Quebec City at Christmas Time: Perfect 1-Day Itinerary

Quebec City is a beautiful place to visit year-round, but there’s something extra magical about visiting during the Christmas time.

The cobblestone streets lit up with Christmas lights, the charming European-inspired architecture, and the festive Christmas markets make it feel like you’ve stepped into a real-life Hallmark movie.

If you’re short on time, this 1-day Quebec City itinerary covers the highlights during Christmas, including the Christmas market, iconic sights, and delicious food.

This is exactly what we did during our trip to Quebec City at Christmas time! We visited during the first weekend of December in 2024.

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Getting to Quebec City

For our trip, we flew into Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport instead of Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport.

This made sense for us since we wanted to visit both of these cities, and the flights to Montreal were significantly cheaper than Quebec City.

The flights to Quebec City also had at least two layovers making the travel day quite long. 

This might be different for you depending on your departing airport.

I always use Google Flights to find the cheapest flights.

Getting from the Quebec City Airport to Downtown Quebec

If you’re flying into the Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport, I would recommend taking a taxi from the airport to get to your accommodations.

The taxi ride takes around 25 minutes and costs a flat fee of $41.40 CAD.

Check out the taxi information here.

If you’re looking to save some money, you can also take public transit from the airport to downtown Quebec City.

You can take the RTC Bus 76 from the airport to the Sainte-Foy bus terminal, then transfer to another bus that will take you downtown–either the 800 or 801 bus. 

Check out more about the public transit options here.

You can use Google Maps and click the transit/bus option, and it will give you detailed directions on what bus to board and what stops to get on/off at.

This costs $3.50 CAD per ride, and it can take around an hour depending on the bus schedule.

If you’re planning on using public transit, I would download the RTC app to purchase your ticket in advance.

The app is in French, but you can take a screen shot and submit the picture to Google Translate, and it will translate it to English.

Then, you will show the ticket on your phone to the bus driver when you board the bus.

If you only need to use the public transit to and from the airport, then I would just purchase the “RTC-1 Passage-General” ticket that is $3.50 CAD and lasts for 90 minutes.

Personally, I would spend the extra money to take the taxi to and from the airport since you will be traveling with luggage and during the winter.

Once you’re in the downtown area, everything is walkable from there so you won’t need to spend more money on taxis or Ubers.

Getting from Montreal to Quebec City

If you’re flying into Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport like we did, I highly recommend taking the Via Rail train to Quebec City.

It is a comfortable and scenic way to travel, especially during the winter when snowy roads can make driving difficult and dangerous.

Check out my other blog post to read more about my experience of taking the train from Montreal to Quebec City!

Are you short on time and can’t decide on whether to visit Montreal or Quebec City? Check out my blog post where I provide a Montreal vs. Quebec City comparison to help you make your decision.

Choosing Your Departure Station: Dorval (Near Airport) vs. Central (Downtown Montreal)

If you’re planning to head to Quebec City shortly after landing in Montreal, then I recommend booking your Via Rail train ticket to depart from Dorval Station which is the one closest to the Montreal airport.

There is a free shuttle you can take from the airport to Dorval Train Station. See more information here.

If you are planning to spend time in downtown Montreal before heading to Quebec City, then I recommend booking your train to depart from Central Station which is located in downtown Montreal.

The Quebec City train station is called Gare du Palais which will be your destination station.

The Via Rail train ride from Montreal to Quebec City takes about 3.5 to 4 hours assuming there are no delays which do happen on the train quite a bit, but usually nothing too extreme.

We landed in Montreal around 3:30 pm, took the 747(1) bus to the Central Station, and departed on the Via Rail train to Quebec City at 7:30 pm. 

Our train was initially supposed to take off at 6:30 pm, but there had been some delays for the inbound train to get to Montreal.

We purchased the Via Rail business class tickets since there was not a big price difference between business class and economy.

With business class, you get to sit in a business-class only lounge while waiting for your train to board, and there is a free coffee machine and several free drinks—apple juice, water, diet coke, coke, ginger ale, orange juice, etc.

It was a nice place to sit and relax. You also get to board the train first without having to wait in a long boarding line. You get served a snack, hot meal, and unlimited beverages on the train.

