10 Things to Do at the Musée de la Civilisation in Québec City

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The Musée de Civilisation, located in the heart of Old Québec near the harbor, celebrates the rich history of the diverse population of Québec, including the many Indigenous people, Inuit, artists, scientists, inventors, and explorers. 

The museum opened in 1988 and, over the past 35 years, has acquired a collection of over 225,000 artifacts and has curated almost 500 exhibits (both permanent and rotating). The museum has welcomed over 20 million visitors and continues to be one of the most popular attractions in Québec. There are many hands-on, interactive rotating exhibits each year, making the museum worthy of frequent visits. 

Travel Tips:

  • The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am-5pm; children ages five and younger are free to visit. Check here for up to date information on museum hours and admission fees (discounted tickets are available online). 
  • There is a large parking garage across the street from the museum. Information on parking and public transportation here and here.
  • The 2nd floor Escape Saveurs Café offers plenty of snacks and drinks and a beautiful open space for dining. The lower level has plenty of cafeteria style tables for guests who bring their own food and there is an outdoor courtyard for picnicking in warmer months. 
  • The Boutique sells a curated collection of books, toys, jewelry, housewares, and gifts, many made by local artists. 
  • There are plenty of bathrooms on each level, and coat checks are located on the main level. The museum is fully accessible via elevators and ramps and the museum offers free strollers and wheelchairs to borrow while visiting. 
  • The museum offers daily shows and family activities- check the full calendar here.
  • Plan on 2-3 hours to fully explore the museum exhibits.

10 Things Kids Will Love to Do at the Museum:

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  1. Listen to the story of the evolution of hip hop in Québec and follow along with the timeline Sur Paroles exhibit (1st floor). Each guest receives an iPhone and headphones to listen to the narrated exhibit. 
  2. Step inside a replica wigwam in the Mikwetc Manto piece by Jacques Newashish in the C’est Notre History exhibit (1st floor). The exhibit tells the story of the First Nations and Inuit with hundreds of original artifacts, recording of interviews, and interactive displays. Guests can even listen to Glooskap, an Algoquin myth. 
  3. Count the number of different snowshoes (styles and sizes vary by nation and type of snow!) and the location of dozens of indigenous tribes lit up on the map in the C’est Notre History exhibit. 
  4. Check out some of the earlier artifacts in the museum’s collection in a display celebrating the museum’s 35th anniversary (in 2023). 1st floor.
  5. Explore the various narratives and stories the Unique en son Genre exhibit. **note this exhibit may not be appropriate for younger children.
  1. Rethink our collective impact on the environment in the Pour Demain exhibit on the ground floor. The exhibit focuses on solutions for the impact of climate change with lots of trivia games and engineering activities. Note: This exhibit does close in early 2024
  2. Create a personal avatar in the Pour Demain exhibit and complete challenges at five stations to earn a souvenir button (printed live at the end of the exhibit). Note: This exhibit does close in early 2024.
  3. Get creative in the ever-evolving Voie Libre exhibit and S’exposer station. There are daily crafts, a reading area, and lots of spaces to create and inspire other visitors.
  4. Use your imagination in the lower level Ma Maison exhibit. The preschool crowd will surely LOVE all of the playscapes, tunnels, and imaginative play spaces that replicate a kitchen, garden, living room, and even an attic. There’s even a photo booth where guests can receive their photo via email. 
  5. Watch a live show and participate in daily crafts and engaging activities, like cookie decorating and postcard writing. Check the calendar here. 

Looking for other adventures in Québec? Check out our posts featuring the Morrin Centre, Le Monastère Des Augustines, La Citadelle de Québec, the Assemblée Nationale du Québec, the Plains of Abraham Museum, and the Auberge Saint Antoine hotel. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Disclosure: Our family was given a media pass to explore the museum. All opinions expressed are my own. 

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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6 Comments

  1. Wow, I love how you really capture the great things for kids at museums!! My kid is grown now, but one of our fave things was exploring museums around the world with her so your posts always bring back happy memories!! I have not been to this one, but it looks great!!

    Reply

  5. I’ve been to Quebec city a number of times, but never visited this museum. After reading this, I’ll definitely visit it next time. Such creative ways to engage people in the exhibits.

    Reply

  6. It’s been many years since I was in Quebec city but your post interested me so much that I think we’ll put it on our list for this year of fascinating places to see. Thank you-it’s so complete with an array of different sites for every interest. Thank you so much.

    Reply

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