Quebec City travel guide
Canada
A walled French-speaking city on a cliff above the St Lawrence, with stone houses, steep stairways and cafés on every corner. It is small enough to walk end to end, and it feels different in every season.
Essentials
- Language
- French; English is understood in most shops and hotels in the old town
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD)
- Plugs
- Type A and B, 120 V
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: around 15-20% at restaurants and bars, and around 10-15% for taxis.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $60-90, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $150-230, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Quebec City
- Vieux-Québec: the walled upper town and the Petit-Champlain lanes below, best explored early before the tour groups.
- Saint-Roch: a revived lower-town district of bistros, microbreweries and independent shops.
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste: a lived-in hillside neighbourhood just outside the walls, with grocers, bars and cheaper places to eat.
Getting around Quebec City
The old town is best on foot, with the funicular or the Breakneck Stairs linking upper and lower town. RTC buses cover the rest of the city, and the ferry to Lévis crosses the river in about 12 minutes.
Best time to visit Quebec City
June to September for long, mild days, or February for the Winter Carnival if you can handle deep cold.
Top things to do in Quebec City
- Walk the Dufferin Terrace boardwalk beside the Château Frontenac, then follow the city walls around the upper town
- Spend an afternoon on the Plains of Abraham, the battlefield park on the cliffs above the river
- Wander the Quartier Petit-Champlain and the Place Royale in the lower town
- Visit the Musée de la civilisation for exhibitions on Quebec history and culture
- Climb to the Citadelle, the star-shaped fortress still used by the Canadian army, for a guided tour
What to eat in Quebec City
- Poutine: chips topped with cheese curds and hot gravy
- Tourtière: a spiced meat pie traditionally eaten around the winter holidays
- Tarte au sucre: a rich sugar pie made with brown sugar or maple syrup
- Tire d'érable: hot maple syrup poured on snow and rolled up on a stick as taffy
Day trips from Quebec City
- Montmorency Falls: a waterfall taller than Niagara with a suspension bridge and stairway, about 15 minutes by road
- Île d'Orléans: farms, orchards, cideries and roadside stands on an island in the river, about 20 minutes by road
- Charlevoix: hills, art galleries and river views around Baie-Saint-Paul, about 90 minutes by road
Local etiquette
Open with 'bonjour' before switching to English; staff will usually switch for you, and starting in French is noticed. Quebecers are proud of their language and identity, so avoid treating the province as just another part of English Canada.
Staying connected
Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs from the Canadian carriers are easy to buy, though often pricier than elsewhere, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés and accommodation.
Staying safe
Crime against visitors is low, but the steep streets and stairways turn icy in winter, so bring shoes or boots with real grip. Dress for wind chill from December to March, when temperatures well below freezing are normal.
A local tip
Take the ferry to Lévis and back at dusk for the best view of the Château Frontenac and the old town walls.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Quebec City on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Quebec City for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Quebec City, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Quebec City
- What currency is used in Quebec City?
- Quebec City uses the Canadian dollar (CAD).
- What is the emergency number in Quebec City?
- In Quebec City, call 911.
- When is the best time to visit Quebec City?
- June to September for long, mild days, or February for the Winter Carnival if you can handle deep cold.
- How much does a day in Quebec City cost?
- Roughly $60-90 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $150-230 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Quebec City?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Quebec City without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.