Quebec City, Slowly: Cobblestones, Cafés and a City Wall

Quebec City is best enjoyed on foot and without a schedule. Inside its stone walls, every narrow street seems to lead to a café, a staircase or a view over the St. Lawrence River.

Upper Town and the walls

Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only walled city north of Mexico. Walk a section of the fortifications, then stroll the Dufferin Terrace beneath the towers of the Château Frontenac for wide views across the river.

Lower Town and Petit-Champlain

Take the funicular or the aptly named Breakneck Stairs down to the Petit-Champlain district, a cluster of boutiques, galleries and bistros. Place Royale, nearby, is where French settlement in the city began in the early 1600s.

Beyond the walls

Just outside the city, Montmorency Falls drops higher than Niagara, and Île d’Orléans offers farm stands, cider and maple products along a quiet loop road.

When to go

• Summer brings festivals and terrace dining.
• Winter brings the famous Winter Carnival and a fairy-tale layer of snow.
• Autumn colours the countryside around the city.

A little French goes a long way

French is the main language here. Most people in the tourist areas speak English too, but a simple “bonjour” and “merci” are always appreciated.

Plan it with Canusa

Every trip we arrange is built around your dates, your group and your pace. Tell us when you would like to travel and what you hope to see, and we will send you a tailored itinerary and quote.

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