One Day in Quebec City – Must-See Attractions for a Short Visit

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I recently visited Quebec City (my hometown) from Australia (where I’ve immigrated). One advantage of having family in Quebec is that I can stay with them for free. However, staying in the suburbs the whole time feels like I'm missing out on something. So this time, I decided to change things up and book a one day stay in Old Quebec.

I thought I would feel rushed, but it turns out I was quite happy with what I managed to fit into just one day. So if you’re also unsure whether one day in Quebec City is worth it, let me reassure you. I thought one day was just fine to cover the Old Quebec. After all, Quebec City is a popular cruise destination so it is very common for tourists to spend just 24 hours in Quebec City.

Luckily, the touristy part of town (the Old Quebec) is relatively compact, so I was able to see most of the Quebec City landmarks in one day. I was even able to fit in a Chateau Frontenac guided tour.

Must-See Streets and Attractions for one day in Quebec City

Quebec City is my hometown and I have visited Old Quebec more times than I can count!

Here are the places I visited on my recent trip to Old Quebec. This is essentially a list of my favourite spots in Old Quebec and the ones that I think any visitor should have on their to-do list!

All of those are featured on this itinerary in a strategic order to make sure you don't have to come back on your steps.

Quebec City One Day Itinerary

I visited Quebec City in late March, on a beautifully sunny early spring day. I soon realized that with over 400 years of history to uncover, there’s plenty to do in 1 day in Quebec City.

For me, the highlights of my visit to Quebec City were not just about what I saw, but also what I experienced in terms of food in the Old Quebec and what I learned about its history. The Chateau Frontenac tour I did was my favourite part of the day and $30 well spent.

I'll tell you exactly what were the highlights of my day, so you can use it to plan your day in Quebec City. The last thing anyone wants is to miss out on the best streets and attractions!

Morning Itinerary P1: Lower Town

I started off in the lower part of town because it can get crowded in the afternoon. I definitely recommend you visit Petit Champlain early in the day, especially during peak season (summer and Christmas), as the streets are narrower there compared to the upper town and it becomes a less enjoyable experience when packed with tourists.

Breakfast, Brunch and Coffee

There is no shortage of good options when it comes to breakfasts and brunches in Old Quebec.

• Cochon Dingue: My all-time favourite restaurant for breakfast in Quebec City is Cochon Dingue. I always order either the Charlevoix plate or the Duo Campagnard. Their homemade apple butter is a must-try, and so is their old-fashioned hot chocolate (included with most breakfast dishes). There is one in the lower town on boulevard Champlain and one on St-Jean street in the upper town.

• Chateau Frontenac: Chateau Frontenac's fine dining option, Champlain restaurant, is open for brunch every Sunday. It is on the pricier end ($79 per person + taxes + tip), but it is an experience in itself.

• Ciel! Bistro Bar: This place is the only revolving restaurant in Quebec City, and I really like their breakfasts. My favourite part about this place is that I got to enjoy two things at once: delicious food and city views from one of the tallest viewpoint in Old Quebec.

• Maison Smith: Australia has a strong coffee culture, and since moving there, I've become much pickier about my coffee. For those looking for high-quality coffee in Old Quebec, I highly recommend Maison Smith.

• La Buche: This is a restaurant even the locals go to for breakfast. The beautiful setup reminded me of a cottage in the countryside, and the service was good. They offer typical Québécois dishes like crepes, French toast, waffles, and savoury options for those who aren't into maple syrup (how can you not be?!).

Quartier Petit Champlain

Quartier Petit Champlain is one of the most popular places in the Old Quebec. It is an absolute must if you only have one day in Quebec City. It's a compact and mostly pedestrian neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture and lots of small boutiques worth exploring.

It's one of the places every tourist wants to see but many streets are narrow in this neighborhood, and the boutiques have relatively small capacity, so I recommend you start the day here to avoid peak hour crowds.

In total, there are about nine short streets in Petit Champlain, so I was able to visit in less than two hours. This allowed for plenty of time to peruse artisanal items in the boutiques.

In my opinion, the best time to be here is 9:00AM. At that time, most shops are still closed, so it's way less crowded. You'll have about 30 minutes to take photos and admire the architecture before the first shops open at 9:30AM. By 10:00 AM, all the shops are open and it starts getting busier.

A few shops I particularly liked are:

If you’re in Petit Champlain at Christmas time, you’re in for a treat. Personally, I think Petit Champlain Street is one of the most beautifully decorated streets in Old Quebec. There are also a lot of free activities around that time of year: Christmas carols, street performances, a Santa Claus fun run, etc.

