Fun Things to Do in Quebec City in a Weekend

Quebec City is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada — and one of the most underrated weekend destinations in North America. It’s compact enough to explore on foot (mostly) and with its European-style buildings and French-speaking locals just different enough from anywhere else in Canada to feel like a genuine escape. A weekend trip is the perfect amount of time if you plan it right. So if you’re trying to choose your hotel, or figure out what two days in Quebec City actually looks like — this itinerary is for you.

I ended up in Quebec City for work and convinced a friend to fly in and make a proper weekend of it. We’d both been as kids but this was our first adult visit, so it really felt like we were seeing it for the first time. We wanted to experience as much as possible with enough down time to relax — I think we did pretty well and even got a spa visit in.

This post will cover where we stayed and how we got around Old Quebec City, the best art museums and attractions we saw, where to eat (including tips for vegetarians), and all the little stops in between — from drinks at the iconic Fairmont Chateau to a late-night poutine run. On y va!

Disclosure: My blog contains links from Affiliate programmes. At no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase from these links, I earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting my work and the site.

Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Quebec City

• The city is built on a hill. Pack comfortable shoes, and budget for taxis, transit and even the funicular.
• French is the local language. Yes, most people in the tourism industry (hotels, restaurants etc) speak some English. But learning at least bonjour (hi), s’il vous plaît (please) and merci (thanks) will go a long way to getting good service. Don’t be afraid to practise your school French here.
• Cuisine is very meat-centric. As a vegetarian I was shocked at how few choices I had at restaurants. And there weren’t really grocery stores in the Old City to pick up snacks either.
• If you are booking a tour, check what language it’s offered in. Most tours alternate between English and French guides.
• Best time to visit: Summer for outdoor festivals, Winter for the famous Carnaval — if you enjoy partying in the cold. Note that June 24 is their “fête nationale” holiday; then Canada Day is July 1. Expect high season rates and crowds.

Where to Stay in Quebec City

I actually stayed in two different hotels in Quebec City (one for business, and one with my friend). Both are mid-range in price, and convenient in location.

Hilton Quebec City $$
Convenient for the convention centre, rooftop pool with lounge chairs and excellent views, Hop-on Hop-off stop at the door. About 15 min walk to Old City. Check prices and reserve a room here.

Chateau Laurier $$
Great location on Grand Allée near restaurants/bars, good value, friendly service. Small indoor pool. Ask about the free transit pass for guests. (Note do not confuse this with the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, which is a 5-star Fairmont property.) Check prices and reserve a room here.

Fairmont Chateau Frontenac $$$
The luxury stay in the heart of Old Quebec. An iconic Quebec City landmark — even if you don’t stay here, have a drink at Bar 1608 or take a tour of the historic interior. Check prices and reserve a room here

Getting Around Quebec City

I mentioned it above but I cannot stress enough that Quebec City is small but hilly. Both my friend and I prefer to get around cities on foot, wandering around at our own pace. At some point though you don’t want to walk uphill back to your room at the end of the day. So we used Uber, taxis (stationed in front of many hotels) and the public transit system.

Our hotel Chateau Laurier gave us a free transit pass valid for the number of days we had booked with them. Ask at your hotel, it was very convenient to have.

Note that Quebec City hosts a lot of festivals in summer. Some streets can be blocked off, making taxi pick-up more challenging and bus detours confusing. Another reason to choose hotels over AirBnb so the staff can help you navigate.

To get back up from the bottom of the hill, you can take the Old Quebec Funicular. This historic railcar glides up at a 45-degree angle and you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the city. Goes both up and down, and costs $6 for one-way ticket.

Day One: Old Quebec, the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Evening Drinks

I like to start my trips in a new city with a tour. Whether that’s a free walking tour, a bike tour, or the hop-on-hop off buses. This gets me oriented to the major sites so I can decide where I want to go back, and what I can skip.

The Red Bus from Unitour loops around the main things to do in Quebec City. It’s a double-decker and the weather was good so I sat up top outside for the best views of the Plains of Abraham, Parliament, Dufferin Terrace and cute neighbourhoods I wouldn’t see otherwise. The guide doesn’t do live narration though, it’s an audio guide headset you can set to your preferred language. I made one hop-off, to Observatoire de la Capitale observatory. To be honest, you’re paying for an elevator ride to a panoramic view. Yes, it’s the highest viewpoint in Quebec City, but I only found it interesting for a few minutes.

Tip: get off at stop Convention Centre (Congress) to take photos with the I Heart Quebec sign.

Red Bus runs from April to October and the first stop is across from the Tourist Information booth opposite the Chateau Frontenac, which is where I hopped off to explore the Old City on foot. Buy advance tickets here.

Snack time! Skip the Tim Hortons and grab an authentic French pastry at one of the many cafes in this area.

Afternoon: Exploring Old Quebec on Foot

Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Quebec City dates from 1647 — the oldest church in Canada — and is a beauty inside and out, with stained glass, sculpted angels, gold leaf and a massive organ. We also saw a sign for tours of the underground crypt for $5, so of course we did that. Our guide was super chatty and gave us a lot of history of the parish and the church, and showed us to the sacred holy door – the only one in North America. (Read more about that here.)  16 Rue De Buade; open daily

Lunch was nearby in the Old City at the Don, Quebec City’s first vegan restaurant. As a vegetarian, I was delighted to have a prix fixe lunch, such a staple of French culture. Three courses including a delicious dessert for $22 is a deal. The interior has a cool bar vibe and there’s also an outdoor patio. (97 Rue du Sault-au-Matelot; open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner but closes between 2pm and 5pm.)

