8 Things you Must Do in Québec City

If you are looking to travel to Europe but don’t have the time or money, I have a suggestion for you: head to Québec City. This 400+-year-old city is a little slice of Europe and it’s just 100 miles north of the US border. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Québec City is surrounded by fortified walls, the only city north of Mexico to have that distinction. And with world-class museums, tons of shopping, haute cuisine, and fun events all year long (yes, even in winter when temperatures regularly hit negative numbers) there is something for everyone in this beautiful place. Here are just eight things you must do in Québec City. 

1. Visit (or, better yet, stay at) The Château Frontenac

Arguably Québec City’s most famous landmark, The Château Frontenac is the most photographed hotel in the world. Whether you’re just stopping by for a tour of the Château or staying for the night, it’s well worth a visit! This château-style hotel was built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company in 1893. In 2001 Legacy REIT, which is partially owned by Fairmont, purchased the hotel and it was renamed the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in November 2001. While things have definitely changed since the transition (including a new butler service for guests), it is still somewhere you definitely want to walk through during your visit. You can also dine at one of the hotel’s many restaurants, shop in their boutiques, or take a guided tour!

2. Take a Walk along Terrasse Dufferin 

I will not lie. It was not until I was researching links for this article that I found out that the wooden sidewalk next to the Château Frontenac was called Terrasse Dufferin. We always just called it the Boardwalk! This is one of the most popular areas of the city due to its stunning views of the St. Lawrence River as well as the talented street performers you’ll find entertaining audiences from dawn until way past dusk. It’s also the perfect place to grab photos of  the Château Frontenac. In the winter, you can go tobogganing down Les glissades de la Terrasse Dufferin which has been providing families with lots of fun since 1884. I know it’s one of my favorite winter activities!

Opened to the public in 1838, Terrasse Dufferin was originally the site of the Forts-et-Châteaux-Saint-Louis (Fort Louis), built by Samuel de Champain, the founder of Québec City. Over the past few years, archaeologists have been working beneath the boardwalk to reveal the ruins of the Fort and you can now go down into the site and see what they’ve found. It’s also where you grab the Funicular to ride in style down to the lower city.

3. Ride the Funicular to the top to enjoy fantastic views of Old Québec  

What you may not know about Old Québec City is that it is split into two levels, the  Basse-Ville (Lower City) and Haute-Ville ( Upper City). To get from one to the other there is the famous Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Steps), or you can take the Funicular. The Funicular is a direct link between Dufferin Terrace and the Quartier Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale and the Old Port. I consider this to be one of my favorite things to do while in Québec. The glass enclosure gives you unobstructed views of the St. Lawrence River and Lower City as you travel the 282’ feet up and down the side of the hill. 

From the Lower City you board the Funicular from the Louis Jolliet House (and yes, Louis Jolliet, the French Canadian explorer who discovered the Mississippi River actually lived there). The upper level entrance is on Dufferin Terrace near the Château Frontenac. I would suggest doing both the stairs and the Funicular during your trip, unless you have mobility issues.

4. Shop the Quartier Petit Champlain

Once down in the Lower City, the first thing you’ll see is the busy Quartier Petit Champlain.  It is the  oldest shopping district in North America. Here, boutique and souvenir shops and cozy cafes spill out of historic houses. There are fur shops, leather ateliers, stationery boutiques, chocolatiers, and many other shops so you cannot go wrong here. As for a bite to eat, my favorite bistro is Sous le Fort. And though it has been a while since I’ve been back, I bet if you ask for Katherine and tell her that one of the Andrews girls sent you, she will know who you’re talking about.

My favorite meal is the warm brie cheese, rum, maple syrup and pecans appetizer, followed by roasted mushroom ravioli with wild mushroom sauce, finished off with their maple syrup cake topped with fresh cream. Seriously, wear loose clothing because you are not going to want to leave behind a crumb. It’s just that good.

5. Shop and Worship at the Place Royale

In this picturesque square in the Lower City you’ll find two gastropubs, an adorable grocery store, jewelry ateliers and one of the prettiest little churches you’ll ever see. Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is built atop the ruins of Champlain’s first outpost. Dedicated to St. Genevieve, this stone edifice dates back to 1688 and was  rebuilt in 1763 after the Siege of Quebec. Place Royale is also one of the hubs of Les Fêtes de Nouvelle France, celebrated yearly in August. 

6. Say a Prayer at Notre Dame de Québec

Back in the Upper City, you’ll find Notre-Dame de Québec. Built in 1647, it was given the name Notre-Dame de la Paix. In 1664, it became the first parochial church north of Mexico. When the Québec City Diocese was constituted in 1674, it became the Cathedral of its first Bishop, Saint François de Laval (many places are named after Laval, including Laval University). Two hundred years later, Pope Pius IX declared it a basilica, that is a church privileged because of the important number of pilgrimages it draws. I’ve been lucky enough to make many pilgrimages to this beautiful house of worship. Pro Tip: On Sunday mornings make sure you head over to this area and you’ll hear the bells chime across the city. You’ll feel like you’re in Europe – I promise!

7. Have your Portrait done at Artist’s Alley

​​In the Upper City of Old Québec, artists exhibit and sell their watercolors, engravings, paintings and reproductions along Rue du Trésor, a side street resembling an open-air art gallery. As kids, we called it Painter’s Alley but it’s actually called Artist’s Alley. You can also find a portrait artist and sit for your very own portrait. I have had mine done three times – once when I was 7, then 12, and then when I was in my early 20s. Next time I visit, I’ll have Arielle’s portrait done. The artists are very accommodating and will even work from a picture.

I suggest heading down early to survey the artists’ work and find one with a style you like. Some work in black and white charcoal, others in color, some do both. What is great about that is there is no drying time. Just be sure to keep it protected in your travels. Prices do vary depending on the artist and if you do have them work from life (in other words, you sit for the portrait) make sure you plan for at least an hour or two from your day. 

8. Enjoy Maple Flavored EVERYTHING

Canada is famous for its maple, and not just syrup. If you like maple you will definitely want to try maple wine, maple syrup cake (Sous le Fort’s is the best), crepes with maple syrup from Le Petit Château, or a Beavertail with maple butter. You can also, of course, bring home maple syrup, maple butter, maple sugar, and maple tea which they sell all over the city. Yum!

So, have I convinced you that you must visit  Québec City yet? This little slice of Europe is the perfect place for a long weekend, or make a road trip out of it and hit Montmorency Falls, Baie-Saint-Paul, Île d’Orléans, Jacques-Cartier National Park, and Montreal while you’re in  Québec Province! If you have any questions, please DM me!