How to spend 2 days in Quebec City, Canada

Last Updated on September 10, 2024

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My love for Europe is well documented, so I was thrilled to find a little piece of it close to home, without the 8-hour flight and a jet lag. Quebec City located just 400 miles north of Boston (a solid 8-hour drive nonstop), is a place where you feel like you stepped back in time. A combination of beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets and French spoken everywhere, almost has you fooled you are actually walking down the street in Europe. 2 days in Quebec City was enough to fall in love with this charming Canadian city.

Quebec City is an excellent weekend destination. Even though it’s the second biggest city in the province, most people come to visit Old Quebec (Vieux-Quebec), which is very compact. This is where most of the attractions are, and they are within a walking distance from each other.

2 days is long enough to cover all the city’s highlights at a nice pace. There are enough things to do in Quebec City to keep you busy, but the list of attractions is not so overwhelming, that you don’t have time to just wander around and soak in the atmosphere. And that was one of my favorite things about Quebec City.

About Quebec City

Quebec City is the capital city of the Canadian province Quebec. It’s the second largest city in Quebec, right after Montreal.

The old part of Quebec City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It’s the oldest French speaking community in North America. More than 95 % of people in Quebec speak French. No need to worry though, just like in Europe most people speak English as well.

Historic Quebec City has 2 parts: Upper (Haute-Ville) and Lesser Town (Basse-Ville). Both parts are equally beautiful and charming. You can get between the two by either walking very steep stairs or by riding the Funicular. The one-way ride on the funicular costs $5 CAD and it’s cash only!

Best time to visit Quebec City

I spent a weekend in Quebec City in late May, which was just the beginning of the season. The weather was quite nice, although not very hot yet, and things started getting busy in the city. Weatherwise, I’d say late spring to fall would be best time to visit. Summer is the peak season and Quebec City can get pretty crowded. Expect to pay premium price for accommodations during summer months.

Visiting Quebec City in the winter would not be my first choice, but if you don’t mind the cold, you might enjoy it. The city looks especially beautiful between Christmas and New Year’s, with all the decorations and snow. Quebec City is definitely a year-round destination, so as long as you don’t mind the cold, you can do pretty much anything from this list, even in the dead of winter.

2 days in Quebec City – best things to do

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

This iconic building, perched up on the hill overlooking the city, is the most photographed hotel in the world. Its castle like appearance is gracing Quebec City’s skyline. It comes as no surprise, that staying at Chateau Frontenac comes with a hefty price tag. Even if it’s not in your budget to stay there, you should still check it out. There are a couple of bars on the ground floor, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail. You do not need to be a hotel guest to enjoy a drink at the bar.

There is also a guided tour of Château Frontenac you book, where you can not only get a glimpse into the hotel’s interior, but also learn the history behind it. Might be a fun way to spend an hour or so.

Terrasse Dufferin

The large boardwalk running in front of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is Terrace Dufferin. It’s a great place for a stroll, people watching and catching some great views of St Lawrence River below. It comes alive especially in the summer with plenty of street performers and artists. When you spend 2 days in Quebec City, you will most likely end up walking down Terrasse Dufferin more than once.

The promenade is also where you can catch the Funicular, that takes you to the Lower Town.

In the winter, that very same spot turns into a giant icy slide, where you can hop on a tobbogan and go down at a speed up to 40 mph ( 70 km ). It’s one of the oldest attractions, dating back to 1884 and one of the top things to do in Quebec City in the winter.

Walk down Rue de Petit Champlain

This street along with the whole Petit Champlain neighborhood, is the most picturesque part of Quebec City. The charm of this 200 year old street is undeniable. There are many little boutiques, galleries and cafes on both sides. If you stand on top of the Breakneck Stairs, to get a nice view of the street. These stairs got their name from how steep they are, and are believed to be the city’s oldest stairs.

