Montréal and Québec City · Canada
Montréal and Québec City
Bagels, markets and the view from Mount Royal in Montréal, then the walled old town of Québec City and the falls just outside it. Five days in French-speaking Canada, linked by train.
- 5 days
- $$ Mid-range
- Easy
- Good with kids
- Couples
- Friends
- Solo
- City
- Culture
- Food
Day by day
The plan
Times are suggestions. Opening hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Once it’s in your trip, move anything you like.
- Day 1
Old Montréal
- 09:30
Notre-Dame Basilica
Activity
A deep blue and gold interior carved in wood, the city’s best-known church.
- 11:00
Place Jacques-Cartier and rue Saint-Paul
Activity
Cobbled streets and stone buildings from the city’s French and British past.
- 13:00
Lunch: smoked meat on boulevard Saint-Laurent
Food & drink
Montréal’s spiced, slow-cured brisket, piled high on rye bread.
- 15:00
Old Port
Activity
A long waterfront along the St. Lawrence River for walking and cycling.
- 19:00
Dinner in Old Montréal
Food & drink
Québec cooking in old stone dining rooms.
- 09:30
- Day 2
Mount Royal and the Plateau
- 09:00
Mount Royal and Kondiaronk Belvedere
Activity
Walk up through the park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to a terrace over downtown.
- 11:30
Plateau Mont-Royal
Activity
Row houses with curling outdoor staircases, murals and small shops.
- 13:00
Lunch: Montréal bagels in Mile End
Food & drink
Smaller, sweeter and wood-fired, eaten warm from the bag.
- 15:00
Jean-Talon Market
Activity
A large open-air market in Little Italy with Québec cheeses, berries and maple products.
- 19:00
Dinner: poutine
Food & drink
Fries, cheese curds and gravy; the province’s most famous dish.
- 09:00
- Day 3
Train to Québec City
- 09:00
Train from Montréal to Québec City
Getting around
Just over three hours along the St. Lawrence, station to station.
- 13:00
Stay in Old Québec
Stay
Sleep inside or just below the walls so everything is on foot.
- 14:30
Dufferin Terrace
Activity
A wide boardwalk on the cliff edge below the city’s castle-like hotel, looking over the river.
- 16:00
Petit-Champlain and Place Royale
Activity
Take the funicular or the Breakneck Stairs down to the oldest streets in the city.
- 19:00
Dinner: tourtière and Québec dishes
Food & drink
A spiced meat pie and maple desserts in the old town.
- 09:00
- Day 4
Fortress, falls and island
- 09:00
Plains of Abraham
Activity
The battlefield of 1759, now a large park above the river.
- 10:30
La Citadelle
Activity
A star-shaped fortress still used by the Canadian army; visits are by guided tour.
- 12:30
Lunch on rue Saint-Jean
Food & drink
A lively street running through the walls, with crêpes and bistros.
- 14:30
Montmorency Falls
Activity
About 30 m taller than Niagara Falls, with a cable car, stairs and a suspension bridge over the top.
- 16:30
Île d’Orléans
Activity
A rural island across the bridge with farm stands, orchards and old churches.
- 09:00
- Day 5
Walls and back to Montréal
- 09:00
Walk the city walls
Activity
The only fortified city walls left north of Mexico, with gates and bastions to explore.
- 11:00
Musée de la civilisation
Activity
Exhibits on Québec’s history and its First Nations, in the lower town.
- 13:00
Lunch: crêpes in the old town
Food & drink
Sweet or savory, a simple last meal before the train.
- 15:00
Train back to Montréal
Getting around
Arrive downtown in time for a final evening or an onward flight.
- 09:00
Good to know
Tips
French first
French is the official language of Québec. Most people in tourist areas speak English too, but starting with a simple bonjour is appreciated.
When to go
June to October is mild and full of festivals; fall colors peak from late September to mid-October. Winters are very cold, though Québec City’s winter carnival draws crowds in February.
No car needed
Trains between the two cities run several times a day; book ahead for better fares. Use the metro in Montréal and walk in Québec City. A taxi or tour is easiest for Montmorency and Île d’Orléans.
Taxes and tips
Federal and provincial taxes are added to most prices at the register. At restaurants, a tip of 15 to 20 percent is expected.
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