Tourist Guide to Must Visit Places in Québec Province
Québec is a sizable province that comprises roughly one-sixth of Canada. Its varied landscapes range from remote Arctic tundra to ancient metropolis. The region is bordered by the American states of Vermont and New York in the south, the Arctic Circle virtually to the north, Hudson Bay to the west, and Hudson Bay to the south.
The St. Lawrence River, which is about 1,200 kilometers long, flows through the province's densely populated areas.
While the majority of tourists travel to the province's two major cities, Montréal and Québec City, there are other activities to do all year round. Some of the attractions include historical buildings, cultural institutions, festivals, small villages, and stunning parks and natural regions. Our list of the top attractions in Quebec will help you find the greatest locations to visit in the region.
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Hôtel de Glace
The Hôtel de Glace is a huge endeavor made of 15,000 tonnes of snow and 500,000 tonnes of ice, yet every spring it vanishes entirely. The Ice Hotel's rooms take a month and a half to complete and require 60 full-time workers, but the ultimate product is a stunning fusion of frigid, natural architecture and ambient pastel light. The hotel has 85 total rooms, a club, an art gallery, and even a chapel where a few weddings are frequently held.
The chairs and every other surface of the hotel are made of ice. Fur-covered beds, arctic-tested blankets, and sleeping bags are used to make the spaces more habitable. The only heated portions of the hotel are a couple of the outside restrooms and a few outdoor hot tubs to enhance the experience.
The hotel, which is an illustration of a pure ice structure, is only supported by its freezing walls, which can be as thick as four feet in order to insulate the building. The Hôtel de Glace is undoubtedly a unique experience because it alters in intricacy and layout every year, despite the fact that you may not receive a four-star treatment.
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, located in the sleepy riverside hamlet of Ste-Anne de Beaupré, welcomes 500,000 pilgrims annually. Saint Anne is the patron saint of Quebec, and many miraculous occurrences are attributed to her. Discarded crutches line the entrance as a memorial to the ill, maimed, and disabled people who have claimed miraculous recoveries. Although the location has been home to a Saint Anne-themed house of worship since the 17th century, the current building dates from 1926.
Chutes Ste-Anne and Sept-Chutes, two river gorges and waterfalls in the region northeast of Québec City, are also nearby. Tourists can stroll the nature trails and stand on suspension bridges to view the gorge in this location.
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Place Royale
Samuel de Champlain originally settled in Place Royale in 1608 and it is now home to a remarkable collection of 17th- and 18th-century structures that serve as a snapshot of Old Québec. Place Royale is where Québec City got its birth. A branch of the Musée de la Civilisation is one of the contemporary tourist attractions that front the square, along with the charming stone cathedral Notre-Dame des Victoires, which dates to 1688.
Within a few blocks, there is a tonne of Old Québec City sightseeing, particularly in the charming Quartier Petit-Champlain where historic buildings line quaint, pedestrian-only streets. There are many sights and activities to enjoy nearby, such as artisan shops, wonderful restaurants, and a trompe l'oeil mural with a historical theme.
La Citadelle de Québec
The star-shaped Citadel de Québec, which is perched atop Cap Diamant and faces the St. Lawrence River, has been prepared to protect Québec City since 1832. Its commanding ramparts and massive walls, encircled by deep ditches, highlight its formidable presence. In the ancient 18th-century powder magazine of the fort, where the military museum is located, visitors can enjoy a daily morning Changing of the Guard ritual during the summer.
The Citadel is still a functioning military base that houses personnel of all ranks and acts as the governor-general of Canada's summer residence. Additionally, it houses the illustrious 22nd Canadian Regiment's headquarters.
Îles de la Madeleine
The beaches and sand dunes of the Îles de la Madeleine archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are a picturesque and bustling location in the summer. Six of the twelve islands in the Îles de la Madeleine archipelago are connected by over 90 kilometers of sand dunes that resemble threads. The islands are perfect for those who enjoy water activities, bird watching, and leisurely strolls over the dunes; the best month to come in August.