Wandering Old Quebec City’s cobblestone streets is really an essential thing to do in Quebec City. This is where you can see the colourful umbrella alleyway, and the photographic hot spot with the Chateau Frontenac above you. This area is really for tourists – with cafes, souvenir shops, artisan boutiques and the like. We were specifically searching for a fromagerie – to try some of Quebec’s famous local cheeses. Sadly, there were none here. Tragic!

We grabbed some to-go drinks to sit and enjoy people watching on Dufferin Terrace. You can walk up the crazy steps to get here or ride the Funicular. From this stop you can enjoy views of the St. Lawrence River, and local buskers. Remember this province birthed Cirque du Soleil — circus is popular and you are likely to see some fun acts up here.

Still in search of cheese, we headed towards Boulangerie Epi’Fanny (646 Rue Saint-Jean) which had good reviews, and this side quest also took us past some cool small shops and eateries and the city’s oldest cemetery. Always leave time in the schedule for detours, in my view. Got the award-winning French cheese and crackers to go a Girl Dinner in the hotel room and it was delicious.

Evening: Drinks at the Fairmont Château Frontenac

Drinks at the Chateau Frontenac Bar 1608 was high on my list of things to do in Quebec City. Because I know five-star hotels make excellent mocktails, and this particular bar sits on the edge of the Dufferin Terrace overlooking the walkway and the river. We put on our best dresses and sidled up for fancy drinks and exquisite bites. I would consider this a splurge for our mid-range budget, but the Chateau is such a Quebec City institution I feel like you should pay it a visit. It was a wonderful way to cap off our first day. Open daily, 4pm to midnight.

Tip: the fountain in front of the Parliament building (Fontaine de Tourny) is beautifully lit up at night.

Day Two: Art, Brunch & a Spa Day at Strøm

Our second day started with contemporary art at Musée national des beaux-arts, an easy bus ride from our hotel to the front door.

Quebec City’s major art museum, also called MNBAQ, is quite large, with more than 42,000 artworks over several floors so there’s a lot to look at.  I was keen on a specific (temporary) exhibit but we also checked out the permanent collection, including Inuit sculpture and decorative arts. I recommend viewing their collection of paintings by the late Jean Paul Riopelle, one of Quebec’s most significant 20^th century artists. Check out their current exhibitions here. (179 Grande Allée; open 10am to 5pm, closed Mondays

 
Brunch was at Au Petit Chalet, a popular chain restaurant across the street from our hotel on Grand Allee. As usual in Canada on the weekend, there was a line-up at brunch time but it was really worth the short wait. Eggs benny, French toast, potatoes…all the good stuff.

Regular readers of the blog know that I’m always in search of the world’s best spas. In Quebec City, that’s Strom Spa Nordique, so we set aside a half-day for self-care and sweat.

Strøm Spa Nordique is a short drive from the city centre; we took an Uber. Infinity pool overlooking the St Lawrence river. Multiple saunas and steam rooms. Bean bag chairs in front of cozy fireplaces. It’s a high-end experience that feels accessible and welcoming. And it has a lazy river feature that my friend and I did not want to leave. Thermal waters rates start at $69. Read my full review of the spa experience here. (515 Bd Champlain, Québec; open daily 9am to 10pm)

For our last dinner I wanted to eat at a restaurant I’d heard so much about: La Bûche. This is apparently the place to try authentic Quebec Cuisine, in a casual eatery decorated like a traditional sugar shack. I was excited for some proper poutine. Sadly, this was the least vegetarian-friendly place I’ve been to in a long time. Not only do they not offer a veggie poutine (which is super common in the rest of Canada, made with mushroom gravy) their classic poutine is made with veal. Gross. There were no entrees for me amongst the meat pies, duck, deer and other animal dishes. I think I ate fries. Yes, I should have checked the menu in advance, that’s on me. But if you’re the kind of person who salivates over something called “Piggy’s plate” — pork ribs, meat pie nuggets, maple-glazed pork loin and duck wings on poutine — you might love it. (49 Rue Saint-Louis, Québec)

The night ended with one of the best things to do in Quebec: a free outdoor music festival. Two actually. First we wandered over to a small heavy metal/alternative festival, and then coming back to crash found right in front of our hotel there was a major country music concert going on in the park. I did not buy one of the many cowboy hats on sale there, but I did get my late-night poutine from Poutineville.

Final Thoughts: Is Quebec City Worth a Weekend Trip?

Quebec City was a highlight of my summer. The city was a perfect spot for a weekend getaway with so much to choose from. With an extra day I would have added in a river boat cruise, a visit to nearby Indigenous community Wendake or real farmer’s market. (I would also plan smarter next time about the vegetarian eating options.) Good thing I intend to go back…

Read more: Unique things to do in Quebec City

Read more: Full review of the Strøm Spa