City Guide: 11 Places to Explore in Old Québec City during the Winter

Last year, we were fortunate to spend during the December break exploring the beautiful city of in Old Québec City. The port town is filled with rich history, vibrant culture, inviting people, and tons of family friendly attractions. Algonquin for “where the river narrows” , the area now know as Québec was first founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain. The land is on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River and provided ideal access to transport good to various parts of Canada. While the city is bustling with activity all year long, winter is an especially good time to visit- the city is still decorated for the holidays well into the new year and there are plenty of outdoor adventures to enjoy (with or without snow).

Where to stay: A good index of lodging options can be found here. We enjoyed our stay at the Auberge Saint Antoine, a beautiful hotel in the heart of Old Port Québec. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Auberge Saint Antoine that first opened in a 1822 stone warehouse and has expanded several times, while preserving the property and the numerous found on site during an excavation. The hotel has wonderful amenities, two great restaurants, well appointed rooms, and is super family friendly. Read our full feature of the hotel here. 

Another very popular option is the famous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Opened in 1893 with 190 guest rooms (although only 73 of them had private bathrooms!), the hotel has expanded over the years to now include over 600 guest rooms and suites, several dining options, and tons of daily activities for kids of all ages, including guided tours. The holiday season is a special time to visit, with extraordinary decorations, including the famous Christmas Trees of Hope decorating contest for local charities.

Where to eat: Old Québec City has several neighborhoods and streets filled with every type of cuisine. Some good indexes of restaurants can be found here and here and here.  We enjoyed several wonderful meals, including breakfast treats at Paillard and La Maison Smith; brunch at Bistro Hortus, lunches at Les Trois Garçons, La Buche, and Le Chic Shack; and dinners at Le Sam (inside the Frontenac), Le Lapin Sauté, La Grolla, Chez Muffy (inside the Auberge Saint Antoine)

Getting around town: We drove to some of the central locations on this list and then walked to many other attractions and restaurants. Many popular attractions and neighborhoods are also within walking distance of the Chateau Frontenac and the Auberge Saint Antoine. There is metered parking on many of the popular streets. Check here for (super helpful!) general information about parking in Old Québec, here for information about public transportation, and here for more information regarding public parking lots.

11 Spots to Visit in Old Québec City this Winter:

The Plains of Abraham Museum and Park is one of the world’s largest city parks. Named for Abraham Martin, the 240 acre park is the site of a battle of the French and Indian War in 1759 and includes the Joan of Arc Garden, the Citadelle, an old jail, nature trails, athletic fields, a bandstand for concerts, and the museum, open year round. 
Kids will especially love the various seasonal outdoor activities, trying on replica uniforms of soldiers, and smelling barrels of drinks dating back to the 1700s!
Travel Tips: Info on admission fees and hours here, guided tours here, and special events here; no dining facilities on site; large parking lot near main entrance; museum is handicap accessible; plan on 90-120 minutes to explore all exhibits. See the full map here. 
Read our full post here.

Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is located inside the Plains of Abraham and displays over 40,000 works of art from the 17th century to modern time. The museum, which is spread out across four pavilions, is home to the largest collection of Québec art. The Voir la Biot (“View the Night”) exhibit, on display until mid March 2024 is an unique exhibit featuring 60 works from the museum’s permanent collection with limited light and sound- the lack of sensory interruptions allows guests to focus on the art work.
Kids will especially love the daily workshops and hands-on activities.
Travel Tips: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday with extended hours on Wednesday; information on hours, admission fees (kids 12 and under are free), and discounts here; a parking lot is located behind the museum ($5/hour); info on public transportation here; a Cafe, gift shop, and coat check are all located near the admission desk; plenty of daily activities the whole family will enjoy; plan on 90 minutes to explore the exhibits.

