Lost in Quebec: 24 hours in Quebec City
Quebec City exudes old world charm with its beautiful winding streets, cute cafes, and delicious food. If there is any place in Canada that makes you feel like you’ve been whisked away to a small town in Europe, it’s Quebec City. Whether it’s exploring the charming Rue du Petit Champlain or visiting North America’s only ice hotel, Quebec City offers magic, romance and mystique. Here’s the perfect way to spend 24 hours in Quebec City.
Hôtel de Glace
No trip to Quebec City in the winter is complete without a visit to North America’s only ice hotel. From its incredible Nordic façade, to its beautifully well-crafted sculptures, the hotel is made entirely out of ice and snow. It’s a marvelous masterpiece and worth the visit. Located only 20 minutes from downtown Quebec, the hotel features 44 rooms, several ice sculptures, a chapel and last but not least, an ice bar. While the hotel is limited to guests staying the night from 9pm to 9am, they open their doors to the public outside of those hours. One can wander through the ice halls and explore the rooms. Of course we ended our visit with a drink at the ice bar - served in an ice glass, of course!
Tickets range from $18.99 to $29.99 and the hotel is open from January to March.
Rue du Petit Champlain
One of my favourite parts about visiting any city in Europe, are the small, cobblestone streets often seen in most cities and towns. Something about them brings me to the past and I find them so charming. Rue du Petit Champlain offers just that. This area is said to be the oldest commercial district in North America. There are small boutique shops and restaurants and off in the distance, you can see the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, perched on a hill as though it were a castle. It’s truly breathtaking.
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
While I didn’t stay at the Fairmont during my stay, it’s nice to visit this castle-like hotel that overlooks the old part of the city as well as the St. Lawrence River. In the winter months, you can experience toboggan slide Au 1884, one of the oldest attractions in the city hence ‘1884’. Simply visiting the hotel to take in the views is worth it.
Place Royale
Place Royale is located near the Rue du Petit Champlain and is where the city of Quebec was founded in 1608. It’s a courtyard with beautiful French and British architecture. This picture perfect cobblestoned square is as charming as it gets and is the perfect spot to take a break and take in the views.
Dinner at Chez Rioux & Pettigrew
I came across this restaurant after a quick search for restaurants in Quebec City. After reading several reviews and having a few friends also suggest it, I knew it would be the perfect restaurant for my birthday dinner. The restaurant offers local seasonal flavours perfectly plated in a visually stimulating way. While this is definitely fine dining, the décor is unpretentious and warm which I appreciated. I have never been to fond of stuffiness. We chose to get the 4-course tasting menu paired with wine. Walking into the restaurant was an experience within itself. We were escorted through the front room and through the kitchen where all the chefs welcomed us as we walked by. “Bonjour” they all said with smiles on their faces, wearing their passion on their sleeves. Immediately, I felt like I was in good hands. The entire meal was delicious and full of flavour and the wine pairings complimented each course perfectly.
Breakfast at Café Boulangerie Paillard
Paillard is a French inspired bakery that offers delicious baked goods. Located in a large, modern space with harvest style communal tables that run along the centre of the room. The smell alone awakens your senses the moment you walk in. When we visited, a musician played an accordion, which really added to the ambiance. We had the almond and chocolate croissant, a chocolate twisted pastry and my personal favourite, the ham and cheese croissant. Words cannot describe how good the ham & cheese croissant was. The croissants are soft, fluffy, buttery with a perfectly crispy outer layer. Delicious and totally worth it!
Until recently, I had only been to Quebec City a few times for work or when passing through the city to go out east. I hadn’t really experienced the city like I did on this trip. It truly surpassed every expectation I had. Quebec City is Canada’s European city, and I would argue that no other city comes close when it comes to old world charm. It has charm and character and everywhere you look is a beautiful painting. I can’t recommend it enough.
What are your favourite things to do in Quebec City? Comment below!
