The best things to do in Québec City for free

21.02.2024 - 00:49 / lonelyplanet.com

Québec City is known for its enchanting architecture and historic vibe – a French-Canadian city that feels European, with a side of deliciously gooey poutine.

Its vibrant culture is celebrated through festivals, monuments, walking tours and food. In spring, the city is full of children on class trips, who give way to throngs of travelers in summer, while cruise ships line the port until autumn.

Enjoying life is at the heart of Québec’s culture – and fortunately for visitors and locals, this means plenty of things to do throughout the year that don’t cost a dime. Read on for our picks for the best free things to do in Québec City. 

Steps away from the Porte St-Louis and stone defense walls of Old Québec is the largest park in Québec City, the Plains of Abraham (also known as the Battlefields Park). The site contains traces of the 1759 battle that ushered in British rule, including British Martello towers, a massive armory building, defensive walls and canons – reminders of this peaceful park’s violent past.

In the summer, the lawns are green and lush, with sections shaded by voluminous trees and small calming gardens filled with color. Its trails are ideal for walking, jogging or cycling. In winter, covered in snow and ice, the park becomes a popular place for locals to cross-country ski, snowshoe and ice skate. Quebecers love their outdoor exercise, no matter the time of year.

Planning tip: In July, half of Battlefields Park bumps and vibrates with live music performances during Festival d’été de Québec.

Bronze statues of historical figures watch over the grounds from the Hôtel du Parlement’s facade and along stone pathways, and small, fragrant gardens beckon visitors to wander and relax. Inside the building is where the Assemblée nationale du Québec does its work. The complimentary guided tour will lead you through key moments in Québec’s history. Wander down echoing halls and into grand assembly rooms where intricate architectural flourishes edge the walls and windows and delicate crystal chandeliers dangle from the ceiling. You don’t need to be a devoted politico to enjoy this piece of Québec’s past and present.

Come summertime in Québec City, a provocative public art event takes place all over town. Starting on the cobblestone streets of Petit-Champlain, stretching into the neighborhood of Old Port and winding its way into St-Roch is the annual presentation of Passages Insolites. While the art changes each year, the range of emotions experienced as you walk to each location is a constant. In previous years a larger-than-life inflated clown’s head was squeezed between two buildings. It was intriguing during the day and creepy at night. A monument for Mary Ann by Jean-Robert Drouillard, a tribute to a