Everything You Need to Know To Plan Your Trip to Quebec City this Winter

Hands up if you’re in need of a mini (or not so mini) getaway right now! If you’re living through the dead of winter as well at the moment, I feel you. That need for adventure and a change of scenery is SO valid, and even short weekend trips away can be very restorative! If you’re a Montrealer or live in Quebec, one of the best weekend getaway spots is obviously a trip to Quebec City.

Take it from me, this place THRIVES in the winter and makes such a beautiful winter escape. This post will go through everything you need to know for the perfect winter getaway to Quebec City. You’ll find tourism details, where to stay, the best things to do and some super important packing essentials.

Allons-y!

What to know before you go

Getting There

• From Montreal: If you’re driving from Montreal, you can drive straight into Quebec City. Driving will take you about 3 hours. If you’re not planning on driving, you can also take the train with Via Rail from Montreal to Quebec City.
• Flying in: Quebec City does have an airport (Jean Lesage International Airport) that you can fly directly into if you’re coming from outside the province. To get to Old Quebec from the airport, it will take you about 30 minutes by car or an hour by public transit (with one connection).

Packing Essentials for Quebec City

• LAYERS – First and foremost, you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking in Quebec City. You’ll want to make sure you are bundled up during your trip! You’ll want to bring winter gear such as: a waterproof and warm jacket, winter boots (with grip), a hat, gloves, a scarf and plenty of warm sweaters and fleece-lined leggings. If you have cold hands like me, you’ll want to bring a few hand warmers to stick in your gloves!

• Extra socks – Trust me when I say extra socks have SAVED me on past trips, especially in the winter. Wet feet is not the energy we’re looking for this year (or ever). Make sure you bring more socks than you think you’ll need for your trip to Quebec City! You’ll thank me later 🙂

• A Portable phone charger – With all of the navigating and pictures you’ll be taking, your phone will likely run out of battery quick (especially in the cold). Having a portable phone charger on you is great backup. I love my Anker charger that I’ve had for a few years. It takes up virtually no room, and charges your phone battery to full!

See also: 11 Carry-On Essentials You Won’t Want To Forget To Pack

• Sustainable beauty products – This is one of the things I make sure to have packed whenever I travel. I always bring my shampoo and conditioner bars, my bamboo toothbrush, and a reusable Makeup Eraser. This way, I make sure I’m limiting waste wherever I can.

• Hand sanitizer and masks – I know this has probably become second nature for most of us, but do make sure you bring enough masks and hand sanitizer. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. My favourite face masks are these from Old Navy.

• My all time favourite hair styler – If you follow me on IG you know how much love I have for the Revlon One-Step Styler brush. I take this tool everywhere with me. Though it does take up room in your bag, it’s absolutely worth it in my opinion. No wet or frozen hair allowed here!

Where to Stay

Quebec City is chock full of nice places to stay, and for all budgets. Here are some options in central Old Quebec that are near the QC attractions for a charming and laid-back getaway!

1. Auberge Place d’Armes (pictured): This quaint hotel located in the heart of Old Quebec has 20 rooms, all decorated differently and named after a noted member of history. I stayed here this past January and it was the coziest place for a nice weekend getaway! Rooms run you from about $150 – $300 CAD a night.
2. Auberge Saint-Pierre: Located on Rue Saint-Pierre, Auberge Saint-Pierre is a charming and affordable hotel with beautiful details. The Standard room will run you $113 CAD per night while their Suites can be booked for roughly $200 CAD.
3. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac: If you’re looking for a ritzy stay during your next visit to QC, the Fairmont is the top place to do it! Rooms will run you about $350 – 500 CAD depending on the room but comes with all of the bells and whistles (gym, restaurants, spa, pool, etc).

Where To Eat

Though most of the restaurants were closed when I last went (thanks c-dawg), business are back and open and ready for your business! Here are some places to check out for good eats in QC.

1. Restaurants on Rue Saint-Jean: This street is the most poppin’ when it comes to restaurants, so you’re bound to find something to your taste! It is the most “touristy” street for eats, but the variety makes up for it.
2. Faite A L’Os for burgers, chicken dishes and poutine. They even have a veggie burger that was really tasty!
3. COWS Quebec for tasty ice cream, with a ton of different flavours to choose from. They also sell cute merch!
4. Chez Jules: The restaurant attached to Auberge Place d’Armes in the heart of Old Quebec. I didn’t get the chance to try it as it was closed when I visited, but it’s a charming french restaurant that I’d love to visit next time i’m in QC!
5. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac: The ritziest hotel in Quebec City houses three restaurants: Champlain Restaurant, Sam Bistro & Place Dufferin that all offer gourmet options if you’re in the mood to splurge.

What To Do

Apart from likely freezing your butt off, there are a lot of fun things to do in Quebec City, especially in the winter!

1. Explore Quartier Petit Champlain for the cutest buildings and local shops. It’s particularly lovely in the winter because it’s decorated for Christmas with lights and a cute cabin display!
2. Visit the Chateau Frontenac. Whether you book a guided tour of the premises or just have a walk by it outside, it’s a must-see in Quebec City for sure.
3. Walk along Dufferin Terrace to see expansive views of the St-Lawrence river.
4. If you go all the way to the end of the Terrace, you’ll find a Luge (Toboggan slide) that’s set up in the winter where you can rent an old school sled and sled down the ramp onto the terrace!
5. Take a guided tour to Montmorency Falls, the Ice Hotel or simply around Old Quebec to learn more about the history. Check out the tour options below from Get Your Guide.

Final Thoughts for your trip to Quebec City

Quebec City is one of the top places to visit outside of Montreal. It’s SO worth a trip if you’re anywhere near the area over the winter! Though it’s chilly, it’ll be worth it once you’ve seen all of the natural charm of Quebec City. Especially when it’s covered in a fresh blanket of snow!

It’s a great place for a romantic getaway or if you’re just looking for a little change of scenery for a weekend. There really is something for everyone! Let me know if you’d add anything to this QC Winter Guide in the comments below!

Happy travels! – Amanda