Photo: Wilfredor · CC BY-SA 4.0
7 Days · in Quebec City
Seven Days in Quebec City: The Complete City Itinerary
A full week lets you experience Quebec City the way residents do, blending marquee sights with slower neighbourhood days. The first five days cover Old Quebec, the Citadelle and the Plains of Abraham, the creative Saint-Roch and Saint-Jean-Baptiste districts, a day trip to Montmorency Falls and Ile d'Orleans, and the ramparts and Old Port. Days six and seven then reach the markets and microbreweries of Limoilou, the Huron-Wendat culture of Wendake, the city's finest lookouts, and a farewell along the Terrasse Dufferin. You'll eat across the region's signature traditions, poutine, tourtiere, maple, and farm cheeses, and see its art, architecture, and green spaces. Each day stays geographically tight, so a week feels immersive rather than exhausting.
Day 01
Old Quebec, the Chateau & Lower Town
The Terrasse Dufferin, the cathedral, Petit Champlain, and Place Royale.
Morning
Terrasse Dufferin & Chateau Frontenac
Start on the Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk beneath the Chateau Frontenac before crowds gather, the perfect orientation to Old Quebec and the St. Lawrence.
Late Morning
Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Quebec
Step inside the oldest parish church in North America north of Mexico, admiring its gilded baldachin and Holy Door, steps from the boardwalk.
Lunch
Quartier Petit Champlain
Lunch along the cobbled Petit Champlain, one of North America's oldest commercial streets, moments from the funicular.
Afternoon
Place Royale & Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
Explore the birthplace of French America around Place Royale and its stone church, which dates to 1688.
Late Afternoon
Musee de la civilisation
Visit this riverside museum for its inventive exhibits on Quebec society and the First Peoples of the region.
Evening
Poutine dinner
Close with a plate of classic poutine, fresh curds and gravy, toasting your first day in the city.
Day 02
The Citadelle & the Plains of Abraham
A star fort, the battlefields park, the fine arts museum, and Grande Allee.
Morning
La Citadelle de Quebec
Tour the star-shaped fortress, still an active military base of the Royal 22e Regiment, and time the summer changing of the guard.
Late Morning
Plains of Abraham
Walk the Battlefields Park where the 1759 battle decided the fate of New France; arrive early for quiet paths.
Lunch
Grande Allee
Lunch along Grande Allee's terraces, the lively boulevard lined with cafes and bistros near the Parliament.
Afternoon
Musee national des beaux-arts du Quebec
Spend two hours with Quebec art from Jean-Paul Riopelle to the Brousseau Inuit collection across the museum's pavilions.
Late Afternoon
Hotel du Parlement
Take a free guided tour of the Parliament Building to see the National Assembly's ornate blue chamber.
Evening
Grande Allee dinner
Dine along Grande Allee, with options from French bistros to modern Quebecois tables.
Day 03
Saint-Roch & Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Design shops, gardens, historic grocers, and acclaimed independent dining.
Morning
Rue Saint-Joseph, Saint-Roch
Walk the revitalized rue Saint-Joseph in Saint-Roch, the city's creative and tech quarter, amid design shops and cafes.
Late Morning
Jardin Jean-Paul-L'Allier
Browse independent boutiques and pause in the Jardin Jean-Paul-L'Allier, a leafy green heart of the district.
Lunch
Saint-Roch bistro
Grab lunch at one of Saint-Roch's many well-loved bistros or neighbourhood microbreweries.
Afternoon
Rue Saint-Jean
Wander rue Saint-Jean into the Saint-Jean-Baptiste district, stopping at J.A. Moisan, one of the oldest grocers in North America.
Evening
Saint-Jean-Baptiste dinner
Dine among the independent restaurants lining rue Saint-Jean and Avenue Cartier.
Evening
Cocktail nightcap
End with a drink at a Saint-Roch cocktail bar and the area's laid-back creative energy.