One of the most lovely islands among the Îles de la Madeleine is Île du Havre aux Maisons, with its gentle hills, red cliffs, winding trails, and dispersed dwellings. A century-old convent, a heritage school, and Sainte-Madeleine Church are all separated by traditional residences. Cap Alright, which is also on Havre-aux-Maisons, is famous for its striking offshore rock formations and includes a small lighthouse.
On Île du Cap aux Meules, which is home to half of the archipelago's population, a ferry départs towards Île d'Entrée. This only inhabited island is not connected to the others. The Butte du Vent offers a stunning perspective of the nearby islands, and on a clear day, it is possible to see as far as Cape Breton Island, which is almost 100 kilometers distant. The Musée de la Mer is located in the little village of Île du Havre-Aubert, the archipelago's southernmost island.
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Château Frontenac
The magnificent Château Frontenac, which overlooks Québec City, is the most recognisable structure in the provincial capital and is visible from a great distance. The hotel was built by Canadian Pacific Railway in 1894, and it continues to host visitors from all over the world in one of the most charming settings you can imagine.
Fort St. Louis formerly stood at this hilltop vantage point, but today the wide boardwalk of Terrasse Dufferin offers picturesque views of Levis and the St. Lawrence River to the south. The Promenade des Gouverneurs, a major thoroughfare that travels south toward the Plains of Abraham and the Citadel, passes beneath the fort's ruins, which are visible to both hotel guests and tourists.
Mont Tremblant
Canadian Laurentians ski resorts are popular winter vacation spots, and Mont Tremblant, the Laurentians' highest mountain (at 960 meters), is one of them. It is situated about 150 kilometers north of Montréal. The resort community, located in a charming pedestrian village, is known for its excellent restaurants, entertainment options, and roomy lodgings. The area is also popular in the fall, when the leaves change to vibrant hues of orange, red, and gold.
Mont Sainte-Anne, which is close to Québec City, is another well-known ski resort. The resort offers a variety of summer activities, such as camping, hiking, mountain biking, and golfing, in addition to great winter sports conditions.
Bonaventure Island (île Bonaventure)
An estimated 50,000 gannets congregate on this island off the Gaspé Peninsula in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the summer, making it a well-known bird refuge. The island has the craggy, scenic landscape and sheer granite cliffs of the Gaspésie. A nature trail offers a route for birdwatching, where visitors can also see other seabirds such as Atlantic puffins, terns, razorbills, and several cormorant species.
The park is home to numerous rocky outcrops and spectacular cliffs that have been sculpted by the elements, including the famous Rocher Percé (Pierced Rock), which is frequently photographed. During the summer, the island is a top choice for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts due to its location along the Percé Coast.
Forillon National Park
The Gaspé Peninsula's tip, which projects into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is home to an untamed and remote national park. Limestone cliffs and the remote Cap des Rosiers Lighthouse are only two examples of the dramatic landscape. The tallest lighthouse in Canada is also home to a useful information center that disseminates knowledge about the local fauna.
There are various boat excursions for whale viewing in this region of Gaspésie, which is a favorite with bird watchers. Amazing views of the cliffs along the cape are rewarded for those who are willing to go along the Cap Bon-Ami trail.
Musée de la Civilisation (Museum of Civilization)
The Museum of Civilisation, located in Quebec City's Vieux Port (Old Port) neighborhood on the Saint Lawrence River's banks, is home to an incredible collection of artifacts and exhibitions about human civilization from all over the world.
Additionally, regionally specific displays from the permanent collections include topics such the history of the first interactions between Europeans and indigenous peoples, the expansion of the territories, and the history of the Québécois. The history of the sugar beet business, the history of horse-drawn coaches, as well as a "digital laboratory" wherein guests can do their own research are all covered in other permanent exhibits. Temporary displays explore a range of anthropological subjects, including indigenous communities and the impact of the modern digital era on human civilization.
For both adults and younger visitors, many of the displays have interactive components, and there are also designated kids' activities available. There are also guided tours. Additionally, there is a branch of the Museum of Civilization at Place Royale, and visitors can learn more about the history of French-Canadians at the Musée de l'Amérique Francophone (Museum of French America), which is housed in the historic Séminaire de Québec in the city's Upper Town and focuses on the past and present of French immigrants in the Americas.
