8 useful tips to visit Quebec City
Visiting Quebec City in the wintertime is a great idea if you are not scared of the cold or if you like all kinds of winter activities. Quebec City looks like a winter wonderland during this time of year, with all the Christmas decorations all over the place and especially after a fresh snowfall. Summertime is also very beautiful. It really depends on what type of weather you are looking at while you are spending time out here.
But traveling to Quebec in the wintertime might need a little more preparation than summertime. So here are my 8 useful tips to visit Quebec City in the wintertime.
Layers, layers, and even more layers
Even though the weather is supposed to be comfortable, always bring extra layers! One day it can be around -5 degrees Celsius and the next one it might be closer to -40 degrees with the windshield. Especially if you are planning many outdoor activities on a winter trip, make sure to have plenty of layers to stay warm, and worst-case scenario, just take some off as you get warmer.
I prefer being too warm to actually being cold. When I get cold, even when I get inside, I feel like it takes hours to get warm again! January and February are usually the coldest months of winter out here in Quebec City. Even though it might take some more space in your suitcase to bring all those layers, you’ll thank me later when you’re out visiting, and the windshield brings the weather so much colder!
There is no fashion contest there. People with their whole outdoor attire is quite common while wandering the streets in the winter. If you are planning a summer getaway, July is usually one of the warmest months.
The French language is dominant
With Quebec having strict laws about the French language, it is dominant everywhere. Signaling everywhere is in French, road signs as well, even menus in restaurants are in French. In school, we get taught the basics of English but unless you take an English program in a school or go to an English school (which is even harder to get in unless you have the money to pay for private schools) most people don’t really speak much English unfortunately.
Younger people speak more and more of it because of video games and Netflix and a lot of the blogs people like or even influencers are mostly in English, but older people tend to not understand much of English. Don’t get discouraged though, if the people you ask something to has trouble, they will try to help you as best they can or find someone to help you out!
Try Poutine
You cannot go to Quebec City without trying poutine! Not the fanciest local dish but it is very good. Poutine is basically crispy fries, with a gravy sauce and cheese curds on top. Delicious! We like to cook our own homemade poutine once in a while for supper because it is that good!
Gratuity is not included
When going to a restaurant, gratuity is not included in the final price on your bill. Between 15 and 25% is considered a reasonable tip. If you’re not sure how much you need to leave, at least leave the same amount as the taxes. If you are going to a bar, it is expected to leave at least 1$ per drink. Make sure to plan this in your trip budget as to not get any surprises you hadn’t planned for money-wise.
Voltage is 110V
If you are visiting from somewhere out of Canada or the USA, don’t forget to bring your electricity adapter. Out here in Quebec, we use 110V electricity and the outlets might not be the same as you. Make sure to check before you leave as it would be unfortunate to have to pay for another adapter if you already have one at home.
Quebec is a vast province
It must not seem this way but I can tell you Quebec is bigger than you think! Because of the pandemic in 2020, our plans to travel abroad got sort of canceled… Pretty much the case for the majority of us, unfortunately. Instead of staying home, we decided to explore more of our own province to at least feel like we were doing something. I feel like we’ve been all over the place but there is still so much more to see! Quebec is a vast province, so keep that in mind when you are planning your trip. You won’t be able to see everything on just one trip.
Plan according to the time you have for your vacation and don’t cram too many visits either. Driving many hours at a time to visit one spot might not be worth it in the end if you spend your time mostly driving and not appreciating what you want to do.
Take the time you need and come back a second time to do what you didn’t have the time for on your last trip. I know, I’m one of those people who wants to see everything there is to see on one trip so I can go to a new destination the next time. But in this case, I was surprised by how much beauty we have here in Quebec and I am hoping to explore more next summer. Plan your trip with the areas you really want to see and enjoy the ride!
If you are planning to drive here in the wintertime, it can be a little more complicated if you are not used to driving in the snow. But no worries, it’s easy to get used to it. Just make sure it is something you are comfortable with before renting a car and feeling uncomfortable driving in this weather.
Entry requirements
Canada is usually pretty chill went it comes to entering the country. Make sure to check the entry requirements before coming here to make sure you have everything you need. You’ll need a valid passport for sure. Some countries now need an electronic authorization as well to enter.
Getting to Quebec City
To get to Quebec City, you can fly, drive, or even take the train. If you are flying in, you can fly directly into Quebec city (YQB) or fly into Montreal and drive here or take the train to Quebec. Every option is good and it all depends on the time you have, your budget, and your plans when you get here!
I hope my useful tips have helped you out with your planning for Quebec City. Make sure to stay tuned as I will be posting more about Quebec City in the next few weeks!
See you around!
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