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A Travel Guide to Quebec City in the Fall [for an Easy-Breezy Trip!]
- Where is Quebec City?
- What is the main street in Quebec City?
- How to get to Quebec City
- What to Do and See in Quebec City
- Explore the streets of Old Quebec
- See the Montmorency Falls
- Support the local community at Marché Limoilou
- Discover the Plains of Abraham
- Where to Eat and Drink in Quebec City
- Bügel
- Pâtisserie Chouquette
- L'Affaire est Ketchup
- Where to Shop in Quebec City
- Avenue Cartier
- Rue du Trésor
- Quartier du Petit Champlain
- Where to Stay in Quebec City
- Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
- Hotel Nomad
- Hotel Port-Royal
- FAQ about Quebec City in the Fall Season
Fall in Quebec City is an enchanting place. The fall foliage, paired with gorgeous structures, is peak leaf peeping season!
It’s the perfect time to visit the city because most tourists are done with summer activities and the weather is cooler. You can try seasonal experiences and food from the charming shops along the cobblestone streets covered in orange leaves.
Keep on reading if you’re planning to visit Quebec City in the fall season. We’ve got the best ideas on what to do, where to eat, shop, and stay!
Where is Quebec City?
Quebec City is the capital city of Quebec. It rests on the Saint Lawrence River and is connected to Lévis via the Québec Bridge. It’s almost three hours from Montreal.
What is the main street in Quebec City?
In Lower Town, Rue du Petit-Champlain is a picturesque, narrow street in Old Quebec. It’s a popular shopping area because of its quaint shops.
This is also where you can find the funicular, which links the Upper and Lower Town. The main entrance is found in Louis Jolliet House at 16 Rue Petit-Champlain
In Upper Town, Terrasse Dufferin is a long boardwalk right next to the Château Frontenac, and Rue des Remparts is the place to go to see the historic walls of the fortified Old City.
How to get to Quebec City
Closest Airport: To get to Quebec City, fly to Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, which is only 20 minutes away from downtown. You can reach Quebec City via direct flights from other Canadian cities and the USA.
Drive to the Autoroute 540 (also called the Autoroute Duplessis) to reach the city. You can find plenty of car rentals available at the airport. For more information about popular car rental companies, check this out.
Closest Train Stations: You can reach Quebec City by taking the train and alighting at Gare du Palais (Central Station) or at Gare de Sainte-Foy. VIA Rail offers trips from Toronto, Ottawa, and Montréal to Quebec City.
To know more about getting around Canada, here’s a quick guide.
What to Do and See in Quebec City
Explore the streets of Old Quebec
Media credit: quartierpetitchamplain
Address: Old Quebec City
There’s nothing more magical than strolling the streets of Old Quebec in the fall. The gorgeous autumn foliage is picture-perfect against the historic buildings and quaint shops.
Visit the Quartier Petit Champlain to get the best shopping experience. It is lined with adorable shops selling seasonal items and tourist attractions. Around October, expect Halloween decor to grace the streets.
Join a local food tour and taste the best Quebecois cuisine, such as poutine, smoked meat sandwiches, and bagels! Indulge in the most delicious seasonal flavours from restaurants (restaurant quebec) and coffee shops, like pumpkin-flavoured everything!
You can also join ghost walking tours in the fall. Ghost Tours of Quebec will take you along a spooky, scary storytelling experience that will open your eyes to the city’s dark side.
See the Montmorency Falls
Media credit: rizwan_alvin
Address: 5300 Bd Sainte-Anne, Beauport (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency Parking Area)
Montmorency Falls is particularly incredible during the fall season. The combination of orange and yellow leaves, warm tones, breezy temperatures, and cascading water makes the trip to the falls truly exceptional.
The 83 m high waterfall is actually taller than Niagara Falls. You can visit this gorgeous place by riding a cable car to the cliff to get the best views from the top.
If you want to feel the autumn air, you can cross the suspension bridge for a breathtaking panoramic view of the falls. For the adrenaline junkies, you can zipline 300 m up in the air!
Support the local community at Marché Limoilou
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Address: 422 3e Ave
Contact: [email protected]
Operating Hours:
July – September
- Sunday: 11 am – 3 pm
One way to feel like a local is by checking out Marché Limoilou (Limoilou Market), a neighbourhood farmers’ market. You can find it in Lower Town in the middle of 8e and 9e Rue.
Take advantage of the local harvest at the market. Pumpkins are a must, as well as plums, pears, and apples!
Visit on Sundays in the fall to purchase fresh produce, baked goods, homemade snacks, quality meats, sweet delights, and fresh flowers. Blueberries and strawberries in Quebec are incredibly delicious, and don’t miss out on a good bottle of maple syrup.
Discover the Plains of Abraham
Media credit: plains_abraham
Address: Plains of Abraham
Contact: (418) 649-6157, [email protected]
Operating Hours: 24/7 (attractions will have varying hours)
If you love nature walks and historical places, visit the Plains of Abraham in Quebec in the fall. During this time, the stunning orange hues of the place will surround you while you enjoy a peaceful stroll.
Walk to the museum and uncover the history that ultimately led to the creation of the Plains. The permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Plains of Abraham Museum will transport you back in time while enriching your knowledge of the historic place.
During October, you can enjoy some scary and not-so-scary decorations at the Plains. Join the Ghoulish Walk, a night tour where you will hold a lantern while meeting scary characters, and Tales of the Bad Old Days to discover 19th-century Quebec!
Then, pop in Maison Smith Café for a drink. Enjoy quality coffee and delicious food while you take a break from exploring the Plains.
