How to Spend 2 days in Quebec City, Canada

Last Updated on May 28, 2026

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If you are looking for a taste of Europe without the long flight and the dreaded jet lag, you should visit Quebec City in Canada. The city is home to UNESCO recognized Old Quebec known for its cobblestone streets, European style architecture, lots of history and undeniable charm.

2 days in Quebec City is just the right amount of time to see most of the highlights, which makes it an ideal weekend getaway. Most of the best things to do in Quebec City are within the old part of the city (Vieux-Québec), which is very compact and walkable. Since Old Quebec is divided into two levels (Upper and LowerTown), there are some hilly streets and staircases, but you can avoid a lot of it by using the funicular.

Quebec City is relatively close to Boston, a solid 8 hour drive, so I decided to visit for a long weekend getaway. It turned out to be a perfect city break and it’s now one of my favorite cities in Canada.

Here are my suggestions on what to do in Quebec City in just 2 days, as well as other tips to help you plan your trip.

About Quebec City

Quebec City is the capital city of the Canadian province Quebec. It’s the second largest city in Quebec, right after Montreal.

The old part of Quebec City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It’s the oldest French speaking community in North America. More than 95 % of people in Quebec speak French. No need to worry though, just like in Europe most people speak English as well.

Historic Quebec City has 2 parts: Upper (Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (Basse-Ville). Both parts are equally beautiful and charming. You can get between the two by either walking very steep stairs or by riding the Funicular. The one-way ride costs $6CAD and it’s cash only! The funicular runs year-round, even in the winter.

Best time to visit Quebec City

I spent a weekend in Quebec City in late May, which was just the beginning of the summer season. The weather was quite nice, although not very hot yet, and things started getting busy in the city. Weatherwise, I’d say late spring until early fall is the best time to visit Quebec City.

Summer is the peak season in Quebec City and that’s when the city is at its busiest. Expect to pay premium price for accommodations during those months.

Visiting Quebec City in the winter would not be my first choice. Living in Boston, there’s no way I’ll go from cold to even colder. But if low temperatures (and wind chill) don’t bother you, this is a good time to visit for the winter atmosphere. The city looks especially magical between Christmas and New Year’s, with the snow covered cobble stone streets, and all the lights and decorations. Then in February there is a big winter festival Carnaval du Québec.

So you can say that Quebec City is a year round destination, just the atmosphere changes depending on the season. And most of the things to do in Quebec City you find on this list can be enjoyed year-round as well.

Top things to do in Quebec City in 2 days

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

This iconic building, perched up on the hill overlooking the city, is one of the most recognizable and photographed hotels in the world.

Even if you don’t stay there, you can still go inside and visit the lobby. There are a couple of bars on the ground floor, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail. You do not need to be a hotel guest to have a drink or eat there.

There is also a guided tour of Château Frontenac you book, where you can not only get a glimpse into the hotel’s interior, but also learn the history behind it. Might be a fun way to spend an hour or so.

Walk the Terrasse Dufferin

Right in front of Le Château Frontenac hotel is Terrace Dufferin, a large wooden boardwalk, that runs along St Lawrence river. No matter how long you’re in Quebec City for, t’s a must visit spot and a perfect place for a walk and some people watching. You get amazing views of the river on one side, and the iconic hotel on the other.

Terrace Dufferin is especially lively in the summer with artists, performers and lots of people enjoying the beautiful weather. When you spend 2 days in Quebec City, you will most likely end up walking down the boardwalk more than once.

This is also where you can catch the Funicular, that takes you to the Lower Town.

If you visit Quebec City in the winter, that very same boardwalk turns into a long icy slide, where you can hop on a tobbogan and go down at a speed up to 40 mph (70 km). Besides the thrilling ride, you also get some awesome views over the frozen St Lawrence River. It’s one of the oldest attractions in the city, dating back to 1884 and one of the top things to do in Quebec City in the winter.

Rue de Petit Champlain and Breakneck Stairs

Something not to be missed in Quebec City is a walk down Rue du Petit-Champlain. This is the most picturesque street in the city and one that will definitely make you feel like you are in Europe. You’ll find it right in the heart of Petit-Champlain neighborhood.

Rue du Petit-Champlain is lined with boutique stores, galleries and cafes. At one end of it, you’ll see a staircase leading up to the upper part of Old Quebec. That is Escalier Casse-Cou, the famous Breakneck Stairs. Built in 1635, it’s the oldest stairway in the city. It connects the Lower Town with the Upper Town. If you take it all the way up, you come out close to Terrasse Dufferin and Château Frontenac.

If you’re not up for that (and rather take the Funicular), make sure to go up the stairs at least a little bit. It’s a great spot to get a nice view of Rue du Petit-Champlain.

