The 10 essential things to do in Québec City

Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the historic heart of the city and the only fortified part of North America north of Mexico. Its cobbled streets, lined with old façades, connect Upper Town — crowned by the Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace, with its view over the St. Lawrence — to Lower Town and Place-Royale, the cradle of New France. You move between the ramparts and the Saint-Jean and Saint-Louis gates, and the quarter takes on a different feel in the evening, under the lights.

Opened in 1893 for the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Château Frontenac is Québec City's iconic hotel and one of the most photographed buildings in the country. Set on Cap Diamant, above Dufferin Terrace, it dominates the St. Lawrence with its French-château silhouette, green copper roofs and turrets.

It's a working hotel: you can freely approach its surroundings, the lobby and Dufferin Terrace, a long boardwalk with views over the river, Lévis and Île d'Orléans. In winter a traditional toboggan slide on the terrace is part of the scene.

In Lower Town, at the foot of Cap Diamant, the Petit-Champlain district is one of the oldest commercial areas in North America. Its cobbled lanes and old houses hold artisan shops, studios and restaurants. You climb to Upper Town via the Breakneck Stairs or the funicular, and Place-Royale, where the first French colony settled, opens up nearby. The quarter is especially lively and lit up in the evening.

Perched on Cap Diamant, at the highest point of Old Quebec, the Citadelle is a star-shaped fortress still in service: it houses the Royal 22e Régiment and an official residence of the Governor General. The guided tour of about an hour takes in ramparts, bastions and cannons, then gives access to the regimental museum. From the top of the walls, the view opens onto the St. Lawrence and the roofs of the old town.

In summer the parade square hosts the mounting of the guard: soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskins parade to the Musique en Rouge, with the mascot Batisse, a goat. The mounting of the guard, accompanied by the Musique en Rouge, takes place from 24 June to 30 August 2026 (except 1 and 3 July), Wednesday to Sunday at 10am, cancelled in case of rain; it is included in the ticket.

About twelve kilometres east of the city, Montmorency Falls plunges 83 metres into the St. Lawrence — some thirty metres higher than Niagara Falls. A suspension bridge spans the top of the cascade, a cable car links the bottom to the top of the site, and a staircase runs right alongside the falls. In winter, the frozen spray forms an ice "sugar loaf" at the base. The park also has trails and picnic areas.

At the heart of Upper Town, Notre-Dame-de-Québec Cathedral is the seat of the oldest Catholic diocese in the Americas north of Mexico. The first church was built in 1647 by French settlers; the neo-classical façade dates from 1843, but the interior was rebuilt after the fire of 1922. Inside, stained glass and religious works recall its significance; the cathedral also holds a crypt where governors of New France and bishops lie. Since 2013 it has had the first Holy Door outside Europe.

In the middle of the St. Lawrence, facing Montmorency Falls, Île d'Orléans is nicknamed the "Garden of Quebec" for its farmland: strawberries, apples, maple syrup, vineyards and cheese dairies. It's reached by a bridge from the north shore, and Route 368 loops around the island linking its villages, such as Sainte-Pétronille and Saint-Jean. It's a rural, foodie escape, best done by car.

West of the Citadelle, the Plains of Abraham form Québec City's great park, on the plateau where the 1759 battle between Wolfe's and Montcalm's troops decided the fate of New France. The Battlefields Park lines up lawns, wooded paths, the Martello tower and viewpoints over the river.

Locals run and picnic here and, in winter, ski or skate; it's also the stage for the big Festival d'été concerts in July. The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec borders the park.

The Samuel-De Champlain Promenade runs along the St. Lawrence for a few kilometres, southwest of the centre. Laid out as a riverside park, it alternates lawns, river viewpoints and contemporary installations, with separate paths for walkers and cyclists. It's one of locals' favourite spots to walk, run or cycle, especially at the end of the day when the light falls on the water.

Housed in the Séminaire de Québec, founded in 1663, the Museum of French America is the oldest museum in Canada: its collection began in 1806. It traces the history and spread of French culture across North America, through artworks, religious pieces and scientific collections. The setting — a heritage complex in the heart of Old Quebec — is part of the visit.