Quebec City Sights Inside the Walls
Old Quebec is the only walled city north of Mexico, and the main sights sit within a 15-minute walk of each other. The old town splits into the Upper Town on top of Cap Diamant and the Lower Town along the river. Most sights are free to view from outside, and paid entries are quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD).
Upper Town
The Château Frontenac opened in 1893 and hosted the Quebec Conferences of 1943 and 1944. It is a working Fairmont hotel, so you can enter the lobby and restaurants, and guided tours of about 50 minutes to an hour leave from the Au 1884 kiosk. Dufferin Terrace runs along the clifftop in front, with river views, and the Governors’ Promenade climbs beside the Citadelle toward the Plains.
The Citadelle is a star-shaped fortress and an active base of the Royal 22e Régiment, known as the Van Doos, whose mascot is a goat named Batisse. Entry is by guided tour only, at 22 CAD for adults in 2026.
The Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, at 16 rue De Buade, is an active church. The first church on the site dates from 1647, and the building was raised to a minor basilica in 1874. Its Holy Door is described as the only one outside Europe. Keep voices low, and check opening hours before you go.
The Parliament Building sits just outside the walls, built between 1877 and 1886. Bronze statues of historical figures line the facade, and the motto Je me souviens is carved above the main entrance. Tours of the building are free, and visitors aged 16 and over need photo ID.
Lower Town
Place Royale is where Champlain built his Habitation in 1608. The Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires on the square was begun around 1688. A votive ship model hangs from its nave ceiling, and tourism sources call it one of the oldest stone churches in North America. A few steps away, the Fresque des Québécois covers 420 square metres of wall at 29 rue Notre-Dame.
Rue du Petit-Champlain is a pedestrian lane of shops and bistros. Reach it by the Escalier Casse-Cou, a flight of 59 steps and one of the city’s oldest stairways, or by the funicular at 7 CAD one way for adults, cash only.
Walls and gates
The fortifications can be walked for free. Parks Canada names the Porte Saint-Jean and Porte Kent among the gates, and the Porte Saint-Louis is also commonly cited. The walls run about 4.6 km around the Upper Town. Under Dufferin Terrace, the Forts and Châteaux Saint-Louis site shows the remains of the governors’ residence, open from 16 May to 25 October in 2026.
Plains of Abraham
The Battlefields Park covers 103 hectares and marks the 1759 battle. The Plains of Abraham Museum, at 835 avenue Wilfrid-Laurier, includes Martello Tower 1 and charges adults about 13.75 CAD from 8 September. Treat the park with respect, as it is a battlefield where soldiers died, and use it for walking and reflection.
Parks and Citadelle details are on the Battlefields Park site and the Citadelle admission page . Sightseeing tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .
Read more: walking routes in Old Quebec and guided visits .