Great visit to the citadelle. Sunny day, good for unhurried exploration…read more The guides speak English and French. We joined an English tour. They take you through the parts of the grounds you can visit, which is largely everything not being used as an administrative or lodging building. We had plenty of time to cover it all with the guide. Everything is obviously pristine. This military post never saw a day of action. No combat. No scars or wear. Didn't have the gore or spectres you psychologically touch and tip toe through, say, the blood stained halls of the Tower of London. Fantastic views of Quebec City. It was worth admission alone to walk the exterior walls and look down on the waterfront. We spent too much time watching the band. They were very cute, though not great musicians, parading through a very length marching pattern in full costume. Bless them And we then spent too much time waiting in line to take a picture next to a goat, their mascot. Why did we do both? Because of herd mentality. Everybody else stayed. We were being polite. Then we spent too much time in the self-guided museum. Very few displays made sense to us. No baseline French comprehension We could have easily gained 2-3 hours of time back from the band, goat and museum visit. So if you're in a hurry, feel free to power walk through these. Spend the time on the beautiful promenade instead!

The Citadel is a must visit site with so much history. Definitely book a guided tour so you can…read moresee all the highlights.

This is the tourist center in Québec, both for the history and the modern-day ambiance that comes…read morewith the restaurants, patios, and shops that now fill the historic structures. Place-Royale is widely considered to be the birthplace of the French colony and French North America. It stands on the site of Québec's actual foundation, the spot where, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain erected a fur trading post that soon grew into the capital of French America. Named in honor of Louis XIV whose bust adorns it, Place Royale is the largest surviving ensemble of 17th- and 18th-century buildings in North America. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this area of Old Québec acted as the French colony's center of business and industry, supporting a thriving marketplace and housing many wealthy merchants. While exploring this quaint area, you'll come across several notable tributes to its French Colonial past, like- - including a striking bust of Louis XIV (one of France's most famous kings), - the Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, - as well as the Fresque des Québécois, which illustrates 400 years of the city's history. In summer, the area is home to outdoor dining areas. In winter, the snow transforms the old streets and stone buildings into a postcard-perfect scene. This is a beautiful area to wander through in the day or evening and at any time of year. Restroom: if you need one, there is a very clean and spacious restroom right there at the square. Just beside the cafe [Café La Maison Smith Notre-Dame], it's there. see attached photo.

CRADLE OF NORTH AMERICA…read more We visited Place Royale during our stroll through the Basse Ville section of Old Quebec. Known as the cradle of North America, Place Royale marks the location of the French settlement founded by Samuel de Champlain. The cobblestone square is surrounded by historic stone buildings that date back to the 1700 -1800s and were extensively restored in the 1980s. In the center of Place Royale is a bust of King Louis XIV - we later learned that the bust is a 1920s replacement of the original bust that was destroyed in a 1700s fire. Also marking Place Royale is Notre Dame des Victoires, one of the oldest stone churches in North America. We were surprised that the church was not open during our recent visit - we didn't know that after the Canada Labour Day weekend, visitor hours are shortened. We were also told that during the winter, the church is then only open on Sunday. Confirm hours before your visit. History is everywhere in Old Quebec and even plays a part in Café Maison Smith, a popular eatery next to Notre Dame des Victoires. Apparently a family named Smith owned the building for over 100 years and the bakery chain's name, Maison Smith, is a nod to the building's historical past. For a jolt forward to the present modern day, visit the EXMURO Public Art Area, a modern art gallery (free admission) that is also located on the square. The art gallery features thought-provoking installations that may push visitors out of their comfort zones. Movie Trivia: Place Royale was used as a movie location for the movie Catch Me If You Can. It stood in for a French town where Tom Hanks arrested Leonardo diCaprio.

Don't use the directions on Yelp. It's nearby…read more Where to start to see some of these old school. Lots of busy roads in and out of this old town. Can see the juxtaposition of old and new. Hubby wasn't keen on stopping much to walk, felt rushed to move along.

Old Quebec is amazing with such great history, food, views, and. architecture. Quebec is our…read morefavorite city we visited. Be sure to check out both the upper part of Old Quebec, the Chateau Frontenac where we stayed but can also tour, Dufferin Terrace, and Lower Town. The Citadel and Parliament are must sees as well as the Plains of Abraham (although I wish we looked around more and saw the museum) and the Museum of Civilization is amazing too

Such a beautiful promenade. The hotel Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is gorgeous, obviously. The…read morewalk way and glassy areas are spacious, great for the many crowds that come in for a visit. This green ticket booth has a unique view of the Forts-et-Chateaux-Saint-Louis, or in English: the Saint Louis Forts and Chateaux National Historic site. Very much worth checking out how the ruins underneath had old historic cellars and kitchens.

Terrasse Dufferin is a wooden boardwalk in Old Quebec City- Upper Town. It has spectacular views of…read morethe St. Lawrence River and the Le Chateau Frontenac . Along the boardwalk there are areas to sit and enjoy the views, and there were a few musicians adding to the charm. The Terrase Dufferin was built in the 1870's. The funicular entrance in Upper Town is located here. It is definately worth strolling the boardwalk and enjoying the sights.

