Two Days in Quebec City: A Detailed Itinerary

Start Day 1 in Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec), the only walled city north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin at the Château Frontenac (1 Rue des Carrières), the iconic castle-like hotel that dominates the skyline. Walk the Dufferin Terrace (Terrasse Dufferin), the boardwalk in front of the hotel, for a panoramic view of the St. Lawrence River and the Lower Town. Take the Funiculaire (a cable car) down to Lower Town, or walk down the Breakneck Stairs (Escalier Casse-Cou) — 59 steep steps that connect Upper and Lower Town. Visit the Place d'Armes, the main square, and the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral (16 Rue De Buade), the first cathedral built north of Mexico.

For lunch, eat in Petit-Champlain or the Old Port. Try Le Lapin Sauté (52 Rue du Petit-Champlain) for a cozy bistro with rabbit and local dishes, or Café Saint-Henri (125 Rue Saint-Paul) for a great coffee and a light lunch. For a quick pick, grab a sandwich at the Marché du Vieux-Port, and eat it on the waterfront.

Walk down to Lower Town (Basse-Ville) via the Côte de la Montagne, a steep cobblestone street. At the bottom is Place Royale, the birthplace of French North America, where Samuel de Champlain founded the first permanent settlement in 1608. Visit the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church (12 Rue Sous-le-Fort), built in 1688 and one of the oldest stone churches in North America. Continue to Rue du Petit-Champlain, one of the oldest commercial streets in the continent, now a pedestrian-only lane of boutiques, craft shops, and cafés. Walk through the Old Port (Vieux-Port), and visit the Marché du Vieux-Port (160 Quai Saint-André), a year-round farmers' market with local cheeses, meats, and produce.

For dinner, eat in Old Quebec or the Old Port. For a classic French-Canadian experience, try Le Saint-Amour (48 Rue Sainte-Ursule) — a fine-dining restaurant in a historic house, with French-Canadian cuisine. For a more affordable pick, try Le Lapin Sauté (52 Rue du Petit-Champlain) — a cozy bistro in Petit-Champlain, with rabbit and local dishes. For a mid-range pick, try Chez Boulay - Bistro Boréal (1110 Rue Saint-Jean) — a Nordic-inspired bistro with local ingredients, or Buffet de l'Antiquaire (95 Rue Saint-Paul) — a classic Quebec City diner with French-Canadian comfort food.

After dinner, walk the Dufferin Terrace at night, when the Château Frontenac is lit up and the St. Lawrence is dark. For a drink, try the Sam Bistro (in the Château Frontenac) for a classic hotel bar, or the 1640 Bistro (1087 Rue Saint-Jean) for a cozy wine bar. For a more local pick, walk to the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood and try the Bar Ste-Angèle (335 Rue Saint-Joan) — a dive bar with live music. End the night with a walk through the quiet, cobblestone streets of Old Quebec, which are atmospheric and nearly empty after dark.

Start Day 2 on Parliament Hill (Colline Parlementaire) and the Plains of Abraham (Plaines d'Abraham), the site of the 1759 battle between the French and the British. Visit the Parliament Building (Hôtel du Parlement, 1045 Rue des Parlementaires), a Second Empire-style building with free guided tours. Walk the Plains of Abraham, a 98-hectare urban park, and visit the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (1799 Grande Allée O), the provincial art museum, with a collection of Quebec and Canadian art.

For lunch, eat in Saint-Roch. Try L'Affaire est Ketchup (46 Rue Saint-Joseph E) for a no-frills bistro with French-Canadian cuisine, or La Korriganeux (289 Rue Saint-Roch N) for a local brewery with great food and beer. For a more affordable pick, try Snack Mat (95 Rue Saint-Vallier E) for a sandwich, or grab a bite at the Marché du Vieux-Port (if you didn't go on Day 1).

After the museum, walk to the Saint-Roch neighbourhood, the modern heart of Quebec City and the best neighbourhood for local experiences. Walk along Rue Saint-Joseph, the main street, and browse the boutiques, cafés, and shops. Visit the Église Saint-Roch (590 Rue Saint-Joseph E), a neo-Gothic church with a stunning interior. For a local experience, take a walk through the Marché du Vieux-Port (if you didn't go on Day 1) or visit the Korriganeux Brewery (289 Rue Saint-Roch N) for a local beer. For a more active afternoon, take a short drive or Uber to the Montmorency Falls (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency), 12 km east of the city — a 83-metre waterfall (30 metres taller than Niagara Falls) with a suspension bridge at the top and a cable car to the summit.

For dinner, eat in Saint-Roch or Saint-Jean-Baptiste. For a classic Quebec City experience, try L'Affaire est Ketchup (46 Rue Saint-Joseph E) — a no-frills, no-reservations bistro with French-Canadian cuisine, and one of the best restaurants in the city. For a mid-range pick, try La Korriganeux (289 Rue Saint-Roch N) — a local brewery with great food and beer, or Le Sacré (159 Rue Saint-Joseph E) — a cozy bistro with local ingredients. For a more affordable pick, try Snack Mat (95 Rue Saint-Vallier E) — a sandwich shop with great food and a casual atmosphere.

After dinner, end the night with a drink in Saint-Roch. Try the Bar Ste-Angèle (335 Rue Saint-Joan) for a dive bar with live music, or the Dagobert (311 Grande Allée E) for a nightclub in a historic building. For a quieter end, walk through the Saint-Roch neighbourhood at night, and then head back to your hotel in Old Quebec.