Old Quebec City Walking Tour

Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec in 1608 at the foot of a tall cliff above the St. Lawrence River, and the city still splits into two levels: Lower Town by the water, where traders and sailors worked, and Upper Town on the heights, home of governors, bishops and soldiers. Around it runs the only intact ring of colonial city walls north of Mexico.

This 13-stop loop starts on Dufferin Terrace beside the Chateau Frontenac. You'll visit the religious heart of New France, walk down the Breakneck Stairs to Place Royale and the shops of Petit Champlain, and ride the funicular back up. Then you'll head out to the Citadelle, the Plains of Abraham where the 1759 battle decided the fate of the city, and the Parliament Building, before returning through Porte Saint-Louis.

The route is about 4 km and takes roughly two and a half hours with stops. Expect steep streets, cobblestones and stairs, so wear good shoes. The funicular charges a small fare; you can climb the stairs instead.

13 stops on this tour:

Dufferin Terrace - A Boardwalk on the Cliff

Rue du Tresor - The Artists' Alley

Notre-Dame de Quebec - Mother Church of New France

Seminaire de Quebec - Where a University Began

Breakneck Stairs - The Steep Way Down

Place Royale - Where Quebec Began

Quartier Petit Champlain - Shops Beneath the Cliff

Old Quebec Funicular - The Easy Way Up

Governors' Garden - One Monument, Two Generals

The Citadelle - Star Fort on Cap Diamant

Plains of Abraham - Thirty Minutes That Changed a Continent

Parliament Building - Je Me Souviens

Porte Saint-Louis - Gateway Through the Walls

Plan your visit

Route: 13 stops · about 2.2 miles · walking, one way
Time: about 2.5 hours at an easy pace, with stops
Start: Dufferin Terrace (directions)
Cost: free tour

Stops on this tour

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