Even in the winter, the Ville de Québec has a lot to offer. Starting in December you’ll find the Christmas Market, Quartier Petite Champlain is decorated with lights , and you can even take a toboggan slide ride down the hill at Au 1884.

You can easily forget your in Canada and find yourself transported to the streets of Europe.

Some highlights of Ville de Québec:

• Rue Saint-Jean  offers tons of shoppes and restaurants to explore. Plus, there is an  skating rink in Place d’Youville.
• Château Frontenac  offers stunning views of the St. Lawrence River
•  Quartier Petite Champlain accessible by either by descending a staircase or paying to ride down the funicular, this picturesque area is filled with art, boutiques, and restaurants.
• Wandering the streets to admire the architecture

Practicalities

Language:

French is the official language of Quebec; however, in more touristy areas, you will find English is spoken as well.

Transportation:

The easiest way to arrive into Quebec from the United States is via an airplane. Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) . While primarily serviced by Air Canada and West Jet, depending upon how much money your willing to spend, you can fly US carriers United (Newark) or Delta (JFK).

Like many other cities, you have a handful of ways to get around the city. From most expensive to more budget friendly options:

Car Rental

 If you are planning on spending most of your time in the old city, this probably isn’t the smartest move. You’ll probably spend more money to park your car in a garage, and not actually use it.

Taxi

The are easy to find at the airport as well as at the taxi stand at Place d’Youville in Old Town.

Uber

They’ve made their way up north, so make sure you have cell service if you plan to use the service.

Public Bus

Réseau de transport de la capitale (RTC). Efficient and reliable. Make sure to purchase a ticket prior to boarding, as you will pay a discount, else you will find yourself paying $3.50(CAN) per ride.

Walking

Wandering the streets is one of the best ways to explore the area and find places and sights that you might not found. Just remember to look up from your phone!

Money

Currently, you’ll find the U.S. Dollar goes farther in Canada.

If you are looking at carrying cash, make sure to have space for coins in your pockets/wallets for larger coins. Canada use a one dollar (Loonie) and two dollar (Toonie). Pennies are no longer used, so prices are rounded up/down to the nearest 5 cents.

Credit Cards

AMEX is not widely accepted at many of the restaurants and shops. Visa and cash are your friends. When paying at a restaurant, similar to Europe, you will find the credit card reader is brought to you to have your transaction completed.

Food and Drinks

Quebec is a foodie town. There are many restaurants around every corner. Finding Gluten Free food has gotten much easier over the years. That being said, finding gluten free and casein free food is a much more of a challenge.

If your looking for a Crepe, head a few blocks out of Old City to Le Billig for a cheap and afforadabl meal.

Feeling a little sluggish? Many of the restaurants have espresso machines and you’ll find plenty of coffee shops that open early and stay open late. Nektar is a great place to get your caffeine fix.

Tips

Especially during the winter make sure that you bring a sturdy waterproof pair of boots that has traction. You possibly would want to invest in a pair of snow traction cleats as well.