Quebec attractions

Home to a half-dozen heritage villages, Île d’Orléans feels like a relic of the past. Measuring 21 miles (34 kilometers) long and 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide, this finger-like sliver of an island charms visitors with its expansive, fertile farmland, dotted with vineyards, apple orchards, and sugar bush. Located on the St. Lawrence River just downstream of Quebec City, it’s an easy escape from city life, even if for an afternoon.

Considered one of the most significant religious landmarks in North America, Quebec City’s Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica-Cathedral boasts nearly four centuries of history. Today a certified National Historic Site of Canada—and also part of the Historic District of Old Québec UNESCO World Heritage Site—the church is both a sightseeing highlight and an active place of worship. Pay no mind to its modest exterior: Its interior, which features lavish gilding and impressive works of art, is worth discovering.

Built in the 1870s and rebuilt after a 1922 fire, Montreal City Hall (Hôtel de Ville de Montréal) has long found itself at the center of Quebec history. In 1967, the building hosted one of the most significant political moments in the province’s recent past, when then–French President Charles de Gaulle gave a rousing speech from the balcony—one that spurred Quebec’s separatist movement.

One of Quebec City’s best-preserved historic neighborhoods, the Petit Champlain District (Quartier Petit Champlain) has cobbled streets with sidewalk cafés, art galleries, and boutiques and European ambience. The city’s oldest staircase, the Breakneck Steps (L'Escalier Casse-Cou), leads from this quarter to the Côte de la Montagne.

Situated at the northernmost point of Montreal’s Plateau, Mile End is known for its array of independent shops, cafés, and underground music venues. The vibrant neighborhood, a cultural hub since the 1980s, is teeming with highly-rated restaurants and historical landmarks, from classic bagelries to scenes from the novels of Mordecai Richler.

Just across the river from downtown Ottawa, Gatineau Park—a 139-square-mile (361-square-kilometer) swath of lake and wood-dotted parkland—offers nature escapes near the city. With a vast network of hiking, cycling, and cross-country ski trails, as well as lakes, waterfalls, and swimming beaches, it’s a veritable outdoor playground.

Named after a 16th-century French explorer, Jacques-Cartier Square (Place Jacques-Cartier) is one of the main squares in Old Montreal (Vieux-Montreal). It was laid out in the early 19th century, and is lined with cafe terraces where visitors can watch as street performers and caricature artists vie for the attentions of passing tourists.

Built in the 1840s, this neoclassical silver-domed building has served as a farmers market, theater, and for a brief stint as Montreal's city hall. It was threatened with demolition before being converted into the current market complex, which contains cafes, restaurants, galleries, and shops selling Quebec-made crafts and design items.

Designed by architect Buckminster Fuller to serve as the US pavilion for the 1967 World’s Fair, the Montreal Biosphere (la Biosphère) is one of the city’s most instantly recognizable landmarks. Inside, it houses a range of exhibitions focusing on eco-technologies, sustainable development, and climate change. It's a must-see for all visitors to Montreal.

The Albert Gilles Copper Art Museum offers a unique look at an unusual art form: metal embossing. This craft, perfected by Albert Gilles, continues to be practiced by his children and grandchildren today at the museum and store close to Quebec City.

Situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the Montreal Science Centre (Centre des Sciences de Montréal) is a museum committed to educating the public about science and technology through hands-on learning. Its IMAX theater, daily programs, and interactive exhibits help make the Science Centre a popular attraction for both visiting and local families.

First opened in 1933, Jean-Talon Market (Marché Jean-Talon) is a local institution. Montrealers come to shop farm-fresh ingredients, from Quebec-reared pork and seafood from the country’s east coast to colorful vegetables, everything from purple carrots to orange cauliflower and strangely shaped gourds—all of which are artfully stacked in sellers’ stalls.

Montreal Chinatown was established in the late 19th century with the arrival of Chinese immigrants from western Canada who came to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Though just a couple of blocks long, the district offers a wide selection of Asian eateries and shops selling traditional handicrafts and souvenirs.

The St. Lawrence River flows 743 miles (1,196 kilometers) across a vast chunk of North America, from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. A lifeblood for Ontario and Quebec, the river has long sustained communities, from native tribes to European colonizers. Its waters host wildlife, including whale species and endangered belugas.

Artsy and laid-back, Plateau-Mont-Royal, aka the Plateau, captures the spirit of Montreal perhaps more than any other neighborhood. Spiraling iron staircases crawl up Victorian-era residences on tree-lined streets, while magnificent street murals add color to commercial thoroughfares. Restaurants, cafés, bars, and boutiques abound.

