10 Best Things to Do in Quebec

Enclosed by 17th-century fortifications, Old Québec City is a French-Canadian masterpiece that’s packed with monumental architecture every way you turn. Visitors flock to this UNESCO World Heritage Site to admire its beautifully preserved ramparts, Château Frontenac hotel and Place Royale square (a landmark that’s lined with restaurants, cafes and the oldest stone church in North America).

Stop by acclaimed local eateries including Le Petit Château (which serves classic French crepes with decadent fillings) and Bistrot Le Pape Georges (home of artisanal black pudding, trout tartare and creamy seafood chowder). In the warmer months, take a stroll along Terrasse Dufferin where you can watch the city’s busking musicians while enjoying a delicious homemade ice cream from Bar Laitier.

Located in Gatineau, Quebec, the Canadian Museum of History is dedicated to archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies, with a bright spotlight placed on the First Nations in Canada. The outstanding Grand Hall showcases some of the most mind-blowingly beautiful totem poles you’ll ever possibly see, carved by the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Coast region.

Attracting 1.2 million visitors annually, this esteemed public institution features 25,000 square metres of exhibits spanning ancient artefacts, stamp collections, sculptures, flags and sacred items. When you’re peckish, swing by the Panorama Café for tasty fare including three cheese cannelloni, Mexican beef tacos and New York-style Reuben sandwiches.

One of the most popular shopping and dining streets in Québec City, Le ​Petit-Champlain is famed for its fairy-tale retail experience in a historic part of the Old Town. Set at the base of Cap Diamant, this picture-postcard thoroughfare teems with independent merchants stocking everything from luxury leather goods and artisan jewellery to gourmet pastries and fashion.

Swing by Atelier La Pomme for goods made by over thirty Québécois artisans including Karkass, Anne-Marie Chagnon and Garneau, or visit Charlevoix Pure Laine for soles and throws crafted from super-soft sheep's wool. Brin de Folie is the perfect place to pick up unique children’s gifts including vintage marbles, Disney figurines and enchanting musical snow globes.

Showcasing 22,000 species of plants, a multitude of greenhouses and over 20 thematic landscapes, Montreal Botanical Garden is a horticulturist’s paradise. One can easily spend the day here admiring exotic collections of orchids and cacti, before wandering through immaculately designed gardens dedicated to Chinese, Japanese and First Nations cultures.

The Frédéric Back Tree Pavilion features the venue’s arboretum collections, while the atmospheric Hacienda recalls Mexican courtyard gardens filled with ornamental blooms and stunning desert succulents. The Botanical Garden Restaurant serves a delectable selection of casual meals made with fresh ingredients including hearty deli sandwiches and crisp, summery salads.

Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park offers some of the most panoramic views in all of Canada. This incredible natural playground delivers 320 sq km of pristine alpine scenery including the famed Saguenay Fjord, dizzyingly high cliffs and awe-inspiring forests that are perfect for hiking and camping.

Take to the majestic Saguenay River for the sea kayaking adventure of a lifetime or go in search of the park’s stunning native fauna including black bears, wolves, moose, lynx and rare beluga whales. The picturesque village of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord is encircled by dramatic wooded mountains and boasts a number of fabulous eateries like Restaurant Chez Mina and the Rose Café.

Situated northeast of Quebec City, with spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River, Le Massif de Charlevoix is a vast alpine playground. It will see you enjoying skiing and snowboarding in the wintertime and mountain biking, hiking and canyoning in the warmer months of the year. With the longest vertical drop east of the Rockies, and a 7.5 km toboggan run, there’s no better place to holiday across the Christmas and New Year period.

The mountain's pristine ski area encompasses 53 trails spread across 406 acres (with natural snowfall averaging 645 cm). After a day in the elements, enjoy a wood-fired meat dinner at the high-altitude Le Camp Boule restaurant, followed a visit to Pub Le Grand Duc for cocktails, wine and beer.

Set in Quebec’s majestic Laurentian Mountains, Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve is a gargantuan outdoors playground with innumerable recreational activities on offer. Home to some of the nation’s most beautiful lakes and rivers, this sprawling 1,630 sq km park teems with a myriad of fish species including smallmouth bass, northern pike, splake and brook trout.

In the warmer weather, you’ll enjoy fishing, canoeing, hiking and wild berry picking, while winter introduces snow-centric activities such as cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and dogsledding. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the reserve’s many residents including wolves, white-tailed deer, moose and black bears.

Ungava Bay is found in the far reaches of northern Quebec (also known as Nunavik to the Inuit people) where it separates the mainland from Baffin Island. This Arctic alienscape may be known as a treeless tundra that’s filled with ice, but there are magical surprises to be found if you look a little closer.

Several operators host intrepid expeditions to this vast Canadian wilderness where you’ll get the chance to witness the dazzling northern lights, get up close and personal with polar bears, Arctic wolves and caribous. With a knowledgeable guide, you can also visit some of Ungava Bay’s Nunavik communities, like the fascinating and remote Kuujjuaq (accessible only by snowmobile, dog sled, canoe or light plane).

Anticosti Island is an off the beaten track sanctuary that’s situated in the dramatic Gulf of Saint Lawrence, halfway between mainland Quebec and the norther tip of New Brunswick. Sparsely populated but rich with unspoiled forests and abundant wildlife, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the place to come when you want to hike amongst spectacular scenery and go searching for fossils.

Spend a weekend here stalking herds of white-tailed deer, exploring mysterious cave systems, discovering historic shipwrecks and swimming in the emerald waters of the glorious Chicotte River. Venture to Vauréal Falls for a day of easy-breezy picnicking in cinematic surrounds or visit the island’s six charming lighthouses (a must for photographers).

When you think of Canada, you don’t necessarily think of wine, but once you take The Wine Route, you'll change your mind. The wineries of the Eastern Townships offer the perfect vacation for vinophiles who are looking to sample a superb array of wines in picture-postcard scenery.

Traversing over 140 kms of road through seven of Quebec’s prettiest villages, The Wine Route will see you stopping by world-class vineyards and restaurants serving farm-to-table fare, as well as biking along distinct cycling routes. Visit historic Château Ste-Agnès for wine, cheese and charcuterie tastings, Clos Saragnat for organic cider and Domaine du Ridge for a guided tour of the family estate (and a chance to be a part of its annual harvest).