Québec City is the only walled city in North America, but that is not the only thing that makes this place special. The cobblestone streets and tiny alleys will make you want to explore every corner of the old city. There are several hiking and nature options that are easily accessible right outside of the city. We spent two days exploring this French/English city and it was plenty of time to see the whole city while taking time to relax. Continue reading for the must see sites that shaped this city’s unique history that you can see in two days in Quebec City.
Old Québec
A historic neighborhood in Québec City with two main sections: Upper Town and Lower Town. You can use a funicular or a set of steep stairs to see both sections of the town. (I insisted that we use the stairs!) This historic neighborhood was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.
Château Frontenac
A grand, castle-like hotel located in the heart of Old Québec. The Château Frontenac is an icon of Québec City and the most photographed hotel in North America. Staying here is sure to be an amazing experience, but expect it to set you back about $300 USD per night.
Terrasse Dufferin
This terrace wraps around the Château Frontenac and located above the Lower Town portion of Old Québec. Take a stroll along the terrace, enjoy the views, and stop to enjoy a show from one of the many street performers. To visit Lower Town you can take a short funicular ride or use the stairs.
Plains of Abraham
A historic battleground where the decisive battle between the British and the French occurred. Today the Plains of Abraham is used as a popular concert venue in the summer and home to other outdoor activities throughout the year. We watched a free Billy Talent show followed by fireworks to celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary! Quebec City always seems to hosting festivals and events. In addition to the free concert, we enjoyed a morning run on the boardwalk connecting the Plains of Abraham to Terrase Dufferin.
Citadelle of Québec
Also known as La Citadelle, you shouldn’t miss the changing of the guards ceremony. During the summer, the ceremony occurs every day at 10am. Since the Citadelle is an active military installation you are not allowed to explore the area on your own. You need to purchase a ticket to a guided tour. We recommend taking the first tour of the day at 9am; the tour will end before the changing of the guards begins and will ensure that you have the best spot to view the ceremony.
Ferry to Levis
It doesn’t take long to realize how beautiful Quebec City is and it’s even more beautiful from the water. For less than $6 USD you can ride the ferry to Levis and capture an amazing, unique view of Chateau Frontenac. The ferry runs frequently throughout the day and we took a sunset ride to watch the city transform from day to night. Honestly, there isn’t a lot to do when you arrive in Levis, BUT we do recommend going on a short adventure to get the most delicious ice-cream we have ever had, ever! We have each tried a lot of ice cream in our lives, so we don’t wouldn’t say this is the best if we didn’t mean it! Check out our food and drink recommendations in Quebec City post.
Montmorency Falls
During your two days in Quebec City, we recommend leaving the city and visiting Montmorency Falls. I was surprised to realize that this was such a popular tourist attraction. Parking at the falls is about $10 USD. We saw many people walking into the area that parked elsewhere to avoid the fee. There is an information building with a restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms. Stop here to pick up a map and sign up to zip-line across the falls (if you dare)!
We walked along the path and reached the suspension bridge to cross over the top of the waterfall. We continued walking until we found the stairs that led to the bottom of the falls. I wanted to get as close to the waterfall as possible, but you will get soaked! Thankfully, it was a rainy day during our visit so we already had our rain gear handy. Be sure to bring your poncho if you want to get a close up with the waterfall!
Located 6 hours from Boston and 8 hours from New York City, Québec City is a perfect weekend getaway from the Northeast of the US. Two Days in Quebec City will make you feel as though you flew all the way to Europe for the weekend. Top off your weekend by using our Quebec City recommendations on where to eat and drink.
Another unique destination along the US east coast is Block Island. Check out our One Day on Block Island post for more information.