Both Rue du Petit-Champlain and the Breakneck Stairs can get very crowded, especially on the weekends and in high season. Early mornings or evenings are best times to go if you want to enjoy it without the crowds.

Visit Place Royale

Place Royale is a historic square located in the Lower Town and a must visit while exploring Old Quebec. This is where Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608. Walking through Place Royale is like stepping back in time. The small, cobblestone square is surrounded by plenty of historic buildings, that are a great combination of both French and British architecture. It’s one of the most picturesque parts of the city.

One of the highlights of Place Royale is Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, which is the oldest stone church in North America. It was built between 1687-1723 and later restored in 1816. The church is free to enter, so make sure to take a peak inside.

Place Royal is, among many other spots in Old Quebec, part of the 2 Hour Old Quebec Walking City Tour. If you’d like to learn about the history of the city and the sights, I highly recommend booking the tour. I’m a huge fan of walking tours, as they are usually led by very knowledgeable and enthusiastic locals. And Quebec City is the perfect place to explore by foot.

Check out the mural La Fresque des Quebecois

If you appreciate good street art, Quebec City has several great murals, and the most impressive one is located just steps away from Place Royale. La Fresque des Quebecois is an impressive and large mural depicting 400 years of Quebec City history. It was completed in 1999 and quickly became one of the top tourist attractions.

You can find the La Fresque des Quebecois mural in this exact spot (if you want to save it to your google maps).

Take the Quebec-Lévis Ferry

If you are looking for a cheap activity and some of the best views of the city, hop on the ferry from Old Quebec to Lévis, the town on the other side of Lawrence River. It’s a short ride; it takes about 12 minutes to get across. The ferry is an everyday means of transportation for locals; it also became one of the popular things to do in Quebec City for tourists. All because of the amazing views of the city’s skyline you get from the water.

Quebec City – Lévis runs year-round and a one-way ticket costs just $4.25 CAD. The terminal is located in the Lower Town (Basse-Ville). The ferry runs every 30 minutes and there’s no need to pre-book the tickets. Simply walk into the Terminal and get your tickets on the spot.

If you take the ferry just for the views and want to head right back to Quebec City, you still need to disembark once you get to Lévis. Not really a big deal, but they do not let you stay on board even with the return ticket in hand.

If you’d prefer a longer boat ride, you might enjoy this narrated Quebec City Sightseeing River Cruise. It leaves from Old Quebec and goes past some of the top landmarks in the city like Château Frontenac and Montmorency Falls.

Enjoy the view from Observatoire de la Capitale

For some of the best views of Quebec City, head over to the Observatory in the Marie-Guyart Building, which is the city’s tallest building. On the 31st floor, there’s an observation deck, that offers amazing, 360-degree views.

Windows are floor to ceiling, so you get unobstructed views all around. There are also plenty of wall displays and information explaining what you see.

The admission price is $14.75 CAD and at the moment, you have to reserve your tickets online prior to your visit. The Observation deck is open from Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. You can book your timed tickets here.

Located at: 1037 Rue de la Chevrotière

Shop at J.A. Moisan

J.A. Moisan opened its doors in 1871, making it the oldest store still open not only in Quebec City, but in whole North America. It’s well stocked with variety of gourmet foods, great selection of cheeses, jams, spices and many imported items. Inside of the store is pretty quaint and quite charming, and it’s definitely worth stopping by, whether you buy something or just want to browse.

Located at 699 Rue Saint-Jean

Visit Montmorency Falls

One of the best things to do in Quebec City is a visit to Montmorency Falls, a huge waterfall, that is 275 feet tall, which is actually higher than the more famous Niagara Falls.

It’s located just 12 km outside of the city, making it an easy excursion, especially if you are visiting Quebec City by car. If you do, I recommend stopping at the falls either on the way in or out of the city.

Montmorency Falls is located within Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, a big park with walking trails, viewing platforms and a cable car. There are two entrances to the park, one at the upper level and one at the base of the waterfall and there is a cable car, that connects both levels. If you arrive by car, parking is available at both entrances.

The cable car is not only a quick and fun way to get between both levels, but also offers incredible views of Montmorency Falls and the entire park.

You can book your Montmorency Falls visit here, which includes the entrance fee, round trip cable ride and parking.

I arrived and parked at the Upper level entrance, which is the one most people use and this is what I recommend as a starting point of your visit. On this level you have access to the cable car and the suspension bridge. And while the cable car runs both ways, the views are much better and more dramatic going down.