Also, one last recommendation regarding Petit Champlain: if you like live music, it'll be worth coming back here for happy hour or dinner at Pape Georges.

Place Royale

Place Royale is the big public square of Petit Champlain district. It's a must-see while you're in the area. It's home to several restaurants and boutiques, and Quebec's oldest church: Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, built in 1688. Despite having been destroyed by fires in the past, this plaza has been authentically recreated to its 17th-century splendor.

Royale Battery

Battery Royale, also located in Quartier Petit Champlain, is a historic site with canons facing the St. Lawrence River. It was built by the French to protect against British attacks.

It's a place rich in history, showing the old defense systems of the French. It's a reminder of the area's past battles and the efforts to protect the land.

Once you've checked out Battery Royale, I recommend you walk across to the other side of the street, where there's a nice viewpoint of Château Frontenac (a great spot for photos).

Old Port

If you have just one day in Quebec City, consider limiting your time in the Old Port. It's not that it's not pretty, but I found there are much nicer areas to spend time in.

If you want to see the bare minimum there is to see in the Old Port, I recommend sticking to a short loop like this: start by checking out Place des Canotiers, walk past the Museum of Civilization, then turn left onto Rue de la Barricade. Taking another left onto Rue du Sault-au-Matelot will lead you down a picturesque street back to Petit-Champlain.

Or, instead, head to Le Cafe du Monde for food and river views. I like their breakfast but they're also a good option for dinner.

Old Quebec Funicular

The funicular is a windowed car that connects Petit Champlain and Dufferin Terrace. It operates year-round to connect the upper to lower parts of Old Quebec.

Pros: easier and quicker than the uphill walk, stroller-friendly, scenic views

Cons: tickets are only sold on site (can't pre-purchase to save time) and can only be paid cash, long queues in peak season

An alternative to the funicular is walking up from Petit Champlain to the Upper Town via Côte de la Montagne. I personally enjoy this just as much as the funicular, except in winter when the streets are icy. Côte de la Montagne is a picturesque street, with shops on one side and historic fortifications on the other. You'll get to see things that people riding the funicular won't and you'll save money.

Morning Itinerary P2: Upper Town

From a tourist perspective, the Upper Town has more to see than the Lower Town, so it deserves more than half your day. It's also larger, so there's more ground to cover. Before lunch, check out Dufferin Terrace and Château Frontenac. Then, you'll have the afternoon to explore the rest of the Upper Town.

Dufferin Terrace

Stretching 425 metres, the Dufferin Terrace is one of the best spots in Quebec City for breathtaking panoramic views. It cannot be left out of your 1 day itinerary for Quebec City!

Warmer weather brings musicians and performers to the Dufferin Terrace. In winter, the main activity is the Toboggan slide. I wish I filmed my experience sliding down on the wooden sled, it was a lot of fun (but cold!)

Le Château Frontenac

A stop at Le Château Frontenac is non-negotiable to get the most out of a day in Quebec City. Although Le Château Frontenac is dripping with over 400 years of history, today its legacy lives on as the Fairmont hotel.

Even if you don't do a guided tour, go inside and check out the reception, hallway and the artifacts section downstairs. I didn't know this until I went on the guided tour, but the artifacts section is free to visit. It's down the staircase located behind the concierge desk.

Lunch Recommendations

Here are my favourite picks in the area:

• Restaurant La Buche: My top recommendation for a truly Québécois experience.
• Bistro 1640: Serving more refined Canadian food.

Afternoon Itinerary

Place d'Armes

Place d'Armes is the small park across the street from Chateau Frontenac, with a fountain in the middle. In summer, you will often see artists and performers there.

Nearby, you will see Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. I don't recommend a visit with just one day in Quebec City, as your time will be better spent elsewhere and you can do a virtual tour of the Cathedral for free in your spare time.

Rue du Trésor and Rue Sainte-Anne

The most artsy place in the Old Quebec is without a doubt on the corner of Rue Du Trésor and Rue Sainte-Anne.

Rue Du Trésor looked like an open-air art gallery where artists sell their artwork. The street is open to the public and worth visiting from mid-May to mid-October. Rue Sainte-Anne is known for its street performers, face painters, caricaturists and portraitists.

Place de l'Hotel de Ville

More often than not, this site will be busy with street entertainers or will host a festival. In December, it is one of the sites of the German Christmas Market.

