When I first visited Québec City in 2013, I fell in love.
After a couple of short getaways here, the city lured me in with its European-style architecture, French-speaking locals and laid-back vibe – so I rented my first apartment in 2014. As an anglophone who does not speak French well, Québec City, while a part of Canada, felt foreign to me. In other words, it was an ideal destination for a full-time traveler who was unsure about living in Canada again.
It is not just the architecture and language that make Québec feel different. Québecois use the 24-hour clock, while the rest of the country uses 12. When looking at prices, they often use a comma instead of a period to separate dollars and cents. Québec swear words are religiously based, and if you hear someone say “tabarnak!” they are dropping the f-bomb.
Intrigued yet? Read on to learn more essential tips and information as you plan your visit to Québec City.
Naturellement! But seriously…Québec City and Montréal are very different cities, ones that complement each other nicely. Where the latter is edgy and cosmopolitan, the former is relaxed and comforting. Both cities have a thriving food scene, and a love for the outdoors. And they’re only three hours apart by train.
Finding accommodations in Québec City is generally easy, but if you’re planning to visit during one of the popular festivals (Festival d’été de Québec in summer and Carnaval de Québec in winter) or during the Christmas break, book at least six months in advance. The longer you wait, the more expensive the rooms will be – and sometimes every room in and near Vieux Québec gets completely booked, making last-minute trips during these peak periods a challenge.
There is a lot to see and experience here, and I’d recommend spending at least three days. Explore Vieux Québec on the first day, then branch out to such other neighborhoods as St-Roch and Montcalm on the second day. On the third day, consider a day trip to Île d’Orléans or Wendake.
For many years, the only way to travel from the airport to downtown Québec City was by taxi, at a price of CA$35. Thankfully, a cheaper bus service is now available, at CA$7 (US$5.20) per ticket. Two bus lines, 76 and 80, travel to the airport; take the line 80 and transfer to line 1 at Gare Fluviale to get to downtown Québec City.
In Vieux Québec, metered street parking can be found on a handful of streets, but spots are in high demand. Though there will be a machine nearby to pay for the space, save yourself time and download the Copilote app on your phone: after you’ve added your credit card, you can pay for parking by entering the four-digit number on the blue tag by your space. Street parking spaces are usually available for two to five hours; note that
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