3-Day Quebec City in Winter Itinerary With Kids

When you think about Québec, a few things probably pop in your head: maple syrup, poutine, and, of course… the cold. Winter is a long season in Quebec, but it is worth putting extra layers and exploring the city. Quebec City in winter in in fact wonderful.

It is why we created this 3-Day Quebec City winter itinerary for the family.

Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this free article contains affiliate links. If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you.

But first, why should you visit Quebec City in the winter?

Why Visiting Quebec City in the Winter?

There’s a lot more to visiting Québec than brushing up on your French and sipping hot wine. Nature lovers will be spoiled by the vast territory, the numerous lakes, and the unique wildlife that surrounds the region. The four seasons are so perfectly distinguished that it can be visited year-round. 

And winter is no exception.

Now, I know what you’re thinking:

Québec… in the winter? Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll head to Cabos until things start heating back up.

Fair enough. But before you make up your mind, at least hear me out. Now, first things first: I won’t lie.

Quebec City in the winter gets cold. Actually, it gets cold pretty much everywhere north of the border. But life doesn’t just stop for 6 months. We still do our grocery shopping; we still have to commute to work, and we still play outside.

We just require a bit more clothing.

Believe it or not, lots of festivals and special events run in the winter, and they’re super popular. In fact, the Québec City Winter Carnival is the biggest winter carnival in the world.

And since I was born and raised here, I feel at least some obligation to encourage people to see this beautiful province when it’s at its most beautiful.

Are you ready for a winter wonderland in Quebec City? Here are 3 days’ worth of activities for your Quebec City winter itinerary for your whole family in Québec City. 

Quebec City in Winter: a 3-Day Itinerary for the family

There are a lot of things to do in Quebec City in the winter, from indoor museum to outdoor activities. You could honestly spend more than one week exploring the beautiful European-like town and its surrounding.

But today we are proposing you a long weekend, 3-days Quebec City winter itinerary for your family vacation.

A Small Recap of Our Favorite Activities:

• Spend a day at the Aquarium de Québec
• Visit the Ice Hotel
• Do a guided tour of Fairmont Château Frontenac
• Going to Place d’Youville for ice skating fun
• Do a day trip from Quebec City to Vallée de la Jacques-Cartier for some winter hiking
• Use the cable car for a ride at Montmorency Falls
• Participate in the German Christmas Market in the Jardins de l’hôtel de ville

Day 1: Old Québec City and its European charm

Québec City, especially the Quartier Petit Champlain with the Place Royale, is the cradle of the French settlement in North America. Truth be told, it has become one of the most touristy places in the city, but for good reason. It has history lessons, gorgeous sites to see, and killer restaurants.

And it’s at its best during the winter wonderland.

That’s why we’ll be starting our visit of Old Québec City at Chateau Frontenac.

Stop 1. Terrasse Dufferin and the Château Frontenac

At the top of the Cap Diamant, overlooking the Saint-Lawrence river, the Chateau Frontenac is one of the city’s icons. (Well, that and the Bonhomme Carnaval with its arrow sash).

After admiring the luxury Chateau Frontenac hotel and the stoning view of the St. Lawrence River, a little walk on the Terrasse Dufferin will bring you to the Au 1884, a unique toboggan slide.

This is kind of a staple activity for kids to try, so set aside 30 minutes to wait in line. Au 1884 offers one of the best winter activities: a toboggan slide. And the best thing is that it’s right in the heart of the town, facing the river and the castle. It’s great for parents that have to wait in the cold while the kids ask to go slide “just one more time“.

It’s totally worth it. 

There is also a Starbucks coffee inside the Château Frontenac, right by the Dufferin terrace to warm the family up with hot cocoa and lattes.

Stop 2. Place-Royal and Notre-Dame des Victoires church

Following the map above, you can walk to the Place-Royale, with a small stop in front of the Fresque des Québecois (at the corner of Notre-Dame street). There’s a 420 m2 trompe l’oeil mural where you can learn about Québec historical figures.

Again, it’s worth the extra 10 minute walk… even in the cold.

Then you’ll be making your way toward Place-Royal where, back in 1698, Samuel de Champlain had his “abitation” built. The Place-Royal of today looks a lot like what it used to be in the 18th century. The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church is one of the oldest stone churches in North America, but it is closed during wintertime every day except Sundays.

You’ll be walking on old cobblestone streets in and around Place-Royal. You may not see it as the streets will probably be covered in snow.

Ohh and a fun fact: Remember that scene in Catch Me If You Can where Leonardo DiCaprio is finally caught by Tom Hanks? 

That was actually shot here at the Place Royale (but made to look like the small village of Montrichard, in La Loire, France). Leonardo DiCaprio even stayed for a while in the Chateau Frontenac. 

Stop 3. Quartier Petit Champlain

Now you can begin to make your way to the Quartier Petit Champlain (follow the map below). Even as a born and raised Québecoise, I’m enchanted by the beauty and the atmosphere of Petit Champlain every time I visit. But it’s at its best with the winder wonderland.

If I had one recommendation it would be to take your time to wander around, enter little shops and to stay long enough to experience it as the sunsets. It’s nothing short of magical, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a nice snowy evening.

No winter in Quebec City itinerary can be complete without a visit to Petit Champlain. And even if it’s full of tourists, you’ll see exactly why Petit Champlain street made it to the top 5 most beautiful streets in the world. 

There are good choices of restaurants if your family is starting to feel hungry. Cochon Dingue would be a good pick for the family, particularly if you have kids. They are very accommodating and have a great kids’ menu.

But, save some room for a typical Québec treat. You can try a tire d’érable (maple syrup rolled in fresh snow to form a hard maple candy) at La Petite Cabane à Sucre de Québec, located at the end of the street. 