Where to Eat and Drink in Quebec City
Bügel
Media credit: bugel_bagels
Address: 164 Rue Crémazie O
Contact: (418) 523-7666, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8 am – 7 pm
Pricing: $
Quebec doesn’t play when it comes to bagels. Bügel on Rue Crémazie O is a must-try for scrumptious bagels that can actually compete with Montreal!
This is not your usual bagel place—you get to taste Quebec City-style since they use organic sunflower oil instead of canola oil and honey from Quebec instead of powdered sugar. Despite these changes, you’ll still get soft and delicious bagels!
There are many flavours to choose from, such as sesame, grapes, cheese, blueberry, and chocolate. Bügel is also a quaint shop where dining will make you feel like a local (even if you don’t speak French!).
Pâtisserie Chouquette
Media credit: patisserie_chouquette
Address: 778 Rue Saint-Jean
Contact: (418) 614-3500, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Thursday – Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Pricing: $
Pâtisserie Chouquette means business when it comes to fancy desserts. This friendly neighbourhood pastry shop should be on your list to visit in the city because of its delectable and well-balanced desserts that look too perfect to eat!
Their chouquettes and mille-feuille are too good to pass up, as well as the flaky goodness of their croissants! Check out their drinks menu for quality coffee—the latte glace is a delicious drink after a long walk during the fall in Quebec City.
L’Affaire est Ketchup
Media credit: laffaireestketchup_
Address: 46 Rue Saint-Joseph E
Contact: (418) 529-9020, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Sunday – Monday: 6 pm – 10 pm
- Tuesday – Saturday: 6 pm – 11 pm
Pricing: $$
If you love delicious, local cuisine, go to the L’Affaire est Ketchup on Rue Saint-Joseph Est for dinner. This unassuming restaurant provides an exceptional dining experience due to the home cooking concept, carefully plated meals, and quality ingredients!
Every plate has a sense of adventure, with something special for every palate. A must-try is the creamy and rich foie gras.
If you aren’t sold yet, Anthony Bourdain dined at this bistro when he visited Quebec for his show, Parts Unknown.
Where to Shop in Quebec City
Avenue Cartier
Media credit: robertouebel
Address: Avenue Cartier
Retail Therapy in Quebec City means venturing into the shopping districts and checking out lots of shops. The city is full of local establishments you can check out, like Avenue Cartier, located in the Lower Town.
This stretch has the perfect mix of avant-garde and luxury shops for locals and tourists. Whether you’re looking for clothing, artwork, body care, or artisanal products, you’ll find something here!
Take a trip to Les Halles Cartier, a shopping mall in Avenue Cartier that has everything you need. You can find specialty shops, restaurants, and health services in one place!
Rue du Trésor
Media credit: ilovequebeccity
Address: Rue du Trésor
Opening Season: May to October
If you’re an art lover, head over to Rue du Trésor, an open-air art gallery located on a narrow side street. It gives you the ultimate local experience because instead of going to fancy art galleries, you can meet and discover local artists in Quebec.
During the fall, this art street in Old Quebec is lined with talented artists selling original artwork. You can find paintings, sketches, watercolours, and reproductions.
There are many art styles at this place, with some illustrations of Quebec City. It’s the perfect souvenir for your trip since there are plenty of works that depict popular spots.
Quartier du Petit Champlain
Media credit: quartierpetitchamplain
Address: 61 Rue du Petit Champlain
Quartier du Petit Champlain is always buzzing with people because it’s a famous shopping place! It brings a whole new experience because instead of being inside a mall, you’ll be browsing quaint shops in a charming fairytale-like street.
And in the fall, the place will have a romantic vibe because of the orange foliage. If you want a memorable experience, make sure you visit this place for an unforgettable trip.
Check out Atelier La Pomme for clothing made by local designers and Riversea for one-of-a-kind jewellery inspired by travel. La Nougaterie is the place to go for artisanal Quebec treats!
Where to Stay in Quebec City
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
Media credit: fairmontfrontenac
Address: 1 Rue des Carrières
Contact: (418) 692-3861, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
For a luxury stay in Quebec City, try the beautiful Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. This historic hotel is situated in the Upper Town and right beside Terrasse Dufferin, so by staying here, you’re a stone’s throw away from popular streets!
The stunning châteauesque style of the hotel already makes this a perfect place to stay during your vacation, and you even get stunning views of the St. Lawrence River and the old city. Top it off with luxury amenities, spacious rooms, and first-class service.
Stay in European-styled rooms, relax in the spa, join the guided tour of the hotel, and dine in elegant restaurants. During the fall season, the place looks even more enchanting because of the vibrant colours!
Hotel Nomad
Address: 15 Av. Sainte-Geneviève
Contact: (418) 694-1884, [email protected]
Pricing: $
Hotel Nomad is an environmentally friendly place to stay in Quebec City (quebec city hotels). In fact, it has received a Biosphère Sustainable Lifestyle certification, which basically means its efforts at running a hotel are as sustainable as possible.
It’s located in the heart of the city and only 100 m from Château Frontenac. Most popular streets are only minutes away from the hotel, making it an easily accessible accommodation.
The guest rooms here are all different from each other. It’s like every design and style is original and tells a story, perfect for travellers who want a unique place to stay.
Hotel Port-Royal
Address: 144 Rue Saint-Pierre
Contact: (418) 692-2777, [email protected]
Pricing: $$
Situated in the Old Port, Hotel Port-Royal is an accessible place that’s only a few minutes away from famous attractions and must-visit places in Quebec City (places to visit in quebec city). It’s only 3 minutes away from Old Quebec and 10 minutes from the Plains of Abraham.
If you’re planning a long vacation, the guest rooms have everything you need. All rooms are spacious, have contemporary designs, and are fully equipped with a kitchenette.
You get decent amenities too. There’s free WiFi, access to the gym, laundry cleaning, and pet-friendly rooms.
