Canada

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Quebec City

Fortified French heart of North America

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Quebec City Plan a trip around Canada

Best time to visit: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Currency: CAD
Time zone: UTC-4
Country: Canada

Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0

Quebec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and one of the oldest European settlements in North America, founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Visitors come for the walled Old Quebec — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — its cliff-top views over the Saint Lawrence River, and its French-speaking culture.

Largest cities

Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Calgary
Ottawa

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Canada
Capital: Ottawa
City population: 574,482
Population of Canada: 37M
Country area: 9,984,670 km²
Official language: English and French
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD) · 1 USD ≈ 1.43 CAD
Time zone: UTC-4
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 51 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	-6°	-4°	2°	10°	18°	23°	25°	24°	20°	14°	4°	-2°
Low	-14°	-14°	-7°	0°	7°	13°	16°	15°	11°	6°	-2°	-11°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$73
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$155
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$345

Plan a trip to Quebec City

Top things to do

Free
Old Quebec Ramparts Walk
Walk the only surviving fortified city walls in the Americas north of Mexico, with views over the cliffs and the river; start near the Citadelle and follow the boardwalk.
- Half day
- Old Quebec (Upper Town / Haute-Ville)
- Good for kids
≈ $12
Citadelle of Quebec
An active military garrison and museum on the highest point of the city, with guided tours and changing-of-the-guard ceremonies in summer.
- Half day
- Old Quebec (Upper Town / Haute-Ville)
- Good for kids
Free
Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace
The landmark hotel towers over the boardwalk above the river; the terrace is free to stroll and especially good at sunset.
- Half day
- Old Quebec (Upper Town / Haute-Ville)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Petit-Champlain Quarter
A narrow pedestrian street of stone houses, shops and cafés at the foot of the cliff; reach it by the Breakneck Stairs or the funicular.
- Half day
- Old Quebec (Lower Town / Basse-Ville)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Place Royale
The square where Champlain founded the settlement in 1608, lined with restored 17th- and 18th-century buildings and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church.
- Half day
- Old Quebec (Lower Town / Basse-Ville)
- Good for kids
≈ $18
Musée de la civilisation
A modern museum in Saint-Roch covering Quebec and world cultures with strong interactive exhibits; a good rainy-day option.
- Half day
- Saint-Roch
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Plains of Abraham
The battlefield park where the British defeated the French in 1759, now a large green space for walking and picnics above the river.
- Half day
- Montcalm
- Good for kids
Free
Île d'Orléans day trip
Cross the bridge east of the city to a rural island of farms, cider makers and old villages; a car or bike makes the loop practical.
- Full day
- Old Quebec (Lower Town / Basse-Ville)
- Good for kids
≈ $8
Montmorency Falls day trip
A waterfall taller than Niagara a short drive or bus ride northeast of the city, with a cable car and a suspension bridge over the gorge.
- Full day
- Old Quebec (Lower Town / Basse-Ville)
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Most visitors need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter or transit through Canada; British citizens and many other nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 6 months but usually need an eTA if arriving by air. Land and sea arrivals from the US do not need an eTA, but must carry acceptable travel documents. Temporary Ebola-related border measures are in place for travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, and are in effect until August 29, 2026. Check the official Government of Canada page to see whether you need a visa or eTA before booking.

Official website

From the airport

Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) is about 20 minutes from downtown. RTC buses 76 and 80 run to the city roughly every 30 minutes, and a flat-fee taxi to downtown costs about CAD 35.

Getting around

Old Quebec is walkable, with staircases and a funicular linking Upper and Lower Town; RTC buses and the Lévis ferry cover the rest of the city.

Local tips

French is the official language; English is widely spoken in tourist areas, but a greeting in French is appreciated elsewhere.
Tipping about 15–20% is expected in restaurants and for taxis.
Winters are cold and snowy with wind chill; snow stays on the ground from late November to mid-April, so pack insulated boots and layers.
Summer is the busiest and priciest season; late spring and early autumn are quieter with mild weather.