5-day Quebec City itinerary to get the most out of your trip
So you’ve decided to visit Quebec City but you’re not sure how to plan out your itinerary. There is plenty to see and not always enough time to do everything!
So I’ve planned the perfect Quebec City 5-day itinerary for you so you won’t miss out on the best things to do around Quebec City! Whether you are coming during the winter months or summertime, I’ve got you covered.
Quebec City 5-day winter itinerary
Day one
Take the time to settle into your hotel room. You’ve probably had a long drive or flight getting here so take the time you need to chill. For your first day here, you should walk along the Dufferin terrasse near the famous Château Frontenac. You’ll enjoy some beautiful views along the St-Lawrence river too! Make sure to go tobogganing at Les glissades de la terrasse! Enjoy a relaxing evening at the restaurant. If you’re feeling up to it, head out to Strom Spa in Old Quebec. spend a relaxing evening at the thermal baths while looking out to the St-Lawrence river.
Day two
Now that you’ve had time to get installed in your hotel and relaxed a little bit to recuperate from your jetlag or long route, now is the time to have some fun. Head out to the Village Vacances Valcartier. Spend the whole day going down the hill with your tube. If you’re feeling up to it, you could also spend your evening at Bora Park for some water slides! If not, head back to your hotel and enjoy a great restaurant in downtown Quebec City. To finish up the evening, head to a local pub and enjoy some local beer!
Day three
Head out to the mountains for a little bit of adrenaline! Whether you go to Stoneham or Mont-Sainte-Anne that is up to you! You could also drive to Le Massif de Charlevoix to enjoy the view as much as skiing or snowboarding down the hills. If you aren’t a skier or snowboarder, head out to Le Massif de Charlevoix instead for some sledding. Enjoy a 7.5 km ride down the hill with a magnificent view!
Day four
Book yourself a dogsledding activity at Jacques Cartier National Park. This is a great outdoor activity to enjoy the views, have fun in the snow and cuddle some dogs and cute puppies! Then head back to downtown Quebec City and walk around Quartier le Petit Champlain for some local shopping. You can also walk around St-Jean street and Grande Allée. If you are here during the Holidays, make sure to visit the Markets around the downtown area and walk along some illuminated paths to get you into the Christmas spirit. Finish off the evening at a great restaurant or a pub.
Day five
Take one last stroll through the city and finish off all your shopping before you go. Head back to your favorite spots one last time before you have to leave Quebec. Make sure you don’t forget anything while packing your bags up before you go. Stop at a downtown coffee shop for a coffee to go for the long road ahead! Hopefully, you get to come back, later on, to experience even more cool winter activities out here or even experience the city in the summer months!
Quebec City 5-day summer itinerary
Day one
Take the time to get settled into your accommodation before heading out. I like to freshen up after a long drive or a flight. it makes me feel better and I am ready to go afterward! Start easy with a nice walk along the Dufferin Terrasse to take a look at the view and the Château Frontenac. Summertime is full of street entertainment all over the place. Spend some time walking around the streets around the Château. There is a lot of local shopping, local restaurants, and local pubs. spend the evening enjoying a drink on a terrasse of a restaurant while enjoying the beautiful weather and the view!
Day two
Spend some time outdoors. If the weather is nice, head for a hike at Mont-Sainte-Anne. If you’re looking for a little more adrenaline, head out mountain biking at Empire 47 in Lac-Delage. Starting out mountain biking? Biking with the kids? Or even an expert? They have trails for everyone! You could also head to La vallée bras du Nord in Saint-Raymond. People say their trails rivals some of the best out in the Rockies! They also have some really fun trails for the whole family!
Go to the grocery store to grab lunch and bring it with you. At La Vallée bras-du-Nord, you could have lunch while sitting by a waterfall! For dinner, head downtown Quebec City for a nice evening out at the restaurant or a pub.
Day three
Wintertime is great to slide down the hill at Village Vacances Valcartier but summer is fun too! Spend the whole day sliding down cool waterslides or relaxing on the ”Amazon” river. The whole family is sure to have plenty of fun! You’ll probably feel exhausted after a full day outside enjoying the water! Head to the Strom Spa and soak up in the thermal baths with a beautiful view! You could also book a massage to feel even more relaxed!
Day four
If you are feeling adventurous, do some treetop adventures or a via Ferrata! For treetop adventures, head to Duschesnay, and for the via Ferrata, some of the best spots are Les chutes Montmorency or Canyon Sainte-Anne. They even have some pretty cool ziplining for you to do! Spend the evening walking around Quartier Le Petit Champlain to do a little bit of shopping and enjoy the sights. Dine out at one of the restaurants down in Le Petit Champlain for a great ambiance.
Day five
Before leaving the city, finish up your shopping or do any activity you want to do before you go. Hopefully, you have a great time and you are coming back someday to do even more stuff around here! If you still have some time on your hands, you could head out to L’Ile d’Orléans for a wine tour. The island has many vineyards you can stop by!
Great downtown Quebec City restaurants
If you are looking for some recommendations on where to dine, here are some of the best addresses!
Le Repaire in Quartier Le Petit Champlain;
La Bûche on rue St-Louis;
Chez Muffy on rue Saint-Antoine;
Champlain inside the Château Frontenac;
Le Bureau de Poste on St-Joseph Est;
Le Casse-Crêpe breton on rue St-Jean;
Les Salles Gosses on St-Joseph Est;
Café du Monde on Dalhousie;
Le Cochon Dingue in Quartier Le Petit Champlain;
Le Parmesan on rue St-Louis.
There are so many great options in Old Quebec, you’re sure to find something to your liking. While wandering around, you might just find something you would like to try!
Great downtown Quebec City pubs
There are many places for a beer or cocktail in the downtown area but here are some great places.
Pub St-Patrick on rue St-Jean;
La Taverne on Grande-Allée;
Brasserie la Faucheuse on rue St-Jean;
Brasserie Inox on Grande-Allée;
Pub St-Alexandre on rue St-Jean;
Bar le Savrilège on rue st-Jean.
Here again, you might just find another pub just waiting for you while wandering the streets!
So there you go! A couple of ideas to plan your Quebec City 5-day itinerary and make the most out of it!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love and use!
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