Multi-Day Plans Based in Quebec City

November 5, 2026

Quebec City makes a good base for two to four days. You can stay in one hotel and add day trips, or take one overnight loop to Charlevoix and Tadoussac. Prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD), and many are quoted before the 14.975% tax.

Two to three days in and around the city

A first day can stay inside the walls: Dufferin Terrace, the Château Frontenac, the Citadelle, and then the funicular or the Escalier Casse-Cou down to Petit-Champlain and Place Royale. The funicular costs 7 CAD one way for adults and takes cash only. The Citadelle tour is guided and lasts 60 minutes, with the changing of the guard on Wednesday to Sunday mornings in summer.

A second day suits the east side: Montmorency Falls first, then Île d’Orléans, then Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré if time allows. A third day can go to the Plains of Abraham, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the cafes and breweries of Saint-Roch.

A winter version

From late December to March, replace one day with the Hôtel de Glace at Village Vacances Valcartier, about 30 minutes north. Day visits are listed from 26 December 2026 to 21 March 2027, and overnight stays from 4 January to 13 March 2027, with suites from about 485 CAD before tax. Carnaval de Québec runs 5 to 14 February 2027, and room prices rise around it, so book early. Dufferin Terrace has ice slides at about 5 CAD each on last winter’s page.

A summer version

Add a day at Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, 40 to 50 km north, for hiking or paddling, and consider rafting on the Jacques-Cartier River between mid-May and mid-October. Rafting is not available on the St. Lawrence at Quebec City.

One overnight loop: Charlevoix and Tadoussac

Drive Route 138 and the coast road, Route 362, to Baie-Saint-Paul, known for galleries. Île-aux-Coudres is reached only by the free ferry from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, about 15 to 20 minutes, since there is no bridge or causeway. From the Baie-Sainte-Catherine ferry you reach Tadoussac, roughly 210 to 215 km from the city, about three hours by road plus a free 10-minute crossing.

Whale-watching departures run from Tadoussac. Croisières AML sailed from 2 May to 1 November in 2026, with Zodiac trips of about 2.5 hours from 134.99 CAD for adults before tax. Children under 6 may not board the Zodiac. Because the return drive adds about three more hours, most travellers stay one night.

Train de Charlevoix leaves from Montmorency Falls during its season, roughly June to early November, and is an alternative to driving to Baie-Saint-Paul.

Montreal

Montreal is a separate trip of about 250 km. VIA Rail trains leave from Gare du Palais, taking roughly three hours and fifteen minutes, so give it its own days.

Getting around without a car

Quebec City has no metro, only RTC buses. A cash fare is 4.00 CAD in exact change, and a one-day pass is 10.50. The ferry to Lévis takes about 12 minutes with no reservation.

Fare details are on the RTC fare page , and whale-watching schedules are on the AML Tadoussac page . For hotels, try Booking.com .