If the price difference isn’t too drastic, I highly recommend choosing business class as the seats are comfier and roomier, you get free food and drinks, and access to the business lounge to relax before you board your train.

Once we arrived in Quebec City, we took a taxi to our hotel which only cost around $15 CAD after tip.

There were several taxis waiting outside of the train station when we arrived at 11:15 pm.

Getting to Downtown Montreal and the Montreal Central Station

To get to downtown Montreal Central Station from the airport, you can take the 747(1) public transit bus and exit at the Rene-Levesque / Mansfield stop, located just outside the station.

You can also use Google Maps and click the bus icon which will give you public transit directions which is what I did.

You can purchase the 747 bus ticket at the airport once you exit customs and the baggage claim area.

It is near Door 28 and there are several kiosks where you can purchase a bus ticket.

There were two agents there as well that can help you with purchasing your ticket if needed.

We bought the non reloadable card instead of the OPUS card, because the agent said the OPUS card was not needed for our short trip . 

This saved us the cost of getting the physical card which was around $2.

We purchased the weekend pass which was good through Friday at 4:00 pm through Monday at 5:00 am which worked perfectly for our trip. It was $15 CAD per person.

Once you have purchased your bus ticket, you will exit and walk to your right past the Uber pickup area and towards the overhang to wait in line for the 747 bus.

There are two different 747 buses, 747(1) bus and 747(2) bus. 

You will board the 747(1) bus as it will take you all the way to downtown Montreal as well as the Central Station which is where your Via Rail train will be departing out of.

The 747(2) bus takes you to the metro station and ends there while the 747(1) bus continues past the metro station–which is what you will need to get further into downtown.

There is room to store your luggage on the 747(1) bus as well and a decent amount of seating.

When you board the bus, you will just scan either side of the paper bus ticket on the machine next to the bus driver and that is it!

If your Via Rail train doesn’t leave until later in the day and you want to spend some time exploring downtown Montreal, the Via Rail station can hold your bags if you have a departure later that day.

Check out more information here for their checkroom service. It costs $6/bag for Economy, but it is free for Business class!

You could also always stay in Montreal overnight and take the first train out in the morning to Quebec City as well.

Should You Rent a Car in Quebec City During Winter?

I would not recommend renting a car since it can snow significantly on short notice making the drive quite dangerous, especially if you’re not used to driving on snow and ice covered roads.

We visited during the first weekend of December (6th through 9th), and I am glad we decided to do the Via Rail train over renting a car.

The day we left there was a pretty big snowstorm that occurred overnight making the roads snow covered and icy.

I seriously don’t know how we would have driven on our own, just taking the taxi from our hotel to the train station was scary enough.

Where to Stay in Quebec City

We stayed slightly outside of Old Quebec, which is where you will spend most of your time in Quebec City.

Old Quebec is inside of the fortified walls and has the unique architecture and charming streets that you have probably seen in numerous photos.

We stayed at the Delta Hotels by Marriott, and it was a short few-minute walk to reach Old Quebec. It was a great place to stay, and we had no complaints!

The only thing worth noting is that the street to access the hotel is pretty steep which would make it hard to walk up if it is snowy or if you have trouble walking.

If you’re looking for a more unique place to stay inside of Old Quebec, here are a few hotels worth checking out:

• Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – the most iconic and famous hotel in Quebec City! If you’re looking to splurge, this is the place to do it.
• Le Manoir d’Auteuil – great location on the edge of Old Quebec and complimentary breakfast
• Auberge Saint-Antoine – boutique hotel with historic charm
• Hotel du Vieux-Quebec – on-site dining and within walking distance of everything

Quebec City at Christmas: One Day Itinerary

Breakfast at Cochon Dingue Champlain

We started our day early and got to Cochon Dingue Champlain for breakfast when they opened at 8:00 am.

They had fast service and were friendly!

Our food was good, but I think I got the wrong meal for me. I got the breakfast poutine, and I think it was too heavy of a meal for me as I didn’t love the hollandaise sauce or eggs.

We also noticed that they tend to undercook their eggs so they were slightly wet/runny. If you like your eggs cooked like that though, you will like it!

