Walking its cobblestone streets feels less like touring and more like stepping into a living museum where history breathes through every stone wall and steep incline. Today, it remains an intimate, walkable gem where ancient grandeur meets cozy charm, inviting you to linger over café au lait while soaking in the timeless atmosphere of Old Quebec.
Do Quebec City the way locals do: start slow at Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, eat where the regulars do at Restaurant La Buche, let the evening run long at L'Atelier.
Top things to do in Quebec City
Ranked by rating and review volume. These earn their hype. Booking links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.
1
Montmorency Falls
Towering waterfall with scenic views from trails, steps, a suspension bridge & a tram.
Check tours & tickets2
Plains of Abraham
Set in a historic park, this battle site in the Seven Years' War features gardens & an ice rink.
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The Citadelle of Québec
Complex featuring a long-standing active fort, plus a museum & changing of the guard ceremonies.
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Quartier Petit Champlain
Cooperative-owned shopping quarter with independent boutiques, galleries, restaurants & a theatre.
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Museum of Civilization
Exhibits on ancient & current world societies, including First Nations, New France & modern Quebec.
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Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
Dating to 1647, this opulent church has been rebuilt a few times & features a historic crypt.
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The Battlefields Park
Public meadows & trees covering 103 hectares & site of a 1759 battle between the French & British.
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Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Works by Quebecois artists including Alfred Pellan, plus paintings of Quebec & touring exhibitions.
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Dufferin Terrace
Built in 1859, this long, popular terrace overlooking the river also offers scenic city views.
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Place Royale
Picturesque cobblestoned square flanked by cafes, shops & a 17th-century stone church.
Check tours & ticketsWhere to eat
Local favorites, not tourist traps.
11
Restaurant La Buche
Sugar shack serving Quebecois cuisine & cocktails in a rustic, funky space with stone walls.
Website12
Archibald Microbrasserie
Popular microbrewery serving craft beer & seasonal pub grub in a rustic-chic space.
Website13
Le Lapin Sauté
Petite restaurant with a warm ambience & outdoor seating serving French fare & weekend brunch.
Website14
Restaurant Poutineville Saint-Roch
Relaxed mini-chain venue offering build-your-own poutine with upmarket toppings & diner fare.
Website15
Restaurant Poutineville Vieux Québec
Relaxed mini-chain venue offering build-your-own poutine with upmarket toppings & diner fare.
Website16
Cochon Dingue Champlain
Website17
Au Petit Chalet
Website18
Steak Avenue - Vieux-Québec
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Tours worth booking ahead
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19
Local Québec City Food Tours | Old Québec Food Tours
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Place des Canotiers
Landscaped plaza on the St. Lawrence River with lawns & walkways, plus a fountain & splash pad.
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A Double Tour Immersive Experiences
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Quebec Aventure Tours
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Toonie Tours
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Umbrella Alley (Summer Only)
Check tours & ticketsGet outside
25
Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier
Large national park offering a visitor centre, hiking trails, campsites & rustic chalets.
Website26
Jacques-Cartier Beach Park
This green space on the St. Lawrence River offers bird-watching, picnicking, hiking & snow-shoeing.
Website27
Base Plein Air Sainte-Foy
Website28
Windmills Park
Website29
Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
Riverside city park with cable cars & zip lines over a high waterfall, plus via ferrata circuits.
WebsiteAfter dark
30
L'Atelier
Sophisticated gastropub offering craft cocktails, tartares & cooked entrees in an airy setting.
Website31
Pub St-Patrick
Sizable, old-timey Irish bar in a historic building with outdoor seating & a full pub grub menu.
Website32
Griendel - Brasserie Artisanale (quartier Montcalm)
Warm microbrewery & bistro-pub offering house craft beers & modern, seasonal pub fare.
Website33
Pub L'Oncle Antoine
17th-century brick cellar turned intimate tavern with a classic range of comfort grub & drinks.
WebsiteEverything above is live data. Real ratings, opening hours, and photos, not AI guesswork. The planner turns it into your day, hour by hour.
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