Bonjour, Quebec! This beautiful province is the only one in Canada to have a predominantly French-speaking population. In fact, French is the province’s official language. Travelers to Quebec will have the opportunity to explore a range of regions and activities, from storybook Quebec City to the urban Montreal. Whether you’re called to the gorgeous outdoors or prefer to stroll through historic museums and cityscapes, Quebec offers an authentically Canadian experience for every type of traveler. We’ve collected 10 of the must-see experiences in Quebec – where will you start?
An annual winter celebration in Gatineau and Ottawa, Winterlude offers fun events for the entire family. Make your way to this historic Quebec city to enjoy the winter-time festivities from late January to mid-February. Bring along your camera to capture the lit ice sculptures in Confederation Park, where art, ice and light all combine! Ottawa also has a fun assortment of Winterlude activities, including ice skating and live music. Book your stay at a local Best Western hotel and have plenty of time to partake in all the activities!
When it comes to soccer, Quebecers have zero qualms with kickin’ it. Since 2010, the city of Montréal has cheered on the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer. The Impact look to make an impact in the standings each summer, as they defend home field at Saputo Stadium. The Impact have also been known to play special home games at Olympic Stadium in Montréal’s historic Olympic Park, offering a unique game day experience. Not to be outdone, the upstart Première Ligue de soccer du Québec has been entertaining soccer fans in cities like Gatineau and throughout greater Montréal since 2012. Be sure to check out FC Gatineau as they play home games at Terrain Mont Bleu or CS Mont-Royal Outremont whom defend home field at REC Mont-Royal.
Did you know the majority of maple syrup is produced in Quebec? Early spring in Quebec brings out the sweet side of the countryside. Unique to QC, cabanes-a-sucre, or sugar shacks, are the best way to experience maple syrup season in eastern Canada. What’s a sugar shack? During early spring, sap begins to thaw and is extracted from maple trees – then boiled down to maple syrup in a quaint cabin. Quebec features many sap houses for the public, many offering sleigh rides, guided tours through maple trees, traditional folk music, and of course, all the syrup-covered food you can handle.
No visit to Quebec is complete without seeing Quebec City. Serving as Quebec’s capital, this town has a rich history, dating to 1608. A European charm encompasses this region, with mouthwatering cuisine and charming sights. Quebec City is thoroughly walkable. Wander down the cobblestone streets of The Petit Champlain district and explore the bistros and boutiques that line the path. Tour the Citadelle and Musée de l’Amérique Francophone (purportedly Canada’s oldest museum) and take a step back in history. With so much to see and do in this charming region, be sure to book a stay at one of the beautiful Best Westerns nearby.
The cosmopolitan hub of Quebec, Montréal, features a depth of historic sites, each personifying the nature and culture of over 400 years of history. On your tour of the Montreal area, you’ll find yourself at the Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral. Consecrated in 1894, this National Historic Site of Canada was built to resemble Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Enjoy guided tours of the church’s historical paintings, statues, great organs, and more. A popular destination at all times of the year, the Notre-Dame Basilica was first built in 1672 and has been a staple of Montreal life ever since. Visit what purists call one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the world. The basilica offers a twenty-minute guided tour of the wooden carvings, stained glass windows, chapels, and the Casavant Freres pipe organ. Book the ninety-minute Grand Tour de Notre-Dame Basilica for a closer look at the restricted areas of the site!
Ontario may have Niagara Falls, but Quebec has the Montmorency Falls! Just 12 kilometres from the heart of old Quebec City lies this beautiful waterfall. Staircases provide viewers with multiple perspectives of this geological wonder, but the best view can be found on the suspension bridge that stretches across the crest of the falls. This bridge also connects both sides of the Montmorency Falls Park, which surrounds the falls. Though beautiful all year, summer is a great time to view Montmorency Falls. The Falls themselves give off a yellow glow due to iron in the waterbed, and the park hosts an international fireworks competition!
With over 1.2 million visitors every year, the Canadian Museum of History is a must-see for those visiting the Gatineau/Ottawa region. The museum is showcases history, archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies from within Canada, but also from abroad. Can’t fit it into your itinerary? Don’t worry! The museum features many of its exhibitions virtually on its website, including a Virtual Museum of Canada and the Virtual Museum of New France.
While in Montréal, be sure to visit the Montreal Botanical Garden. Comprising 75 hectares, it is considered one of the most important botanical gardens in the world, thanks to the extent of its collections and facilities. It has multiple gardens, including the Chinese Garden, the Japanese Garden, the First Nations Garden, and the Alpine Garden. While the outdoor gardens are closed from roughly November to April, the greenhouses are open all year round!
After the Botanical Garden, be sure to stop by the Biodome, also in the Space for Life museum district. This unique structure welcomes visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. These ecosystems include imitations of a South American rainforest, North American wilderness, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the Arctic and Antarctic. A variety of animals live in each habitat. It’s hard to believe this building was used for cycling events in the 1976 Olympics!
Can’t get enough of Canada’s amazing foliage? Check out the Canadian Tulip Festival! In 1945, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands presented Ottawa with 100,000 tulip bulbs to thank the country for awarding the Dutch royal family exile in WWII and for Canada’s assistance in the liberation of the Netherlands. Ever since, a festival has been held in spring when the tulips bloom. Now over 3 million tulips strong, this event stretches nine miles from Gatineau, Quebec to Ottawa, Ontario. Make a day of it, and stroll through these beautiful gardens and symbols of international friendship!
