Celebrate Wintertime in Québec City, Canada

Québec City, QC, Canada.
Québec City, QC, Canada. Photo by Sondoce wasfy on Unsplash

Québec City is one of the more prominent cities in the French-speaking province of Québec. But while a lot of people know about the city of Montreal, a lot of people forget about visiting Québec City!

Québec is a thriving metropolis that brings the charm and beauty of the past with a modern feel. Even though it’s relatively close to the U.S. and English-speaking Canadian provinces, there is so much French flying around that you really feel like you’re in France! So if you want to be transported to a totally different world, visit Québec City.

What to Do

If you’re into history, you will love Québec City. It’s actually the only city in North America, besides Mexico City, to have a walled city that is still intact. You can experience this for yourself in the Upper City, also called Old Québec City. This area is actually a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason, so check it out!

If you’re in the mood for shopping, there is no better place to go than the Quartier Petit-Champlain neighborhood. This area has gorgeous small shops and boutiques where you’re sure to find something unique, and even if you just want to walk around and window shop, it’s so quaint with small streets and cobblestones you’ll love the atmosphere.

Some people might be scared to visit Québec City in the winter because of the low temperatures. However, if there’s one good reason to visit in the winter it is to go to the Carnaval de Quebec. This is festival has been going on for the longest time out of all of Canada’s winter festivals, and it lasts a week so you have plenty of time to go and celebrate with locals!

Another reason to visit in the winter is for the famous Toboggan Slide Au 1884. This attraction happens every year and basically, the city puts up a giant toboggan slide right through the center for all of winter. The toboggans can get up to 40 miles per hour and you can enjoy it with 3 other friends, so it’s definitely a must-do!

If you want to get more into the history and culture of Quebec, the best place to do it is at the Musée de la Civilisation. This museum is one of the most popular and most visited throughout Canada, and it is wonderfully curated to give visitors a real experience of Quebec.

What to Eat

Eating is just as important as learning about the culture, and Québec City offers so many incredible food experiences. Probably the most famous dish is poutine, which is basically french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. There are tons of places to get this treat, but one of the best and well-prepared is a restaurant called Bistro Le Sam.

Since Québec City can get a little chilly, there’s nothing better than warming up with a bowl of soup. One type in particular that they are famous for is a kind of pea soup that’s made with yellow split peas. The soup doesn’t get blended but it’s so flavorful and comforting, you have to try a bowl whenever you see it on a menu.