Quebec City Activities by Season

October 20, 2026

Quebec City sits on the north bank of the St Lawrence, and most of what to do is within a short bus ride of the walled Old Town. Prices here are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Many operators quote them before tax, and the combined sales tax is 14.975%, so the final bill is higher. French is the common language, and a friendly “Bonjour” at the counter goes a long way. Staff in tourist areas are generally bilingual.

Winter on Dufferin Terrace and the Plains

From mid-December to mid-March, longer if the cold holds, the Glissades de la Terrasse put three ice runs on Dufferin Terrace, with up to four people to a toboggan and speeds of up to 70 km/h. The runs are operated by Au 1884. The 2026 to 2027 price and hours are not published yet, so check au1884.ca or ask at the kiosk. Dress for the wind off the river, and wear boots with grip, because the stairs and slopes of Upper and Lower Town ice over.

Skating is on land. Place D’Youville has a free refrigerated rink, with skate rental of about 10 CAD for adults plus tax, and the Plains of Abraham has a free ice ring from about mid-December to March. The river ice is thin, icebreakers work the shipping channel, and the Coast Guard asks people to stay off it, so keep to the rinks. The Plains also have free cross-country ski tracks, about 13.9 km in all.

Hôtel de Glace

The Hôtel de Glace is at Valcartier, about 30 minutes north of the city, not in Charlevoix. Day visits are listed from 26 December 2026 to 21 March 2027, with the date still to be confirmed, and an evening pass from 20:00. Tickets are priced by height rather than age: about 35.99 CAD online or 42.99 on site for visitors 1.32 m and taller, about 29.99 to 34.99 for those from 1 m to under 1.32 m, and free under 1 m, all before tax. Overnight suites start at about 485 before tax between 4 January and 13 March 2027. Parking is free. Check the Valcartier rates page before you go.

Carnaval de Québec

Carnaval runs from 5 to 14 February 2027. An Effigie pass is needed from age 13 and was about 29 CAD plus tax at the 2027 presale price. There are night parades, and the Ice Canoe Race on the river is a team event that the public watches from the shore. Details are on the Carnaval site . Book rooms early for these dates.

Summer and autumn on the water

Croisières AML sails from Quai Chouinard on a cruise of about 1 hour 30. An adult ticket was about 49.99 CAD before tax and ages 2 to 12 about 15.00, with sailings listed at 11:30, 14:00, 16:00 and 19:00 on an undated page. The season runs from May to October, so check the current timetable on the AML cruise page .

There is no whitewater on the St Lawrence at Quebec City. Rafting is on the Jacques-Cartier River, mid-May to mid-October, on a Class III to IV sector. New Wave Expeditions runs the 9.6 km Tewkesbury section from Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, with nine rapids, rafts of up to 10 people and a minimum age of about 12. Excursions Jacques-Cartier also operates there. Prices were not confirmed, so ask each operator.

Getting around

Quebec City has no metro, only RTC buses. From 1 July 2026 a cash fare is 4.00 CAD in exact change, because drivers do not give change, and a 1-day pass is 10.50. The funicular between Upper and Lower Town costs 7 CAD one way for adults, and children under 117 cm ride free. Montmorency Falls, the other big seasonal draw, is covered in the day trips guide.

You can compare guided options on GetYourGuide .