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Disclaimer: the prices in this article were valid in 2020 and may be subject to change.
The eastern Canadian city of Québec is one of the oldest cities in North America. Vieux-Québec (the old part of the city) was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1985, mainly because it’s the only walled city left in North America north of Mexico. This part of the city is very much worth a visit. If you only have one day to spend in the city, I recommend spending it in Vieux-Québec. Care to know the best way to spend your 24 hours in Québec’s historic district? Keep on reading!
Walk along the ramparts of Vieux-Québec
The ramparts of Québec are the only remaining fortified city walls north of Mexico and they’re a great place to start your exploration of the old city. It takes 4,6 kilometers to walk the entire way around Vieux-Québec, but I’d suggest you start at the Parc de l’Artillerie and head towards the Citadelle, meanwhile crossing three of the four surviving city gates along the way. You may want to come down from the ramparts for a bit to have a better look at these beautiful gates.
You can also take a 90-minute guided tour of the fortifications of Québec for $9,80 CAD if you’re interested. Tours start at the Frontenac Kiosk on the Dufferin Terrace.
Visit La Citadelle de Québec
The ramparts will automatically lead you to the Citadelle. Built on top of Cap Diamant, the highest natural point in Québec City, this star-shaped fortress is still in use today. It serves as the home of the Royal 22e Régiment and as the secondary official residence of the Governor General of Canada. Admission fee ($16 CAD) includes an hour-long guided tour of the Citadelle, access to the different museums and in summer, the Changing of the Guard and Beating of the Retreat ceremonies.
Take a detour to the Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham (les Plaines d’Abraham in French) are located just outside of the city walls so technically, this 98-hectare park is not part of Vieux-Québec, but it’s worth a quick detour. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham took place here on 13 September 1759 but today, the park is a great place to relax or to go for a walk.
Follow the Promenade des Gouverneurs all the way to Terrasse Dufferin
The Promenade des Gouverneurs is a wooden walkway that starts at the Plains of Abraham, very close to the Citadelle, and will lead you to the Terrasse Dufferin, a wooden terrace overlooking the Saint Lawrence River. The walkway will guide you along the wall of the Citadelle and provide you with stunning views of the river and the city of Lévis on the opposite bank.
For a lovely view of Vieux-Québec and the Saint-Lawrence River, walk up the ramp just after Les Glissades de la Terrasse, a slide that’s very popular in winter. Take the pathway immediately to your left and after a few steps, you’ll reach the Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace.
Admire Château Frontenac from Terrasse Dufferin
Terrasse Dufferin is the perfect place to admire Château Frontenac, also known as the world’s most photographed hotel. This beautiful castle-like hotel dominates the Québec skyline.
Walk the streets of Basse-Ville
Vieux-Québec is divided into upper town (Haute-Ville) and lower town (Basse-Ville). To get to the lower part of the city, continue walking along the Dufferin Terrace, past Château Frontenac and the statue of Samuel De Champlain, the founder of Québec, until you reach the stairs that will take you to Basse-Ville (right after the Frontenac Kiosk). Walk all the way to the bottom of the stairs, turn right and walk down a steep street with cute shops on your right. Just after a shop that’s called Boutique Mary’s Popcorn (where they sell really good popcorn by the way), take the flight of steps to your right, also known as the Breakneck Stairs, and you’ll end up in Quartier Petit Champlain. If this sounds a bit confusing, just remember to always take the path that goes downhill and you’ll end up right where you need to be.
With its cobblestone streets, historical architecture and many cute shops, restaurants and art galleries, Basse-Ville may feel like a small European Village. Some of its highlights include the Rue du Petit Champlain and Place Royal, where the city was founded in 1608. Can you find the two large murals of Québec’s lower town or its picturesque umbrella street?
After exploring the cosy but often crowded streets of Basse-Ville (you need to come here early if you want to beat the crowds!), make your way to the waterfront for a wonderful view of Château Frontenac towering above the lower town houses (check out the picture at the top of this page). Here, it is possible to take the ferry across the river to the city of Lévis for a stunning view of the Québec skyline. Tickets are $3,65 CAD one-way.
Take the funiculaire back to Haute-Ville
Of course you can always walk back up the stairs, but a really fun way to get back to the upper town and take in some beautiful vistas along the way, is riding the funicular. You can buy tickets for $3,50 CAD one-way in the building at the bottom of the Breakneck Stairs.
Explore the streets of Haute-Ville
If you still have some time and energy left, there’s a lot to discover in Vieux-Québec’s upper town as well, such as the Rue du Trésor, a small street where artists expose and sell their work, or the beautiful Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec.
If you’re interested in Québec’s military history, the Musée du Fort is also worth a visit. This museum tells the story of the different battles and sieges that took place in and around the city by using a diorama and a sound and light show (alternately in French and English). Tickets are $8,50 CAD, but you can get a 15% discount if you grab a bite at the Chic Shack restaurant that’s connected to the museum.
Try the classic Canadian dish poutine
Speaking of food, you can’t leave Québec without having tried their famous poutine. This heavy meal consists of french fries and cheese curds topped with gravy and is considered the national dish of the province of Québec. You should try it at least once.
Map
Here’s a map of Québec City to give you an idea where everything is located.
Good to know
- Best time to visit: This depends on what you want to see and do. In general, the best time to visit the city is between June and September, when the weather is at its best, but Québec City is beautiful any time of year. Autumn is the perfect time to admire the colourful fall foliage. In winter, Québec is transformed into a magical winter wonderland (how I’d love to spend Christmas here one day!), but beware: it gets extremely cold in the winter months, I’m talking snowstorms and everything. Spring is maple syrup season, the best time to enjoy tire sur la neige or tire d’érable, a sugar candy created by pouring molten maple syrup on snow.
- Language: French, although most people speak English as well. In museums and other tourist attractions, you can usually find the information in both languages. The locals really appreciate it if you make an effort though, so even if you don’t speak French, at least try to learn some basic words like “bonjour” (hello) or “merci” (thank you).
- Currency: Canadian Dollar
- Getting around: Vieux-Québec is very compact, making it extremely walkable.
- Gratuity: Canada has a strong tipping culture. In a Québec City restaurant a tip (in French: un pourboire) between 15 and 25% is considered appropriate and when you go out for a drink at a bar, tip $1 per drink. Also at your hotel, it’s custom to tip the housekeepers as well as the porter who carries your bags and the valet who parks you car. Even taxi drivers and hairdressers expect un pourboire.
