What To Do In Quebec
See the sights in both parts of Old Québec—Upper Town (Haute-Ville), extending up the hill from Place d'Armes and Dufferin Terrace to just past rue d'Auteuil, and Lower Town (Basse-Ville), centering on Place-Royale at the foot of Cap Diamant. To navigate the steep slope between the two areas, hike the steps of the aptly named Breakneck Stairs (Escalier Casse-Cou), which have been around since the settlement's beginning, or opt for the tamer glass-enclosed funicular.
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Walk through the late 19th-century palatial Fairmont Le Château Frontenac , 1 rue des Carrières, with its opulent furnishings and spectacular setting. The landmark hotel's turrets and verdigris copper roof are a prominent feature of the city's skyline.
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Meander along Dufferin Terrace (La terrasse Dufferin), 16 rue du Petit-Champlain, the wide wooden boardwalk behind the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, admiring the panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding countryside.
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Explore the 18th- and 19th-century buildings at Artillery Park Heritage Site (Site patrimonial du Parc de l'Artillerie), 2 rue d'Auteuil; the star-shaped fort The Citadel (La Citadelle), 1 Côte de la Citadelle; and the expansive green lawns of the Plains of Abraham at Battlefields Park (Parc des Champs-de-Bataille), 835 av. Wilfrid-Laurier.
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Admire the restored Place-Royale , 27 rue Notre-Dame, the site of Samuel de Champlain's 1608 fur trading post. This square at the heart of Vieux-Québec is evocative of the 17th century when wealthy merchants lived and conducted business in the lofty stone buildings that rim the plaza.
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Climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage (calèche) for a tour of the city. The carriages queue up at Place d'Armes near the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and at Esplanade Park (Parc de l'Esplanade) at rue d'Auteuil.
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Sidewalk cafés in the Quartier Petit Champlain —in Lower Town below Dufferin Terrace and bounded by boul. Champlain, rue du Petit-Champlain, rue Sous-le Fort and rue du Cul-de-Sac—are great places to eat and engage in the fine art of people watching.
Learn all about the province of Québec at the Museum of Civilization (Musée de la civilisation), 85 rue Dalhousie. Exhibits showcase cultural and natural history, the 11 First Nations tribes who have lived here for centuries, and the events that shaped the province.
Stroll down pedestrian-only rue de Trésor, a narrow alley devoted to the display of original paintings, watercolors, etchings and silkscreened works by local artists. Most of the pieces are of Québec City scenes—a perfect souvenir.
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Relax and enjoy picturesque vistas on a 90-minute excursion aboard the MV Louis Jolliet. The narration on the trips, offered by Québec City Cruises (Croisières AML), 10 rue Dalhousie, is provided by the historic figure, Monsieur Jolliet himself.
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Check out some nearby restaurants. Sample such hearty Québec staples as tourtière (meat pie, usually veal or pork, in a pastry crust); poutine (french fries topped with squeaky cheese curds and gravy); soupe aux pois (pea soup made with whole yellow split peas and salt pork); and tarte au sucre (a sweet sugar pie).
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Marvel at the cascading waterfall at Montmorency Falls Park (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency), 2490 av. Royale—higher, but narrower, than Niagara Falls. Perfect for adventure travel, the park offers hiking and biking in summer and in winter cross-country skiing and sliding down a steep icy mound formed from the falls' frozen spray.