Montreal and Quebec City
Montreal and Quebec City, in a few days
Lively Montreal and the walled old town of Quebec City, joined by the St Lawrence, with Charlevoix and the whales of Tadoussac beyond: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
- Day by day
- 1 Montreal Days 1-3
- 2 Quebec City and Charlevoix Days 4-5
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Montreal
A bilingual city on an island in the St Lawrence: the cobbled streets of Old Montreal, the colourful Plateau, and a festival in every season.
- Old Montreal guided walk2h · from €25Notre-Dame Basilica, the Old Port and the historic lanes, with the stories behind them.
- Mount Royal Park
- The Plateau Mont-Royal
- Jean-Talon Market
Quebec City and Charlevoix
Founded in 1608, the only city in North America north of Mexico to keep its walls, and UNESCO-listed. Beyond it, the river road climbs into the hills of Charlevoix.
- Whale watching from TadoussacFull day · from €70Belugas live here all year, and minke, fin and humpback whales come to feed where the Saguenay fjord meets the St Lawrence.
- Old Quebec and the Château Frontenac
- Montmorency Falls
- Île d'Orléans
Worth sorting before you go
Hire a car · Montreal to Quebec City is about three hours by road, and Charlevoix and Tadoussac are only practical with a car. Inside the two cities, walk.
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Poutine: chips with fresh cheese curds and brown gravy, born in rural Quebec in the 1950s.
- Maple syrup: on pancakes and bacon, or poured hot onto snow and rolled into taffy.
- Tourtière: a spiced meat pie, eaten above all at Christmas.
- Montreal bagels: smaller, denser and sweeter than New York's, boiled in honeyed water and baked in a wood oven.
- Smoked meat: spiced, cured brisket piled high on rye bread, the Montreal deli classic.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Prices are shown before tax: federal and Quebec sales taxes add about 15% at the till.
- Tip 15 to 20% in restaurants and bars, worked out on the total before tax.
- French is the official language: greet people in French before switching to English, and expect road signs in French only.
- Distances are long: Quebec City to Tadoussac alone is about three hours' drive.
Words that help
English ↔ French
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour |
| Thank you | Merci |
| Please | S'il vous plaît |
| Yes | Oui |
| No | Non |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi |
| Goodbye | Au revoir |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ? |
| I don't understand | Je ne comprends pas |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ? |
| Where are the toilets? | Où sont les toilettes ? |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaît |
| Help! | Au secours ! |
| Cheers! | Santé ! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/montreal-quebec
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.