Montréal and Québec City offer an Old-World feel while being uniquely Canadian. And Québec’s green spaces have hiking and biking trails that cut through forests and ascend mountains, where the trees are lush shades of green in summer and turn shades of autumnal yellows, oranges and reds in fall. Idyllic lakes and picturesque rivers are the perfect spots to canoe or kayak on clear waters.
Taste the flavors of Québec as you travel through the province, from award-winning restaurants that offer fine-dining experiences to roadside stalls that sell in-season, locally grown fruits. Head out on your next adventure. Québec awaits!
The spectacle of autumn unfolds across Québec from September through October, starting in the north and moving south, with each region enjoying peak foliage for one to two weeks. Breathe in the crisp air while traveling along the Saint Lawrence River as it reflects the color of fall from the water’s surface. Stroll the Plains of Abraham or Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge in Québec City, where centuries-old trees turn the historic district's edges red and gold. Hike up mountains in places like La Mauricie and Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie national parks, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views from dramatic cliffsides. On Île d'Orléans, visit orchards, including Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau, where families can enjoy picking apples and adults can linger over a cider tasting.
Outdoor activities in summer and fall abound in Québec's 23 national parks, in urban parks and on the Saint Lawrence River. The national parks have miles of hiking trails where you'll be surrounded by hardwood forests in the south and boreal forests in the north. You can also spot wildlife from smaller animals like beavers, porcupines to larger creatures like black bears and moose.
Or experience nature from the water in a canoe or kayak. Marvel at the towering cliffs Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park from aboard a kayak, or paddle through a glacial valley on the Jacques-Cartier River. With the vibrant Saint Lawrence River that cuts through eastern Québec, along a multitude of lakes and smaller rivers, there are seemingly endless locations to canoe or kayak while surrounded by idyllic landscapes.
In Québec, you’ll find award-winning restaurants, regional dishes and seasonal flavors in Montréal, Québec City and beyond. Follow along culinary trails like the Route des Saveurs in Charlevoix, where you can dine at farm-to-table restaurants. In spring, visiting a sugar shack is a must, where maple is in every course. Don’t miss out on Indigenous foods either. Huron-Wendat chefs in Wendake create meals rooted in traditions that predate the province.
Try locally grown produce like strawberries, blueberries, black currants and apples. You can even pick your own straight from farms in place like Île d'Orléans. In the Eastern Townships, there are more than 20 vineyards where you can enjoy wine flights. Don't forget to try ice cider, a Québec invention, while there.
Whale watching is essential on a trip to Québec. Where the Saguenay Fjord meets the Saint Lawrence Estuary, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park has rich feeding grounds that attract multiple species of whales, including fin, humpback and minke whales. In Tadoussac, Les Bergeronnes or Les Escoumins, take a whale watching tour on a zodiac boat that sits low to the water or on a larger, covered vessel that offers a more comfortable ride.
You don’t need a boat to spot whales, though. The best place to see the area’s resident beluga whales is from shore. Head to Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre in Les Bergeronnes and the Marine Environment Discovery Centre in Les Escoumins for prime viewing locations. Hiking trails throughout the region also offer lookouts where you may spot one of these magnificent creatures.
Driving across Québec offers the chance to experience the province’s magnificent offerings of scenery, culture and food. The Chemin du Roy, connecting Montréal and Québec City, has stops in villages that offer charming downtowns and inviting culture.
Follow along the Saint Lawrence River and discover the beauty of the region by hiking trails and paddling down waterways in places like La Mauricie National Park, and continue north to Tadoussac, where whale watching is a must-do activity. Drive through the Charlevoix region where farmers and chefs work in close proximity, and restaurant menus are a celebration of locally grown and made products and regional flavors. Explore the Laurentides region with offerings like Mont-Tremblant National Park, wineries and cider houses.
Have questions about Québec? We have answers.