48 Hours in Quebec City
As Americans living in Canada, our goal for our stay here is to see as much as the country as we can in the amount of time we are living in Toronto! Traveling with a toddler isn’t always the easiest task, but we have became seasoned experts in our time abroad. Our latest adventure brought us to the province of Quebec for a quick stay in Quebec City.
Where we stayed: Hilton Quebec (book here)
While most will recommend the beautiful and historical Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, the Hilton was a little more in our budget and realistic for a toddler. The outdoor pool and gym were used amenities during our stay and the location was great. We requested a crib, and it was a nicer Pack’n’Play that we have at home. We also were able to upgrade our room to east-facing and views of the Old Quebec City. As non-French speakers, we had no issues navigating this area either and were comfortable at least with the minimal French we know.
Located across from Old Quebec City, the Hilton Quebec offered great views and an unbeatable location.
We would love to come back here one day and stay at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac but in the meantime we just went to see the landmark and walk around.
Must See: Rue Saint-Louis. This is the main entryway into Old Quebec City and one of your must sees on your stop! This is one of the oldest streets in the city and dates back to the 17th century. On this road is where you will find the find the Maison Jacquet, the oldest building in Old Quebec City.
Pictured: brunch at L'OMELETTE - Petit Déjeuner - Pizza / Burgers / Poutine - Wine / Cocktails. We had a late breakfast/brunch here. I really enjoyed my iced coffee and egg breakfast.
Unfortunately, I don’t have too many more restaurant recommendations from our stay. Due to traveling with a toddler, one of the things we sacrifice is dining out. He is not always the best behaved dining out at restaurants and cafes, yet. Most of our meals were to go or on Door Dash. We ordered a pizza one night from La Piazzetta which I do recommend.
Though we didn’t dine out much, we were sure to get ice cream at Chocolats Favoris on Rue Saint-Jean. Rue Saint-Jean is one of Québec City’s oldest commercial stretches.
Must See: Umbrella Alley (Rue du Cul-de-Sac is colloquially called Umbrella Alley). A trendy spot to walk around and of course get your photo op.
Umbrella Alley: Rue du Cul-de-Sac, Québec, QC G1K 4H6
Another must see: Mural of Quebecers. This mural, next to Place-Royale, was painted on the wall of Maison Soumande in 1999 during a nine year period. Located on rue Notre-Dame at the foot of côte de la Montagne. It is one of the stops on traditional walking tours of the city.
Mural of Quebecers: a point of interest in Quebec City and one of the many art installations and murals throughout the charming city.
Must see: Quartier du Petit Champlain. This is a charming commercial area with shops and dining, located conveniently near historical Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church (the oldest church in Canada)!
Add Quartier Petit Champlain to your QC bucket list
Other things to note about traveling with kids: Old Town is very walkable and there were many other families. However, we packed our durable and sturdy Baby Jogger stroller to navigate the hills and walkways. Not all of the 400 year old streets are particularly designed to travel with a stroller. My family and I love to walk and easily logged six or seven miles a day. Be prepared with lots of water and walking shoes. There are tour buses and parking available should you choose other avenues to travel. With the location of our hotel, we were able to park the car upon arrival and not use it until we left.
I am so sure that we are missing many activities and sites from our stay. However, we were able to accomplish so much in a quick trip, less than two full days. With a quick flight (under two hours) from Toronto, we will be sure to come back soon. I heard fall and winter are beautiful in Quebec City - we will have to come back and see it for ourselves!
Let me know if you ever make a trip to Quebec City and save this guide if you plan to travel with kids!