Once you’re done exploring the area, you can get back to Chateau Frontenac using the Funiculaire (a cable car) which connects the Petit Champlain with the Terrasse Dufferin.

**Note that the ticket can only be purchased with cash, but there is an ATM available inside.**

Day 2: A Step Back in Time at La Citadelle de Québec

Despite its young age (well, compared to other nations), Québec’s history is very interesting and worth checking out. It was enriched through the cultural melding of its First Nations, the French and British occupation and the wave of Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, as you’ll see, but it’s remarkable what these people built (and survived) by working together.

Stop 1. The Battle Field of Abraham

It is right in the Plaines d’Abraham that the French settlement in North America ended. It’s at this exact location that Québec became a British colony. Now it’s a wide park where different outdoor activities take place year-round.

There are great winter activities that take place on the battlefield. If you’re feeling adventurous or want a workout, you can try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Both types of equipment can be rented on the spot.

Parallel to the Battle Fields is Grand-Allée, which is a popular street known for its nightlife. During the day, though, it has some options for kids if you are looking for a place to have lunch (and maybe a beer for mama and papa).

St-Hubert, a Québec chicken rotisserie, would be a good place to stop with your kids. They are a big kid’s menu and service is quick. This is the perfect “we have a lot to do today and need some kid-friendly food fast” kind of place. 

Going down Grand-Allée, you can get to the Citadelle de Québec, the largest British fortress in North America. It’s part of the original Québec fortifications and has more than 300 years of history. 

Guided tours of the Citadelle are offered in French and in English.

A big part of the tour is outdoor. With its location directly on the Cap Diamant, overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, it can get windy. And the chill can nip at your ears if you don’t have the right hat. 

Check the weather beforehand and dress appropriately!

Stop 2. Place d’Youville

Make your way down rue d’Auteuil and rue Saint-Jean to reach Place d’Youville. At Place d’Youville, you can try ice skating. Place d’Youville has a well-maintained skating rink with a magical background. The entrance is free and it’s possible to rent ice skates or a helmet for the kids.

It has nice lighting in the evening as well which makes it the perfect pre-or post-dinner activity. 

Stop 3. The Morrin Center and its old prison

From Place d’Youville, you’ll find the Portes Saint-Jean following rue Saint-Jean. You’ll be entering the old, walled-in town of Quebec City.

Located a few blocks from Saint-Jean street is the Morrin Center (now the English cultural center of Québec). It served as a prison in 1812. Here you can put you and your family in the shoes of a prisoner for about an hour or so.

You will learn how they would operate the prison and how inmates would live. If you think it’s cold walking around Québec in the winter, try being locked up ;).

After your visit, don’t forget to take a look at the magnificent wooden English library. And take a look at their website to see if they have any activities for your kids in the morning, as well. 

Day 3: Activities à la carte

Québec is surrounded by nature and has a lot to offer in the winter for families. Here are some activities you may want to try out.

You may want to search for a few tours and activities on Get Your Guide or Viator websites.

Here are a few of our favorite activities in the winter in Quebec City.

Tubing and Hôtel de Glace Visit at Village Vacances Valcartier

Note: This may not be suitable for children under 4-5 years old.

If you want to be outside, play and have fun with your kids, it’s definitely the place to go. Snow tube slides, snow rafting, and ice skating are available for you day and night. 

Once you are there, you can also discover the architectural Hôtel de Glace (ice hotel), that changes its décor every year. It’s North America’s only ice hotel. And it’s pretty cool.

If you’re really brave (and have a flexible budget), you can even spend the night there.

Musée de la Civilisation

The Musée de la Civilisation is the biggest museum in Quebec. But as a museum, it’s hard to categorize it because they have a little bit of everything.

Regardless of what kind of you museum you like, Musée de la Civilisation will make a wonderful break from the cold.

And the cool part about it is that they have some staple exhibits that never change, BUT…

…they also have some temporary exhibits that change routinely. That means you can have a unique experience on every visit.

At the main kiosque, don’t forget to ask for a pass for the Once Upon a Time workshop where kids can play around fairytale, put on some costumes and travel in another world with dungeon, secret passage, forest, …

Aquarium de Québec

Full disclosure: I am biased here. I love to go to the aquarium with my kids. 

 Why? 

It is the perfect morning activity, whether it is freezing cold or burning hot outside. There are not only plenty of cool fish to see, but seals, walruses, white foxes, and bears.

Also, the jellyfish building is awesome and perfect for little ones. The color and movement are so special.

Truth be told, I would probably come here even if I didn’t have the kids with me. Again, I’m biased, but still think the Aquarium is a fun activity to add to your Quebec City winter itinerary.

Additional Quebec City Things to Do in the Winter

These are only a few of all the things to do in Québec in the winter. There are tons of festivals and special events that 3 days may not even be enough. Some of these events include:

• Festilumière (Aquarium de Québec): January-February
• Carnaval de Québec: February
• German Christmas Market: End of November-December

Where to Stay When Visiting Quebec City in the Winter

There are many great lodging options around town, but here are our favorite when traveling with kids:

• Fairmont Château Frontenac
• Hôtel Québec Inn
• Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations
• Entourage-sur-le-Lac
• Delta Quebec

🛎️ Read our review of Entourage sur-le-Lac 🛎️
Entourage Sur-Le-Lac Reviews: The Best Resort Near Quebec City

Final Thoughts: Quebec City Winter Itinerary

Quebec City and its Old Town is a wonderful town to explore year-round, even in the cold winter month. This Quebec City winter itinerary gave you an overview of what the city has to offer.

If you are planning a trip to Québec City, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to give you more information on accommodations, restaurants or other activities to do.

Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this free article contains affiliate links. If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you.