 Québec City.
With so much culture and history to offer, the only fortified city in North America won’t need stone walls to hold you in.
WestJet is thrilled to celebrate the historic city of Québec City’s 400th anniversary by adding it to our growing family of great destinations.
Romantics and history buffs alike will enjoy strolling through the winding pedestrian streets of Le Vieux-Québec and along the trails of the Plains of Abraham which, aside from carrying historical significance as Canada’s birthplace, draw parallels to New York’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park in terms of green urban spaces.
Québec City’s festival season kicks off with the Carnaval de Québec, the biggest winter festival in the world, and continues with a variety of like-themed events throughout the year. Outdoor enthusiasts and thrill seekers flock to nearby Charlevoix, often called Québec’s playground, for some of the best skiing, river rafting, hiking, mountain-biking, kayaking and golfing around.
Discover the meaning of joie de vivre. As an undisputed cultural expert, Québec City embraces the high-spirited and stylish personality of the locals and radiates charm, fun and sophistication to all visitors. European flair meets North American savoir-faire.
With a wide array of exciting indoor and outdoor activities, Québec City truly is a four-season tourist destination.
The ideal place to start if you’re only in town for a few days is with a walking tour of the Historic District of Old Québec, or Vieux-Québec. Various travel guidebooks offer their own two-hour walking tour itineraries; here are a few favourite stops:
- Château Frontenac: Towering over Terrasse Dufferin is the most photographed hotel in the world. Part historical artifact, part luxury hotel and part architectural eye-candy, it’s hard to find a view that doesn’t include Château Frontenac;
- Rue du Petit-Champlain: The oldest street in North America is alive with cafés, boutiques and restaurants making it a favourite of locals and tourists alike;
- Plaines d’Abraham/Parc des Champs-de-Batailles: Think New York’s Central Park, but with historical significance. The site of the famous battle between French and British troops that lead to the birth of Canada is now a 108-hectare urban green space for locals and tourists to enjoy;
- Place Royale:this charming enclosed plaza is the best spot to appreciate 17th century architecture and get the “old-town” feeling only stone facades and ancient churches can convey;
- La Citadelle: To fully appreciate the experience, try and find an aerial picture of this remarkable star-shaped fortress dug into the plateau above the banks of the St-Lawrence;
- Terrasse Dufferin: a long wooden boardwalk offering great views of the St. Lawrence River doubles as a local hangout for artists;
- Basilique Notre-Dame:A testament to the resilient French spirit, this church was established in 1647 and has gone through many facelifts.
Québec also offers world-class shopping; spend a day of fun ducking in and out of the many boutiques and admiring the unique architecture and décor.
If after all that walking you’ve still got some energy to burn, take advantage of the lively Québec City nightlife. Some of our favourite hotspots include:
- Chez Dagobert: a three-tiered dance club with tons of bars, wide screen TVs, and occasional musical acts. If you need help finding the place, ask for Le Dag and people will know what you mean.
- Pub St-Alexandre: over 200 beers to choose from at this classy yet lively Irish-style pub with dark wood, high ceilings and even higher spirits.
You’ll have no problem finding a wide range of cafés, bistros and fine dining options flourish in Québec City, but a definite stop must be at Chez Ashton, a fast-food joint that serves up the best poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds) in the province.
If you are looking to break free from fortified Québec’s stone walls for a daytrip or two we suggest:
- Charlevoix: Québec’s backyard playground (45-minute drive) offers outdoor activities for families and thrill seekers alike including skiing, skating, mountain biking, canyoning, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, golfing and more. Nestled where the mountains meet the Saint-Lawrence, Charlevoix has become a refuge for artists, poets, writers, residents and visitors in search of fresh air, picturesque views and a bit of inspiration:
- Île d’Orléans: an island just outside of Québec City (15-minute drive) that provides a taste of traditional Québec in an idyllic setting;
- Basilique Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré: one of the most striking churches you are likely to see, Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré remains one of the most important catholic pilgrimages in the world today.
Ski addicts have their choice of four other fabulous ski resorts which manage to combine great skiing conditions with superb panoramic views:
- Le Massif
- Mont Ste-Anne
- Le Relais
- Stoneham
Whether you are looking to add a little colour to your business meeting, experience the fairytale wedding, or simply relax in style, Québec City has a wide range of options to fit every budget.
There’s no need to be a princess to get married in a Chateau; the city’s crown jewel remains the luxurious Fairmont Château Frontenac, which is worth a visit even if you don’t plan on staying there. The most photographed hotel in the world and one of the top attractions in town, renowned for its architecture and famous clientele also caters to weddings, business meetings, and guests looking to relax in style.
Major hotel chains and mid-range lodging options with a full range of business services abound in the Québec region.
Another great way to immerse yourself in Québecois culture while saving a few bucks, is to take advantage of the many great hostels and Bed & Breakfasts in the area.
Of course, if you are visiting Québec City in February you’ll want to make sure to stop in on the world’s biggest winter carnival, le Carnaval de Québec. You may know about the carnival mascot Bonhomme carnaval but did you know you could:
- visit his ice palace;
- catch live musical acts;
- sample all kinds of maple products;
- cheer on a 24-float parade which includes nine dance troops and 260 costumed participants;
- get a front row seat for snow and ice sculpture competitions;
- take part in a Calgary-style Stampede breakfast;
- witness an extreme canoe race (yes, a canoe race in winter) on the St. Lawrence;
- marvel at people taking snow baths at -20°C.
Check out the official carnival website for more information.
Founded in 1608, Québec City is the capital of the province of Québec and its second largest city after Montréal. More importantly, it is the life-blood of the French language in Canada. As fiercely proud of their heritage as they are protective of their language, les Québécois (pronounced kebekwa) have a rich culture that they are more than happy to share with its visitors.
Québec is one of the few cities where most of the cultural artifacts aren’t in museums; they’re all around! You can walk on the Plains of Abraham where the French and British staged the historic battle which ultimately lay the groundwork for what we call Canada today. Stroll through the Historic District of Old Quebec which is still fortified by stone walls; or make the 30km trip northeast to visit the impressive Basilica of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré which remains one of the most important catholic pilgrimages in the world today.
Don’t let all that history fool you into thinking all of Québec’s culture is tied to its past though. It is a vital, modern city, and a cultural hot spot where the latest generation of artists and entrepreneurs are reviving old neighborhoods and infusing them with a much younger atmosphere and personality.
Opinions in Québec City are somewhat divided on where the city draws its cultural character from. Some consider the atmosphere decidedly Parisian chic, while others have adopted New York City’s stylishness as inspiration.
Located on the north bank of the Saint-Lawrence River, Québec City is a two and a half hour drive from Montréal heading northeast and a 45-minute drive to the outdoor paradise of Charlevoix.
Getting around La Vielle Capitale is best experienced on foot. If you’re too exhausted to walk back to your hotel, taxis run 24 hours a day and public transportation is offered through the Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC).
WestJet flies in and out of Jean Lesage International Airport which is located in the western part of the city. Taxi and limousine service is available directly from the airport with taxis charging a flat rate of $30 for service to downtown. Most major car rental agencies are located in the airport as well.
Starting May 18, 2008 WestJet will fly offer direct flights from Toronto to Québec City on a daily basis and will offer connecting flights from most other great WestJet cities.
Want to see more of WestJet’s Quebec destinations? Hit the road and see all there is from Québec City and Montréal.
If you want to fly into Quebec City and return from another of WestJet’s destinations, you can book a Multi-city flight. What’s a Multi-city flight? Click here to Ask WestJet
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