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The Château Frontenac above the old town in autumn, Quebec City
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Quebec CityTravel Guide

Canada4 stories

The walled capital of French Canada — a UNESCO-listed old town of 17th-century streets crowned by the Château Frontenac, with a proudly hearty Québécois table.

Is Quebec City right for you?

When to come

Summer, plus the winter carnival

Around 25°C by day in July, -7°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

It depends where you stand. There is a cheap version and an expensive one — the guides below say which is which.

What we've planned, and who for

We have a full day here planned hour by hour. Longer stays are covered by subject rather than by route.

Quebec City is inA proper winter
When to go
January: around -7 degrees by day, -17 at night, 87 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
February: around -5 degrees by day, -16 at night, 66 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation. We recommend this month.
March: around 0 degrees by day, -9 at night, 78 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation.
April: around 8 degrees by day, -1 at night, 94 millimetres of rain, wet.
May: around 18 degrees by day, 6 at night, 92 millimetres of rain, wet.
June: around 23 degrees by day, 11 at night, 115 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
July: around 25 degrees by day, 14 at night, 119 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
August: around 24 degrees by day, 13 at night, 109 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
September: around 19 degrees by day, 8 at night, 111 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
October: around 11 degrees by day, 2 at night, 116 millimetres of rain, wet.
November: around 4 degrees by day, -4 at night, 91 millimetres of rain, wet.
December: around -3 degrees by day, -11 at night, 96 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Summer, plus the winter carnival

Average daily highs, recorded at Sainte-Foy, Quebec City (Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport).

Where this comes from

Environment and Climate Change Canada (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Quebec_City_weatherbox) — The Quebec City article has no inline weather box - it transcludes {{Quebec City weatherbox}}; data taken from that template.

Budget level

Mixed

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
Plan itWhere to stay in Quebec Cityad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Quebec City

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Quebec City

Aerial view of the Chateau Frontenac and the Dufferin Terrace above the St. Lawrence in Quebec City at sunrise
01
The List

Quebec City for the Culture-Hungry: Its History and Art, Ranked

North America's most European city packs four centuries of drama inside its walls. These are the museums, monuments and quarters that tell the story best.

Canada · 2 min
The stone ramparts of Old Quebec running down toward a gold and blue sunset over the distant hills, a single person sitting on top of the wall.
02
Itineraries

Dawn to Midnight in Quebec City: One Perfect Day

Sunrise on Dufferin Terrace, lunch in the Lower Town, ramparts by afternoon and lantern-lit lanes after dark — the walled city, done properly in a day.

Canada · 2 min
Twilight on the stone-paved pedestrian lane of Petit-Champlain in Old Quebec's Lower Town, shopfronts lit, a carved wooden figure and a woodcarver's sign hanging over the street.
03
Stays

Booking Quebec City: The Quarters Worth Your Nights (and the Ones to Pass On)

Inside the walls or outside? Clifftop or riverside? A frank guide to Quebec City's sleeping arrangements, from the castle on the hill to the districts you can skip.

Canada · 2 min
A takeout tray of poutine — fries topped with cheese curds and gravy — being eaten with a fork outdoors on a cobbled street
04
Food

What to Eat in Quebec City, Dish by Dish

Poutine, tourtière, maple taffy pulled from snow — the walled city eats like nowhere else in North America. A dish-led guide to Québécois cooking and where to find it.

Canada · 2 min
In pictures

Quebec City, framed

An Old Quebec street of stone houses and hanging shop signs in autumn, with the turrets of the Chateau Frontenac rising behind
Photo: Hannah Reding / Unsplash
Drink like a Québécois, Quebec City
Photo: Ziyao Xiong / Unsplash
Upper Town, Quebec City
Photo: Rich Martello / Unsplash
Bistro classics with a French accent, Quebec City
Photo: Nathalia Segato / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Quebec City

See and do

Eat and drink

Before you go

Practical essentials for Canada

Money

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Language

English and French; French is the working language in Montreal and Quebec City, where English is still widely understood.

Power

Type A/B, 120V 60Hz

Getting around

Each city has its own card - Presto in Toronto, Compass in Vancouver, OPUS in Montreal - and Toronto and Vancouver also let you tap a contactless bank card at the reader.

Tipping

Expected: 15-20% of the pre-tax bill in restaurants, and card terminals now routinely prompt 18% or more.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink.

Driving

Right-hand side; a licence in English or French is accepted for a short visit, otherwise carry an International Driving Permit alongside it.

Emergency

911

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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