Sights and landmarks in Quebec City
38 sights worth seeing in Quebec City: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.
Sights and landmarks in Quebec City
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57-63, rue Saint-Louis
A national historic monument comprising houses from the 18th and 19th century.
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Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec
This cathedral and historical monument with its assymetrical towers is the seat of the Catholic archdiocese of Quebec, and adjacent to the Séminaire de Québec. The church has been rebuilt several times, and the current house of worship finished in the 1920s is built in a mix of neobaroque and neoclassical style.
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Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité
This neoclassical cathedral is the seat of the Anglican diocese of Quebec. It was consecrated in 1804 as the first Anglican cathedral outside the British isles and is the third largest church in the city.
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Chapel of the Ursuline convent
Monastère des Ursulines de Québec
The monastery comprises a whole block in the old town, though only the chapel and the museum are open to visitors. It was founded in 1639 by the French nun Marie de l'Incarnacion (later canonized) as the first female Catholic order in the Americas. The chapel dates from 1730 and is with its wooden altar considered a masterpiece of Franco-Canadian woodwork. In the museum you can learn about the activities of the Ursuline order in Quebec throughout history, and on display there are things related to its curriculum such as embroidery and musical instruments. Also the museum, in a building from 1687, has beautiful details preserved since construction including wooden staircases and windows.
May-Sep: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00; Oct-Apr: Tue-Sun 13:00-17:00$10
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Chateau Frontenac
Quebec City icon. Claimed to be the most photographed hotel in North America. Stay the night if you can (see Sleep) and pop in for a martini if you can't (see Drink).
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Escalier Casse-Cou
A steep staircase between Côte de la Montagne and Rue du Petit Champlain. The name means "Breakneck Stairs", and comes from the fact that historically cattle was marched this way and often the poor animals tripped over and broke their necks.
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Grande Allée
An impressive street southwest of Old town. It begins next to the city wall about at the level of Fontaine de Tourny, leads to the Parliament, and on past Place de la Francophonie and Place George-V. Then follows a range of streetside cafés all the way to Cours du Général de Montcalm. There ends the touristically interesting part of the street.
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Hôtel-Dieu
This is the oldest hospital in the Americas north of Mexico, and a national historic site. Founded in 1639 by the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus, it was administered by them until 1962. Nowadays it's part of a network of university hospitals.
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La Promenade Samuel-De Champlain
Pleasant walking path next to the St. Lawrence river, some 15 minutes by car to the southwest from Haute Ville. The path goes through greenery and past artworks.
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Maison François-Jacquet-Dit-Langevin
Another well-preserved house, from 1675, and extended in 1690.
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Maison Maillou
Built in 1737, and named after its first owner, Jean-Baptiste Maillou, this well-preserved simple brick house is a good example of how Quebec looked in the 18th century.
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Montmorency Falls
At 83 m, it stands 30 m taller than Niagara Falls. Fireworks competition in the summer. Nice spot to visit if you are driving outside the city.
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Morrin Centre
English-language culture centre in the southwestern corner of the old town. The building is a national historical site.
Tour: Fri-Sun 10:00-16:00Tour: $17 adult, $15 concession, $48.50 family, children free
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Musée de la civilisation
Museum of Civilization
Museum devoted to the world's peoples, with a well-done if still somewhat dull permanent exhibit on the history of Quebec.
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00$24 adult, $23 senior, $19 young adult, $8 youth, $5.5/child
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Musée national des Beaux-arts du Québec
Located on the Battlefields park, the mission of this art museum is to promote and preserve Québec art of all periods and to ensure a place for international art through temporary exhibitions. You can also visit the old prison of Quebec City, which is now one of the two main pavilions of the museum. The annex was designed by renowned architectural firm OMA.
Tue Thu-Sun 10:00-17:00, Wed 10:00-21:00Online: $22 adult, $20 senior, $12 young adult, $5 youth, children free
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Musée naval de Québec
Maritime museum, showcasing the naval history of the region in objects and photos. There are both a permanent and temporary exhibitions.
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Notre-Dame-des-Anges
An tiny independent parish municipality, administered by the monastic congregation of the Augustinians of the Mercy of Jesus and surrounded by Quebec City. The municipality includes a monastery, museum, the General Hospital of Quebec and its cemetery. All of the buildings have been classed as a historic site.
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Observatoire de la Capitale
One of the tallest buildings in Quebec, offering a panoramic view of the whole city.
$14.75
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Palace of Justice
Palais de justice de Québec
A neoclassical grand building next to Place d'Armes by Eugene-Etienne Tachet and finished in 1877. The current tenant in the building is the provincial ministry of finance.
