Quebec City Hotels

Quebec City Rundown

The compact, handsome capital of Canada’s la belle province seduces visitors from disparate angles. There is the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of course (Historic District of Old Québec), which has no parallel in North America outside of Mexico and the Caribbean. The heritage quarter of Vieux-Québec contains singular landmarks and architecture, the likes of which do not exist in the rest of Canada or the United States of America. Indelible icons like the Château Frontenac, Citadelle, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires and the Plains of Abraham make it eminently worthwhile to pound the pavement, or cobblestones in this case, for hours on end.

Dynamic culture is on hand in Quebec City as well, in the form of remarkable festivals like the legendary Winter Carnival and Summer Festival, both of which draw hundreds of thousands of revelers to the city. Paragon museums cover fine arts and history with aplomb and the sophistication of restaurants and boutique hotels in the city is second to none.

Outside the old capital, pastoral beauty calls from Île d'Orléans and other environs, while Montmorency Falls Park and area ski slopes provide terrific four seasons recreation. All in all within Canada, Quebec City is a wonderful and wholly exclusive bridge between old and new, traditional and modern, Europe and North America.

Quebec City’s Top 10

Quebec City Events

As the bona fide premier winter festival on the planet, the Carnaval de Québec is the most important event in the city.

Festival d'été de Québec proves that Quebec City can party it up in summer as well, with massive concerts on the Plains of Abraham.

Grand Théâtre de Québec hosts a slew of eclectic, cultural events throughout the seasons.

La Fête nationale du Québec or colloquially La Saint-Jean, is the de facto national holiday of the province, held every June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

Hockey is the provincial pastime of Quebec but in Quebec City, Université Laval Rouge et Or football rules. That is until the Nordiques make a return to the NHL.

Festival Celtique de Québec waves the flag of a vital Quebec City community every August and September.

Challenge Bell International de Québec brings top-flight WTA tennis action to the provincial capital every September.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec is a major event in the world of élite cyclists. Held in September.

Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition comes to Montmorency Falls every July/August.

L'International des musiques sacrées de Québec manages to re-invent and uncover fresh takes for liturgical and sacred music every September.

Two excellent ski resorts close to Quebec City include Mont-Sainte-Anne (45 minutes) and Le Massif (75-90 minutes).

When To Go

The most popular time to visit Quebec City is for Winter Carnival in February. Many international tourists, however, prefer to see the beautiful capital of Quebec in summer or fall, when cold, snow and ice do not stifle attempts to walk from one point to another.

The city is rather picturesque in winter however, so long as as you dress for it. Otherwise, the hemiboreal cum humid continental climate will make you pay.

From December to February temperatures run from 0°F (-17.5°C) to a “high” of 23.5°F (-5°C). The height of summer sees conditions warm up to a range of 56°F (13.5°C) to 77°F (25°C). Precipitation - close to 50 in (1,270 mm) a year - is somewhat evenly spread from month to month.

Getting Around

Quebec City is a popular side trip from Montreal, with Via Rail the most affordable, comfortable and convenient transport option for those who prefer not to negotiate the 155 miles (250 km) by car.

Alternatively, Jean Lesage International (2010 “best small airport in North America”) co-ordinates flights from Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and the likes of Philadelphia, Chicago, Newark and Washington, D.C.

While Quebec City lacks a robust commuter rail or subway system, the Réseau de transport de la Capitale operates a bus fleet that serves the metro area at large.