Quebec flights and travel guide

Quebec City is capital of Quebec and the province’s second-largest city, after Montreal. One of the oldest cities in Canada, parts of its historic old town (Vieux-Quebec) are Unesco-listed, characterised by European-style churches, ramparts and fortified walls.

The city sits above the St Lawrence river; its highest point, Cape Diamond, is 103 metres above it. Divided into two parts, the Upper (Haute-Ville) and Lower Towns (Basse-Ville) each have a distinct flavour. They are connected by the Escalier steps and the Old Quebec Funicular.

The Lower Town has the ancient Notre Dame des Victoires church, the Petit Champlain district, the port, and the Musée de la Civilisation.

One of Quebec’s signature events is its spectacular winter carnival. The city comes alive in the snow, with concerts and night parades. There is no bad time to snap up Quebec flights however. Summers are warm and the "fall foliage" is beautiful.

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Quebec Climate

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When to Fly to Quebec

Peak Season:.

Most visitors book their Quebec flights in late June to September. The summer festivals take place during this time - the Summer Festival (July 8-18), the International Firework Festival (July 24-August 11); and the New France Celebrations (August 4-8).

Off Season:

From November to April is Quebec’s off season, unless you are a skier or if you’re there for the Winter Carnival.

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Getting Downtown Quebec

Taxi and limo service is available and all the major car-hire companies are represented at the airport including Avis, Hertz, Budget and Thrifty. No city transit or shuttle service is available downtown from the airport.

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Getting Around Quebec

Walking is the best way to explore Quebec and its sights. Bicycle tours through the most historic parts of the city are also available. The Route Verte, in summer, is a network of cycling trails that connect 16 regions and passes through 320 municipalities.

The public bus system is run by Réseau de transport de la Capitale. Buses run between 6am and 1am. Night buses run at the weekend.

The funicular links Basse-Ville to the upper part of Old Quebec.

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Quebec Insider Information

• The Winter Carnival (January 30-February 15 2009) transforms Quebec into a winter wonderland. The carnival consists of parades, snow sculptures, an ice palace, snow rafting, dogsledding and an old-fashioned marketplace with greeters in period costume. A cheery snowman dressed in traditional garb is the carnival’s mascot.
• Close to Quebec City there are four large ski resorts including Mont-Sainte-Anne which has 64 ski trails on three mountain sides and the highest vertical elevation for night skiing in Canada. It is a half-hour drive from the city. The resort of Le Massif is 45 minutes east of the city and Stoneham with 32 trails on four mountains is a mere 20-minute drive. Even closer is Le Relais, a 15-minute drive.
• Visit the stunning Montmorency Falls which is higher than Niagara Falls. It’s located in a provincial park at the mouth of the Montmorency River. Viewing is from a footbridge, cable car or viewing platform. In winter try old-fashioned tobogganing, a fun way to slide around in the snow.
• Take a trip up to Quebec City’s highest building the Edifice Marie-Guyart. 750 feet above sea level there is a public, indoor observatory that offers unrestricted views of the city.
• Visit La Citadelle and witness the changing of the guard, hear the music and see Batisse, the regimental goat. The guards change every morning (between June 24 and the first Monday in September) at 10am.

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Quebec Airports

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