Quebec attractions

At the confluence of the St. Charles and St. Lawrence rivers, the bustling Port of Quebec (Port de Québec) offers access to one of Canada’s most well-known tourist destinations: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec). Passengers dock right in the heart of Quebec, at the Ross Gaudreault terminal.

Montreal’s Barbie Expo is the world’s largest permanent exhibition of Barbie dolls. It displays more than 1,000 famous figurines, from historical Barbies to J.Lo and Beyonce versions. Inside an upscale shopping mall, the exhibit keeps “Barbie fever” alive, and it dresses her to the nines. Designers on display include Armani, Vera Wang, Christian Louboutin, Christian Dior, and more.

Straddling the St Lawrence River, the tree-covered hills of the Charlevoix region make up one of the most picturesque areas in the province of Quebec. In winter, Charlevoix is home to one of the best ski hills in the region while in summer and fall, hiking, biking, and whale watching take center stage.

Quebec City visitors can enjoy summer-style fun all year round at the family-friendly, indoor Bora Parc waterpark. Just grab your swimsuit (even if it's snowing outside), and get ready to splash around. Hop into indoor pools, wind your way down waterslides, and hone your surfing skills on an indoor surf wave.

Among Canada’s largest inland ports, the Port of Montreal (Port de Montréal) sits on the St. Lawrence River and is home to the Iberville Passenger Terminal, where cruises dock. Located in the francophone Quebec province, the port is the gateway to Montreal—the country’s second largest city—and offers easy access to Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) and the wider downtown area.

On the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec’s Charlevoix region, Baie-Saint-Paul is a picturesque small town known for its galleries, gourmet food scene, and summer art festival. The acrobatic performance group Cirque du Soleil was also founded here in the 1980s.

Black bears, arctic foxes, and lynx are just some of the species you’ll find at the Ecomuseum Zoo Montreal, an open-air wildlife park that houses rescued, orphaned, injured, and captive-born animals native to Quebec’s St. Lawrence Valley. In addition to outdoor enclosures, the zoo has an indoor space housing reptiles, amphibians, and nocturnal creatures.

La Malbaie is a group of towns in central Quebec that served as Canada’s first vacation resort. Known for its scenic landscape and views of the St. Lawrence River, La Malbaie was the site of US President William Taft’s summer home and continues to entertain visitors with its popular casino, chalets, and outdoor activities.

Originally intended for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the Montreal Tower (La Tour de Montréal) is world’s tallest inclined tower, standing at an unprecedented 45-degree angle. A funicular cable ride to the observatory offers panoramic views of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers), from beyond the St. Lawrence River to Mount Royal.

Quebec visitors looking for adventure shouldn't miss Via Ferrata Montmorency, a guided outdoor excursion through Parc de la Chute-Montmorency full of adrenaline-fueled activities, such as zip lining and rock climbing. Not for the faint of heart, this tour will help you enjoy the best of this beautiful park.

First time rock climbers who want to experience the thrill of climbing without heading to the mountains should head to Escalade Clip 'n Climb Laval. Enjoy this reinvented climbing experience that has walls designed for climbers of all skill levels, automatic belay devices, and convenient, wait-free climbing.

Situated within the Quebec Seminary (Séminaire de Québec, a former Catholic training college, this museum chronicles French colonial history and Francophone culture in North America. The building dates back to the 17th-century, making it one of Quebec City’s oldest, and has been designated a National Historic Site by Parks Canada.

Devoted to all things creepy and crawly, the Montreal Insectarium (Insectarium de Montréal) houses about 250,000 insects, some living, others dead. Examine stick insects, cicadas, beetles, and tarantulas up-close, and observe a leafcutter ant colony hard at work. Displays explain the feeding, breeding, and behavioral habits of various species.

From snow tubing and ice-skating to indoor waterslides and a digital games room, there’s something for everyone at Valcartier Vacation Village, a year-round destination near Quebec City. Get a spa treatment, swim at the water park, tour the Ice Hotel, and much more.

Mount Royal Cemetery (Cimetière Mont-Royal), overlooking Montreal from the top of Mount Royal, is one of the oldest rural cemeteries in North America and often missed by visitors. At a sprawling 165 acres (67 hectares), the cemetery is the final resting place of historic figures, including Canadian writer Mordecai Richler.

With its European feel and easy access from Montreal, this Quebec resort is one of eastern Canada’s big adventure hubs. Ample winter snow blankets more than 100 trails across 755 acres (305 hectares) with terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, while summer and fall draw hikers and cyclists. Off-mountain, find year-round activities from sleigh rides to rail trails.