Top 25 Things to Do in Quebec City, Indoors and Out

Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America, and every cobblestone street in Old Quebec hides a story. Whether you're racing across the Upper Town to the Château Frontenac or foiling a Hitchcock-worthy plot all the way down to Place Royale, here are 25 ideas to keep the adventure going, including 6 indoor activities for rainy or freezing days.

Around Total Madness in Old Quebec Game

• Fortifications of Québec: Walk the ramparts that still ring Old Quebec, the only city north of Mexico that has kept its fortified walls.
• Rue Saint-Jean: Shops, cafés and pubs on both sides of the Saint-Jean Gate, lively day and night.
• Rue du Trésor: An open-air alley gallery where local artists show and sell their work.
• Château Frontenac: The city's signature landmark. Step inside to admire the lobby or book a guided tour.
• Dufferin Terrace: A boardwalk with sweeping river views. In winter, race down the toboggan slide facing the Château.
• Citadelle of Québec: A star-shaped fortress still home to the Royal 22nd Regiment, with a museum and guided tours.

Around Diabolical Plots in Old Quebec Game

• Parliament Building: Home of Quebec's National Assembly, with free guided tours.
• Plains of Abraham: The historic battlefield turned vast city park: picnics in summer, cross-country skiing in winter.
• Grande Allée: A strip of lively patios, steps from Parliament.
• Old Québec Funicular: The scenic shortcut between Dufferin Terrace and Petit Champlain.
• Petit Champlain District: Artisan shops, bistros and the famous Breakneck Stairs.
• Place Royale: The cradle of French America, with Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church and the Fresque des Québécois mural nearby.

Indoor Activities in Quebec City

Pouring rain or deep freeze? These ideas keep the fun going indoors.

• Musée de la civilisation: Interactive exhibits on Quebec and the world, right in the Old Port.
• Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec: Quebec art from past to present, on the edge of the Plains of Abraham.
• Le Monastère des Augustines: A restored Old Quebec monastery with a museum devoted to the nursing sisters who founded it.
• Grand Marché de Québec: Local farmers, bakers and brewers under one roof, year-round.
• Méga Parc at Galeries de la Capitale: Rides, a Ferris wheel and a skating rink in an indoor amusement park.
• Bora Parc: Village Vacances Valcartier's indoor water park, with slides and a surf wave, open year-round.

Bonus Picks

Wherever you start or finish, these citywide gems are worth the detour.

• Montmorency Falls Park: A waterfall taller than Niagara Falls, best seen from the suspension bridge or the cable car.
• Île d'Orléans: Farms, cideries and berry stands, a short drive from downtown.
• Québec-Lévis Ferry: The crossing serves up one of the best views of Old Quebec and the Château.
• Saint-Roch: Restaurants, cafés and craft breweries in the Lower Town's trendiest neighborhood.
• Avenue Cartier: Gourmet shops, patios and cafés in the Montcalm neighborhood, steps from the fine arts museum.
• Promenade Samuel-De Champlain: A long riverside park for walking or cycling along the St. Lawrence.
• Québec Winter Carnival: Every winter, Bonhomme, night parades and snow sculptures take over the city.