Once you get to the lower level, there are trails and a nice spacious area to walk around and get a whole different view of the waterfall from its base. If you head all the way to the right, there is a staircase on the side of the cliff, that goes all the way to the top. This is how you can get back to the Upper level instead of taking the cable car. But be warned, it’s quite steep with 487 steps, so be ready for some exercise. And the staircase is very close to the waterfall, especially the bottom section, so you will get a little wet from the mist.

When you get to the top level, you can walk across the suspension bridge, which hangs right above the waterfall. Such a fun experience seeing the gushing water going over the edge, you can see just how powerful it is.

If you’d like a similar experience, but have no desire to climb up the 487 steps, you can start at the top level by first walking across the suspension bridge, then climb down the staircase and take the cable car up back to the top.

For those feeling extra adventurous, you can also zipline across the falls. It’s a double line, so two people can do it simultaneously. Even though I haven’t personally done it, it does sounds like a great way to experience Montmorency Falls. The zipline is open in the warmer months only (May16 until October 12, 2026).

How to get from Quebec City to Montmorency Falls:

• Car – this is by far the easiest way and it’s about a 15 minute drive from Old Quebec. You can park at either parking lot, but the Upper lot is the main one and what most people use. It might fill up quick in peak season, so it’s to arrive on the earlier side.

• Bus – take the local 800 bus from Gare-Palais/2562 towards Beauport (Est) and get off at Brideau stop. From there you are about a 10 minute walk to the Montmorency Falls Park ( Parc de la Chute-Montmorency ).

• Organized Tour – if you don’t want to worry about transportation, there are several great and high rated Montmorency Falls guided tours you can book. This Old Town and Montmorency Falls Bus Tour combines sightseeing the Old Town with a visit to the Falls. While this Montmorency Falls & Ile d’Orleans Half-Day Tour visits the Falls, the Island of Orleans, and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.

Where to stay in Quebec City

Le Château de Pierre – when looking for a place to spend 2 days in Quebec City, I wanted a boutique hotel in a central location and Le Château de Pierre was the perfect choice. It is located in the most picturesque part of Quebec City, on a quiet street, just steps away from all the attractions. If you get a room with a small balcony, you will have a view of Château Frontenac, which is just around the corner. Speaking of rooms: they are charming and comfortable, but some of them are on the smaller size, which is typical for an old building.

Auberge Place D’Armes – another charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms. The hotel is located in an old building and has no elevator, so that’s something to be aware of (there are 3 floors). Location couldn’t be better, as the B&B is right in the heart of Quebec City and within walking distance to everything. There’s no on-site parking, but if you arrive by car, the hotel has spots at a nearby parking garage.

Hotel Manoir d’Auteuil – elegant boutique hotel in a central location, just a short walk to all the main attractions, many restaurants and cafes. The rooms and beautiful and comfortable. All past guests mention the hospitality and amazing staff, that goes above and beyond.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – and of course the hotel that needs no introduction, the iconic Château Frontenac, that not only dominates the city’s skyline but is also one of the best hotels in Quebec City. It’s a bit of a splurge, but you might be able to score a good deal, especially if you are traveling outside of the peak season and/or mid-week.

How to get to from Quebec Airport to the city center

Quebec City is home to Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB), which is located about 15 km (9 miles) outside of the city. There are several ways to get from the airport to the city.

• Taxi – as always, it’s the easiest, but most expensive way. Taxus from the airport have a set price of $41.40 during the day, and $47.60 at night (between 11 pm and 5 am). It’s about a 20-minute ride.
• Uber – Uber also operates in Quebec City, so that’s another option. Expect the prices to be similar to the taxi prices though.
• Bus – two bus lines run from the airport to downtown Quebec. Bus 76 connects the airport with bus and train stations in Sainte-Foy and bus 80 runs to Les Saules terminus. Both locations are in downtown Quebec, but you’ll have to take another bus that will take you to Old Quebec. A single fare is $4.

Things to know before you visit Quebec City, Canada

Currency – used in Quebec is the Canadian dollar. Most places accept credit cards, but it’s always a good idea to have some cash as well.

Language – French is the official language in Quebec, and you will sure hear and see it everywhere. However, you do not need to speak fluent French and will get by just fine with English.

Parking – if you are arriving by car, your plan should be to park your car for the entire stay and explore the city on foot. Quebec City is pretty compact and very walkable and unless you are heading to Montmorency Falls, you will not need your car anyway. There are many public parking lots and garages you can use, and the average cost is between $18-25 per day. If your hotel doesn’t have parking, they will most likely recommend one close by.

READ MORE:

• One day in Ottawa – Top Sites in Canada’s Capital
• Top things to do in Niagara Falls, Canada
• A Weekend in Vancouver, Canada – Things to do in Vancouver for first time visitors
• 15 Fun things to do in Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Top Things to do in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

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