The museum exhibits themselves aren't anything to write home about, but the admission fee is worth…read moreit if you are able to join one of the tours. Only two other people joined the tour with me and sister, so it was essentially a private tour. Score! What makes the tour unique is that it takes you throughout the seminary grounds, rather than showing you stuff in the museum itself. The tour takes you to multiple buildings and up and down stairs, so if you have any accessibility requests, let the front desk know beforehand so they can check if the elevators in some of the older buildings are functioning. If you have an interest in architecture, history, or religion, you'll enjoy this tour! Definitely recommend this museum if you're able to make it on one of their tours. 3.75

Despite its location in a busy and touristy area, the museum was quite empty when I went on a…read moreweekday afternoon in the summer. I took a guided tour, where I had the chance to walk through the seminary of Quebec and other special access places that are typically closed to the public. Definitely take the guided tour if you'll be visiting this museum because it's pretty cool and a lot more fun than the exhibits inside the museum. Get your money's worth! :) Since there were only two other people besides me and my sister on the tour, it was basically like a private tour. Call the museum beforehand to check when the tour hours are. Each tour takes 1.5-2 hours since you'll be walking around to different sites. The tour ends back inside the museum, but not at the main entrance where the tour started, so I was confused and found myself lost when trying to exit the museum back into the busy streets. The exhibits inside the actual museum building are pretty standard and in my opinion somewhat dry. However, they are quite educational and the exhibit "On the Road" explains the migration of the francophones (French-speakers). There are other exhibits as well such as "Mutations" that show some interesting art pieces.

LA BARONNE OBSERVATION DECK: Starting from the Manoir's terrace, there's a boardwalk along the…read morecliff leading to the suspension bridge. You can stop at La Baronne's observation deck on the way to admire the scenery. It is a splendid introduction to the scenery of Quebec." Though the falls were well-known to the indigenous people who lived there, Samuel de Champlain, a French colonist, and the founder of Quebec City, formally named them after the Duke of Montmorency, his patron. From the tower- For an adrenaline rush, look no further than the Montmorency Falls zipline, or "tyrolienne," which allows visitors to fly across the cove of the falls. The zipline costs around $20 for adults, and you can book tickets in advance.

We decided to drop in for a tour here on our second visit to Quebec City, mostly just to try…read moresomething new. The tour was about an hour long and our tour guide's English was great. Plenty of jokes and interesting descriptions about the history of the place. This building was originally a jail when it was built, intended to reflect the ideology of a British man who was set on reforming prisons. Like many countries when faced with an influx of immigration, the population housed in the jail were disproportionately made up of immigrants being punished for minor offenses. It was later converted to an English-language college that didn't last very long. The building finally wound up becoming an English-language library that now serves as the English-language cultural center of Quebec City. The library is filled with artifacts as well. And that old library smell is heavenly! The tour was a little boring, but not terribly, which is the only reason I give it 4 stars. I would have liked some more photographs from that time to be displayed throughout (even though I know they're probably incredibly rare). I did find myself checking my watch, but probably because we came in starving. If you're a history buff, library nerd, or jail hobbyist (lol), definitely try to check this place out.

This was a very enjoyable tour of a building that has been through a lot in it's life. The tour of…read morethe jail and the glimpse of living conditions during Quebec's history was excellent. The library was very beautiful. Definitely worth 90 minutes of your time.

This popular shopping street is especially lively in the summer. Snap pics of it from atop…read moreSaint-Jean Gate or when it's closed to traffic on summer days. We were staying in nearby AIRBNB and every morning we started our day from Place D'Youville and passed through St jean street to Upper/lower Quebec. what beautiful streets, full of souvenir shops, and famous cafes [Baguette & Chocolate, Paillard] If you're heading into Old Quebec City from the west end, then you'll likely be passing through Porte Saint-Jean (the old city walls that you can walk on top of). Just beyond the city wall is where you'll find one of the main walking streets on Rue Saint-Jean. Rue Saint-Jean is one of Québec City's oldest commercial stretches. In the 19th century, merchants settled there in droves in houses that doubled as their place of business, lending the street its special charm. Their shops did so well that soon the street had to be widened. On winter evenings, the skating rink and festive lights are simply magical!

POPULAR AREA IN OLD QUEBEC…read more Rue Saint Jean is one of the main streets in Old Quebec. The changing street names can be confusing - the street starts out as Cote de la Fabrique and then becomes Rue Saint Jean at the intersection of Rue Couillard. Exit Old Quebec to the Quebec City neighborhood known as Saint Jean Baptiste through Porte Saint Jean (Saint Jean Gate), one of the historic stone arch gates that is part of the Fortifications of Quebec. We enjoyed visiting shops along Rue Saint Jean including the large bookstore Librairie Pantoute (it was fun seeing French translations of our favorite children story books). There are also many restaurants here and during our late summer trip, a part of Rue Saint Jean was closed to car traffic for outdoor dining. Not sure how McDonald's managed to get a foothold inside historic Old Quebec but it was weird to see the fast food chain next to popular local spots such as Paillard Bakery, Casse Crepe Breton and L'Entrecote Saint Jean.