Holiday in Québec City

What makes Québec City special as a destination?

Québec City, the cradle of French culture in North America, is the only fortified city north of Mexico and a place that feels like a piece of Europe has been transplanted into Canada. The UNESCO World Heritage site Vieux-Québec (Old City) with its cobbled streets, steep roofs, and gray stone facades resembles a Breton small town more than a North American metropolis. The Château Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world, towers like a French fairy tale castle over the city and the wide St. Lawrence River. The Dufferin Terrace in front offers one of the most magnificent city views in Canada. The hotel itself, opened in 1893, defines the skyline of Québec City and has become a symbol of the entire province. The Lower Town (Basse-Ville) around Place Royale is the birthplace of French civilization in North America. Here, Samuel de Champlain founded the colony in 1608, and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church (1688) is the oldest stone church in North America. The narrow streets of Quartier Petit-Champlain, lined with boutiques and bistros, are considered the most picturesque street in Canada. The Carnaval de Québec, the largest winter carnival in the world, transforms the city into a winter wonderland in February. Ice sculptures, snow bathing, dog sled races, and Bonhomme, the laughing snowman mascot, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. The Québécois celebrate winter instead of fearing it. In summer, the city transforms into a vibrant festival metropolis. The Festival d'été (Summer Festival) brings international music acts to the stages, the restaurant terraces fill up, and the promenades by the river pulse into the night. The culinary scene of Québec City combines French sophistication with Canadian warmth. From Poutine (fries with cheese curds and gravy) to Tourtière (meat pie) to maple syrup desserts — the cuisine is a feast of delights. Île d'Orléans, just 15 minutes from the city, is Québec's Garden of Eden with strawberry fields, maple syrup farms, and cider producers.