Quebec City Tourism - Travel to Quebec City
Quebec City (French: Québec) is the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Located at a commanding position on cliffs overlooking the St. Lawrence Seaway, Quebec City's Old Town is a United Nations World Heritage Site and the only walled city in North America.
| Table of contents |
Understand Quebec City Tourism
Quebec City fashions itself the "national capital" of Quebec. Much of the business here is of the administrative and bureaucratic nature, which would normally make the city quite dull. Fortunately, the city has a remarkable history, as the fortress capital of New France since the 16th century. Although the town's day-to-day life leaves things a little yawn-y at times, the vibrant historical center makes for an incredible visit.
Get into Quebec City
Travel to Quebec City By car
Quebec City is 2.5 hours by car from Montreal, taking either Highway 40 or 20 (north and south side of the St. Lawrence, respectively). Both drives are beautiful tours of Quebec's heartland.
Get around in Quebec City
If you stay in the Old Town, there's not much reason to do anything except travel on foot. There is a public transportation system, of course. Driving in the Old Town can be tricky, since the cobblestone streets were designed for narrow 17th-century horsecarts rather than 21st-century SUVs. Other parts of the city have the same heinous road state as other cities in Quebec.
See Quebec City
- Old Town.
- Chateau Frontenac.
- Dufferin Terrace.
- Musée de la civilisation, http://www.mcq.org/english/index.html, 418 643-2158.
- Musée de l'Amérique française.
- Place-Royale, historical site, http://www.mcq.org/place_royale/aaindex.html.
- Plains of Abraham Battlefield Park, 649-6157. http://www.ccbn-nbc.gc.ca/_en/
- Chutes de Quebec.
Do Quebec City
- Ferry to Lévis.
- Festival of New France, first weekend in August. http://www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca/english/
- Winter Carnival, city-wide, first week of February. A truly spectacular event, the Winter Carnival is a 100-year tradition in Quebec City. Each year, a giant ice palace is built in the Place Jacques-Cartier as the headquarters of the festivities, but there's activities all during the week. The International Ice Sculpture Competition sees teams from around the world build monumental sculptures. There are parades each night in different quarters of the city, and other winter-defying competitions including a canoe race across the St. Lawrence and a group snow bath. The festival's mascot, Bonhomme Carnaval, a sashed snowman, is the city's most famous logo. http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/
Buy
Quebec City's Old Town is riddled with shops for tourists. Watch for leather goods and various handmade crafts made by Canada's First Peoples.
External Links for Quebec City Tourism
