Québec
Visit for the walled old town of Québec City, the French-speaking streets of Montréal, and the lakes and Gaspé coast beyond the cities.
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Québec is Canada's largest province by area, in the east of the country. French is the official language, and most daily life across the province runs in French. Two cities give the trip its contrast. Québec City, the capital, has a walled old town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the Château Frontenac on the cliff above the St. Lawrence. Montréal, the largest city, has old stone streets, staircases in the Plateau district and a dense metro.
Beyond the cities, the Laurentians north of Montréal have lakes, forests and ski hills within a drive of the city. Farther east, the Gaspé Peninsula follows the St. Lawrence past fishing villages and cliffs, ending at Forillon National Park. Allow at least a week for both cities and one outdoor area. Summer and early fall suit the lakes and coast, and winter suits skiing and the Carnaval de Québec in February.
Québec in five
- Get an eTA before you fly inMost visitors who fly to Canada without a visa need an eTA, but US citizens do not. Apply on the official Canadian site before you book non-refundable flights.Visas and entry
- Set up an eSIM before you leaveDownload offline maps for Québec City and the Gaspé coast road before you go. Signal drops on long rural stretches, and a local eSIM works only where coverage reaches.Phones and eSIM
- Book Québec City beds for CarnivalCarnaval de Québec runs in February. Book the old town early if you visit in winter.Festivals
- Rent a car for the GaspéPublic transport between the villages on the Gaspé Peninsula is limited, so a car is the simplest way around. Pick it up in Québec City or Montréal and book early for summer.Getting around
- Learn a few French phrasesOutside Montréal and Québec City, many shops and restaurants work mainly in French. Start with bonjour and merci.
Neighborhoods
Montréal
Montréal is Quebec's largest city, known for cobbled Old Montréal, a mountain park above downtown and more than 100 festivals a year.
Québec City
Quebec City is the capital of Quebec in eastern Canada. Its stone old town sits on a cliff above the Saint Lawrence River, with winding streets, a grand hotel and a distinctly European feel.
Gaspé Peninsula
Go to Québec's eastern tip for Percé Rock, a northern gannet colony on Bonaventure Island and the trails of Forillon National Park. The sights sit far apart, so plan several days.
Things to do in Québec
See all attractions in Québec
Need to know
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD)
- Entry
- eTA needed by most visa-exempt visitors who fly in; US citizens exempt Read more
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected in restaurants, usually 15 to 20% of the bill
- Time
- UTC-5 in winter, UTC-4 with daylight saving in summer
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow
- FebruaryCarnival, deep cold
- MarchCold, late snow
- AprilThaw, quiet
- MaySpring, quiet
- JuneLong days
- JulyWarm, festivals
- AugustWarm, busy
- SeptemberWarm, calm
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCold, quiet
- DecemberCold, holidays
Right now in Québec
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-1
- Feels like
- -7°
- Humidity
- 78%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 6%
Québec
03:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today-1°-6°6%Monday: Drizzle. High -1°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Tue0°-8°87%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 0°, Low -8°. Chance of rain 87%.
- Wed2°-1°94%Wednesday: Rain. High 2°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Thu3°0°88%Thursday: Rain. High 3°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Fri0°-4°63%Friday: Snow. High 0°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Sat0°-4°26%Saturday: Drizzle. High 0°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Sun2°-1°47%Sunday: Drizzle. High 2°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 47%.
Updated 12:28 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Québec Cityabout 3 hours by train from MontréalWalled Old Québec and the Château Frontenac.Read the guide
- The Laurentiansabout 1.5 to 2 hours by car from MontréalLakes, ski hills and villages such as Mont-Tremblant.Read the guide
- Montréalabout 3 hours by train from Québec CityOld Montréal, Plateau staircases and the Mont Royal lookout.Read the guide
Before you go to Québec
Plan around Québec
Walled old town, Château Frontenac and winter Carnival
Read the guideMontréalOld Montréal, Plateau staircases and metro links
Read the guideThe LaurentiansLakes, ski hills and villages north of Montréal
Read the guideGaspé PeninsulaCoastal drive, Percé Rock and the far east
Read the guideGetting around QuébecTrains between cities, metro and car hire
Read the guideVisas and entryeTA, customs declarations and entry rules
Read the guideQuébec FAQ
Québec City or Montréal, which is better?
Québec City suits a slower trip with its walled old town and a smaller city centre. Montréal has more restaurants, nightlife and museums. Two or three days in each suits a first visit.
Do you need a car in Québec?
Yes, for the Gaspé Peninsula and most of the Laurentians. Québec City and Montréal work on foot, and trains link the two cities.
How many days do you need in Québec?
Five to seven days covers Québec City, Montréal and one day trip. Add two or three days for the Gaspé Peninsula, which is a long drive from either city.
What is the best month to visit Québec?
June, July, September and October. Summer is warm and busy, and autumn color peaks in late September and October. Winter suits Carnival and skiing.
Do you need to speak French in Québec?
No, but it helps. Montréal and Québec City have many English speakers, while smaller towns in the Gaspé and the Laurentians often use French first.