There are many attractions to enjoy in charming Quebec City, Canada. Old Quebec is full of history, culture, and European charm. Here are eight must-see attractions for a trip to the Old City.
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Château Frontenac
The Château Frontenac is one of the most historical buildings of Old Quebec and a recognizable icon of the city’s skyline. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway at the end of the 19th century, the hotel stands at an impressive height overlooking the Saint Lawrence River.
Dufferin Terrace and the Old Quebec Funicular
The iconic Château Frontenac is surrounded by the Dufferin Terrace on its east side (Terrasse Dufferin). The terrace is a wooden boardwalk featuring gazebos for live music or shade from the summer sun and benches where visitors can sit to enjoy the view of the Saint Lawrence River. The Old Quebec Funicular (Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec) leads to the lower old town and is found at the northern end of the terrace.
Not everyone knows that Old Quebec is divided into the Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and the Lower Town (Basse-Ville). Visitors can walk or take the historic inclined elevator, a former railway funicular to link the two sections. The elevator just celebrated 145 years of operation and covers 210 feet.
Breakneck Steps and Quartier du Petit-Champlain
If you’d prefer stairs to the funicular, walk the Breakneck Steps (Escalier casse-cou) to head from Old Quebec’s Upper Town to the Lower Town. As Quebec City’s oldest stairway, built in 1635, the historic steps lead right into the charming Petit-Champlain quarter.
The Quartier du Petit-Champlain was named after Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer who founded Quebec in 1608. Cafés and vendors line the quaint central Rue du Petit-Champlain, considered by many to be North America’s oldest commercial district.
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Fresco on Rue du Petit-Champlain and Place Royale
On your stroll in the Quartier du Petit-Champlain, look for the famous fresco painted at 102 rue du Petit-Champlain. The impressive 900-square-foot painting colorfully depicts the neighborhood’s history, including the bombardments of 1759, landslides, and fires.
Some refer to this square, Place Royale, as the cradle of French North America given that Samuel de Champlain established the first permanent French settlement of the Americas there in 1608. Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church was built in 1688 and stands in the square as the oldest stone church in North America.
Ferry Quebec-Lévis
The ferry that connects Quebec to Lévis departs near the Petit-Champlain district. A one-way ticket is all you need if you’d like to head over the Saint Lawrence River by car and then drive back to Quebec City on the bridge. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Quebec’s most important riverway. We recommend taking the ferry on foot and enjoying both ways. The view of the Old City from the river shores of Lévis is hard to beat! (Bonus points for taking the ferry back at night to enjoy Old Quebec’s twinkling lights and the view of Château Frontenac.) (Traveler Tip: The ride takes 12 minutes each way.)
