As Canadians, there’s nothing that makes us more proud than discovering the diverse cities and cultures spread throughout our home country. If you’ve ever been advised to avoid Canada during the winter, we’re here to prove that this might actually be the best time of the year to visit! When your job is centered around travelling, deciding where to spend the holidays is no joke. From cozy Christmas markets in Vienna to over-the-top decorations in New York City, it’s never easy for us to choose where to spend the festive season.

We decided to tick off a major item on our bucket list-  experience Québec City during the holidays. Growing up in Canada, you always hear about the highly-anticipated winter carnival, the cozy market stalls, and the stunning decorations that bring Québec City to life at this time of the year. We were so excited to finally be a part of the action! Luckily, we had the pleasure of visiting some of the most incredible restaurants, and staying in Québec’s most historically significant hotels.

In short, the rumors are true. A winter trip to Québec City is an absolute dream. Keep reading to find out why you need to add this Canadian destination to your end-of-year travel list! As always, you can follow along on our adventures saved to our Instagram Story highlights.

WHERE TO STAY IN QUEBEC CITY

A HISTORIC NIGHT AT THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU FRONTENAC

The Fairmont Château Frontenac is central to the rich, historical landscape that Québec City is known for. In fact, this is the very hotel where Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Prime Minister Mckenzie King met during World War II to discuss strategies for defeating the Nazis. We had the privilege of spending our first night here amongst some of the most incredible Canadian history.

Québec City’s Fairmont hotel looks like a castle rising out of the snowy cityscape. This breathtaking property set the tone perfectly for a romantic, picturesque getaway in Québec City. In fact, the Château Frontenac is one of the most photo-worthy locations to visit at this time of year. Here, visitors are greeted with an expansive entryway filled to the brim with carefully decorated Christmas trees adorned with hundreds of twinkly lights and delicate ornaments.

As much as we adored all of the gorgeous holiday decor, we were excited to check out the sleek, modern suite that awaited us. Our spacious room featured a plushy, luxurious bed with a contemporary feel, and a stunning view overlooking the Old Town. This felt like diving into a Hallmark movie, giving us all the Pinterest vibes.

OLD SCHOOL OPULENCE AT THE AUBERGE SAINT-ANTOINE

After a memorable stay at the Fairmont, we checked into the gorgeous Auberge Saint-Antoine, positioned steps away from the Saint Lawrence River. The recently renovated hotel is the epitome of French bourgeoisie. We opted for the Stars and Pillows Experience, which includes an overnight stay in a room that includes a 4-course dining experience in a heated, clear greenhouse on the private terrace. Our room reminded us of a French country house with charming, light blue hues and wooden accents. The bathroom was absolutely massive; perfect for getting ready before a long day strolling around the city. We loved waking up in the morning and enjoying our breakfast on the cozy terrace filled with twinkly lights- it was the perfect place to curl up and enjoy the stunning river views. This would be perfect for a honeymoon or anniversary celebration!

THINGS TO DO IN QUEBEC CITY IN THE WINTER

CHRISTMAS MARKET AND GALLERY HOPPING

One of the highlights of our time in Québec City was strolling through the classic, German style Holiday market stalls. This super authentic holiday market is organized by a team of vendors from Deutschland, so that locals and visitors have access to some of the best winter indulgences that Germany has to offer. We opted for plenty of mulled wine and fondue with a French twist. You can spot sections of the market throughout the Old Town, which gives you a chance to enjoy the decorations throughout the city and get into the holiday spirit. The Old Town is charming and easily walkable even on the coldest days, so you can make your way to all of the market sections in a single day with no problem. 

Québec City is also full of buzzing art galleries that make for a great way to get away from the cold for an afternoon. The MNBAQ was one of our favorites, offering plenty of mind-bending modern art from some of the top surrealist artists in the world.

SPA DAY AT THE STROM NORDIC SPA: LOUNGING SCANDINAVIAN STYLE

One of the most highly sought after experiences in Québec City is the Strom Nordic Spa. Here you will find a wide variety of thermal experiences, from ice-baths, to saunas, steam rooms, and heated pools. A steam-filled infinity pool overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, surrounded by cozy fire pits will transport you straight to Scandinavia. This was such a great way to warm up after exploring the snow-covered town.

