10 places to visit in Quebec City in 2026

Last reviewed 30 October 2026 against Québec City’s official tourism site (Destination Québec cité), the UNESCO World Heritage List and IRCC visitor pages.

Quebec City is the capital of the province of Québec, founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Its historic centre, Old Québec, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985. Many people in the UAE look at the city because of Quebec’s own immigration program, and a visit is a practical way to see what daily life in a French-speaking city feels like. This guide lists ten places worth your time, how to see them on a budget, and the documents you need to get there.

At a glance

Historic District of Old Québec

UNESCO describes Old Québec as the only North American city to have kept its ramparts, along with the bastions, gates and defensive works that still surround it. The district covers about 135 hectares in two parts: the Upper Town, on the Cap Diamant cliff, and the Lower Town, which grew around Place Royale and the harbour. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985.

Destination Québec cité recommends rue Saint-Jean, rue Saint-Louis and rue Sainte-Anne for restaurants and small shops inside the walls.

Fortifications of Québec

The walls were the city’s defence system and were built between 1608 and 1871. Today they include 4 gates, 3 Martello towers, the Citadelle and 4.6 km of ramparts with cannons around the Upper Town. Parks Canada runs the Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site, which also takes in the Governor’s Garden, Montmorency Park and the Governor’s walkways. Walking along the walls is free.

Citadelle of Québec

The Citadelle was built between 1820 and 1850 and has a star shape you can see clearly from above. It has been a national historic site of Canada since 1980. In summer, musicians of the Royal 22e Régiment perform in red uniforms and bearskin caps.

Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace

Château Frontenac, the hotel that has become the symbol of Quebec City, stands on the site of Fort Saint-Louis and opened in 1893. In front of it, Dufferin Terrace is a 425-metre wooden boardwalk running toward the Citadelle, with views of Île d’Orléans, the St. Lawrence River and the Lower Town. In winter, a toboggan slide runs beside the hotel, a local tradition for more than a century.

Place Royale

Place Royale, in the Lower Town, is where Samuel de Champlain set up the Habitation de Québec in 1608 as a fur-trading post. The square has free public art, including EXMURO’s Aire publique, and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church, one of the oldest stone churches in the country to keep its original walls. Entry to the church is free.

To get between the Lower and Upper Town without the climb, the funicular costs about CAD 7.

Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica-Cathedral

Built in 1647, Notre-Dame-de-Québec was the first Roman Catholic parish north of Mexico. Destination Québec cité notes it has the only Holy Door outside Europe. Admission is free, and guides are available in summer. Nearby, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, built in 1800, was the first Anglican cathedral built outside the British Isles; a CAD 3 contribution is suggested.

Plains of Abraham

This large city park is where British and French troops, led by Generals Wolfe and Montcalm, fought in 1759, after which Quebec City came under British rule. In summer, the Edwin-Bélanger Bandstand on the Plains runs free outdoor performances.

Parliament Building

Quebec’s Parliament Building dates from 1877, and Destination Québec cité describes it as Québec’s oldest national historic site. You can take a free guided walking tour, which makes it a useful stop on a rainy day.

Montmorency Falls

Montmorency Falls are 83 metres high, 30 metres taller than Niagara Falls, and sit in a park about 15 minutes from Old Québec. You can take a cable car up the cliff, cross a suspension bridge over the falls, ride a 300-metre zipline or climb the 487-step panoramic staircase in summer. The park is open all year except 25 December.

To go without a tour, take city bus #800 towards Beauport, then walk to the falls.

Île d’Orléans

Jacques Cartier sighted this large island on his second voyage in 1535 and named it Île de Bacchus, later Île d’Orléans. It became one of the cradles of French settlement in North America.

Seeing Quebec City on a budget

Destination Québec cité suggests:

• Travel in a quieter month. January, March, April and November often have the lowest accommodation rates.
• Take the ferry to Lévis and back. About CAD 8 return, with views of the skyline.
• Use free events. Some Festival d’été de Québec stages do not need a pass, and the eight Grands Feux Loto-Québec fireworks evenings are free.
• Buy a bus pass. A city bus day pass costs about CAD 10.

Prices change, so check before you go.

Getting there from the UAE

Depending on your passport, you need either a visitor visa (fees from CAD 100, and you may need to give biometrics) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) (CAD 7) to fly to Canada. Use IRCC’s online tool to see which one applies to you. Neither allows you to work in Canada.

A visit and Quebec immigration

Quebec selects its own skilled workers through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), using expressions of interest in its Arrima portal. Recent invitation rounds have favoured people already living in Québec, and French is part of every Stream 1 to 3 invitation criterion. A short visit is not a selection factor, but it can help you judge whether the city and the language suit you before you invest in the process.

For the full picture, read our Quebec immigration 2026 overview, our guide to how Quebec scores and invites PSTQ candidates, and our guide to French for Canada immigration.

Frequently asked questions

When are hotels in Quebec City less expensive?

Destination Québec cité says January, March, April and November often have the lowest accommodation rates.

How far is Montmorency Falls from Old Québec?

About 15 minutes. You can drive or take city bus #800 towards Beauport.

Is Old Québec a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. The Historic District of Old Québec was inscribed in 1985.

Does visiting Quebec City help a PSTQ application?

A visit is not one of Quebec’s scored or invitation criteria. Recent rounds targeted people already living in Québec, which a tourist trip does not make you.

Next step

If a visit has you thinking about a move to Québec, start with a free assessment through our contact page. We review your profile and French level working with CICC- and/or MARA-registered advisers.

Sources

• Historic District of Old Québec (UNESCO World Heritage List)
• Inside Québec City’s walls (Destination Québec cité)
• 14 historic places in Québec City (Destination Québec cité)
• Parc de la Chute-Montmorency (Destination Québec cité)
• How to visit Québec City on a budget (Destination Québec cité)
• Visitor visa (IRCC)
• eTA: how to apply (IRCC)

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