I am the tourist, and this is my guide to Quebec City. I don’t live in Quebec, so it will never be a local’s guide, but many of the things on my tourist lists are recommendations from locals. If I’m missing anything, please drop it in the comments and I’ll add it to the guide.
Dining
- Bello– Delicious Italian food, including pizza
- Arvi– Upscale Québecois menu
- Le Clocher Penché– Parisian-inspired dishes
- Champlain– Inside the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
- Maison Livernois– Sit at the bar and have one of their inventive cocktails
- Le Chic Shake– Poutine
- La Maison Smith– Local family-run cafe with delicious coffee and buttery, fluffy croissants
Things to Do
- Fairmont Le Château Frontenac– Iconic hotel, one of the most photographed hotels in the world
- Old Quebec– Take the funicular (if you aren’t terrified of them like I am) and wander the beautiful streets, browse the galleries and shops, and be sure to try the maple taffy
- Citadel– Nice walk up and around the citadel, with a great view of the Frontenac and the St Lawrence River
- Antoine de Saint Exupery’s house– Check out the blue plaque at the former home of the author of Le Petit Prince (one of my favorite books)
- Shop in the Quartier du Petit Champlain– The oldest street in Quebec, Petit Champlain is full of quaint shops
- Avenue Cartier Lampshades– These large lampshades take street lights to a whole new level. Each one is different and beautiful
- Richard Mille Clock– A one-of-a-kind clock made by one of the most expensive watchmakers
Nearby
- Montmorency Falls– A trip to Quebec isn’t complete without a trip to Montmorency Falls. There is a ton of things to do, from an easy boardwalk with a beautiful view of the falls to a cable car that will take you to the top
- Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine– This gorgeous church is one of the prettiest I’ve seen outside of Europe. The architecture is incredible, but the wall of crutches and other assistive devices left by people who were cured by a visit to St Anne’s is the real showstopper
- Fjord and whale watch tour on the St Lawrence- There are multiple tours available, and all seem to offer the same thing: a trip down the St Lawrence to the Saguenay fjords, with a good chance of seeing whales. I did one of these tours with my mom and grandma years ago and we saw belugas and minke whales
