When you step into Quebec City, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a European city without the lengthy travel requirement to get to Europe.

How long to stay?

I have to say that Quebec is quite impressive in architecture style with a huge contrast to the impression I had of the rest of Canada. Quebec City has more of a smaller town feel to it and is pretty walkable. If you’re looking to get a good feeling of what Quebec City has to offer, an extended weekend is a good amount of time here. There are some day trips possible from the city, including to nearby Montreal. But I think odds are you’d be visiting here from Montreal more than the other way around.

Map of the area

One thing that’s nice as a tourist is never feeling like you’re lost. Over in Old Quebec is a handy map of the area that helps put things into perspective.

And while we’re talking about the area, please know that most signs are in French. That also holds true for the main language spoken. If you come in without knowing any French, you’re still OK getting around with just English. But I’d recommend you at least brush up on your street sign knowledge if you’re driving a car so that you know what to expect.

What we did

Old Quebec City

When you think of cute European towns, the style in Old Quebec City is what immediately comes to mind. You’ll find the city’s Gothic Revival architecture all over, which gives the city tons of charm. I spent a good hour just roaming the streets in sheer admiration of the atmosphere.

There are things to do here as well beyond just walking around. You’ll find horse-drawn carriages in the area, which might make for an easier journey. And by the eastern edge lies the funicular, which provides transportation between Old Quebec City and the port below. You don’t have to take the funicular to get between the areas, but at just $5CA, it offers a more intriguing method of travel.

The Citadelle of Québec

If you’re looking for a nice place to go on a stroll and learn about the area, the Citadelle of Québec is a good choice for you. The Citadelle once was a British fortress that overlooked the city. It played a role in the War of 1812 and actually remains an active garrison to this day. You can go on an official tour of the Citadelle and also visit the museum here for more information.

Alternatively, you don’t have to pay for admission to bask in its beauty and walk around the premises. Sometimes I like going on morning outdoor walks before things pick up later in the day. This is a nice place to do that walk and feel connected to nature. Apart from the stone walls, it’s very green here and you feel detached from the hustle and bustle of the Old Quebec City area–despite not being that far away from it.

The Plains of Abraham Museum

While you’re at the Citadelle, you can consider stopping by The Plains of Abraham Museum. The main topic you’ll find here are the battles from the 18th Century. You might think the interest is more geared towards Canadians, but the battles involve the British, French, and Americans. Unfortunately, when I showed up, it was close to closing time (5PM) and didn’t get a chance to stop in. But the next time we come here, we’ll be sure to stop in and take a look.

You’re going to find that there are plenty of museums in the area. Next time we’re in the vicinity, we’d love to visit more of them. So if the war-fueled history lessons aren’t for you, know that there are other options.

The Quebec Parliament Building

Walking through town, you’re sure to stumble upon the Parliament Building. There seems to be plenty of foot traffic in the area, with plenty looking to take pictures of the building (guilty, as charged) and just hanging out around the exterior. There are free guided and self-guided tours available from 8:30AM to 4:30PM Monday to Friday and 9:30AM to 4:30PM on Saturday (closed Sundays). Unfortunately due to the nature of what I was in town for, I didn’t have a chance to see the building during its hours of operation.

However, I did hear from others that it’s worth a visit and indeed we shall do it next time.

Seeing the Pope?

Certainly don’t expect this to happen on your visit, but we were blessed by a visit from none other than the Pope. Of course, he didn’t make any unplanned stops, and his car appeared to be going faster than what was allowed, but he was within arms’ reach! His car sped down the Grande Allée and this was the best shot I could get of him. Achievement unlocked.

Where we ate

Grande Allée (L’Atelier)

If you’re looking for a street that has plenty of dining options with outdoor patio areas, the Grande Allée is worth checking out. I found it easy to grab a quick to-go bite to eat and also for a true sit-down meal.

One restaurant I particularly enjoyed here was L’Atelier, which had some good tartare. I tried tartare at a couple of places here in Quebec City and I liked the tartare here the most. Not only was it fresh, but the flavor was a bit bolder and richer. The dish came with fries and a small salad. It’s a lighter fare for lunch, but that was perfectly fine for me.

Graffiti

If you are willing to walk a bit further away from all the action of Old Quebec is Graffiti. The food here is pretty good, with a nice blend of French and Italian flavors. In fact, I’d say that blend of food is what would make me consider coming back here. They’ve done a great job at showcasing food that can take you on a tour of Europe, just as I feel embodies the spirit of the city.

As alluded to above, the tartare (beef this time) didn’t have as refined a taste, but the rest of the food was delicious. I’d recommend grabbing a reservation if you intend on coming here as it seemed decently popular.

Chez Victor (St. Paul location)

A burger restaurant chain, Chez Victor isn’t necessarily just limited to burgers. I stopped in the and decided to try anything but burgers. I ordered a salad, poutine, and chocolate cake. I’ll admit right up front that I am still in search of the best poutine, but I did enjoy the topping choices and the blend of flavors here. I’d certainly be open to it again. The side Caesar salad, then, was really just an attempt at balancing out the meal slightly in a more healthy direction. Of course, that all went south when I got the chocolate cake.

If you’re looking for a casual meal, it’s not a bad place to go check out.

Where we stayed

Hôtel Château Laurier

The Château Laurier was a rather interesting hotel. The price of the hotel is reasonably affordable, without many frills but that works for the price range. It’s also in a good location, right next to one end of the Grande Allée and just outside the boundary of Old Quebec.

However, the hotel wasn’t as polished as hoped, with a rather confusing room layout that caught me off-guard. It’s not a good sign when the hotel has a rather large map in the center of the hallway that attempts to direct you to your room. On top of that, service wasn’t the best here, but again that can likely come with the price range.

In total, it’s not a bad place to come stay at, but I also don’t have a strong desire to return to this particular property. But, if you’re out and about most of the day and you get the confusing floor layout figured out, you’ll be fine here.

See our full post on the hotel for more details on the property.

Have you explored Quebec City yet?