When is the best time to fly to Quebec City?
Quebec City has a humid continental climate: winters are cold and snowy, summers are warm and often humid and there is plenty of rainfall throughout the year. Summer temperatures range between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures can plummet to between -25 and -5 degrees. Average snowfall is between 25 and 30in (64-77cm).
Most visitors book their flights to Quebec City between late June and September to take in the summer festivals and enjoy the hot weather. These include the Summer Festival (July), International Firework Festival (July/August); and New France Celebrations (August). If you want to ensure cheap flights to Quebec City, be sure to book well in advance, especially during the New France Celebrations as the festival sees more than 200,000 visitors worldwide gather in 17th and 18th century costume to partake in the lively atmosphere and local spirit.
The winter months, from November to April, are when the city really shines and are a great time to book flights to Quebec if you are a skier or snowboarder. Planning a trip during this period is also a brilliant time to visit as Quebec City is transformed into a winter wonderland during the Winter Carnival. Held when the city is at its snowiest in January/February, the festival features parades, an ice palace and snow sculptures, snow rafting, dogsledding and an old-world marketplace.
Quebec City overview
Quebec City, the capital of Quebec, is the province’s second-largest city (after Montreal) and one of the oldest cities in Canada. Travellers will no doubt want to explore the historic old town (Vieux-Quebec), parts of which are Unesco-listed, and the European-style churches, ramparts and fortified walls.
The city sits above the St Lawrence river; its highest point, Cape Diamond, is 337 ft (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.