Visit Place Royale

Place Royale is a historic square located in the Lower Town and a must visit while exploring Old Quebec. This is where Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608. Walking through Place Royale is like stepping back in time. The small, cobblestone square is surrounded by plenty of historic buildings, that are a great combination of both French and British architecture. It’s one of the most picturesque parts of the city.

One of the highlights of Place Royale is Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, which is the oldest stone church in North America. It was built between 1687-1723 and later restored in 1816. The church is free to enter, so make sure to take a peak inside.

Place Royal is, among many other spots in Old Quebec, part of the 2 Hour Old Quebec Walking City Tour. If you’d like to learn about the history of the city and the sights, I highly recommend booking the tour. I’m a huge fan of walking tours, as they are usually led by very knowledgeable and enthusiastic locals. And Quebec City is the perfect place to explore by foot.

Check out the mural La Fresque des Quebecois

If you appreciate good street art, Quebec City has several great murals and the most impressive one is located just steps away from Place Royale. La Fresque des Quebecois is an impressive and large mural depicting 400 years of Quebec City history. It was completed in 1999 and quickly became one of the top tourist attractions.

Take the Quebec-Lévis Ferry

If you are looking for a cheap activity and some of the best views of the city, hop on the ferry from Old Quebec to Lévis, the town on the other side of Lawrence River. Getting across takes about 12 minutes. While the ferry is an everyday means of transportation for locals, it also became one of the popular things to do in Quebec City for tourists. All because of the amazing views of the city’s skyline you get from the water.

Quebec City – Lévis runs year-round and a one-way ticket costs just $4.05 CAD. The terminal is located in the Lower Town (Basse-Ville). The ferry runs every 30 minutes and there’s no need to pre-book the tickets. Simply walk into the Terminal and get your tickets on the spot.

If you take the ferry just for the views and want to head right back to Quebec City, you still need to disembark once you get to Lévis. Not really a big deal, but they do not let you stay on board even with the return ticket in hand.

Enjoy the view from Observatoire de la Capitale

If you’d like to see one of the best views of Quebec City, head over to the Observatory in the Marie-Guyart Building, which is the tallest building in the city. On the 31st floor, there’s an observation deck, that offers amazing, 360-degree views.

Windows are floor to ceiling, so you get unobstructed views all around. There are also plenty of wall displays and information about the buildings and what you are looking at.

The admission price is $14.75 CAD and at the moment, you have to reserve your tickets online prior to your visit. The Observation deck is open from Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm (closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly). You can book your timed tickets here.

Located at: 1037 Rue de la Chevrotière

Shop at J.A. Moisan

This is the oldest store still open not only in Quebec City, but in whole North America. It first opened its doors in 1871. It’s well stocked with variety of gourmet foods, with a great selection of cheeses, jams, spices and many imported items. Inside of the store is pretty quaint and quite charming, and it’s definitely worth stopping by, whether you buy something or not.

Located at 699 Rue Saint-Jean

Visit Montmorency Falls

As beautiful as downtown Quebec City is, I cannot encourage you enough to venture outside of the city and visit Montmorency Falls. It’s a huge and beautiful waterfall, that at 275 feet high, is actually higher than the more famous Niagara Falls. It’s located just 12 km outside of Quebec City, so it makes for a great and easy excursion. If you are getting to Quebec City by car, I recommend stopping at the falls either on the way in or out of the city.

Montmorency Falls is located within the park of the same name, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, and if you arrive by car, there are 2 parking lots to choose from. One is at the entrance to the Montmorency Falls Park on top level and another on the lower one. No matter which one you end up at, there is a cable car, that connects both levels. During the short cable car ride, you can enjoy some incredible panoramic views of the waterfall and the entire park. You can book your Montmorency Falls visit here, which includes the entrance fee, round trip cable ride and parking.

