Trip highlights
- 1Old Quebec walled city (UNESCO)
- 2Château Frontenac
- 3Montmorency Falls
- 4Petit Champlain
- 5Plains of Abraham
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
Language preparation
15 min/day for 8 weeks ≈ 672 useful words and phrases
Travelling to an English-speaking country?
If English isn't your first language, a few weeks of practice before you arrive builds real confidence — especially for asking directions, ordering in restaurants, and understanding regional accents.
Essential in Canada
- 1.Excuse me, could you help me? — Polite way to approach strangers
- 2.Could I have the bill/check please? — Restaurant (bill = UK, check = US)
- 3.Which platform/track for [destination]? — At train stations
- 4.Sorry, I didn't catch that — asking someone to repeat themselves
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Old Quebec Walls
Monday, August 2
Est. spend
$155
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport
A roughly 20-minute drive connects the airport to the historic old town.
Taxis use a fixed flat rate to most downtown destinations — confirm it before departing.
☀️ Afternoon
Old Quebec ramparts walk
Old Quebec ramparts
Walk the historic fortified walls encircling Old Quebec, the only remaining walled city in North America north of Mexico, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The full rampart walk takes about 4.6 km — comfortable shoes are essential on the uneven stone paths.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Old Quebec
Old Quebec
A cozy dinner of traditional Québécois cuisine in one of the old town's centuries-old stone buildings.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Canadian · $10
Old Quebec café lunch
Québécois · $16
Old Quebec dinner
Québécois · $42
Château Frontenac & Petit Champlain
Tuesday, August 3
Est. spend
$150
per person
🌅 Morning
Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace
Château Frontenac, Old Quebec
The grand castle-like hotel that dominates Quebec City's skyline, with the adjacent boardwalk terrace offering sweeping views over the St. Lawrence River.
Book the guided hotel history tour for access to areas not visible just from walking past.
☀️ Afternoon
Petit Champlain district
Petit Champlain, Old Quebec
North America's oldest commercial street, a steep, charming pedestrian lane of boutiques, chocolatiers, and maple product shops below the cliff.
Take the funicular down from Dufferin Terrace rather than the steep stairs if visiting at the end of a long day.
🌙 Evening
Dinner with river views
Lower Town, Old Quebec
A relaxed evening meal in the Lower Town, with several restaurants offering views toward the St. Lawrence River.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Canadian · $10
Petit Champlain crêperie lunch
French-Canadian · $16
Lower Town dinner
Québécois · $40
Montmorency Falls Day Trip
Wednesday, August 4
Est. spend
$170
per person
🌅 Morning
Montmorency Falls
Montmorency Falls, Quebec
A spectacular waterfall standing nearly 30 metres taller than Niagara Falls, just a short drive from downtown, with a cable car and suspension bridge crossing directly above the cascade.
The via ferrata and zipline options are an adrenaline-filled way to see the falls from a different angle if time allows.
☀️ Afternoon
Île d'Orléans wine and produce route
Île d'Orléans, Quebec
A pastoral island in the St. Lawrence River known for orchards, vineyards, and farm stands — a relaxed afternoon drive through Quebec's agricultural heartland.
Stop at a cidrerie for a tasting of Quebec ice cider, a local specialty dessert wine.
🌙 Evening
Return to Quebec City for dinner
Old Quebec
A relaxed dinner back in the old town after a scenic countryside day.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Canadian · $10
Île d'Orléans farm lunch
Québécois · $20
Old Quebec dinner
Québécois · $38
Plains of Abraham & Departure
Thursday, August 5
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Plains of Abraham
Plains of Abraham, Quebec City
The historic battlefield park where the 1759 battle decided the fate of New France, now a vast green space with museums and walking paths.
☀️ Afternoon
Final souvenir shopping in Old Quebec
Old Quebec
Pick up maple syrup, Inuit art, or local crafts before heading to the airport.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to YQB Airport
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport
Allow at least 2 hours before an international flight.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Canadian · $10
Old Quebec lunch
Québécois · $16
Airport food
International · $16
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
June-September offers warm, pleasant weather; the Winter Carnival (January-February) is a unique alternative for cold-weather travelers.
🛂 Visas
Most visa-exempt foreign nationals (including US citizens) can enter Canada with just a passport; other visa-exempt travelers flying in need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) arranged online before departure, while some nationalities require a full visitor visa.
💱 Currency
Canadian Dollar (CAD). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; tipping 15-18% at restaurants is standard.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 911
ambulance: 911
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Quebec City is overwhelmingly French-speaking, more so than Montreal — basic French phrases are very helpful and appreciated.
- The Old Quebec ramparts walk and Plains of Abraham are both free and offer some of the best historical context in the city.
- Book Château Frontenac's history tour if you want to see inside — the building remains an operating luxury hotel.
- Ice cider from Île d'Orléans is a uniquely Québécois product, made by freezing apples before pressing — a great take-home souvenir.
- Montmorency Falls is free to view from the base, with paid options (cable car, via ferrata) for closer or more adventurous access.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Quebec City, Canada without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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