Here is some basic information before you arrive. The population is now about half a million and officially the language is bilingual French/English. However, the default is French which is more commonly spoken almost everywhere. Just like the eastern U. S. is time zone is GMT-5, but they do not have ‘summer time’. The best views to get an overall look at the whole area are from the grassy banks above Avenue Saint-Denis, from where you can see the Château Frontenac and the St Lawrence River. There are no health issues in this part of the world but you will need to wrap up warm in winter as it can get very cold.
If you are spending any time in the city then I would recommend that you get a good guidebook which will help you get the most out of your stay. I have found that ‘Montréal & Québec City’ by Lonely Planet or ‘Top 10 Montréal & Québec City’ by DK Eyewitness to be very good. As always there are plenty of Web resources available. Check out the Official guide to the city and surrounding area or the official website to the province of Quebec. There is also an App for your phone, naturally called Québec app which is free. It is continuously updated and lists hotels, restaurants, activities and events. So it might be all you need to keep entertained on your visit.
The climate in summer can be hot and humid with the temperature at 25°C or higher, conversely, the winters are cold and snowy averaging around -5°C. The spring and autumn seasons are milder but fairly short in comparison.
If you're only here for a short time then I would start the day off by heading down to the Place du Marché duVieux-Portto grab a coffee and croissant, then sample some of the local maple syrup and produce to set you up for the day. Your next port of call should be the city walls. At the Côte du Palais you can climb up onto the ramparts and walk along the top. If you head south you will have the perfect way to compare the New Town architecture to your right with the Old Town down on your left. When you reach the gate at St Louis, have a look at the impressive Place de l’Assemblée Nationale. Now it’s time to then leave the walls and head back into the Old Town, however, make sure you don’t miss the cannonball stuck in the tree halfway down Rue St-Louis.
Your journey will take you past the iconic Château Frontenac hotel before heading up the banks above Avenue Saint-Denis to take another look at the surrounding city. Now take the many steps down to Marché-Champlain and enjoy a well-deserved lunch at Le Cochon Dingue or Crazy Pig to the non-French speakers. After lunch, you can wander among the shops before taking the train back up to the top of the cliff.
If you are spending any time in the city then I would recommend that you get a good guidebook which will help you get the most out of your stay. I have found that ‘Montréal & Québec City’ by Lonely Planet or ‘Top 10 Montréal & Québec City’ by DK Eyewitness to be very good. As always there are plenty of Web resources available. Check out the Official guide to the city and surrounding area or the official website to the province of Quebec. There is also an App for your phone, naturally called Québec app which is free. It is continuously updated and lists hotels, restaurants, activities and events. So it might be all you need to keep entertained on your visit.
The climate in summer can be hot and humid with the temperature at 25°C or higher, conversely, the winters are cold and snowy averaging around -5°C. The spring and autumn seasons are milder but fairly short in comparison.
If you're only here for a short time then I would start the day off by heading down to the Place du Marché duVieux-Portto grab a coffee and croissant, then sample some of the local maple syrup and produce to set you up for the day. Your next port of call should be the city walls. At the Côte du Palais you can climb up onto the ramparts and walk along the top. If you head south you will have the perfect way to compare the New Town architecture to your right with the Old Town down on your left. When you reach the gate at St Louis, have a look at the impressive Place de l’Assemblée Nationale. Now it’s time to then leave the walls and head back into the Old Town, however, make sure you don’t miss the cannonball stuck in the tree halfway down Rue St-Louis.
Your journey will take you past the iconic Château Frontenac hotel before heading up the banks above Avenue Saint-Denis to take another look at the surrounding city. Now take the many steps down to Marché-Champlain and enjoy a well-deserved lunch at Le Cochon Dingue or Crazy Pig to the non-French speakers. After lunch, you can wander among the shops before taking the train back up to the top of the cliff.