Old Québec · Montmorency · Valcartier
Quebec City in winter, month by month
Quebec City is a winter break that mostly works on foot. What changes between December and March is what is open out of town, how much daylight you get, and whether Carnaval is on. Pick your month, see what to book, then start from the three-day plan and set your dates.
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Days, where you sleep, whether you need a car, when it works and what to book first. Every route opens as a full day-by-day plan you can start from.
| Route | Days | Base | Car | Best season | Book ahead | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter in 3 days, with a car Two days on foot in the Upper and Lower Town, then a drive out to Montmorency Falls, Valcartier and the Hôtel de Glace. | 3 | Old Québec | Car needed Day 3 only; the old town is on foot | January 4 to March 13, 2027, while the ice hotel is open | The Hôtel de Glace, and a room early for Carnaval dates | |
| Winter in 3 days, without a car The same plan with day 3 on public transport: RTC Métrobus 800 to Montmorency Falls, or the shuttle to Valcartier and the ice hotel. One or the other, not both. | 3 | Old Québec | No car Bus 800 to the falls, or the Valcartier shuttle | The same; the shuttle’s 2026 to 2027 times are not published yet | The Hôtel de Glace, then the shuttle once its timetable is out | |
| Tadoussac and the Saguenay Fjord, 3 days A summer drive from the city through Charlevoix to where the fjord meets the St. Lawrence, for whales and the fjord villages. Not a winter plan. | 3 | Tadoussac | Car needed A road trip from the city | Summer | A whale-watching boat and a room in Tadoussac | |
| Gaspé Peninsula, 4 days A summer road trip east along the St. Lawrence to Forillon, ending in Percé. Not a winter plan. | 4 | Parc national de la Gaspésie, then Gaspé, then Percé | Car needed One way: the drive back from Percé to Quebec City is a long extra day, not in the 4 | Summer | The Gîte du Mont-Albert and the Bonaventure Island boat |
When to go
What is open, December to March
Dates are for the 2026 to 2027 season. While the Montmorency cable car is closed, the falls site stays open with no services.
| What | December | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| German Christmas Market | To December 23: Thursday to Sunday, plus December 21 to 23 | Over | Over | Over |
| Au 1884 toboggan slide, Dufferin Terrace | Opens December 4 | In season | In season | Usually to mid-March; confirm the 2027 closing date |
| Hôtel de Glace | Not open yet | Opens January 4 | Open | Until March 13 |
| Valcartier winter playground | From December 18, weather permitting | Open | Open | Until March 21 |
| Carnaval de Québec | Not on | Not on | February 5 to 14 | Not on |
| Montmorency Falls cable car | From December 19, 10 am to 4 pm | To January 3, then closed January 4 to February 5 | From February 6, 10 am to 4 pm | Daily to March 31 |
| Quebec City to Lévis ferry | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily |
Book in order
What to book, and when it opens
Each row links the official page. Dates and fees were checked on 2 October 2026; where next year’s date is not out, it says so.
| What | When | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hôtel de Glace | Lodging runs January 4 to March 13, 2027 (check-in 4 pm, check-out 11 am). | Valcartier: Hôtel de Glace | At Village Vacances Valcartier, outside the city. The shuttle from Old Québec takes about 45 minutes. |
| Carnaval de Québec 2027 | February 5 to 14, 2027. | Québec Cité: winter events | Book a room in Old Québec early if you want those dates. RTC’s Carnaval transit page still shows a past year; its 2027 plan is not published yet. |
| Au 1884 toboggan slide | Opens December 4, 2026. The ticket presale starts November 1 at 9 am. | Au 1884 tickets | Up to 4 riders per toboggan; children under 3 ride free. |
| Valcartier shuttle from Old Québec | The 2026 to 2027 timetable is not published yet. In 2025 to 2026 it left at 9:00 and 12:30, plus 16:00 during holidays and Carnaval. | Valcartier: shuttle | Leaves from 10 rue Sainte-Anne, opposite the Musée du Fort; about 45 minutes non-stop. |
| Montmorency Falls cable car | 2026 to 2027: December 19 to January 3, then February 6 to March 31, 10 am to 4 pm. Closed January 4 to February 5. | Sépaq: Montmorency Falls hours | A round trip is $14.95 per adult for 2026 to 2027. Part of the west side at the foot of the falls stays open in winter. |
| Train or coach from Montreal | With your dates. | VIA Rail: Montreal to Quebec City | VIA Rail takes about 3 h 15 to Gare du Palais. Orléans Express coaches take about the same, with 15 departures a day. |
Which month
December has the Christmas market and the toboggan slide, and the shortest days: about eight and a half hours of daylight in mid-December, with sunset before 4 pm.