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Montreal Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanique)
Canadian Laurentians ski resorts are popular winter vacation spots, and Mont Tremblant, the Laurentians' highest mountain (at 960 meters), is one of them. It is situated about 150 kilometers north of Montréal. The resort community, located in a charming pedestrian village, is known for its excellent restaurants, entertainment options, and roomy lodgings. The area is also popular in the fall when the leaves change to vibrant hues of orange, red, and gold.
Mont Sainte-Anne, which is close to Québec City, is another well-known ski resort. The resort offers a variety of summer activities, such as camping, hiking, mountain biking, and golfing, in addition to great winter sports conditions.
In the same park, there is also a great planetarium that immerses guests in the world of astronomy, as well as the Insectarium, a kid-friendly attraction that exposes both uncommon and familiar insects.
Chutes Montmorency
The wide, sweeping Chutes Montmorency waterfall is located just northeast of Québec City and descends an 84-meter slope. The falls are higher than Niagara Falls, and you can see the water crash over the edge directly beneath your feet thanks to a narrow pedestrian suspension bridge that spans the Montmorency River to île d'Orléans.
A café and an interpretative center are located in the Montmorency Manor, which also has a cable car that takes passengers to the top of the falls and offers stunning views of the surroundings. There are various walkways, stairways, viewing platforms, and picnic places where visitors can take in views of the falls. Rock climbing on neighboring cliffs or attempting the 300-meter zipline across the falls are other options for more daring guests.
Hudson Bay
With a total size of 637,000 square kilometers, Hudson Bay's expansive scenery and waterways rank among Canada's most isolated regions. The severe terrain, which extends into the Arctic Circle, is home to rare natural species. More than 800 different types of Arctic plants can be found here, such as purple saxifrage, arctic poppies, and Arctic lupine. Polar bears occasionally appear, along with migratory birds, seals, and other marine life.
Healthy fish populations can be found in the bay itself, while Beluga whale sightings are sporadic. The area has historically been inhabited by the Inuit people, and the little outpost communities have endured.
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Old Montréal (Vieux-Montreal)
Old Montréal, a collection of 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century structures around the city's Old Port, is best explored on foot. This historic area of the city is home to several of the biggest tourist attractions in Montréal, such as the neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica and the pedestrian-friendly Place Jacques-Cartier Square.
The Montréal Science Center and the Natrel Skating Rink are just two of the family-friendly attractions in the Old Port region. Families and couples will both enjoy La Grande Roue de Montréal (Observation Wheel). From inside covered gondolas, this more recent addition to the river's edge offers breathtaking views of Old Montréal, downtown, and beyond.
Parc Jean Drapeau
The 1967 World's Fair was held on the man-made island of Île Sainte-Hélène, which is today home to Parc Jean Drapeau and its many family-friendly attractions. A trip to the sizable La Ronde Amusement Park, which provides a variety of family-friendly and thrilling rides for all ages as well as entertainment and games, is the most well-liked activity to do with kids.
The Montreal Biodome, the largest building of its sort in the world, is a biosphere that emphasizes green technologies and features displays about ecology and environmental challenges. Visitors under the age of 18 are admitted for free.
History enthusiasts should visit the Stewart Museum, which houses permanent collections of thousands of works of art and artifacts, including furniture, scientific instruments, military hardware, and rare publications. The museum also organizes unique exhibits and occasions all year long.
Zoo de Granby
The Zoo de Granby offers cozy homes for creatures from a wide range of ecosystems and temperatures despite its position in a northern environment. More than 225 different species, or over 1,500 creatures, call it home, representing the flora of South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
The snow leopard, an endangered big cat dubbed "the ghost of the mountains" for its ability to blend into a snow-covered terrain, is one of the few animals that this zoo is home to. Other large cat species that live in the zoo includes the African lion, Amur tiger, jaguar, and Amur leopard.
