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.
