Shared itinerary · Quebec City, Quebec

Quebec City in winter in 3 days

Three winter days in Quebec City: the Citadelle, the Plains of Abraham and the Au 1884 toboggan run under the Château Frontenac, Petit-Champlain, Place Royale and the Lévis ferry through the river ice, then Montmorency Falls, the Valcartier snow park and the Hôtel de Glace by car. 19 stops with times and notes, plus two no-car versions of day three. For 2026-27 the toboggan run opens December 4, the ice hotel runs January 4 to March 13 and Carnaval February 5 to 14, 2027.

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Updated October 2026

Distance

88.9 km

Paillard → La Bûche

Days

Stops

Each day of Quebec City in winter in 3 days: route, stops and distance
Day	Route	Stops	Distance
Day 1	Paillard to Le Chic Shack	7	4.5 km
Day 2	Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec to Le Cochon Dingue	8	5.9 km
Day 3	Montmorency Falls to La Bûche	4	78.4 km

Day 1: Paillard to Le Chic Shack

4.5 km

The Upper Town inside the walls: the fort, the battlefield on skis, the toboggan run under the Château. Daylight is short: about 8.5 hours in mid December, with sunset near 16:00, and about 10.3 hours by mid February, with sunset after 17:00.

09:00
Paillard

Food & drink

Croissants and a café au lait on Rue Saint-Jean.

743 m · 10m walk to next
10:00
La Citadelle de Québec

Sight

The star fort on Cap Diamant, still home to the Royal 22e Régiment. Guided tours run all year.

1.4 km · 15m walk to next
11:45
Plains of Abraham

Park & nature

The 1759 battlefield under snow, with groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.

1.9 km · 20m walk to next
13:35
Aux Anciens Canadiens

Food & drink

Tourtière and maple sugar pie in a house from 1675. The lunch table d’hôte is the deal.

249 m · 5m walk to next
15:00
Dufferin Terrace

Activity

The Au 1884 toboggan slide runs down the boardwalk at up to 70 km/h, with the Château Frontenac above. The 2026-27 season opens December 4, 2026, and tickets go on sale November 1 (checked 2 October 2026).

193 m · 5m walk to next
16:30
Château Frontenac

Sight

Walk the lobby, then a drink at the 1608 Bar, which looks down the river to Lévis.

100 m · 5m walk to next
19:00
Le Chic Shack

Food & drink

Poutine and burgers across from the Château. Busy, but the line moves.

Day 2: Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec to Le Cochon Dingue

5.9 km

Down to the Lower Town and out on the river.

09:00
Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec

Activity

Ride down to the Lower Town. The Breakneck Steps beside it are the free way.

197 m · 2m walk to next
09:20
Rue du Petit-Champlain

Sight

One of the oldest shopping streets in North America, snowbanked and lit. The painted fresco at the far end tells the city’s story.

304 m · 10m walk to next
11:00
Place Royale

Sight

Where Champlain founded the city in 1608. Notre-Dame-des-Victoires on the square is one of the oldest stone churches in North America.

334 m · 5m walk to next
12:00
Le Lapin Sauté

Food & drink

Rabbit, as the name says, in a small warm room on Petit-Champlain.

621 m · 10m walk to next
13:30
Musée de la civilisation

Sight

Quebec’s own story. The permanent First Nations and Inuit exhibition is the one not to miss.

211 m · 10m walk to next
16:00
Québec-Lévis Ferry

Activity

Across the river ice and back, with the best view of the Old City on the return. It runs every day of the year with no reservations; check the timetable before you go. Go at dusk.

2.2 km · 25m walk to next
17:30
Strøm Spa Nordique Vieux-Québec

Activity

Hot pools, a cold plunge and a steaming terrace on the river, a short walk up Boulevard Champlain. Book a time slot.

1.9 km · 20m walk to next
20:00
Le Cochon Dingue

Food & drink

Steak frites and mussels on Boulevard Champlain, back in the Lower Town.

Day 3: Montmorency Falls to La Bûche

78.4 km

Out of town by car: a frozen waterfall, the snow park and North America’s only ice hotel, then back inside the walls for dinner. This day assumes a car; without one, take one of its two alternatives. December and January to February differ: the ice hotel opens January 4, 2027, and the falls’ cable car closes from January 4 to February 5, 2027 while the park stays open (checked 2 October 2026).

09:00
Montmorency Falls

Park & nature

Taller than Niagara by 30 m. In winter the spray freezes into a cone at the foot, the pain de sucre, and ice climbers work the walls beside it. The cable car runs 10:00 to 16:00 from December 19 to January 3 and from February 6 to March 31 ($14.95 adult round trip in 2026-27); in between, the park is open without services.

32.8 km · 40m drive to next
11:45
Village Vacances Valcartier

Activity

Snow slides and tube runs, with lunch on site. The 2026-27 season runs December 18, 2026 to March 21, 2027, and the first weeks depend on the weather. Warm boots matter more than a warm coat.

255 m · 5m walk to next
15:00
Hôtel de Glace

Sight

North America’s only ice hotel, rebuilt every winter, next to the snow park. The 2026-27 hotel is open January 4 to March 13, 2027.

32.6 km · 35m drive to next
19:00
La Bûche

Food & drink

Sugar shack food in the Old City all year: pea soup, beans, tourtière and pouding chômeur.

Another way to do day 3

Without a car: the falls

A shorter day on the city bus. Métrobus 800 runs from Parliament Hill, just outside the walls, to its Terminus Chute-Montmorency stop; a single ticket is $3.85 in the RTC app or $4.00 cash (from July 1, 2026). Back in town for a free afternoon inside the walls; the snow park and the ice hotel drop out.

09:30
Montmorency Falls

Park & nature

Part of the west side at the foot of the falls stays open in winter, with a trail along the ice climbing wall.

12.9 km · 45m transit to next
19:00
La Bûche

Food & drink

Dinner inside the walls, as planned.

Another way to do day 3

Without a car: the ice hotel

The Unitours shuttle leaves Old Québec from 10 rue Sainte-Anne, opposite the Musée du Fort, and runs non-stop to Valcartier in about 45 minutes. Its 2026-27 times are not published yet; in 2025-26 it left at 09:00 and 12:30, plus 16:00 in the holidays and Carnaval. Montmorency Falls drops out of this version.

08:45
Unitours shuttle, rue Sainte-Anne

Custom spot

Board at 10 rue Sainte-Anne, opposite the Musée du Fort. Check the return time when you book.

32.5 km · 45m transit to next
09:45
Village Vacances Valcartier

Activity

Snow slides and tube runs, from December 18, 2026 (weather permitting) to March 21, 2027.

255 m · 5m walk to next
13:15
Hôtel de Glace

Sight

Next to the snow park, open January 4 to March 13, 2027.

32.6 km · 45m transit to next
19:00
La Bûche

Food & drink

The shuttle back to the Old City, then dinner.