Other popular attractions for tourists are the Eastern gray kangaroos, wallabies, and emus of Oceania and the elephants, white rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and giraffes of Africa. Alpacas, llamas, and Caribbean flamingos are some of the South American locals. The intelligent red panda, yak, and Bactrian camel are Asian residents.
The Western lowland gorilla, the Guereza from Africa, the Japanese macaque from Asia, and other primates are kept in the zoo. A variety of aquatic creatures are also present, including moon jellyfish, cownose rays, green sea turtles, and blacktip reef sharks.
Programs at the zoo offer opportunities to learn more about the animals as well as unique talks by naturalists. The zoo is a great day excursion from Montreal because it is open all year and is situated in the Eastern townships. Visitors are also welcome to experience the free on-site amusement park during the warmer months. Bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a roller coaster are among the family-friendly rides.
Canadian Museum of History
This contemporary structure in Gatineau has a view of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa across the river. The nation's premier museum highlights Canadian history, from Norse seafarers to First Nations cultures in the Pacific Northwest. The museum sponsors visiting exhibits from affiliated museums in addition to its permanent collection.
The Canadian Children's Museum, an interactive play-driven space where kids can get hands-on and experience a variety of cultures and historical themes, is also included with entry to the history museum, so families don't have to worry about the younger ones being bored. The museum also features a seven-story IMAX theater where a range of films about Canadian history and life in the north is shown.
Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park, near the city and river of the same name, is made up of a steep, largely untouched forest and peaceful lakes. The eccentric Canadian prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King once lived at Mackenzie King Estate, which is now a park, where guests can enjoy tours of this marble cavern at Lusk Cave.
The most well-known viewpoint in the park is Belvédère Champlain (Champlain Lookout), which offers picturesque views of the river valley and hills covered with trees, which are especially beautiful in the fall. The park pathways are used by a variety of people, including cyclists, dog owners, and walkers. There are also accommodations for camping, swimming, fishing, and skiing.
Mount Royal Park
In addition to serving as Montréal's namesake, Mont-Royal serves as the mountain's centerpiece. The Kondiaronk Belvedere offers a particularly good view of Québec City from the peak's 233-meter height.
The park hosts a variety of activities, such as cross-country skiing to the sound of many drums at Les Tam-Tams, which takes place on Sundays in the summer close to the Sir George-Étienne Cartier monument and winter ice skating on Lac-aux-Castors. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Île de Montréal and the St. Lawrence River from the platform at the peak. The peaks of the American Adirondacks can also be seen if the air is especially clear.
Notre-Dame Basilica
The oldest church in the city is the majestic-appearing Notre-Dame Basilica, one of Old Montréal's most popular tourist destinations. Victor Bourgeau created the interior, and its twin towers and neo-gothic façade soar above Place d'Armes. The church was established in 1656, and the magnificent current structure was constructed in 1829. The intricate wood carvings and stained-glass windows within are a spectacular sight.
A 7,000-pipe organ and a hand-carved pulpit are further noteworthy features; tours are offered for a fee. A nighttime light and sound concert frequently use lighting projections to present Montréal history. There is also the Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec in Québec City, which is renowned for its beautiful altar, Episcopal canopy, and stained-glass windows. It was created by the architect Baillairgé and finished in 1844.
Notre-Dame-Des-Neiges Cemetery
Montreal's Notre-Dame-Des-Neiges Cemetery is a very sizable cemetery that is located on Mount Royal's hill. Any Montrealer you speak with will almost certainly have a great-aunt, grandfather, or uncle interred there. It was established in 1854 and is the third-largest cemetery in North America.
The Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris served as inspiration for the cemetery's designers. Their intention was to combine a French classicism aesthetic with a sense of the natural world. This was a well-liked aesthetic trend at the time, influenced by French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In 1999, the cemetery received the designation of a National Historic Site of Canada.
The majority Roman Catholic cemetery is home to 65,000 monuments and can accommodate nearly a million people, or one-third of the city's population. A life-size replica of the original Pietà sculpture by Michelangelo is housed in one of the mausoleums, known as La Pietà Mausoleum.
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