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That’s a tough question! Every city, village, shore and mountain of Quebec is worth a visit, in my opinion. Here are some ideas nonetheless.

The Classic Landmarks and Cities

Of course, there are some nice weather classics, like spending a few days in the city of Montreal, hopping to Mont Tremblant for some nature bathing in the Laurentians, then making your way to Quebec City to get your fill of history and end with Tadoussac for some whale watching.

In fall, you’ll definitely want to admire the autumn colours in the Laurentians or the Eastern Townships, climb a mountain top to view the leaves in all their glory in Charlevoix and go apple picking in Montérégie.

As for winter, it’s more about the activities than the place, as many of our typical winter sports and fun happenings can be done in multiple regions. Some of the unmissable iconic spots include the Ice Hotel near Quebec City, Montreal’s Nuit Blanche festival, glamping in a national park surrounded by snow, ice fishing on one of our lakes, dipping in a hot spa or chasing the North star on a dog sled.

When spring comes along, make sure you sip a cocktail on a terrasse or have a picnic in one of our parks as the sun starts to shine and Quebecers hit the streets. Savour fresh local lobster and crab as Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands’ fishermen hit the sea. Don’t leave without trying a sugar shack where maple syrup is king!

Off-the-Beaten Path Ideas

Not into checking typical bucket list items off and more of a remote or lesser-known experience kind of explorer? Hit Témiscouata’s nature paths, go cheese-hopping in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, see the Magdalen Islands in the winter time, get an adrenaline rush in Laval or venture north to uncover some of Quebec’s backwoods that deserve just as much attention!

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In each of the planning categories, I’ve presented multiple websites and tools that will help you create your itinerary and trip to Quebec from a local’s perspective.

If you’d like to view official sites that can get you started if you’re unfamiliar with the territory:

Whether you’re here for two days, a long weekend, a week’s vacation, spring break or a 2- or 3-week trip, Quebec has something for you. It really depends on the time that you have.

Start off with a 48-hour getaway to the big city of Montreal, in the heart of Quebec City’s historical roots or in the province’s best natural spots, or extend your trips to add in foodie destinations, adventures, sports, nature, lifestyle moments, and maybe even some maritime or aboriginal tourism experiences to create a full trip!

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12 months per year! Anytime is the right time to travel around Quebec.

Of course, summer is a booming season and the most travelled one, with reason. Exciting festivals, miles of coastline to lounge around on and great peaks to hike, terrasses to have a drink on, and local artisans to meet and greet are only the tip of the iceberg of what awaits if you like the sun and greenery. Yes, I have to admit we do have mosquitoes in certain regions, but with the right tools, you’ll forget all about them!

In fall, you can hit up most of the classic tourist spots, but add on some impressive colours as the leaves change and the temperatures decrease. It’s a perfect segway to the cold, as you dip your toes in spas and enjoy the view. Autumn is also harvest season, so you can experience apple picking, wine tasting and pumpkin patch photo ops!

Winter is definitely underrated, although Quebec is known for its snow and ice activities. There is so much that can be done and it’s a great time of year for Christmas markets, March spring break adventures or introductions to ice and snow if you’re used to warmer climates. The cold definitely doesn’t slow us down and neither should it stop you from coming to visit us!

Spring is time for renewal, as winter slips away and Quebecers start soaking up the sun. Families head to the sugar shack to celebrate our natural gold (maple syrup), tulips fields and apple trees are growing and blossoming, and the crowds haven’t yet moved in. If you don’t mind wearing a jacket, you’ll have such a great time.

Absolutely! The province (and even the country) is very safe, whether you are travelling solo or as a female traveller. Besides basic care you would take anywhere in the world, you can rest assured you’ll have a safe trip to Quebec.

Don’t walk around unlit places, alleyways or parks at night, for example. Watch uout for your valuables in crowds or the metro like you would do anywhere else and lock your car doors.

It depends on where you’re from! At the date of publication:

• Americans/Australians/Brits/New Zealanders/most Europeans need an eTA visa, a visa that is requested online in minutes and costs only $7. You can apply here.
• Brazilians/Chinese/Indians/Philippinos/Russians need a visitor visa that costs $100 that must be requested in advance. Apply here.

You can find out up-to-date information about visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTA) and documents needed to travel to Quebec, Canada on the Government Website. Things can change quickly, so make sure to check it out regularly!

Quebec province uses the Canadian dollar (CAD$) as a currency. You’ll find on the market 5, 10, 20, 50, and $100 bills. Dollars are also divided in 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, $1 (loonie) and $2 (toonie) coins.

The penny no longer is distributed or accepted, so amounts at the cash register are rounded up or down unless you are paying with a debit/credit card.

Most of the touristy stops accept American dollars, but not always at the best exchange rate, so I don’t recommend using this alternative unless you really have to.

Visa and MasterCard are widespread, but American Express isn’t always accepted although it has improved these past years. Ask in advance if you only have one method of payment for your trip expenses.