La Citadelle is the biggest military base in North America, dating back to 1820. Built to control access to northern Canada and for protection for Quebec from invasion, it was built on Cape Diamond, the city’s highest point. La Citadelle has been the home of the Royal 22e Régiment since 1920, and is still an active military base today, home to almost 2,000 soldiers, as well as the office of Canada’s Governor General.
Kids will especially love walking through the tunnel to the Shooting Gallery and the Old Military Prison, learning about the mascot, Batisse, and completing the Find and Seek activity book in the indoor museum exhibits.
Travel Tips: Visitors can walk the perimeter of the fort, but must have a paid tour ticket to explore the interior of the fort and indoor museum exhibits- more info on hours and fees here; tours are mainly outdoors so dress for the elements and bring the stroller;  plenty of free parking near the entrance; restrooms and a gift shops available near the admission area and indoor museum exhibits; no dining facilities on site; plan on 60 minutes for a guided tour and another 45 minutes to explore the indoor exhibits; note a cannon is fired each day at noon and it’s loud!
Read our full post here. 

La Maison Litterature is a beautiful, light and bright library that is free and open to the public. Opened in 2015, the three floor library includes a small cafe on the first floor, the main space with books (including a children’s section!) on the second floor, and quieter, research spaces, and a couple of meeting rooms on the third floor. 
Travel Tips: The library is open Tuesday through Sunday– more info on hours here; the library is a wonderful spot to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The space is inviting, clean, and warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Head to the children’s section on the second floor to relax with a good book. 

Morrin Centre was once an (unsuccessful) jail (more than 100 inmates escaped during the 60 years it was in service), then a university, then a library, and now a part museum/part library.  Opened in 1812, it was the first common jail in Québec, and the site of 16 public hangings. The jail closed and the Morrin College opened in 1868 as the city’s first English-language university, graduating over 70 students with Bachelor of Arts and Divinity degrees. After sitting empty for over a century, the building was restored in 2004 and opened as a museum and home to the Literary and Historical Society of Québec.
Kids will especially love being “locked” inside the jail and seeing the old chemistry lab.
Travel Tips: We recommend touring the Morrin Centre with elementary aged children or older (not appropriate for the preschool crowd, in our opinion); the museum is not fully handicap accessible; the Center is open Wednesday through Sunday- more info on times and admissions here; metered street parking is available and there are nearby lots; restrooms and a small gift kiosk near the admission desks; guests must were (provided, borrowed) Crocs or coverings over their footwear; no dining facilities on site; plan on 75 minutes for a tour and time to linger in the library.
Read our full post here.

The Funiculaire and toboggan rides offer unique ways to enjoy Old Québec. The funicular began operating in 1879 connecting Upper (directly behind the Chateau Frontenac) and Lower (Petit-Champlain Street)  parts of town, via a 45 degree angle up 210 feet to avoid walking the steep stairs.  It was rebuilt in 1946 after a fire, and additional renovations were done in the late 1970s and 1990s. The toboggan slide at Dufferin Terrace (right next to the Chateau Frontenac) first opened in 1884, the city’s first attraction! Up to four riders per toboggan can zip down the 800 foot slide at up to 40 miles an hour.
Travel Tips: The Funiculaire is open seven days a week and there is a nominal cost per rider- more info here; more info on location here. The toboggan slide is typical open from mid December through early March, but is very weather dependent (it was sliced due to lack of snow when we visited)- more info on hours and rates here; more info on the area and pavilion here.

Le Musée de la civilisation celebrates the diverse population of Québec, including the many Indigenous people and Inuit. Opened in 1988, the museum has a collection of over 225,000 artifacts and has welcomed more than 20 million visitors since it opened. There are several rotating exhibits each year that encourage hands-on learning, as well as permanent exhibits that engage kids of all ages. 
Kids will especially love stepping inside a replica wigwam, exploring La Maison exhibit (the preschool crowd will LOVE it!), and the daily story hours and craft activities. 
Travel Tips: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday- more info on times and admission here; large parking garage across the street; museum is fully handicap accessible and plenty of restrooms on each floor; check here for the calendar of shows and events; Escape Saveurs Café offers snacks and drinks and plenty of space; Boutique gift shop on the main floor offers a wonderful selection of gifts and souvenirs; plan on three house to fully explore the exhibits.
Read our full post here.