TRAVEL BACK IN TIME EXPLORING THE OLD TOWN

Walking around Québec City, you’ll notice plenty of people gliding their way up to the most elevated part of the town using the Funicular lift. It costs $3.25 per person and is by far the easiest and most fun way to catch some great views and explore Québec’s Upper Town. Here you can also get some of the best photos of the Saint Lawrence River.

BEST PLACES TO EAT IN QUEBEC CITY

During our past trips to Montreal, we learned that you can’t visit Québec without stumbling upon a few world-class restaurants. Armed with a long list of recommendations, we were ready to start restaurant hopping as soon as we touched ground in Québec.

FINE DINING AT THE CHATEAU: BAR 1608 AND LE SAM BISTRO

Like all of the Fairmont hotels we’ve stayed at, the restaurants on-site are far from a last-minute dining option for exhausted travellers. On the property, you can find some of the most celebrated bars and restaurants in Québec City. With just one night at the Château Frontenac, we decided to cover all our bases by starting off with a Smoked Old Fashion and Pomme et Compagnie cocktail at the famous Bar 1608. After, we went down to the highly recommended Le Sam Bistro for some fresh oysters, french onion soup, and scallops.

LOUISE TAVERNE BAR À VIN

Our first stop was the iconic Louise Taverne Bar à Vin, where chef Nikolas Couture is serving gorgeous, house-made pasta along with plenty of other treats prepared from scratch. There is a strong commitment to sourcing local, and the prices are extremely reasonable for these incredible, locally sourced dishes. We loved the beef tartare and mushroom pasta!

LAURIE RAPHAEL

Next, we checked out Laurie Raphael, which was extremely high on our dining bucket list. Upon entering the restaurant, you get to walk straight past the kitchen where you’ll find Executive Chef Raphaël Vezina and his team bustling around with fresh ingredients in hand. Our pick was the venison, oyster tartar, parsnip, sturgeon fish cake with Siberean caviar followed by the apple, foie gras crumble with black walnut and linden honey. From flavor to presentation, this was one of the most memorable, romantic meals of our lives.

BELLO RISTORANTE

After a day of tracking down some of the most celebrated restaurants in the city, we were happy to duck into one of the casual, local spots that sat along the beautiful cobblestone streets. Bello Ristorante was a cozy Italian restaurant that caught our eye, and the food did not disappoint. We tried the Tartare, foie gras, risotto al funghi and of course the margherita pizza. I’m a big believer that to judge an Italian restaurant properly, you must always try the margherita pizza. This is exactly what we did and it was such a hit.

PUB ST. ALEXANDRE

If you are looking to duck into a cozy pub and warm up- definitely check out Pub St. Alexandre. Here you will find a great selection of local beers and warm aperitifs. I got the french onion soup, beef tartare, and while Kaan enjoyed the mushroom risotto.

BŌ CUISINE D’ASIE

For another upscale, high gastronomy dining experience, we mixed it up with an Asian fusion restaurant called BŌ Cuisine D’Asie. Like most restaurants in the city, BŌ Cuisine locally sources the vast majority of their ingredients, and serves their dishes with an air of French inspiration. Between the seared scallops and pork dumplings, we were in culinary heaven.

CHEZ MUFFY

The last dining experience on our list during our stay at the Auberge Saint-Antoine happened to be right on site, connected to the hotel. Chez Muffy is the go-to brunch spot in Québec City. The restaurant looks like a cozy ski lodge where you can relax in comfy chairs and indulge in a mouth-watering brunch. We loved the smoked duck eggs benedict and the fried waffles!

We always enjoy our time in the French part of Canada, but Québec City was a particularly special place to spend some quality time and take in the country’s best holiday decorations. If you’re looking for somewhere to get away this holiday season, we highly recommend a visit! 

As always, you can follow along on our adventures saved to our Instagram Story highlights.

In partnership with Destination Québec cité