Most prices do not include the sales taxes (QST and GST) which will be added at the register, for a total of 14,975%. Keep that in mind when shopping. Basic non transformed foods at the grocery store, for example, aren’t taxable, but potato chips and such are, like other non-essential items.

Tipping in restaurants when there is table service is almost mandatory since it’s so widespread and the wait staff doesn’t make the minimum wage without it. Most Quebecers leave 15% of the bill before tax and round it up to make calculations simple. Same goes for bartenders and barmaids.

At a hotel, if you’re getting help with your luggage, calculate about $1 per suitcase or a total of $5. For the maid, it’s about 2–5$ per day depending on the type of establishment you’re in, and the valet driver generally gets about $5 to retrieve your car. These amounts are more indicative than widespread, as it varies from one service ranking to another.

When going to the hairdressers or getting a massage, for example, it’s customary but not at all obligatory to leave a tip, generally around $5 depending on the service, but not as enforced as for food. In taxis or when getting food delivered, tips (what we call pourboires) are around 10%.

You must be 18 years old to drink alcohol in Quebec.

Anywhere from zero to a million! Just kidding, but it’s kind of true. The cost of a Quebec trip depends on whether you are sleeping in hostels or hotels, B&Bs or camping, whether you’re cooking or eating out, hiking or going on daily tours. For a better idea of costs per travel type, view these articles!

On a side note: one of the elements you have to consider for your budget in Quebec is transportation. If you’re outside of the big cities, you’ll most likely need to rent a car and pay for gas, so make sure you consider that. Yes, there are travel alternatives, but sadly my province hasn’t yet become an awesome public transportation hub… 🙁

Oh my gosh! What a cruel question to ask someone who loves every bit and part of Quebec… Every region has its quirks and perks, advantages and disadvantages. A lot of the decision process will have to do with the time at your disposal and the transportation mode you’ll be using.

Too many people run around the province from Outaouais to Gaspésie and Abitibi-Témiscamingue to the Magdalen Islands, sometimes even hopping north and wanting to explore the south as well. One thing I can recommend is to cut down on regions. Choose one or a few and explore them well. Like for any destination, I’m convinced that less is more.

Now that you’ve read to the end, I’ll let you in on a secret about some of my ultimate places to visit, but it’s soooo hard to name only a few, trust me! The Magdalen Islands have stolen my heart. If you have time to get out there for a week or more, go for it, you’re sure to fall in love. If you like nature and indigenous experiences, head to Eeyou Istchee Baie-James or Nunavik, or even Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

For incredible sunsets, definitely choose Bas-Saint-Laurent. A wine lover? Head to the Eastern Townships. If you’re in Montreal or Quebec and have little additional time, discover my home region of Montérégie or the rolling hills of Charlevoix. I’ll stop now… but I can guarantee even those I haven’t mentioned are worth considering!

Ohhh, there are so many to choose from. If you’re at the library or bookstore and hesitating on which to buy, or in front of the computer and ready to order online (use the links hereunder to help me keep helping you!), here are the pros and cons of the main publishers’ guidebooks about the province of Quebec.

• Lonely Planet Montreal & Quebec City Guide
• Fodor’s Montreal and Quebec City Travel Guide
• Moon Québec City Guide
• DK Eyewitness Top 10 Montreal and Quebec City Guide
• Michelin Green Guide Montreal & Quebec City
• National Geographic’s Québec: A Photographic Road Trip Through Canada’s Beautiful Province
• Lonely Planet Canada’s Best Trips
• Lonely Planet Canada Travel Guide

I only wish you could speak French so I could recommend the 3 guidebooks I coauthored at Lonely Planet and Ulysse (Québec, Montréal et Québec en quelques jours, Testé et approuvé: le Québec en plus de 100 expériences extraordinaires)… Maybe one day they’ll be translated in English! 🙂

To better answer your question, I’ve created packing lists for every season of the year so you can prepare your luggage efficiently! In a nutshell, unless you’re staying in cities and towns where regular urban wear and good shoes will be fine, make sure you pack for different weather types, as it can get chilly at night in the summer near a lake or river and you might get hot playing around in the snow. Layers, layers, layers!

• Summer Packing List for Quebec Travel
• Winter Quebec Packing List
• Fall Packing List for Quebec
• Spring Packing Checklist for Quebec

Absolument! Quebec’s tap water is great, in big cities and on the countryside. You can drink it without worry. Some rural areas have wells, so the water is fresh and clean as can be, although it can sometimes have a taste to it, but it’s not dangerous at all.

Make sure to check out signs posted in rest stops, rest areas and nature cabins though, as some places have running water, but it’s not drinkable. In French, drinking water is “eau potable”. If you can’t drink it, you’ll see something along the lines of “ne pas boire” or “eau non potable”.

Yes, yes, yes and absolutely. You should ALWAYS have travel insurance, whether you are travelling around your home country or going elsewhere. Make sure you’re covered and read the fine print!

Here are some insurance companies to get the ball rolling with an estimate:

• World Nomads
• Kanetix
• Allianz
• Blue Cross