Quebec City from Montreal: a day trip done right

Almost every first-time visitor to Montreal asks us the same question at the front desk: can I do Quebec City in a day? The honest answer is yes — it’s a long day, but a very good one. Quebec City is about 250 km down the St. Lawrence, and its old town is unlike anything else in North America. Here’s how to get there, what to see in the hours you have, and how to make Montreal your base for the whole trip.

Train, bus or car?

• Train (VIA Rail) — trains leave from Central Station (Gare Centrale) downtown and arrive at Gare du Palais, right at the foot of Old Québec. The ride takes roughly three to three and a half hours, with several departures a day. It’s the most comfortable option, and fares are usually lower the earlier you book.
• Bus (Orléans Express) — coaches leave from the Montreal bus station next to Berri-UQAM metro and also arrive at Gare du Palais. The trip takes about the same time as the train, and departures run through the day.
• Car — about three hours on Autoroute 20 or 40. A car is the only easy way to add Île d’Orléans to the day, but parking in the old town is tight and you’ll be walking once you get there anyway.

For a day trip, take the first train or bus of the morning and the last one back in the evening. Our guide to getting to Montreal covers both stations in more detail.

Upper Town: the walls and the Château

Old Québec has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, and it is the only city north of Mexico whose fortified walls still stand. Start in the Upper Town: walk up to the Château Frontenac, the castle-hotel that shows up on every postcard, and stroll the boardwalk of the Dufferin Terrace for the view over the river. From there, the Governors’ Promenade climbs along the cliff toward the Citadelle and the Plains of Abraham, a huge park where the city’s history was decided in 1759. Back inside the walls, rue Saint-Jean is the lively main street, and the narrow rue du Trésor is lined with local artists selling prints.

Lower Town: Petit-Champlain and Place Royale

Go down the steep Breakneck Stairs — or take the funicular from the Dufferin Terrace — to the Petit-Champlain quarter, one of the oldest shopping streets in North America. A few steps away, Place Royale is where Samuel de Champlain founded the city in 1608; its small stone church, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, dates from 1688. Look for the giant Fresque des Québécois, a mural that tells the city’s story in one wall. For the best photo of the Château, take the ferry to Lévis across the river and back: the crossing is short and the view is the classic one.

Montmorency Falls and Île d’Orléans

• Montmorency Falls — about fifteen minutes from the old town by car, taxi or city bus, the falls drop 83 metres, roughly 30 metres more than Niagara. A suspension bridge crosses right over the top, and stairs run down the cliff beside them.
• Île d’Orléans — just past the falls, a rural island of farms, orchards, cideries and roadside stands. It’s best by car, and it can easily fill an afternoon on its own, so on a one-day trip pick either the island or a slow afternoon in the old town.

What to eat

Quebec City is the place to try the traditional Québécois table: tourtière (meat pie), pea soup, baked beans and maple everything. In winter, look for maple taffy poured on snow. For a more local lunch away from the tour groups, walk down the hill from the walls to Saint-Roch, a neighbourhood of cafés, bakeries and microbreweries. And don’t worry if you missed poutine in Montreal — it’s everywhere here too. Our Montreal classic foods guide covers what to compare when you get back.

Quebec City through the seasons

• Winter — the old town under snow is the postcard. The Québec Winter Carnival runs from late January into February, and a German-style Christmas market fills the old town in late November and December. Dress for real cold: our Montreal winter guide has the packing list.
• Summer — terrasses, street performers and the big outdoor music festival, the Festival d’été de Québec, in July. Book the train early.
• Fall — the cliffs and the island turn red and gold. If you love the colours, our fall colours day trips guide has more ideas closer to Montreal.

A few things to know

• French first — Quebec City is more French-speaking than Montreal. Most people in tourist areas speak English, but a “bonjour” and a “merci” go a long way.
• Wear good shoes — the old town is all hills, cobblestones and staircases.
• Check your return time before you start exploring, and set an alarm. The last train or bus back is the one you can’t miss.
• Pack light — a small bag with water, a layer and a charger is all you need for the day.

Why keep your base in Montreal

Doing Quebec City as a day trip means you don’t pack up, check out and check in again halfway through your stay. Your suitcase stays in a personal locker big enough for a standard suitcase, and you come home to a private, enclosed capsule with a real locking door — not a curtain — and an in-bed smart TV. After a long day on your feet, the shared kitchen and lounge are there for a late dinner and a cup of tea. From our Bishop property, Central Station is about a twenty-minute walk; from our Saint-Laurent property, the bus station is a short walk or one metro stop away. New to the city? Start with our first-time-in-Montreal guide.

Travelling with a group?

School trips, tour operators and teams often pair Montreal with a day in Quebec City. To book a block of capsules for the Montreal nights, contact Marie directly at Marielechat@capsuleshotels.com — more on the groups page.