I did enjoy their Decadent Salted Caramel latte. They also gave us free smoothie shots when we sat down which was a nice touch.

I would still recommend this place though because I think if I ordered something different I would have liked it.

Another highly recommended place for breakfast was La Buche!

Grab Coffee at La Maison Smith

The interior of the La Maison Smith coffee shop was beautiful!

We visited the location on Rue Saint-Jean street, but there are several locations in the city.

They had a wide variety of pastries and drinks. I got a pistachio latte, and it was good! 

I think if I went back I would stick to a more traditional caramel or vanilla latte as the pistachio flavoring was quite strong.

There was plenty of seating as well as a small upper level with additional tables.

Walk the Streets and Browse Stores

As you walk up and down the charming cobblestone streets in Quebec City, there are numerous different boutiques and souvenir shops that you can pop into and browse.

It is also a great way to get a break from the cold!

You can’t leave Quebec City without wandering around La Boutique de Noël de Québec! 

It is the embodiment of Christmas with numerous beautifully-decorated trees and a Christmas village display on the second floor. 

We purchased several cute ornaments here and enjoyed walking around and browsing all of the items. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Quebec City while walking around, consider joining a city walking tour led by a professional guide.

We saw plenty of these groups while walking around!

P.S. If it is your first time traveling internationally, be sure to read my blog post where we cover 20 international travel tips!

Take the Funicular or Climb the Stairs to Dufferin Terrace

Be sure to visit Dufferin Terrace which is outside of the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel.

It is located on the upper level of town meaning you will walk up a set of stairs to get here, or you can ride the Funicular which is a neat experience and costs $5 CAD/person for one way, not round trip.

We took the Funicular on the way up and then just walked down.

While up there, you can walk along the terrace taking in the beautiful views of the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding area. 

Be sure to wear good boots as it was snow and ice covered when we went there in early December.

While here, you can pay to ride a toboggan slide which looked like it would be a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, we were too early for this as it had not opened yet. We were there a week before it was set to open on December 13, 2024. 

The date changes each year depending on the weather and how much snow they have gotten to make the slide icy enough to operate.

While here, you can also wander around the lobby of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel which was beautifully decorated for Christmas. 

It had a Starbucks inside and public bathrooms on the downstairs level.

Enjoy the Quebec City Christmas Market

The largest Christmas market in Quebec City was just inside of the fortified walls once you pass over the arch at Place D’Youville.

It had several stalls selling different treats, food, and crafts/items.

At night, there was even live music!

There is an ice skating rink as well where you can rent skates, and they had small plastic seals that kids could sit on as you push them around the rink.

If you’re like me and can’t skate well at all, they also had walkers you could use while on the ice.

Here is more information on all five of the Christmas markets in Quebec City.

Dinner at Sapristi

Sapristi is conveniently located just on the inside of Old Quebec City and super close to the Christmas market.

There isn’t much seating there, but we arrived at around 3:45 pm for an early dinner and got seated at a table for 2 right away.

We loved the food here! We got the truffle and parmesan fries, a margherita pizza, margherita flat bread, and the smores dip for dessert.

I highly recommend all of the food we got–probably the best truffle fries I have ever had and the smores dip was so delicious.

Conclusion: Our Trip Details

If you’re curious, here is how we split our time during our short weekend getaway to Montreal and Quebec City.

We flew into Montreal on a Friday landing around 3:30 pm, took a Via Rail train to Quebec City from Montreal Central Station at 7:30 pm, and arrived in Quebec City at 11:15 pm. 

We spent the entire day on Saturday in Quebec City and one day seemed to be plenty of time to see everything we wanted to see in Old Quebec specifically. 

Then, we took the Via Rail train from Quebec City to Montreal Central Station at 8:00 am on Sunday and arrived in downtown Montreal at 11:30 am. 

We spent the remainder of the day exploring Montreal then spent the night at the Marriott inside the Montreal Airport before flying home the next morning.

If I were to do it again, I would plan it the same way, but I would see if I could find a flight that got into Montreal earlier. That way we could have arrived in Quebec City early enough for dinner on the first day.