Day 04
Montmorency Falls & Ile d'Orleans
A thundering waterfall, orchards and vineyards, and a farm-table dinner.
Morning
Chute Montmorency
Ride the cable car up the 83-metre Montmorency Falls, taller than Niagara, and cross the suspension bridge above the cascade.
Lunch
Ile d'Orleans
Cross to Ile d'Orleans and lunch at a farm table or cidery amid the island's orchards and vineyards.
Afternoon
Chemin Royal drive
Follow the Chemin Royal past heritage farms, chocolatiers, and blackcurrant producers around the rural island.
Late Afternoon
Sainte-Petronille
Stop in Sainte-Petronille for its vineyard and a sweeping view back toward the city and the falls.
Evening
Island dinner
Enjoy a farm-to-table dinner on the island before crossing the bridge back to the city.
Evening
Petit Champlain nightcap
End with a nightcap on a Petit Champlain terrace beneath the lit-up ramparts.
Day 05
The Ramparts, Old Port & River
Fortified walls, an art alley, a river cruise, and the marina.
Morning
Fortifications of Quebec
Walk the only fortified city walls north of Mexico, circling the ramparts past cannons and the Porte Saint-Louis.
Late Morning
Rue du Tresor
Browse the open-air art alley of rue du Tresor, where local painters sell prints and watercolours of the city.
Lunch
Old Port bistros
Lunch near the Old Port and Bassin Louise among casual bistros and terraces beside the water.
Afternoon
St. Lawrence river cruise
Take an AML cruise on the St. Lawrence for the finest views of Cap Diamant and the Chateau above the cliffs.
Late Afternoon
Naval Museum & Louise Basin
Visit the small Naval Museum of Quebec at Pointe-a-Carcy and walk the marina at the Louise Basin.
Evening
Rue Saint-Paul dinner
Dine along rue Saint-Paul, the Old Port's antique row lined with restaurants and wine bars.
Day 06
Limoilou & Wendake
A market hall, a friendly avenue, and Huron-Wendat culture.
Morning
Grand Marche de Quebec
Start at the Grand Marche at ExpoCite for regional producers, cheeses, and maple treats under one roof.
Late Morning
3e Avenue, Limoilou
Wander Limoilou's leafy 3e Avenue, a friendly grid of cafes, microbreweries, and independent shops.
Lunch
Limoilou bistro
Lunch at a Limoilou bistro or one of the neighbourhood's beloved microbreweries.
Afternoon
Musee huron-wendat, Wendake
Drive to Wendake, home of the Huron-Wendat Nation, and visit its museum of First Nations history and art.
Late Afternoon
Onhoua Chetek8e & Kabir Kouba
Tour the reconstructed traditional site, then see the Kabir Kouba waterfall and its gorge on the Saint-Charles River nearby.
Evening
La Traite dinner
Dine on Indigenous-inspired cuisine at La Traite before returning to town.
Day 07
Lookouts, Parks & Farewell
The city's highest view, a cliffside estate, and a final walk downtown.
Morning
Observatoire de la Capitale
Ride to the 31st-floor observatory atop the Marie-Guyart building for the highest view in Quebec City.
Late Morning
Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge
Stroll this historic estate garden and arboretum along the cliff above the St. Lawrence.
Lunch
Avenue Cartier
Lunch along Avenue Cartier's lively strip of cafes, delis, and eateries in the Montcalm district.
Afternoon
Terrasse Dufferin & Promenade des Gouverneurs
Return for a final walk on the Terrasse Dufferin and the cliffside Promenade des Gouverneurs toward the Citadelle.
Late Afternoon
Escalier Casse-Cou & Petit Champlain
Descend the Breakneck Stairs, the city's oldest stairway, for last-minute browsing in Petit Champlain.
Evening
Farewell dinner downtown
End the week with a favourite Quebecois meal, tourtiere, poutine, or a tasting menu, before departing.