Quebec City itinerary: 1 to 3 days
Plans for one to three days in Quebec City, day by day: the Séminaire, the two cathedrals, the Citadelle, the Terrasse Dufferin, the Château Frontenac, Petit-Champlain and Place Royale first, then the Ramparts, the Parliament Building, the Plains of Abraham, the Musée de la civilisation and the Ursulines, and Montmorency Falls and the fine arts museum as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Quebec City in 1 day
Day 1
Séminaire de Québec
Seminary founded in 1663 by Bishop Laval, whose old courtyards hold the Musée de l'Amérique francophone.
Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec
The oldest cathedral parish in North America, with a gilded interior, a holy door and crypts of the bishops.
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Anglican cathedral of 1804, the first Anglican cathedral built outside the British Isles, set in a quiet close.
Citadelle of Quebec
Star-shaped fortress on Cap Diamant, still an active base of the Royal 22nd Regiment, with a museum and guided tours.
Terrasse Dufferin
Wide wooden boardwalk beside the Château Frontenac with views over the St. Lawrence River and the Lower Town.
Château Frontenac
Grand castle-like railway hotel of 1893 high above the St. Lawrence, the best-known landmark of Quebec City.
Old Quebec Funicular
Short inclined lift between the Terrasse Dufferin in the Upper Town and Rue du Petit-Champlain in the Lower Town.
Rue du Petit-Champlain
Narrow pedestrian street in the Lower Town, lined with boutiques, cafes and old stone houses below the cliff.
Place Royale, Quebec City
Small stone square where Champlain founded the city in 1608, with old houses, a mural and a church.
Quebec City in 2 days
Day 1
Séminaire de Québec
Seminary founded in 1663 by Bishop Laval, whose old courtyards hold the Musée de l'Amérique francophone.
Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec
The oldest cathedral parish in North America, with a gilded interior, a holy door and crypts of the bishops.
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Anglican cathedral of 1804, the first Anglican cathedral built outside the British Isles, set in a quiet close.
Citadelle of Quebec
Star-shaped fortress on Cap Diamant, still an active base of the Royal 22nd Regiment, with a museum and guided tours.
Ramparts of Quebec City
The walls and gates around the Upper Town, the only remaining fortified city walls north of Mexico, with a walk along the top.
Parliament Building
Second Empire home of Quebec's National Assembly, decorated with statues of key figures from the province's history.
Plains of Abraham
Large park on the clifftop where the 1759 battle decided the fate of New France, now open lawns and paths.
Day 2
Terrasse Dufferin
Wide wooden boardwalk beside the Château Frontenac with views over the St. Lawrence River and the Lower Town.
Château Frontenac
Grand castle-like railway hotel of 1893 high above the St. Lawrence, the best-known landmark of Quebec City.
Old Quebec Funicular
Short inclined lift between the Terrasse Dufferin in the Upper Town and Rue du Petit-Champlain in the Lower Town.
Rue du Petit-Champlain
Narrow pedestrian street in the Lower Town, lined with boutiques, cafes and old stone houses below the cliff.
Place Royale, Quebec City
Small stone square where Champlain founded the city in 1608, with old houses, a mural and a church.
Musée de la civilisation
Museum in the Lower Town on Quebec's history, peoples and cultures, with lively changing exhibitions.
Ursulines of Quebec
The Ursuline convent founded in 1639, the oldest school for girls in North America, with a museum and chapel.
Quebec City in 3 days
Day 1
Montmorency Falls
Waterfall higher than Niagara at the mouth of the Montmorency River, with a cable car, stairs and a suspension bridge.
Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec
The oldest cathedral parish in North America, with a gilded interior, a holy door and crypts of the bishops.
Séminaire de Québec
Seminary founded in 1663 by Bishop Laval, whose old courtyards hold the Musée de l'Amérique francophone.
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Anglican cathedral of 1804, the first Anglican cathedral built outside the British Isles, set in a quiet close.
Château Frontenac
Grand castle-like railway hotel of 1893 high above the St. Lawrence, the best-known landmark of Quebec City.
Terrasse Dufferin
Wide wooden boardwalk beside the Château Frontenac with views over the St. Lawrence River and the Lower Town.
Day 2
Ramparts of Quebec City
The walls and gates around the Upper Town, the only remaining fortified city walls north of Mexico, with a walk along the top.
Citadelle of Quebec
Star-shaped fortress on Cap Diamant, still an active base of the Royal 22nd Regiment, with a museum and guided tours.
Plains of Abraham
Large park on the clifftop where the 1759 battle decided the fate of New France, now open lawns and paths.
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Quebec's national art museum on the Plains of Abraham, with Quebec art from the colonial era to today.
Parliament Building
Second Empire home of Quebec's National Assembly, decorated with statues of key figures from the province's history.
Day 3
Musée de la civilisation
Museum in the Lower Town on Quebec's history, peoples and cultures, with lively changing exhibitions.
Place Royale, Quebec City
Small stone square where Champlain founded the city in 1608, with old houses, a mural and a church.
Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church
Small stone church of 1688 on Place Royale, one of the oldest in North America, with a ship model inside.
Rue du Petit-Champlain
Narrow pedestrian street in the Lower Town, lined with boutiques, cafes and old stone houses below the cliff.
Old Quebec Funicular
Short inclined lift between the Terrasse Dufferin in the Upper Town and Rue du Petit-Champlain in the Lower Town.
Ursulines of Quebec
The Ursuline convent founded in 1639, the oldest school for girls in North America, with a museum and chapel.
Watch: Quebec City
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Quebec City
Summer, from June to August, is warm and lively, with outdoor shows and the Festival d'été de Québec in July, but the old town is crowded. Early autumn brings colourful leaves and fewer visitors. Winters are long, cold and snowy, and the Quebec Winter Carnival in February is a big event.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Quebec City on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Quebec City on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Quebec City on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Canada from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Quebec City
- The Old Quebec Funicular links the Terrasse Dufferin with the Lower Town; the Breakneck Steps nearby are a free but steep alternative.
- The Citadelle is an active military base and is seen on guided tours; in summer the Changing of the Guard takes place there in the morning.
- The Parliament Building offers free guided tours; bring photo ID for the security check.
- Montmorency Falls are about 12 km east of the old town, with a cable car, stairs and a suspension bridge over the falls.
- Old Quebec is hilly with steep streets and stairs; wear good shoes, and expect snow and ice on the paths in winter.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec: Wilfredor, CC0
- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: Wilfredor, CC0
- Château Frontenac: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Citadelle of Quebec: Musée Royal 22e Régiment, Public domain
- Montmorency Falls: self, Public domain
- Musée de la civilisation: Claude Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Public domain
- Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church: Wilfredor, CC0
- Old Quebec Funicular: GarrettRock at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parliament Building: Wilfredor, CC0
- Place Royale, Quebec City: Gilbert Bochenek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Plains of Abraham: Guillaume Cattiaux, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ramparts of Quebec City: Judicieux, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rue du Petit-Champlain: Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Séminaire de Québec: Gilbert Bochenek, CC BY 3.0
- Terrasse Dufferin: Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ursulines of Quebec: No machine-readable author provided. Iberville assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