I highly recommend taking the first Via Rail train back to Montreal after your night in Quebec City to maximize your time in Montreal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it Worth Going to Quebec City for Christmas?

Absolutely, it is 100% worth visiting Quebec City at Christmas time!

My Mom and I had a weekend open from Friday to Monday and were trying to brainstorm a fun Christmas trip we could take.

We didn’t want to travel all of the way to Europe for just a weekend and decided on Quebec City which makes you feel like you are in Europe but without the long flight!

Quebec City will most definitely get you in the holiday spirit with its Christmas markets, festive decorations, and charming cobblestone streets.

Sipping a hot latte in a cafe while looking outside to the decorated streets was one of our favorite parts of the trip!

How Long is Quebec City Decorated for Christmas?

Quebec City usually begins decorating for Christmas in late November, and they stay up through February for the Winter Carnival.

Is the Quebec City Christmas Market Worth it?

Yes, I think visiting the Christmas markets in Quebec City is worth it!

You won’t need a lot of time there as it isn’t large by any means.

There are several wooden stalls, around ten to fifteen, that serve food or sell unique items.

It is worth the time to walk around and browse the stalls, enjoy a treat and the festive ambiance, and potentially go ice skating!

But, if you are visiting during the time the Christmas markets aren’t open, I still think you will thoroughly enjoy your trip as there is still plenty to do outside of the Christmas markets.

If your goal is to see the Christmas market, make sure you visit during Thursday through Sunday as the market is not open Monday through Wednesday.

What are the Dates for the Christmas Market in Quebec City?

The Quebec City Christmas Market usually opens in late November and continues running up to a couple days before Christmas

In 2024, it opened on November 21st and closed on December 23rd.

Check out the website for the updated dates and details for when you’re planning to visit.

What to Pack for Quebec City Winter?

The key to packing for winter in Quebec City is to have plenty of warm layers and accessories on hand as it gets very cold.

We visited on December 7th, and the high was 17°F and the low was 8°F.

It got very chilly at night once the sun went down so come prepared.

Here is an outline of what I wore and would recommend packing:

• First Outer Layer: One long-sleeve merino wool shirt
• Second Outer Layer: Fleece pullover
• Third Outer Layer: Long winter coat – preferably one that goes at least past your butt to keep you warm)
• 1st Lower Layer: Fleece-Lined Leggings or Long Underwear – I wore a pair of leggings under my pants to keep me extra warm.
• 2nd Lower Layer: Snow Pants
• Hat or Earmuffs: You need either one of these to keep your ears warm. They are a must! These are the earmuffs I have and I LOVE them!
• Gloves: Gloves are a non negotiable as your hands are one of the first parts of your body to get cold.
• Waterproof Boots: I wore my hiking boots, and they worked well and kept my feet nice and warm. Snow boots are also a good option.
• Wool Socks: Wool socks are a staple to keep your feet warm and dry.
• Scarf: Nice addition for extra warmth!

Can You Speak English in Quebec City?

I only speak English and have a very basic understanding of French and was able to communicate with everyone using English.

With that being said, it is important to be aware that French is the primary language in Quebec City.

Therefore, you will usually be greeted in French (Bonjour!) instead of English or a combination of the two.

We noticed that everyone we communicated with at hotels, restaurants, or other attractions were bilingual and spoke both English and French so communication barriers were never an issue.

You could run into a communication issue with taxi drivers or Uber, but you can always use Google Translate.

I would recommend learning a few basic French phrases to be respectful and show effort.

• Bonjour = Hello
• Merci = Thank You
• Désolé = Sorry
• Pardon = Excuse Me

It really impressed me to see how many people are bilingual since learning a language is no easy task!

Do You Need Cash in Quebec City?

It doesn’t hurt to have cash on hand, but we never used cash while on our trip.

The taxi drivers took credit cards, and we were able to tip on our cards as well.

Do make sure that your credit card does not have any foreign transaction fees if you’re not from Canada. I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred card–it is what I use!

If you’re traveling from the United States like I was, the currency exchange will be in your favor which is nice as $1 CAD is roughly $0.70 USD.

So, I would use your credit card to take advantage of that.