Intentional travel with balance & ease
The Perfect Quebec City Weekend (3-Day Itinerary)
Written By
Joba
July 9 2026
Quebec City had been on my radar for a long time, but I’d just never gotten around to visiting. Better late than never though, because after one weekend, this beautiful city has exceeded my expectations by a lot. Old Quebec especially is so beautiful, with the cobblestone streets, stone walls and Château Frontenac making it look like I somehow landed in France, instead of Canada. This city is an 8-hour drive from Toronto, however, I suggest taking the 90-minute flight if you’ll only be spending a weekend like I did.
If you want to know exactly how to spend the perfect summer weekend in Quebec City, keep scrolling.
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What You Need to Know Before Visiting Quebec City
Before you start planning, here are the things that made this trip much easier and saved us time and money.
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Language: Quebec City is French first, so expect the street signs, menus, and most service interactions to be entirely in French. You’ll find some English-speaking people in tourist areas, but learning a few phrases and having a translation app can make things easier.
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Currency: While it may be giving Europe, it’s still very much in Canada so there’s no currency conversion and cards are accepted practically everywhere.
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Getting Around: Quebec City is very walkable, but it largely depends on where your hotel or Airbnb is located. I suggest renting a car for easier movement if you’ll be taking any trips outside the city.
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Visa: If you're coming from outside Canada, check entry requirements before booking.
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Best Time to Visit: Quebec City is a great destination throughout the year, but the winter months get as cold as the rest of the country. For the most pleasant weather, a visit between June and August is the way to go.
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What to Pack: comfortable walking shoesshoes, a small day bag to fit your day trip essentials, and a camera or phone with decent zoom.
Where to Stay in Quebec City
If you want to be close enough to everything, I suggest booking a hotel or Airbnb in Old Quebec. We stayed at this beautiful 2-bedroom apartment which was a walking distance to Old Quebec, and it was the best decision for our group of five (4 adults and 1 baby). It’s rooftop pool and kitchen were big selling points for us, and the proximity to the city attractions and good restaurants, made it a no-brainer.
If you end up booking it, tell the host Joba sent you. I can’t promise that it will get you a discount, but you never know!
My Full Weekend Itinerary
Day 1: Friday
We landed after a 90-minute flight from Toronto and headed straight to La Buche for breakfast. Booking this restaurant ahead is the way to go, as it is very popular and fills up quickly (especially on weekends). I found the menu to be very Quebecois, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
Since we arrived so early in the day, we decided to go straight into exploring Old Quebec to pass time before check in. The best way to do this is by foot, as this is one of the most walkable places I've visited in Canada, and practically everything is 5 to 10 minutes apart. You can decide to explore by yourself or book a guided walking tour.
If you decide to explore on your own, this is the best route to maximise your time and energy:
- Start on Dufferin Terrace for the best panoramic view of the St. Lawrence River and a great angle of Château Frontenac. It's free and absolutely stunning.
- Next, follow the signs up to Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace from the end of Dufferin Terrace. It's a short walk higher up the cliff and a completely different angle of Château Frontenac, the old town below, and the St. Lawrence River. This spot is also perfect for a sunset picnic.
- Head to the lower town of Old Quebec. You can choose to ride the Funiculaire or take the Breakneck Stairs. If you have accessibility needs or just don’t feel like walking 59 steep steps down, the Funiculaire costs $6 per ride, and you get a gorgeous view of the lower town as you descend.
- Once in the lower town, start at Petit Champlain, as it’s the main street of this part of town. Spend time exploring the boutique shops, galleries, and cafés and don’t forget to buy local!
- Then, walk a few minutes to the famous Umbrella Alley (AKA Rue du Cul-de-Sac). It’s exactly what it sounds like, and is filled with vibrant colors everywhere you turn.
- If you have some additional time, you can add Place-Royale to your stops, which is where one of the oldest stone churches in North America (Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church) sits. And if you want to see Château Frontenac from yet another angle, head to Parc Montmorency for a picture-perfect view before going to grab lunch.
By late-afternoon, we headed over to check in to our Airbnb and settle in for the day. Ended up canceling our dinner plans and ordering pizza in for dinner, which was the perfect end to such a busy travel day.
Day 2: Saturday
Make day 2 your nature day. I’m talking waterfalls, canyons and unreal views and the best part is that every stop was still within 30-40 minutes of Old Quebec. If you don’t have a rental car, you can book a group tour here to get the most out of your day.
Our first stop was brunch on the popular Rue St-Jean. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day or whatever they say. This street is packed with all kinds of restaurant options and no matter what you go for, it’ll hardly be a miss.
Our next stop for the day was Montmorency Falls. The first thing everyone tells you about this place is that it is taller than Niagara, but no one adds that it is far less crowded, and that you can see the top AND base of the falls so up close. Parking is straightforward, so you can get straight into exploring as soon as you arrive.