One of the main attractions here is the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, dating back to 1647. In the summer, venture into the crypt to inspect the burial places of some of New France’s governors and bishops.

Left of the Cathedral, head through the black iron gate to reach the internal courtyard of Petit Séminaire de Québec, a notable historical site in Old Quebec. Now a private catholic school, it initially served as a community for Catholic priests.

Rue Saint-Jean

As I expected, Rue St-Jean is lined beautiful old building, many of which are now souvenir shops, but I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of non-souvenir shops. There's a bookstore, an ice cream shop (if you've never tried Chocolat Favori's ice cream dipped in chocolate, you must!), sports shops, and of course, restaurants and bakeries.

Rue Saint-Jean is beautifully decorated in December and January so if you visit around that time of the year make sure you check it out.

Saint-John Gate

Saint-John Gate is located on rue Saint-Jean. It is a landmark of the Old Quebec and has huge significance history. On the other side of the Gate is Place D'Youville, another must-see site in the Old Quebec.

Place D'Youville

I spent some time at Place D'Youville watching people ice skate. If you're not from Canada, you might be surprised to see so many young kids (we're talking as young as 2 years old) putting on their skates and giving it a try. It's fun to watch!

In the summer, the plaza frequently hosts performances by artists, and during summer festivals, it often features a large stage with ongoing shows.

Place D'Youville is located right in front of Le Capitole de Quebec, a beautiful building. If you book a musical show during your stay, it likely will be at that venue.

Other Activities and Sites I liked

Quebec – Levis Ferry

If your schedule allows it, Old Quebec from the water. When I did it in winter, the ice breaking as the ferry pushes through was just spectacular.

La Citadel

The last guided tour starts at 4pm from September to mid-May and at 5pm otherwise.

La Citadelle was the defensive fortress of Old Quebec and is now an active military garrison for the Royal 22e Régiment. The best way to get there is by taxi, but you can also walk there in 15-20 minutes.

When I last visited, I booked a guided tour and found that it's a much better way to way the star-shaped fortress. Otherwise, I would have completely missed out on understanding the historical significance of the Citadelle, which is one of the nation’s oldest military structures.

The Plains of Abraham

You can walk to the Plains of Abraham from La Citadelle. It's now an outdoor oasis in Quebec City with live concerts in the summer, bikepaths, snow-shoeing trails, cross country trails and ice skating in winter.

There isn't much left to remind us of its historical significance, other than a series of cannons. So if your reason for visiting the Plains of Abraham is to see an old battleground, I recommend you stop by the Plains of Abraham Museum to learn about the history of the Battle of 1759.

Since I was traveling with a toddler, we spent time at the kids' playground, which is one of very few in the touristy area.

Dinner Suggestions

Quebec City is beautiful at night: the lighting highlights the architectural details and brings out the city's charm in a different way.

There are many great spots for dinner in Old Quebec. I discovered a few good options in the St-Roch neighbourhood (Rue St-Joseph). This turned out to be a smart choice, as it allowed us to explore a new corner of town and visit some of the trendy venues and microbreweries in the area.

Alternatively, in the upper Old Town and the Old Port areas, some good picks include Chez Boulay (fine French bistro), Chez Rioux & Pettigrew or Café du Monde (also French cuisine).

Other Practical Information

Where to Stay if You Have One day in Quebec City

If you have only one day in Quebec City, I recommend you find accommodation in the Old Quebec. This will place you right next to all the things you will need to see in your limited time here.

• Best near Petit Champlain: Auberge St-Antoine (more details here)
• Best near Dufferin Terrace: Lofts at La Maison Kent (more details here)
• Best near Plains of Abraham: Hotel Chateau Laurier (more details here)
• Best hostel: Auberge de la Paix (more details here)

For more options, including some outside the more expensive city center, refer to my article about the best hotels in Quebec City.

How to Get to Quebec City

First things first, here are the most common ways to get to Quebec City:

Spending one day in Quebec City

Even with only one day in Quebec City, you’ll have time to visit the best places and feel the charm of the city. Carve a day into your travel plans to discover what to see & do in 24 hours in Quebec City. 

Stop by the Interactive museums, ancient buildings that tell the story of Quebec’s roots, and glorious sightseeing down European-style streets. Explore outside of Old Quebec’s walls, making your way to Haute Ville, and then to Basse Ville at the bottom of the famous cliff.

One day in Quebec City is like none other. After you visit Quebec, you will surely leave having fallen in love with this magical place.