Quebec is the province in Canada with the most French-speaking people. Approximately 95% of the province’s population can have a conversation in French. Because of its large surface area, there are a lot of different and incredible types of landscapes and cities to see. Here are 12 beautiful places in Quebec you should visit all year round.
What to visit in Quebec?
Quebec is so big that it could hold three Frances! This is incredible but also quite overwhelming because if you’re only there to visit then you have a lot of things to see in a short amount of time. Forget about the French Canadian stereotypes… and focus on all the beautiful places in Quebec.
Montreal
Montreal is the most populated city in all of Quebec. It’s a cultural and economic hub. You have very different neighbourhoods that all coexist in harmony. You must take the time to visit Old Montreal, a slice of Europe in North America, the Mile End and Plateau, two hipster/artsy neighbourhoods with the best shopping and dining, the Mount-Royal for a breath of fresh air from the busy city, the canal Lachine and Notre-Dame, and much more. There are so many things to see, food to eat and places to visit in Montreal! This city is full of life and has so many festivals during summer, that no one can be bored while visiting.
Quebec City
Quebec city is the capital of the province of Quebec and is one of the most beautiful places in Quebec. It is smaller than Montreal but has a lot of charm and history. The Old Quebec (the most interesting and touristy area) teems with historical buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, and stone buildings. Stay (or visit) at the Château Frontenac, a castle-like hotel in the heart of the Old Town. Visit the Old Upper Town and the Old Lower Town, the great terrasse Dufferin, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the Plains of Abraham, and more. This city hosts some of the province’s most famous festivals and activities. In the winter, there’s the Quebec Winter Carnival and in the summer there’s the Quebec City Summer Festival.
Laurentians
The Laurentians are a mountainous region northwest of Montreal. The most known village in this area is the Mont-Tremblant, where there is skiing in the winter, and in the summer you can hike, cycle and golf, etc. The village has hotels, restaurants and cute shops if you decide to spend the weekend here. The drive is very beautiful and there are tons of small and quaint villages you can visit. Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Ste-Adèle, Saint-Sauveur, Saint-Donat are some of the nicest places to see. If you have the time, rent a cottage for a couple of days to really vacation like a Quebecer. You’ll enjoy swimming in beautiful and clean lakes.
Percé Rock
Percé Rock is a natural rock formation off the coast of the town of Percé which is off the coast of the Gaspé Peninsula. What makes it special is that there a 15 metre high arch in the huge rock. It is one of the biggest natural arches located in the water in the world. You can rent kayaks for some sea kayaking, do some bird watching and other outdoor activities. The town is quite small so there isn’t much to see (it’s a small fishing and agricultural village) but since they are used to a lot of tourists, there are plenty of restaurants and shops to visit. Since it is near the Gaspé Peninsula, if you rent a car, you can easily get to other beautiful areas around.
Lac Saint-Jean
Many beautiful places in Quebec are also great places to do some activities. Lac Saint-Jean is the land of the blueberries and bike trails. People come from all over the world to taste the blueberries and to bike through the gorgeous bike paths. It is quite far from Montreal (about a 5-6 hour drive) so is not a weekend getaway kind of place. You want to at least stay one week. You can also take a plane but it will be costly. This is an outdoor activity paradise, you can sail, kayak, canoe on the lake, bike, hike, camp, the possibilities are endless! You can do blueberry tours, agritourism tours, or motorcycle tours. You can rent a cottage on the lake and every day visit neighbouring towns to see what they have to offer.
Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships are the perfect long weekend getaway if you’re staying in Montreal. It’s a one hour and a half drive from the city and you’ll feel like you’re in a totally different place. Bromont, Magog, Eastman, Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Coaticook, and North Hatley are all great towns to visit. They have quaint downtown areas with good restaurants and unique shops. You’ll find the most gorgeous cheese making Abbey in Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, you can go hiking and biking in both Bromont and Magog, go to one of the most relaxing spas in Quebec in Eastman, and visit one of the most gorgeous hotels in North Hatley. Renting a car, taking your time and soaking in the beauty will really bring you true happiness.
Tadoussac
Tadoussac is the land of the whales. This is the place to go if you want to see Canadian whales. If you decide to come here, book your whale-watching tour in advance because this tiny 900 people village is very popular in the summertime. It is part of the top 50 most beautiful bays in the world and is the oldest settler village in Canada. People come to Tadoussac to see the whales but if you enjoy water sports like kayaking, you will also enjoy this area. If you have a lot of time, you can easily go from the Lac-Saint-Jean area to Tadoussac and then down to Quebec City.
Anticosti
Anticosti is an island in the Gulf of St Lawrence, near Gaspé. There are only around 300 inhabitants on this island but since it’s a National Park, you wouldn’t want there to be too many people living on this island anyway. This wild island is full of waterfalls, deer, seals, fishing, and caves. There is close to 125 km of trails so if you like hiking and being in nature, this is the place to be. You have to fly to the island, to Port-Menier from either from Montreal or Quebec which makes it even more exciting and exclusive. You can then rent a car to the National Park and start enjoying nature. You can reverse packages or plan your own stay, whatever you prefer.
Charlevoix
Charlevoix is a gorgeous area North of Quebec City. If you love skiing, there are some of the most beautiful and best ski mountains in all of Canada in this area. In the summer, people flock to this serene and beautiful area full of cheese producers, wineries and art galleries. The two main cities are Baie St Paul and Malbaie which have the most life. Rent a car or to the train from Quebec to see all of the natural beauty of this area. You can hike in the Hautes Gorges de la Rivière Park or visit the Contemporary art museum and the Charlevoix Museum. This place is perfect for everyone, from outdoorsy people to foodies. We told you, there are many beautiful places in Quebec!
Îles-de-la-Madeleine
The Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Magdalen Islands) form a small archipelago in the Gulf of St Lawrence. It is between the province of Newfoundland and New Brunswick. This is a place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are 7 islands that are all accessible via the Route 199. Surrounded by water, this place is magical and offers you great outdoor activities like cycling, hiking and boating. You can take a cruise from Montreal to the Magdalen Islands, drive and then take a ferry or fly to Gaspé or Bonaventure and then take a ferry. This is a place to relax and to enjoy nature. The beaches, the water and the mountains will be the perfect backdrop for your trip.
Gaspé
The Gaspé region is full of beautiful nature, picturesque lighthouses and nice people. This is a pretty huge area so you can stick to specific towns you’re more interested in. Gaspé is really on the coast of the province, so when you drive on the 132, you get the fresh breeze from the Gulf of the St Lawrence on your cheeks. There are a few National Parks if you want to do some hiking like This Gaspésie National Park and the Forillon National Park. If you’re tired of hiking and biking, you can visit wineries, the beach or even go to the spa! This area has something for everyone.
Where are your favorite beautiful places in Quebec?
