Four Best Places to Stay in Quebec City (Canada) for Tourists

In this article, I have listed down four best places to stay in Quebec City for tourists! The most popular area for first time tourists is definitely Old Quebec, which has many iconic attractions, bistros, boutiques, and art galleries. However, there are several other interesting areas in Quebec City too. Below are detailed descriptions of the four respective areas. You can refer to the map to get a better sense of where the areas are. We enjoyed our two-day holiday in Quebec City very much, and we hope you will enjoy your stay as much as we did!

1. Old Quebec

We love Old Quebec, a picture-perfect district with beautiful historic architecture, quaint cobblestoned streets, popular eateries, art galleries, fortified walls and iconic attractions. During winter, it becomes a magical place with gorgeous lights and festive decorations. You can’t really go wrong with staying in this area if you are visiting Quebec City for the first time.

What to Do in Old Quebec

Quartier Petit Champlain – We love this charming neighbourhood! The quaint cobblestone streets here are lined with plenty of fashion boutiques, artisan shops, and restaurants nestled in European-style architecture.

Place Royale – This serene cobblestone town square is where the first French settlement was established in 1608. It is surrounded by historic buildings dating back to the 17th century.

Chateau Frontenac – We were blown away by the beauty of this majestic hotel, arguably the most famous landmark in Quebec City. It is a splendid example of the French Renaissance Château Style with its classic mansard roofs and stately spires.

Terrasse Dufferin – This beautiful terrace below the Chateau Frontenac starts from Chateau Frontenac and extends all the way to the Citadelle of Quebec. We had a nice evening stroll here after dinner.

La Citadelle de Quebec – This historic military base was built by British forces in the early 19th century to defend against American troops. Make sure you check out the museum as well.

La Terrasse Saint Denis – This beautiful small terrace is just a five-minute walk away from the Chateau Frontenac. We got breathtaking views of the Saint Lawrence River and Chateau Frontenac from here.

Musée du Fort – This museum has a popular 30-minute sound and light show that highlights the military history of Quebec City.

Where to Stay in Old Quebec

Hotel du Vieux-Quebec
This highly-ranked hotel is conveniently located in the centre of Old Quebec. The pretty rooms are clean and well-equipped. The hotel offers free WiFi, a good gym, a complimentary two-hour walking tour and daily breakfast delivered directly to the room in a picnic basket. In the common area, guests can enjoy free fruits, healthy snacks, computer and board games, and orange or lemon flavoured water. It is no wonder this hotel is consistently ranked highly on various hotel sites. Click here to see the latest prices for Hotel du Vieux-Quebec.

Le Saint Pierre Auberge Distinctive
During our two-day holiday in Quebec City, we stayed at Le Saint Pierre Auberge Distinctive. This lovely boutique hotel is just a few minutes’ walk away from many iconic attractions, boutique shops, popular bistros and art galleries. We loved our beautiful room, which exudes a rustic vibe with its hardwood floors and coarse brick walls, complete with elegant pastel-coloured furniture. The booking included daily breakfast, which was really delicious! Click here to see the latest prices for Le Saint Pierre Auberge Distinctive.

2. Vieux Port

Vieux Port (Old Port) is a laid-back neighbourhood with many antique shops, art galleries and sidewalk cafes. The promenade offers great views of the river and majestic Chateau Frontenac. It is within walking distance of Old Quebec. In the evening, the area becomes very peaceful and quiet. Therefore, it is a great place to stay if you want to have a good night’s rest but still be at a relatively convenient location.

What to Do in Vieux Port

Buffet de l’Antiquair – This popular restaurant offers classic Canadian comfort food the whole day. It is known for its delicious breakfast poutine.

Boutique Roseville – This boutique shop sells a variety of jewelry, decorative accessories, body products, tableware, scented candles, etc. It is very popular with the locals.

Lacerte Art Contemporain – This renowned contemporary art gallery hosts exhibitions by both established artists and new talents. It has held over 300 exhibitions by prominent Quebec artists.

Where to Stay in Vieux Port

Hotel des Coutellier
This popular boutique hotel offers a selection of elegant rooms and suites. Some of the premium suites even have in-room jacuzzis, which is pretty cool. All of the rooms have coffee machines. There is also daily breakfast (delivered to the room) and gym facilities. Free WiFi is available in all areas of the hotel. Click here to see the latest prices for Hotel des Coutellier.

3. Montcalm

Montcalm is known for its vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of nightclubs and bars in this area. There are also various attractions such as the Parliament Building and the Plains of Abraham. This is a good place to stay if you like a hip enclave with vibrant nightlife.

What to Do in Montcalm

Grande Allée – This vibrant thoroughfare is known for its many bistros and cafes. At night, the place turns into a vibrant nightspot with clubs, bars and live performances.

Parliament Building – This building houses the Parliament of Quebec. Completed in 1886, it is built in the “Second Empire” French architectural style. Remember to check out the Fontaine de Tourny in front of the building.

Plains of Abraham – This beautiful national urban park is the the site of the 1759 “Battle of the Plains of Abraham”, where British forces defeated the French. We took many pretty photos here.

Where to Stay in Montcalm

C3 Hotel art de vivre
This boutique hotel is conveniently located along Grande Allée. It is minutes’ away from various attractions. The popular Cartier Avenue is just around the corner of the hotel. This bustling street is lined with coffee shops, restaurants, bars, a drug store and a grocery store. You will also be able to buy pastries, wine, cheeses and meats along the street.

The rooms are clean and have nice artistic designs, though they are quite small. There is free WiFi throughout the hotel. Hotel guests can enjoy a glass of wine on the hotel’s cool rooftop terrace. Click here to see the latest prices for C3 Hotel art de vivre.

4. Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Nestled between Montcalm and Old Quebec, Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a local neighbourhood known for its main shopping street, rue Saint-Jean. This vibrant thoroughfare is lined with local bistros, fine bakeries, grocery stores, bars, live music, artistic performances, book stores and artisan shops. This is a great place to experience local culture while still being conveniently near Old Quebec.

What to Do in Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Place d’Youville – We love this public square that has an ice skating rink and is surrounded by beautiful buildings like the Palais Montcalm and the Théâtre Capitole de Québec. The Porte Saint Jean, a fortified city gate, serves as a stately backdrop.

rue Saint-Jean – This bountiful street is lined with plenty of restaurants, bars and boutique shops.

Erico – This interesting chocolate shop/ museum serves a variety of chocolate products. Make sure you check out the delicious chocolat chaud (hot chocolate).

Épicerie J.A. Moisan – This Victorian-era store is supposedly the oldest grocery store in North America.

Where to Stay in Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Quebec City Marriott Downtown
This is a decent hotel located in a good location. It is right beside the Place d’Youville, and is within walking distance of attractions like rue Saint-Jean, the Parliament Building, and Plains of Abraham. The rooms are a little small by Marriott’s standards, but they are clean and well-furnished. The hotel has a decent gym. Click here to check out the latest prices for Quebec City Marriott Downtown.

Conclusion

If you are visiting Quebec City for the first time, you can’t go wrong with staying in the Old Quebec area. However, if you prefer to stay in an area that is very peaceful at night, then the Vieux Port would be a good location. The Montcalm area will be good for nightlife, while Saint-Jean-Baptiste is good for experiencing local culture. And that’s it! As usual, please feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below. We hope you will find this guide useful for helping you decide where to stay in Quebec City.

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Quebec City Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?