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Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
The site of 83-m-high Montmorency waterfall. There are paths downstream of the waterfall with views of the waterfall and a suspension bridge offering a view over the waterfall. Located at Quebec's eastern city limits, about 11 km from the old city.
$7.57 for non-residents of the province, $3.78 for residents of the province
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Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge
Residence of past lieutenant-governors from 1870-1966 and spread over 24 ha, this garden features heritage buildings, wooded areas and gardens.
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Park d'Artillerie
In the 18th century the site of fortifications, later a garrison and until 1964 a munitions factory, there are two buildings left in this National Historic Park. In the former brick foundry there's a museum exhibiting the history of the city, and in the former building of the arsenal there's a weapon exhibition. Another attraction in the park is a Celtic cross commemorating the Irish famine and Irish immigration to North America.
Open now · closes 5 pm
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Parliament Building
Hôtel du Parlement
The provincial legislature of Quebec, located in an impressive neoclassical-style building just outside the city walls. Tours are available in both French and English on non-sitting days, and proceedings (French only) may be watched from the public galleries when in session. You will need to show some photo ID (Canadian driver's licence or passport) and go through security screening to be allowed to enter. Unlike many other legislative buildings, the parliamentary restaurant is open to public.
free
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Place d'Armes
The main square of the old town, first mentioned in 1648, is surrounded on three sides by historical buildings such as the former Palace of Justice and Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité, and on the fourth side the city wall. As the name reveals, it was used for military parades and exercises. In the middle of the square there are benches, and a memorial to the Franciscan order.
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Place-Royale
The spot where Samuel de Champlain landed in 1608 and founded the first French settlement in North America, now converted into a postcard-pretty public square. Do not miss the huge mural covering the entire side of a nearby building; the figure with a hat standing at the base of the 'street' is Champlain.
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Porte Kent
Leads to the west of the city, and was constructed as the last of the city gates in 1878-79, but is the only one that has retained its original shape.
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Porte Prescott
Connects the upper and lower town, and first built in 1797 and named after Robert Prescott who was the general governor of Canada then. It was dismantled in 1871 and rebuilt in 1984 but the current version looks rather different from the original version. At the gate there are stairs to the top of the wall.
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Porte Saint Louis
The oldest of the gates to the city, standing at the western end of the street with the same name. It was first built in 1693, then left to ruin, but was restored and strengthened after the War of 1812. It got its current outlook in 1880.
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Porte Saint-Jean
Leading to the west, also this gate to the city has been rebuilt several times, the current version is from 1939-40.
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Quartier Petit Champlain
North America's oldest shopping quarter, in 17th-18th century buildings along Rue Petit Champlain, at the southern end of Basse Ville. Can get pretty busy during the day, so if you're not there for shopping (the selection tends to be rather touristy too), but rather to see the houses, go early in the morning or late in the evening. There's a huge mural on House 102 presenting the history of the quarter.
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Rue Saint-Louis
With roots in the 17th century, this is one of the oldest streets in Quebec, but there are few buildings left from that time. It's named after the gate of Saint-Louis, which the street connects to Place d'Armes. Albeit touristy, walking along it is still an interesting experience.
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Séminaire de Québec
A Catholic seminary and historical monument, founded in 1663 by Saint François de Montmorency-Laval to educate missionaries for spreading the Christian faith in the New World. It is at the edge if Quartier Latin, the historical university quarter of the city.
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The Battlefields Park
The Plains of Abraham, Parc des Champs-de-Bataille, Plaines d'Abraham
Site of the 1759 battle in which the British conquered Quebec, now used for public events, sports, and leisure activities.
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The Citadel
La Citadelle
This fortification at the juncture of the Old City wall and Grande Allée is still used as an active military base by the Royal 22e Régiment of the Canadian Army, which has long been known for the irony of being exclusively French-speaking despite having ceremonial uniforms that are clearly British in origin. Also serves as the official residence of King Charles III and the Governor-General of Canada when they visit Quebec City.
Open now · closes 5:30 pm$22 adult, $20 concession, $8 youth, children free
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Vieux-Port
The oldest port in Canada, and second most important in the province and on the Saint Lawrence river is an attraction in its own right. It's easily accessible on foot from the old town, and has a market hall where you can buy local food products.
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Édifice Price
The official residence of the premier of Quebec is the only skyscraper within the city walls. It has 18 floors and was built during the 1930s.
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Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
Next to Place Royal, this is considered the oldest stone church in North America. The first small church was built to celebrate a victory over the British in 1690, was finished in 1723 but was destroyed in a British attack on the city in 1759. Construction of the current church started soon after, and one of the builders was the master carpenter Jean Baillargé. It was declared a historical monument in 1929.
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Maison Michel-Cureux
Two-storey house finished in 1729.
Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Quebec City (CC BY-SA 4.0).