Old Quebec Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Old Quebec
Old Quebec
Old Quebec which includes a city, street scenes and signage
Old Quebec which includes a city, a coastal town and street scenes
Old Quebec

Québec’s oldest district is protected as an internationally recognised historic site and is where you’ll find many of the city’s oldest and best attractions.

Old Québec is where most visitors to the city choose to spend their time. It is an area filled with many of the city’s historic attractions, cobblestone streets and nice boutique shops and restaurants.

The only walled city in North America, Old Québec covers 135 hectares (333 acres) of the city. The protected World Heritage Site starts at Place-Royale on the river and ends at the famous Château Frontenac on the Cap Diamant headland. Walk streets lined with French-style architecture and see many of Québec’s oldest buildings, some dating as far back as the 17th century.

Old Québec is divided into two parts. Start in the Lower Town (Basse-Ville) and work your way up to the Upper Town (Haute-Ville), or vice versa.

The Lower Town includes the Old Port (Vieux-Port). Stroll along the riverside promenade and visit museums and old shipyards. Browse antique shops on the Rue Saint-Paul. The Rue du Petit-Champlain is a famous pedestrian-only boulevard lined with restaurants. From here you can ride on the cable railway or walk up a set of stairs to get to the Upper Town.

The Upper Town rises above the St. Lawrence River along the Cap Diamant. Many of the city’s earliest fortifications are here, including the Citadelle of Québec. This huge structure was built in the 1800s to stop American forces from attacking the city. They never did, and the citadel remains intact and in use today. See the Changing of the Guard ceremony by the Royal 22e Régiment.

Walk along the Dufferin Terrace promenade for views of the river. Photograph the many turrets of the Château Frontenac, the famous luxury hotel.

See Old Québec on foot or by bicycle. The relatively compact area is easy to navigate and some streets are for pedestrians only. You can also catch the Écolobus, a small, electric bus that just services the Upper and Lower towns. If you’re in a hurry, catch a taxi. Driving is made difficult by narrow streets and limited parking but you can pay to park in a garage on the outskirts of the old city and then walk from there.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Old Quebec Hotel Deals

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac

4.5 out of 5
1 rue des Carrieres, Québec City, QC
The price is AU$884 per night from 7 Aug to 8 Aug
AU$884
7 Aug - 8 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Québec City. Enjoy a full-service spa, 3 restaurants, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,426 reviews)
"The Fairmont Gold upgrade was amazing: Private concierge, delicious food, incredible desserts. Such nice staff."

Reviewed on 2 Aug. 2025

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
 Hôtel Palace Royal Centre-Ville par JARO

Hôtel Palace Royal Centre-Ville par JARO

4 out of 5
775 Honoré-Mercier Ave, Québec City, QC
The price is AU$269 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
AU$269
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Québec City. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), room service, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the restaurant ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,125 reviews)
Lovely hotel, with one exception.
"We came for a family holiday. The hotel was very nice and overall the room was quite comfortable and well laid out. We stayed in a room with a queen bed and the murphy bed in a separate room. My only criticism was that on entering the hotel, my mother needed to use the restroom, and the door for ..."

Reviewed on 2 Aug. 2025

Hôtel Palace Royal Centre-Ville par JARO
Hotel Acadia

Hotel Acadia

3 out of 5
43 Rue Sainte-ursule, Québec City, QC
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Québec City. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and concierge services. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (137 reviews)
"Not much to the hotel but excellent location while being nice and clean."

Reviewed on 1 Aug. 2025

Hotel Acadia
Hotel Manoir Victoria

Hotel Manoir Victoria

4 out of 5
44, Cote du Palais, Québec City, QC
The price is AU$423 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
AU$423
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Québec City. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,498 reviews)
"The hotel is perfectly situated, only a 1/2 block walk from a main street closed off at night with excellent restaurants, ice cream and shopping. It's in a beautiful area of the city. Our room was cleaned and vacuumed daily. The front desk was very helpful, with charming and patient clerks. Highly ..."

Reviewed on 2 Aug. 2025

Hotel Manoir Victoria
Hôtel Manoir Vieux Québec

Hôtel Manoir Vieux Québec

3.5 out of 5
6 Rue de la Porte, Québec City, QC
The price is AU$321 per night from 2 Sept to 3 Sept
AU$321
2 Sept - 3 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Québec City. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a business center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,254 reviews)
"The only downside to staying at this location was the food options and coffee for breakfast. It was Econolodge quality and we expected much, much better while we were in Quebec City."

Reviewed on 31 Jul. 2025

Hôtel Manoir Vieux Québec
Le Capitole Hôtel

Le Capitole Hôtel

4.5 out of 5
972, rue Saint-Jean, Québec City, QC
The price is AU$527 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
AU$527
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Québec City. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (1,420 reviews)
Fantastic hotel in great location
"Fantastic hotel in great location, but I wouldn't want to stay lower than the 2nd floor. Front desk staff was great, but we did not have good service in the hotel bar."

Reviewed on 3 Aug. 2025

Le Capitole Hôtel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Old Quebec

Old Quebec which includes a city, street scenes and signage

Upper Town

If you're spending some time in Upper Town, Quebec City Town Hall and Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec are top sights worth seeing.

Upper Town
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Vieux-Québec-Cap-Blanc-Colline Parlementaire

If you're spending some time in Vieux-Québec-Cap-Blanc-Colline Parlementaire, Quebec Cruise Terminal and Quebec City Town Hall are top sights worth seeing.

Vieux-Québec-Cap-Blanc-Colline Parlementaire
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Old Port Quebec City

Old Port Quebec City is known for its stunning river views, and you can see some sights area like Quebec Cruise Terminal and Agora Port de Quebec.

Old Port Quebec City
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Cap-Blanc

If you're spending some time in Cap-Blanc, Plains of Abraham and Grande Allée are top sights worth seeing.

Cap-Blanc
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Saint-Jean-Baptiste

If you're spending some time in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Grand Theatre of Quebec and Grande Allée are top sights worth seeing.

Saint-Jean-Baptiste
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Saint-Roch

4/5(8 area reviews)

Saint-Roch is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Marina Saint-Roch or The Museum of L'Isle-aux-Grues.

Saint-Roch

Old Quebec Travel Guide

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