After you take the cable car to the lower level, there is a spacious area to walk around and get a great view of the waterfall. If you head all the way to the right, you will see a staircase on the side of the cliff, that leads all the way to the top. It’s a great way to get back to the top level, but there are 487 steps, so be ready for some serious exercise. You sure will be rewarded with amazing views of the Falls from different angles. As you make your way to the top, there are several gazebos along the way, where you can stop and take in the views. Also, you will be close to the gushing waters, so expect to get soaked. Once at the top, there is a suspension bridge connecting both sides, which lets you walk literally above the waterfall.

If you’d like a similar experience, but have no desire to climb up the 487 steps, you can start at the top level by walking across the suspension bridge, then climb down the staircase and take the cable car up back to the top.

For those feeling extra adventurous, you can also zipline across the falls. It’s a double line, so two people can do it simultaneously. Even though I haven’t personally done it, it sure sounds like a great way to experience Montmorency Falls.

Getting to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City by car is the easiest way, but if you are without one, don’t let that stop you from visiting. Here are a couple more way of getting there:

• Bus – take the local 800 bus from Gare-Palais/2562 towards Beauport (Est) and get off at Brideau stop. From there you are about a 10 minute walk to the Montmorency Falls Park ( Parc de la Chute-Montmorency ).

• Organized Tour – you can also visit Montmorency Falls as part of a Quebec City tour. After exploring Old Quebec’s main sites, the direct shuttle will take you straight to the Falls. You can book your Old Town and Montmorency Falls Tour here.

Where to stay in Quebec City

Le Château de Pierre – when looking for a place to spend 2 days in Quebec City, I wanted a boutique hotel in a central location and Le Château de Pierre was the perfect choice. It is located in the most picturesque part of Quebec City, on a quiet street, just steps away from all the attractions. If you get a room with a small balcony, you will have a view of Château Frontenac, which is just around the corner. Speaking of rooms: they are charming and comfortable, but some of them are on the smaller size, which is typical for an old building.

Auberge Place D’Armes – another charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms. The hotel is located in an old building and has no elevator, so that’s something to be aware of ( there are 3 floors ). Location couldn’t be better, as the B&B is right in the heart of Quebec City and within walking distance to everything. There’s no on site parking, but if you arrive by car, the hotel has spots at a nearby parking garage.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – this place needs no introduction. The beautiful Château Frontenac not only dominates the Quebec City’s skyline, but is also one of the best places to stay in the city. It’s a bit of a splurge, but you might you might be able to score a good deal, especially outside of a busy tourist season and mid week.

How to get to from the airport to the city center

Quebec City is home to Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB), which is located about 15 km (9 miles) outside of the city. There are several ways to get from the airport to the city.

• Taxi – as always, it’s the easiest, but most expensive way. Taxus from the airport have a set price of $41.40 during the day, and $47.60 at night (between 11 pm and 5 am). It’s about a 20-minute ride.
• Uber – Uber also operates in Quebec City, so that’s another option. Expect the prices to be similar to the taxi prices though.
• Bus – two bus lines run from the airport to downtown Quebec. Bus 76 connects the airport with bus and train stations in Sainte-Foy and bus 80 runs to Les Saules terminus. Both locations are in downtown Quebec, but you’ll have to take another bus that will take you to Old Quebec. A single fare is $4.

Things to know before you visit Quebec City, Canada

Currency – used in Quebec is the Canadian dollar.

Language – French is the official language in Quebec, and you will sure hear and see it everywhere. However, you do not need to speak fluent French and will get by just fine with English.

Parking – if you are arriving by car, your plan should be to park your car for the entire stay and explore the city on foot. Quebec City is pretty compact and very walkable and unless you are heading to Montmorency Falls, you will not need your car anyway. There are many public parking lots and garages you can use, and the average cost is between $18-25 per day. If your hotel doesn’t have parking, they will most likely recommend one close by.

READ MORE:

• One day in Ottawa – Top Sites in Canada’s Capital
• Top things to do in Niagara Falls, Canada
• A Weekend in Vancouver, Canada – Things to do in Vancouver for first time visitors
• 15 Fun things to do in Halifax, Nova Scotia

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