We’re interested in going to Quebec City this July. Do you tours available??
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2685 posts
Rick Steves only runs multi-day tours in Europe.
Posted by
Lynnwood
291 posts
I went to QC last September and LOVED it. French vibe but on this side of the Atlantic, and so much history. I did two audio walking tours via VoiceMap: The Fortifications and The Heart of Old Quebec City. There were other audio options too. If you don't find in-person tours that is an option. LMK if you have other questions about this splendid place and I'll try to help.
Posted by
27 posts
@KC
We are headed to QC in June. Did you use a guidebook? Also interested in your can't miss sites. Thank you!
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1327 posts
Quebec city is very easy to visit. I have some very rudimentary high school French. However, I found that English was not a problem in Quebec City. Tourism is a lifeblood and the people there are very friendly. On the other hand, you may run into some attitude if you go to Montreal...
Posted by
Lynnwood
291 posts
I didn't use a guidebook. What inspired my trip, actually, was the Louise Penny book, Bury Your Dead. So I made a list of all the places the protagonist visited, and went to many of them as I reasonably could in three days. Some of my faves that you may also enjoy:
Eating: darling little cafe Chez Temporal for simple lunch, dinner or a glass of wine post-evening stroll; quirky Le Petit Coin Latin for good, unfussy food; Cafe Buade for poutine and pie in a low key setting. Excellent linguine carbonara at Bello Restaurant; the French dessert where you get four little treats and a fancy coffee drink, at the bar in Chateau le Frontenac.
Sights: the fortifications are interesting and historic. Chateau le Frontenac Hotel is huge, historic, interesting architecture and impressive bar inside. Take the funicular down to lower town for a stroll and shopping. Shop local artist work in rue du Tresor (I bought a little water color.) Notre Dame Basilica is stunning inside and has some concerts. I didn't make it to the Plains of Abraham but wanted to.
hotel: I stayed at the Auberge Place d'Armes right near the Chateau and Dufferin Terrace. It was a cute and comfortable place, with a good restaurant.
I was generally greeted with "Bon jour, hello", and quickly used up my 10 French words, before I realized they were just trying to find out what language I wanted to use. Most places (except my taxi driver) spoke good English.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
The Citadel fortress atop the Plains of Abraham brims with scenic and historical attraction. The fort itself is still a commissioned army base, accommodating Les Vandoos, nickname for the Royal 22nd Regiment. The ancient barracks sometimes are open to visitors and in summer the regimental band performs on the forecourt. The view across the river is spectacular. The plains are now parkland, sweeping down to Quebec's ambitious beaux-arts museum. As to the history, British troops from what is now the USA sailed up the St. Lawrence river, providing cannon power against the French, while soldiers scaled the cliffs to join Indigenous allies and slug it out with French garrison. At least one historian argues that the British victory changed US history. The defeated French gradually withdrew from their territory in the what became the United States under British rule.
Posted by
Seattle
255 posts
Just to add onto what KC from Lynnwood said, for any Louise Penney fans, there really is a "Lit & His". Check out the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, also called the Morrin Centre. We took their tour. Well worth the time and money for an interesting view into Quebec history AND into Louise Penney's work. Really fun city to visit. We recommend the ferry ride back & forth across the river for a quick and cheap way to see the city from the water.