January brings the ice hotel from January 4, but the Montmorency Falls cable car is closed from January 4 to February 5, 2027.
February is Carnaval, February 5 to 14, 2027, with about an hour and three quarters more daylight than mid-December.
March keeps the ice hotel to March 13, Valcartier to March 21 and the cable car to March 31.
On foot, by bus or with a car
Old Québec is walkable: the Upper Town inside the walls, the Lower Town below it by stairs or the funicular, and the Lévis ferry from the Lower Town. The ferry runs every day of the year with no reservations, every 20 to 30 minutes in the daytime; a foot passenger aged 16 to 64 pays $4.25.
Out of town without a car, RTC Métrobus 800 runs to Terminus Chute-Montmorency at the falls; the 801 does not go there. A single RTC ticket is $3.85 in the app or $4.00 cash since July 1, 2026. Tramway works have cut back the west end of the 800 and 801 since March 21, 2026, and changed more than 50 routes, so check RTC’s planner rather than an older guide.
Valcartier and the Hôtel de Glace are reached by a shuttle from 10 rue Sainte-Anne, about 45 minutes non-stop; its 2026 to 2027 times are not published yet. With a car, the three out-of-town stops fit in one day.
From Montreal, VIA Rail and Orléans Express both take about 3 h 15 to Gare du Palais.
Warm places for a cold afternoon
For a day too cold to stay out, the plan’s indoor stops carry it: the Musée de la civilisation in the Lower Town, and the Strøm Nordic spa in Old Québec, open daily from 9 am to 10 pm with robe, towel and locker included. Cafés and restaurants are part of each day.
Daylight
Eastern Standard Time, calculated for Quebec City. In December, put the outdoor stops in the middle of the day.
- December 15: sunrise about 7:23 am, sunset about 3:57 pm, about 8 h 34 min of daylight
- February 15: sunrise about 6:51 am, sunset about 5:08 pm, about 10 h 17 min of daylight
Coming back in summer
Two road trips start from the city and are built for summer, not winter: Tadoussac and the Saguenay Fjord, for whales and the fjord villages, and the Gaspé Peninsula, for Forillon and Percé. Both need a car. The Gaspé plan is one way and ends in Percé, so add a long day to drive back.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
When is Carnaval de Québec in 2027?
February 5 to 14, 2027, according to Bonjour Québec and Québec Cité (checked 2 October 2026). The 2026 edition ran February 6 to 15.
When is the Hôtel de Glace open for 2026 to 2027?
Its lodging season runs January 4 to March 13, 2027, at Village Vacances Valcartier. Check-in is at 4 pm and check-out at 11 am.
Can you see Quebec City in winter without a car?
Yes. Old Québec is walkable, the Lévis ferry runs every day, RTC Métrobus 800 goes to Montmorency Falls, and a shuttle runs from Old Québec to Valcartier and the ice hotel. The shuttle’s 2026 to 2027 times are not published yet.
Is the Montmorency Falls cable car open in winter?
Partly. For 2026 to 2027 it runs December 19 to January 3 and February 6 to March 31, 10 am to 4 pm, and is closed January 4 to February 5. The site stays open with no services while it is closed.
When is the Quebec City Christmas market?
The German Christmas Market runs November 19 to December 23, 2026, Thursday to Sunday, plus December 21, 22 and 23. Entry is free.
How much daylight is there in a Quebec City winter?
About 8 h 34 min in mid-December, with sunset near 3:57 pm, and about 10 h 17 min in mid-February, with sunset near 5:08 pm, Eastern Standard Time.
Related guides
Official sources
Checked on 2 October 2026. Confirm on the official page before you book.
- Québec Cité: winter events
- Bonjour Québec: Carnaval de Québec
- Québec Cité: German Christmas Market
- Valcartier: Hôtel de Glace
- Valcartier: season schedule
- Valcartier: shuttle from Old Québec
- Au 1884: toboggan slide tickets
- Sépaq: Montmorency Falls hours
- RTC: route 800
- RTC: 2026 fares
- RTC: your network in 2026
- Quebec City to Lévis ferry: schedule
- Strøm spa nordique: plan your visit
- VIA Rail: Montreal to Quebec City
- Orléans Express: Montreal to Quebec City
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