Well worth the $14 ticket. Amazing. Uncrowded, kind staff, tons of information about the city…read more Loved every minute. The gift shop was beautiful, the views are boundless.

The Yelp entry misstates the closing time: the last elevator leaves at 4:40, so you have no chance…read moreof seeing it if you arrive between 4:40 and the time Yelp says it closes (5pm). I'm sure the view is cool--other people who got to see it say so.

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.

Best part of this place also known as "City Hall," is 3 level parking garage below it…read more It's where many of the local hotels have customers park their cars overnight. We caught a political speech by one of the leading candidates walking by and then another day there was a protect march.

How can you give such a beautiful old hotel with a view of the St. Lawrence River anything less…read morethan a five stars. This place is so centrally located you can go to the shopping district or do a tour from here or anything you want. In front of the hotel it's a big walkway with entertainment and a beautiful view of the St. Lawrence River.

I wish we had known about this beautiful island the last time we were in Quebec. It was one of our…read morehighlights on this trip. As it turns out the day was the only rainy one all week, but that didn't matter since we spent the afternoon driving from cidery to brewery to distillery, all within a few miles or less of each other. We even got to sit outside under a porch roof with blankets to keep warm while we had a wine flight as it poured. Quite memorable. Next time we will turn right when we get onto the island and see where it leads us.

Ile-d'Orleans is an island in the Saint Lawrence River. The island is about 3.1 miles east of…read moredowntown Quebec city. It is a nice day trip from the city and it can be combined with a nearby visit to Morntmorency falls and Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. The island is 21 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is accessible from the the mainland of Quebec by the Ile-d'Orleans bridge. The Chemin Royale road encircles the entire island. While traveling the Chemin Royale road you will encounter small cottage industries specializing in various agricultural products. Cassis Monna & Filles winery has tours and tasting. Fromagerie Biese d' Epinelle specializes in cheese and dairy products. Chocolaterie de-Ile Orleans haschocolate, fudge and other chocolate based products with no preservatives. La Boulange-Saint-Jean-de-Ile-Orleans sells bakery goods and pasteries while LaCuisine d'Ete-Saint-Laurent-de-Ile'Orleans has exceptional maple syrup. There are also histirical stops along the way. The Manor Mauvide Genest built in 1734 was the home of Jean Mauvide, who was the surgeon for King of France. Stop by one of the many churches along the way. I recommend Eglise de Saint Jean Saint Pierre. With the Laurentian Plateau to the North, the Appalachian Mountains to the South and views of the Atlantic Ocean and Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Chemin Royale road is a scenic drive in it's own right. Enjoy small cottage industries in a rolling hills pastoral setting.

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!

Visited the Citadelle de Québec and attended the changing of the guard ceremony, which was a…read morewonderful piece of history and tradition. It's an interesting and well‑organized show to watch, and I recommend arriving a bit early to get a good seat. A great stop for anyone who enjoys military history or is simply looking for a distinctive experience in Québec City.

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

Just popped in while on a walk. It was so beautiful inside. Worth stopping by for a visit.read more

It's amazing and I highly recommend it! I go there all the time, a great place to study or just to…read moreread and relax.