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral is the site of one of only eight Holy Doors in the world, one of only two in North America. The doors can only be opened with permission of the Pope, who did grant permission for the door to be open throughout 2024 to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Basilica. The Basilica Cathedral is the site of the first Catholic parish north of the Spanish colonies.
Kids will especially love visiting the museum exhibits and lighting a candle in one of the memorials throughout the basilica. 
Travel Tips: Mass is held daily at 8am, so be sure not to interrupt mass; guests are welcome to (respectfully) explore the cathedral hours; there is a small gift shop open from 10am-3:45 pm Tuesday through Sunday; public restrooms are available.

Assemblée du Nationale due Québec is the home of the National Assembly. Built in the late 1800s on Parliament Hill, the National Historic Site has eight floors and four wings with a center courtyard, and a new Reception Building built in 2019 that offers several reception and meeting spaces, as well as rotating exhibits that showcase the history of the property.  The Assemblée Nationale usually meets in the winter and spring for sixteen weeks of “sittings” and in the fall for ten weeks of “sittings.” Visitors are welcome to tour part of the complex, including the library, throughout the year. 
Kids will especially love the Spectrum of Enlightenment tunnel and touring the Salle de L’Assemblee Nationale.
Travel Tips: Guided tours are offered Monday through Saturday- check here for more info; enter through the Reception Building underground security checkpoint, to the left of the main building; restrooms and a gift shop are located in the Reception Building; closest parking is the Convention Centre- more info on public transportation here; tours are handicap accessible; there is a formal restaurant, Restaurant Parlementaire, and a quick service Café due Parlement for dining options; guided tours last between 70-80 minutes.
Read our full post here. 

Aquarium due Québec is located about 15 minutes southwest of Old Québec and the city center. The aquarium is home to over 10,000 species of fish, amphibians and mammals such as polar bears and seals. Learn about the eco systems of the St. Lawrence River throughout three floors of galleries and interactive exhibits, with two bridges that offer views of the St. Lawrence River.
Kids will especially love the daily polar bear feedings, touching the stingrays, and walking through the underground tunnel.
Travel Tips: The aquarium is currently closed, due to a renovation, on weekdays until mid December 2024- check here for up to date information on hours and admissions; the Aqua Bistro offers great lunch and snack options; the aquarium is handicap accessible and strollers are allowed; plenty of free parking adjacent to the aquarium; plan on two hours to fully explore the exhibits. 

Le Monastère des Augustines, once the first monastery hospital in North America founded by French Augustinian Sisters, is now home and host to dozens of annual retreats, wellness workshops and classes; a 65 room hotel; thousands of visitors to its museum and restaurant; and a nonprofit wellness center. The Augustinian sisters opened over a dozen monastery hospitals throughout the Québec province in the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum has over 50,000 artifacts from three centuries of the hospital and monastery in its collection, which is open to the public year round.  
Kids will especially love the Body and Soul exhibit and exploring the Vault.
Travel Tips: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday- check here for info on hours, guided tours, and admissions; enter via 77 rue des Remparts for the small parking lot and 32 rue Charlevoix for pedestrians; check here for a list of special events and programs open to the public; plan on 60 minutes for a guided tour. 
Read our full post here.

Bonus: The Quartier Petit Champlain is one of the most famous streets in North America. The cobblestone streets are lined with cute shops and are beautifully decorated for the holidays. There are also lots of art galleries and plenty of dining options throughout the area. Take a peek inside the Notre-dames-des-Victoires church if it is open.

Disclaimer: We were given media passes to some of the attractions in this post. All opinions expressed are my own.