11 Wonderful Things to Do in Quebec City, Canada

Nestled inside looming stone fortifications is Old Quebec, a quaint city that’s rich in history, filled with delicious food, and home to some truly gorgeous architecture. There are countless wonderful things to do in Quebec City, and I’m sharing eleven of them below, from dining on sunny terraces to visiting museums, relaxing in lovely parks, and exploring stunning historic streets. This city is perfect for families, friends, solo travelers, and everyone in between, and it’s gorgeous all year round, so be sure to keep it in mind for your next trip!

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1. Explore the Upper and Lower Towns

Old Quebec is divided into the Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and the Lower Town (Basse-Ville). The Upper Town is a bit bigger with more modern stores and restaurants (and some big hills). It’s still very quaint and picturesque, especially around the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and Montmorency Park! You’ll find tons of cafes, restaurants, clothing stores, and lovely building facades in the Upper Town, so be sure to explore before heading down to Basse-Ville.

The lower part of Old Quebec is a bit more compact than the Upper Town, filled with winding cobblestone streets, well-established local restaurants, and small boutiques. You’ll have access to the St. Lawrence River and the Old Port, wonderful views across the river, and some stunning views of the Château from below! The entirety of Old Quebec is truly gorgeous and rich in history (it’s actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site!). I totally recommend just wandering the streets without a plan for a while to appreciate the area fully.

2. Visit the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Looming over the Lower Town from above is the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. It’s a site that’s definitely worth a visit when you’re in Quebec City (and one that’s also hard to miss). While a stay here will run you at least $600+ per night (and weekends can enter the thousands!), it’s still a gorgeous sight to view for free from the Dufferin Terrace. The hotel has a number of dining options as well, so you can pop in for a nice meal while you’re in town, too. Even if you don’t go inside at all, this building is likely the most impressive thing you’ll see in Old Quebec, especially if you walk down to the lower town to get a view from below!

3. Ride the Funiculaire

If you want to skip the stairs (and in Old Quebec, there are plenty), take a ride on the funicular that connects the upper and lower towns! A one-way ride costs about $7 and it’s a quick trip, but it’s honestly worth it just to say you did it. The funicular originally opened in 1879, so it’s a really cool piece of history to experience in the city!

4. Visit a Museum

Quebec City has a plethora of museums to visit, ranging from war and civilization museums to monasteries and art installations! Some of the most popular include the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the Museum of Civilization, the Citadelle of Québec, and The Plains of Abraham Museum. Exploring one of Quebec City’s many museums is the perfect rainy day activity to learn some of the city’s history and view some local art.

Art Museums & Galleries: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Art Inuit Brousseau-Brousseau

Historical Museums & Forts: Museum of Civilization, Plains of Abraham Museum, Citadelle of Québec, Naval Museum of Québec

Art Installations: Câlins, Cement Eclipses

5. Dine on a Terrace

I have it on good authority (from many a local Facebook group) that the majority of locals in Quebec City frequent the “touristy” restaurants as their everyday spots, too, so I felt pretty good about just wandering the streets and popping into wherever caught my eye. Luckily, there’s no shortage of great restaurants with cute outdoor seating areas to choose from in Old Quebec! Some of my favorites were right on Rue Saint-Jean, close to where my accommodation was: Sapristi serves incredible Italian-inspired dishes at surprisingly reasonable prices for being right in the center of the touristy areas, and Bistro Hortus has a really great brunch! No matter where you go, if it’s a nice day, you’re in for some good food and great people watching.

Restaurant Recs: Sapristi, Cochon Dingue, Bistro Hortus

6. Explore the Joan of Arc Garden & Plains of Abraham

The Joan of Arc Garden is a lovely section of the Plains of Abraham inside Battlefields Park, featuring a large bronze statue of Joan of Arc and some really pretty flowerbeds and landscaping. It’s a beautiful area to walk around and relax in, and it’s a great gateway to the rest of the Plains of Abraham! There’s a great lookout spot if you walk from the garden down toward the St. Lawrence River until you reach one of the Martello Towers. There are also plenty of paved pathways to wander down throughout the Plains if you want to spend some time relaxing and meandering through the park.

7. Relax in a Park

Speaking of parks, Quebec City has plenty around the city to spend some time in! My personal favorite was Montmorency Park, which is right on the hill between the upper and lower towns. It’s the perfect spot to take a breather after walking back up the hill, to people watch with a snack or a book, or to get some nice views of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, the river, and parts of the lower town. No matter where you go in the city, though, you’re never far from some quiet green space, so soak it up wherever you go!

8. Go Shopping on Rue du Petit Champlain

Pretty much universally known as the prettiest street in Old Quebec, you’ll definitely need to make a stop here when you reach the lower part of the old town. The view from “Breakneck Steps”, or Escalie Casse-Cou, is lovely even when packed with tourists. From there, just wander down the main shop-lined street finding fudge and clothing and cafes and souvenirs! You’ll be right in the heart of Old Quebec, so make sure to explore the whole Lower Town as well! There are SO many gorgeous side streets, little pockets of shops, and beautiful buildings to find.

9. Explore Outside the Old Town

There’s much more to Quebec City than just the Old Town! Be sure to explore outside the city’s fortifications and wander through some different neighborhoods — you’ll find plenty of great shops, restaurants, and scenery. One of my favorite areas is Saint-Jean-Baptiste, just outside the city walls. It’s filled with awesome bookstores, great restaurants and cafes, and the area is a bit younger and edgier than the Old Town with a much more local feel. There are so many other areas to explore, though, from Montcalm to Saint-Roch, all the way down to Sainte-Foy and more!

10. Get Drinks in a Rotating Rooftop Bar

If you want a memorable dining experience outside of the Old Town walls, head over to Ciel! Bistro-Bar and grab some dinner and drinks in their rotating rooftop bar! It’s located on the top floor of the Hôtel Le Concorde, right across from the Joan of Arc Garden section of the Plains of Abraham. Our server literally gasped in delight when I ordered my cocktail; I got the “Cassiopeia”, which was floral and a bit fruity, made with white rum, Chambord, Galliano, vanilla, and lime juice. It looked and tasted just as good as it sounds!

As mentioned, the whole top floor rotates (very slowly), so you’ll get amazing panoramic views of Quebec City while you dine — you can still see really well even if you aren’t seated directly at the windows, and during golden hour, the scenery is truly spectacular! A full dinner here could get a bit pricey but won’t fully break the bank, so definitely keep this spot in mind if you want to get a nice dinner in the city.

Drink Recs: Cassiopeia cocktail

11. Grab a Sweet Treat

There’s not much better than walking around a gorgeous city like Old Quebec with a sweet treat to end your day, and luckily there are more than enough spots to choose from. Some personal favorites of mine were COWS, which serves delicious ice cream made with fresh berries from Prince Edward Island, and Mary’s Popcorn, where you can get the most delicious Quebec-style popcorn mix! They make it with cheddar cheeses and maple syrup instead of caramel, and it’s SO good. You can also find a few Beaver Tails locations around the city if you want to try a quintessential Canadian treat!

Dessert Recs: COWS ice cream, Boutique Mary’s Popcorn, Beaver Tails (Queues de Castor)