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Travel Tips for Quebec City
Quebec City is a travel destination that you will want to visit because of its charm and historic picturesque sites. We visited for 2 days and were certainly impressed by how nice the French speaking natives were and the food did not disappoint. In this small town, no car is needed as can walk everywhere. During our 2 day stay we didn’t even use public transportation. In this blog you’ll find the essential travel tips for Quebec City.
Tip: On Sundays and even on Mondays some restaurants/shops are closed.
Currency
1 USD = $1.33 CAD
Though most establishments accept credit cards, I do recommend making a one time withdrawal from a bank ATM to have a little cash on hand.
SIM Card
SIM cards are very expensive in Canada. According to my research, a SIM costs approximately $40 USD for 6gb of data. Luckily I have Verizon and they charge $5/day however downfall is that after using 500 mb, the the data is slowed down to snail speed.
Tip: Download the google offline maps and bookmark all the locations you want to visit. The app will give you driving directions but NO walking directions. This should be suffice to get around town.
Travel Cost Breakdown for Quebec City
BCN –> YUL (Montreal) Air Transat $308 but we booked through the Chase UR Portal for 30,820 points. If you’re checking a bag for this particular airline, be sure to purchase it online BEFORE 24 hours. I didn’t do this so I was charged $66 USD when it could’ve been bought at the time of purchase for $42 USD
Train from Montreal to Quebec City
ViaRail: $35 USD each way. You want to take the train to Québec Gare Du Palais. The trains are pretty nice with wifi and overhead storage for carryon suitcase. If you are departing from the Montreal station and have a big luggage, you can check it in for free! Also, they offer storage at the station for $6 CAD. You don’t need to print out the tickets – a boarding pass on your mobile device will work.
Accommodations
AirB&B – $48/night It’s a 23 minute walk from the train station. If you’re looking to splurge, stay at the famous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
What To Do in Quebec City
Like every city, you can find a range of free walking tours or go on a food tour starting at $50 USD.
I like to go on my own time and I know what I like to eat so with that being said, here are my recommendations:
- Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – underneath the boardwalk you’ll find the ruins of a castle. You can peep through the clear glass. Entrance fee is $3.90 CAD. There’s also a funicular that you can take that is $3 CAD or you can walk up the steep hill.
- Citadelle de Québec – Star shaped fortification. Entrance fee is $16
- Quartier Petit-Champlain for shopping at the boutiques
- Rue du Cul de Sac – umbrella street
- Rue Sous le Cap – one of the oldest streets
- Terrasse Pierre-Duga-de-Mons – a great view point
- Place-Royal – here you’ll see the oldest stone church in North America
- Maison de la Littérature – public library
Places To Eat In Quebec City
- Aux Anciens Canadiens – lunch special is $22.95 and it includes a glass of wine/beer, appetizer, main AND dessert. The bread pudding was so good I came back the next day!
- Le Chick Shack – get your poutine fix
- Fromagerie des Grondines & ses amis – must get the ham and cheese sandwich
- Paillard – St Jean Bakery – all sorts of treats here!
- Musèe du chocolat – have a sweet tooth? Stop by for some chocolate and ice cream
- Pow Ramen – had to throw this in because I was craving something Asian and this hit the spot
- BEclub Bistro Bar – Unfortunately this restaurant was closed on the days I was visiting. Supposedly, BEclbub Bistro Bar has the best smoked meat sandwiches.
If you’re looking for a cozy cafe to take a break or kill time before checkin or train ride, check out these two:
- Nektar Cafelogue – a couple blocks from our AirB&B
- Baguette & Chocolat – short walk to train station
So that’s it for my 2 day travel tips for Quebec City. If I were to return, I definitely want to check out Montmorency Falls and other off the beaten path gems. Also, if you can deal with freezing temperatures, check out Quebec City during Christmas time to experience a magical holiday spirit.
