A Visit to Quebec in the Winter (Guest Post)
While travel is on hold for most of us, we can still dream about the trips we plan to take one day. A great way to do that is to learn from others who have visited the destinations on our travel bucket list.
I haven’t been to Canada since I was a teenager, and frankly, I don’t remember much. Recently I’ve heard great things about Quebec City, and this destination has risen on my travel radar.
It may be a while until I get to Quebec myself, but I’m excited to share another blogger’s adventure in Quebec during the enchanting winter months.
Guest Post by Emma of Emma’s Roadmap
Hi there! I’m Emma! I grew up in Belgium, but last year I spent 4 full months living in Canada. I’ve always loved to travel. Living in Canada like a local was a wonderful experience, and therefore, I’ve started sharing all my tips and tricks about Canada with the world on my blog, Emma’s Roadmap!
Visiting the city of Quebec was on my bucket list even before I arrived in Canada.
On my first travel from Montréal to Kingston, I met a wonderful and talkative lady from Quebec who made me promise to visit the city before returning home.
So I did! And it was definitely worth the visit! I believe Quebec is the most European-like city you can find in North America and at the same time, it’s the most charming.
The perfect time to visit Quebec is around Christmas. The lovely decorations, the layer of snow and the cozy Christmas market make the city quite enchanting, like a fairytale.
But what exactly do you visit in Quebec? I did a lot of research before I went but I want to save you the work and give an overview of everything you need to see in this post!
Basse-ville
The old part of Quebec city is split by a cliff into a lower and higher level. The two parts are connected by a staircase and the Funiculaire (which costs 3.50 CAD one way).
For me, the lower village was the most romantic part of Quebec. If you intend to visit the city, please start in the Rue du Petit Champlain and walk all the way to the place royale. It is simply enchanting!
I arrived right before Christmas, it was snowing, the street was decorated with lights and there was a choir singing… It was perfect! If you go around Christmas you may even see Santa Claus!
Haute-ville
This is the upper part of Quebec, which gives you a magnificent view over the lower city and the Saint-Lawrence river. Here, you can find many coffee shops, the Notre-Dame de Québec, the castle, and much more.
Start your visit to the Haute Ville with a walk along the balcony and enjoy the view. In winter, you can see ice floating over the river!
Les Plaines d’Abraham
This is a public park on a plateau with a lot of history. A few centuries ago, the French and the British fought a war over the city of Quebec, which was eventually captured by the British.
Right now, it is a large park where you can enjoy a walk or hike. (Disclaimer: it can be very cold up there in winter!)
La musée de la civilization
If you want to know more about the history of Quebec, First Nations or any topic in general, this is the museum where you should be!
I recommend the expositions about the history of Canada and Quebec and the First Nations. They also set up other expositions related to our modern society. I, for example, visited the exposition about technology too.
The entrance fee for the Museum of Civilization is 11 CAD under 30, 17 CAD when you’re older. Children pay 6 CAD and they have a special rate for big families visiting.
Be sure to clear your schedule for the whole morning/afternoon, because it takes quite a bit of time to go through.
La musée National des Beaux-Arts de Québec
Another museum worth a visit is the Musée National des Beaux-Arts de Québec. Any art you can think of you’ll find here!
I strongly recommend going to the exposition of Inuit art since I believe this is a form of art that is simply beautiful in an atypical way. Furthermore, they have a lot of modern art but also an overview of historical art over the centuries.
General admission is 22 CAD (including taxes), but they have reductions for children (only 7 CAD), people under 30 (only 12 CAD) and seniors (20 CAD). They also provide special discounts for families!
The Augustinian Monastery
Since it was very cold to walk a whole day outside in Quebec I decided to visit the Augustinian Monastery.
It is not the kind of monastery you might think of. No, this monastery decided to do something completely different than any monastery in the world: it became a place to rest and relax in a modern way!
Besides guided tours of the monastery with a historical explanation of how the nuns used to live, they offer overnight stays, yoga, massages, good food, and more. Thus, if you didn’t already find a place to stay in Québec, I would certainly consider this option! Although not cheap, it’s a very stylish and pleasant place to stay!
General admission for a guided tour (they also provide self-guided tours) is 16 CAD (including taxes), but they also offer reductions for children, students and families.
The German Christmas Market
Every year around Christmas (around can be interpreted very broadly), you can find the European tradition of Christmas markets in Quebec. Although it started as a small happening, it is now quite a big event. Be prepared to walk around the different stands and taste local products or a hotdog with fondue!
The Notre-Dame de Québec
A city isn’t a real city without a cathedral, of course! I certainly recommend visiting this one, which is located next to the German Christmas market.
Thus, if you need to warm up a bit after your walk through the Christmas market, don’t hesitate to stop here. The inside is simply beautiful!
La boutique de Noël de Québec
If you want to stay in the Christmas vibe, go visit this store! You will find any Christmas decoration you may be looking for. And if you’re not looking for anything, just go inside and enjoy this little shop anyway!
The Parliament Building
Looking for a more educational experience in Quebec? Go visit the Parliament building! It is just outside the city walls but still within walking distance.
You can get guided as well as self-guided tours of the Parliament Building and Library or you can attend a parliamentary committee sitting if you’re really curious.
If you are walking to the Parliament Building from the old city, please notice the old city gates, which are quite monumental themselves.
The Fort Museum
A building you will definitely notice when visiting the upper city is the fort! This historic building is now partly a hotel, but there is also a museum. Do you like history and battlefields? Then you should definitely visit the Fort Museum!
General admission is 8,50 CAD (taxes included) but they offer reductions for students, groups, seniors and children.
The Citadelle of Quebec
If one museum about warfare in Quebec isn’t enough, don’t hesitate to visit the Citadelle! It is located between The Plaines d’Abraham and the upper village, and you can reach it on foot if you like a walk.
General admission is 18 CAD (taxes included). They also offer reductions for students, children, seniors and groups.
Wellness Strom Spa Nordique
Don’t just visit Quebec city for a cultural experience, spend some time relaxing as well.
There is a beautiful wellness spa a bit outside the city centre, right down the riverside. It is called Strom Spa Nordique and offers you everything from saunas to massages and delicious food.
This is the perfect place to be if you are in desperate need of relaxation and prefer a nice view! I certainly recommended doing this in winter when it is very cold.
You can experience the basic thermal experience for as little as 54 CAD (without taxes)! They have a wide range of other treatments, so if you’re interested, take a look at their website!
Airbnb Experiences
Last but not least I want to inform you about Airbnb Experiences. You might know their usual service of renting spare rooms, but people can now offer experiences as well.
You will most likely find photoshoots, hikes or even a Poutine class (which I took!) on the platform. It is the perfect way to enjoy Quebec while meeting a local citizen and other tourists!
Ready to visit Quebec?
I hope you enjoyed this information about Quebec and got some inspiration out of it! Quebec City is my favorite Canadian city, and I would love to go back someday!
Just a little warning: winter is a beautiful season to visit Quebec, but it’s really cold! Make sure you can handle the cold. If you can’t handle the cold I suggest that you visit the city in summer or pick another beautiful and interesting Canadian city such as Toronto or Montréal.
Thank you, Emma, for taking us on this virtual tour of Quebec.
I’m picturing myself in Quebec already!
Have you visited Quebec recently? Share your experience in the comments below.
If you are passionate about a destination and would like to discuss sharing a guest post with Traveling Tanya’s followers, send an email to travelingtanyashelburne@gmail.com. Let’s all share our love of travel!
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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