Start at the top. You can ride the cable car to the top of the falls at an extra cost or take the stairs. Once you get to the top, hike about 10 minutes to the suspension bridge for a close-up view of Montmorency Falls. This is one of those views that resets your brain a little and you genuinely cannot believe what you're looking at. And if you think that is breathtaking, just wait until you get to the base of the falls.
The cable car has a 4:50pm cut off for its daily run, so make sure you factor that into your planning. Missing that would mean taking the 487 steps back down.
After visiting Niagara Falls practically every year, for the last 8 years, I didn't expect to be as impressed by Montmorency Falls as I was. I particularly loved that it felt touristy while still feeling like a natural wonder that it is. It is definitely a must-see if you’re visiting Quebec City. Visit Montmorency Falls by booking directly here or find a guided group tour from Quebec City here.
For your next stop, drive about 30 minutes from Montmorency Falls to Canyon Sainte-Anne, and make sure you plan your timing better than we did, because we arrived too late and couldn’t get in before closing. It’s still very much on my list and worth including in yours.
Canyon Sainte-Anne is one of the most underrated natural sites in the province, and is generally quieter and less crowded than Montmorency Falls, which makes it a great choice especially when you're in a group or have a baby in tow. This place has three suspension bridges, each one giving you a different view, the Air Canyon zipline, and a restaurant and picnic area on site. The second suspension bridge in particular comes highly recommended and will blow your mind.
Book your tickets in advance and check closing times before you go, as Canyon Sainte-Anne closes earlier than you’d expect.
An optional final stop is Jean Larose Falls. Only a 10minute drive from Canyon Sainte-Anne, it’s a free, short hike that is definitely one of Quebec's best-kept secrets.
After all that gallivanting, wrapping up the day with a proper sit-down meal is the only way to go. Or maybe that’s just me. Grabbing dinner somewhere close to your accommodation is a great idea though, as it takes away any additional logistics. We walked back through Rue St-Jean, picking up some souvenirs along the way before having dinner at an Italian restaurant in Le Capitole Hotel.
Day 3: Sunday
We left our last day intentionally light, as we had a morning flight back home. Had a slow checkout and headed straight to YQB.
If you have a later flight, use the extra time for a casual breakfast on Rue St-Jean or one last walk through Old Quebec before or after checking out. YQB is a small and generally easy airport to navigate, but factor in extra time for traffic, returning your rental car, and airport security.
Where to Eat in Quebec City: My Recommendations
Quebec City takes its food seriously, so we were spoilt for choice this weekend. These are the places we tried and what I'd recommend:
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La Bûche: This is the ultimate Quebec City brunch spot. Everyone recommends it, and it’s not hard to see why. The rustic décor was already a winner, but the food was good too. If you do visit, try the Gaufres au Poulet Frit (chicken and waffles) or Crepes Quebecois and thank me later.
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Nacho Pub: Mexican in Quebec, I know. But this is right in the center. Literally halfway up the Breakneck Stairs. It was the perfect spot to have casual eats and watch one of Canada’s World Cup games.
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Pizza Salvatore: We loved their classic pepperoni pizza on the first night in at our Airbnb.
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Cochon Dingue: Their brunch menu was excellent; from the breakfast poutine to the Dingue waffles, the brunch plate, and the smoked salmon benedict, everything we ate was 10/10.
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Mary’s Popcorn: Don’t think too much about it. Just get it. And in multiple flavours if you can.
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Il Teatro: Charming, warm, and great for dinner after a day of walking. I liked the shrimp linguine that I got, but I would go back if only for the service. They were very accommodating with my baby.
Joba's Pick
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My favourite thing I ate on this trip was at Cochon Dingue. All I'll say is tThe TikTok girlies were right about this one.
Quebec City Weekend Budget Breakdown
Like I mentioned in my last post, Quebec City is easily a mid-budget-type trip within Canada, and you save even more as a family or group. Here's a realistic breakdown for four adults and an infant for a weekend:
Final Thoughts on Quebec City
Is Quebec City worth a weekend visit? Immediately yes.
What surprised me most was how much balance Quebec City gives you. It is busy enough that it’s not boring but relaxed enough that you don’t feel overwhelmed. Almost everything is near each other, and you can never take a bad walk. Whether you plan to visit Quebec City solo, as a couple, with a baby or a group of friends, you are guaranteed to have a great time in this beautiful city.
Specifically as a Canadian, this is one of the most international-feeling trips you can take without leaving the country, complete with all the European vibes and no exchange rates or jet lag.
Would I go back? Already planning it.
Planning your own Quebec City trip?
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Safe travels,
Joba
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Written By
Joba
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