Stand on the ramparts of the Old Town in Quebec City and the Saint Lawrence River narrows below you, which is exactly what the Algonquin name Québec describes. The province is Canada's only Francophone-majority one, and that shapes everything from the street life of Montreal to the festivals that fill the calendar year after year.
This guide suits travellers who want a mix of old-city walking, big-city culture and time outdoors, whether that means a waterfall east of Quebec City, a whale-watching cruise on the St. Lawrence, or a day on skis in the Laurentians. It covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, with practical notes on when to go and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in Quebec
1. Old Town, Quebec City
The narrow streets of Quebec City's Old Town evoke the old cities of Europe and are filled with history and romance. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Quebec City is one of only two cities in North America with its original city walls.
Give it at least a full day on foot, since the sights sit close together. If you are in the city in early August, the SAQ New France Festival fills the heart of Old Quebec with artistic events, so plan your walking around it.
2. Montreal
Montreal is the province's energetic metropolis, with lovely street life, great restaurants, festivals and parties year-round. It is the counterweight to Quebec City's older, slower rhythm.
Time a visit around a festival if you can. The Montreal International Jazz Festival runs from the end of June to the beginning of July with over 500 concerts, 350 of them free outdoors, and the Just For Laughs Festival follows in July.
3. Montmorency Falls
Montmorency Falls is a natural waterfall east of Quebec City, and it is taller than Niagara Falls. It is one of the easiest big natural sights to reach from the capital.
From the end of July to the beginning of August, the Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition takes place at the falls, so an evening visit in that window combines the waterfall with the show.
4. Whale watching from Tadoussac, Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski
Quebec offers a variety of cruises, whether for whale watching, travelling the St. Lawrence River or touring the waterways. Good points from which to see whales include Tadoussac, Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski near the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
These three are the named departure points, so pick one and build the day around the water rather than trying to combine several. Wildlife observation is possible in many of the province's untouched regions, some of which extend to the Atlantic Ocean.
5. Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ)
The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in Quebec City holds a great collection, primarily of art by Quebecers from the 1600s to contemporary art. Quebec has over 400 museums exploring the history of North America's largest francophone community and of the other peoples who inhabit the province.
Pair it with a walk in the Old Town, since both are in Quebec City. If you are also visiting Montreal, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has an extensive collection of its own.
6. Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Québec
Quebec used to be a deeply religious place, and this is reflected in its built heritage. The Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Québec is one of the named examples, alongside St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal and the many cathedrals and parish churches found in the province's cities and towns.
Treat the churches as a theme rather than single stops: once you have seen one, you will notice the same heritage in towns across the province.
7. Montreal Botanical Garden and the Insectarium
Quebec has several important gardens worth visiting, among them the Montreal Botanical Garden and the Insectarium. They sit in the same city, so they combine naturally into one outing.
If gardens interest you, the International Flora festival lets you visit gardens on the festival site itself from the end of June to the beginning of September.
8. Jardins de Metis/Reford Gardens
The Jardins de Metis, also known as the Reford Gardens, are an internationally renowned centre for garden art and design between Rimouski and Matane. The setting makes them a natural stop on a Gaspé-bound route.
Because they lie between Rimouski and Matane, they pair well with the whale-watching waters near Rimouski.
9. Percé Rock and the Gaspé Peninsula
Further east, at the time of the Gaspé Peninsula, Percé Rock is a remarkable natural formation. It anchors the eastern end of a province-wide trip.
The international garden festival in Gaspésie is another reason to linger in the region rather than passing through.
10. Skiing in the Laurentian Mountains and the Eastern Townships
Skiing is big in Quebec, and much of the province is mountainous. Popular ski areas include the Laurentian Mountains north of Montréal and sites near Magog in the Eastern Townships.
Quebec holds its own against neighbouring Vermont in this regard, and Ottawans often head north to Camp Fortune or beyond for downhill slopes. Winter is the season to plan around.
11. Quebec City Winter Carnival
The Quebec City Winter Carnival is the biggest winter carnival in the world. It typically starts on the last Friday of January or the first Friday of February and continues for 17 days.
If you are visiting in winter, build your Quebec City stay around it, and keep the Old Town walks for daylight hours.
12. Quebec City Summer Festival
For 40 years, the Quebec City Summer Festival has presented hundreds of artists from around the world on ten sites around the capital, all easily accessible on foot. It begins in July.
Because the sites are walkable, you can combine festival evenings with daytime sightseeing in the Old Town and at the MNBAQ.
13. La Ronde and the Old Ports of Montreal and Quebec City
Quebec's theme parks include La Ronde, the Old Port of Montreal and the Old Port of Quebec City. They suit families and anyone wanting a lighter day between heavier sightseeing.
La Ronde also hosts L'International des Feux Loto-Québec, with shows of 30 minutes every Wednesday and Saturday evening from the end of June to the end of July.
14. Village Québécois d'Antan and Granby Zoo
The Village Québécois d'Antan in Drummondville is a pioneer village living museum, and Granby Zoo is another of the province's theme parks. Both work well as stops rather than destinations in themselves.
In the Lac St. Jean region you will find a zoo at St. Félicien and the tourist ghost town of Val-Jalbert, if your route runs that way.
15. Cycling the Route Verte
Quebec is a great place for cycling, and the Route Verte network spans 5,300 km through 382 communities. In some regions, the paths of former railway lines have been transformed into cycle or nature trails.
Rail-trails are the gentlest option if you want distance without traffic. The Montréal Bike Fest, at the end of May to the beginning of June, includes the Tour de l'île de Montréal.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in the Old Town of Quebec City, walking the narrow streets and the original city walls while the day is fresh. Add the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Québec and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ), both in the city.
Afternoon: Head east of the city to Montmorency Falls, which is taller than Niagara Falls. If you are visiting from the end of July to the beginning of August, stay into the evening for the Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition at the falls.
Evening: Return to the Old Town. If your visit falls in early August, the SAQ New France Festival fills the heart of Old Quebec with artistic events; if it falls in July, the Quebec City Summer Festival presents hundreds of artists on ten walkable sites around the capital.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see whales in Quebec?
Whale-watching cruises run from Tadoussac, Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski near the Gulf of St. Lawrence. These are the named points from which to see whales, so choose one as your base for the day.
What can I do in Quebec City in winter?
The Quebec City Winter Carnival is the biggest winter carnival in the world, typically starting on the last Friday of January or the first Friday of February and running for 17 days. Skiing is also big in the province, with popular areas in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montréal and near Magog in the Eastern Townships.
Are there gardens worth visiting outside the cities?
Yes. The Jardins de Metis, also called the Reford Gardens, are an internationally renowned centre for garden art and design between Rimouski and Matane. The international garden festival in Gaspésie is another garden attraction in the east.
Is cycling practical for a visitor?
The Route Verte network spans 5,300 km through 382 communities, and in some regions former railway lines have been turned into cycle or nature trails. That makes point-to-point riding on rail-trails the simplest option.
Pick your season first, then build the trip around the places above, and start planning with the festivals and routes that fit your dates.