlain district.
When is the best time to visit the Capital?
Each season brings its share of charm in Quebec City. There is no season better than another depending on your seasonal preference! Here are the different activities available to you during the four seasons of the Quebec year:
Summer
Old Quebec is particularly busy with pedestrians who admire the splendid views while stopping to savor the microbrewery beers that adorn the small cobbled streets of the Old Port.
If you are less of a city activity style, you can always go take a deep breath of air at Île d’Orléans, at Montmorency Falls, or even go and enjoy the magnificent landscapes offered by Jacques National Park. Cartier.
If you like crowds, don’t miss being in Quebec City during the summer season where several great artists perform on the Plains of Abraham at the Festival d’été de Québec.
The Transat Québec Saint-Malo is a popular crew that travels the whole ocean. They do this amazing practice every 4 years and they depart from Quebec city and go to Saint-Malo, France. There was 10 event of this so far in 2020. The first time they did that, is in 1984.
Autumn
At the end of September, the beginning of October, don’t stay locked up at home, but rather go out to see nature exploded in color. Take the same route you did in the summer, but watch how nature is preparing to change solstice with undisputed charm.
It’s time to go hiking in the Jacques-Cartier park with more than 100 km of breathtaking trails. However, avoid weekends as much as possible, since traffic is rather important. Montmorency Falls is definitely the place to be in the fall since you will be breathless in front of so much magnificence.
The colors are wild and you can go there for the whole family since its trails are suitable for everyone.
Winter
Despite what one might think, winter is a strong season for tourism in Quebec City with its thousand and one enchanting activities. There are obviously winter classics, such as skiing, snowboarding that you can do on the slopes of Mont Sainte-Anne or you can also stroll in the festive atmosphere of the German Christmas Market during the holidays.
From January, you can enjoy the Quebec Carnival, brimming with interesting activities and suitable for the whole family, and you can finally rest in the famous ice hotel and take photos to impress your loved ones for sure.
If you don’t like the cold temperatures that Quebec offers during the winter more than that, you can also escape to the Bora Parc in the Village Vacances Valcartier, with its water slides that will cheer up more than one.
Spring
The revival of nature, the snow that gives way to colors and a little warmth. This begins the sugar season, awaited by the sweet beaks. Do not miss the most charming sugar shacks in Quebec City and its surroundings such as the Érablière du lac Beauport, the relay of pines, the érablière the Chemin du Roy, and many others that will delight your taste buds taste.
It is also the season of the Québec Exquis festival, which brings together several local restaurants. You will be able to discover the specialties of the surroundings. And while you feast, you can admire the gardens of fresh flowers throughout the beautiful capital. In addition, during the snowmelt, Montmorency Falls and Sainte-Anne canyon offer breathtaking views!
How long does it take to visit the capital?
To really appreciate the whole tourist route that Quebec City has to offer, 3 nights and 4 days is the ideal number of times to see all the main tourist attractions such as Château Frontenac, Place Dufferin, the citadel and the Parliament, rue St-Jean and rue du Trésor, Petit Champlain and Old Quebec as a whole.
However, it is possible for you to visit the Capital in just a few hours and see the main attractions, but you will be hungry and think only of one thing: return to visit the beautiful city of Quebec.
In a completely different way of visiting the city, it is possible to stay for several weeks in the capital and never be bored by going there with tourist attractions more in nature such as by going to visit the Indian reserves or the Montmorency falls and other beautiful places in nature in the vicinity of the city.
In conclusion, whether you go there for a single day or for a week, you will be charmed by Quebec City and its surroundings. You will then understand why UNESCO has sacred Old Quebec as a world heritage and that all the tourists who visit Quebec cannot help but come to contemplate the beautiful capital.
Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I’ve been writing articles for more than 10 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I’m currently writing for many websites and newspaper. All my ideas come from my very active lifestyle. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. You can contact me on our contact page or by email at: info@sind.ca.