Encircling Old Quebec, these historic walls are the defense system of the only surviving walled city in North America. Originally developed by the French to protect them from the British, and later by the British to protect them from the Americans, the restored Fortifications of Quebec are now a National Historic Site.

With sweeping views over potential enemy attack lines on the Saint-Charles River and the plateau west of Quebec City, this site was originally established as a defensive stronghold by the French in the 17th and 18th centuries. It later served as an ammunition factory, producing cartridges for the Canadian army up until the 1960s.

Saint Paul Street (Rue Saint-Paul), located in Montreal’s Old Port, is an historic stretch of cafes, boutiques, galleries, and souvenir shops. Constructed in 1672, Saint Paul is the oldest street in the city and home to a few of its top landmarks, including Bonsecours Market and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel.

Perched atop Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant) overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Upper Town (Haute-Ville) is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec). Historic fortifications, built by the French and British, enclose a series of well-preserved streets lined with buildings dating back as far as the 17th century.

Ranking among the world’s finest botanical gardens, the expansive Montreal Botanical Garden is more than just a garden; it’s a horticultural experience. Stroll through more than a dozen themed gardens and 10 greenhouses, blooming with plants and flowers from around the globe, and admire colorful, seasonal displays of tulips, cherry blossoms, roses, dahlias, lilies, and countless other blooms.

Whether you want to seek out some shade in summer or stay warm during the sub-zero winter temperatures, Montreal’s Underground City lets you explore a whole other side of the city. Nicknamed the RÉSO (“réseau piétonnier souterrain de Montréal”) by locals, the vast network of subterranean passageways stretches over more than 20 miles (33 kilometers), and connects metro stations, shopping malls, office blocks, hotels, and many other attractions.

The huge star-shaped Citadel of Quebec (Citadelle de Quebec) is the largest military fortress in North America still occupied by troops. Begun by the French in the 1750s, the fortress was completed by the British in the mid-19th century, but never actually saw any action. Today, Canada’s French-speaking Royal 22nd Regiment (Royal 22e Régiment) is based here.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts), located in the heart of the Golden Square Mile neighborhood, is one of Canada’s most prominent cultural institutions. Home to over 44,000 works of art, from European masterpieces to Inuit sculpture, the museum also hosts classical concerts, public programs, and lecture series.

Between Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and the St. Lawrence River, Quebec Lower Town (Basse-Ville) is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec). Aside from cobbled streets lined with boutiques, galleries, and French-style bistros, the neighborhood is also home to Place Royale, the site of the first settlement of New France.

Built in the 1960s by Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, Place des Arts is Canada’s largest cultural complex. In addition to housing the Contemporary Art Museum and outdoor art installations, the performing arts center boasts six concert halls where guests attend a range of cultural and musical performances, including ballet, opera, and theater.

Montreal has one of the largest Italian communities in Canada, and nowhere is the community’s huge influence on the city more obvious than in leafy, park-filled Little Italy. As in Italy itself, food is an integral part of Little Italy’s appeal, and foodies flock to crowded pizzerias, old-school delis, and the vast Jean-Talon Market.

Pointe-à-Callière traces the history of Montreal, from First Nations’ settlements to the arrival of the Europeans and beyond. As well as immersive and interactive exhibits, the museum also displays authentic archaeological and architectural remains including parts of centuries-old fortifications and a 17th-century cemetery.

Since its completion in 1892, Dorchester Square (Le Square Dorchester) has been a cultural and political focal point for protests, social gatherings, and pedestrian traffic in Downtown Montreal. Adjacent to the Dominion Square Building and Place du Canada, the public park is home to four historic monuments, including a Robert Burns statue and the Boer War memorial.

Crescent Street (Rue Crescent), situated in the heart of Montreal’s bustling downtown, is the epicenter of the city's nightlife and home of the Grand Prix Festival, a celebration of the annual Formula One race. Lined with row houses, galleries, restaurants, and highly rated nightclubs, the street is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike.

See creatures, from poison dart frogs to penguins, in their native habitats in the Montreal Biodome (Biodome de Montreal). It's among the top family-friendly Montreal activities. It’s not just a zoo: The biodome recreates the plant and animal life of five ecosystems of the Americas, including the sub-Antarctic islands, tropical rainforest, Laurentian maple forest, and maritime Gulf of Saint Lawrence.