View US East Coast & Eastern Canada on the mapThe old town's cobbled streets, steep slopes, and copper-roofed buildings feel closer to a European provincial city than North America. Upper and lower towns are linked by a funicular, and the compact scale suits walking tours. Winter brings snow and ice, while summer changes the city with terrace seating and outdoor events.

Quebec City

Quebec City · Canada · 46.81, -71.21

Quebec City, the capital of Quebec, was built at a strategic point where the St. Lawrence River narrows. It is the only walled city in North America, and its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a center of Francophone culture.

Port highlights

About 550,000 people in the city proper and about 840,000 in the metropolitan area

Population

A humid subarctic climate with a large temperature range. January is severely cold with heavy snow, while July is comfortable. May to October is pleasant, and temperatures drop rapidly from November onward.

Climate

French (primary language); English is also understood in tourist areas

Language

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Currency

June to September, when the weather is stable. Late September to early October, with the autumn foliage, is also well worth seeing

Best time to visit

Local food

Poutine, maple syrup products, tourtiere (meat pie), sugar pie

Sights

Château Frontenac and Dufferin TerracePetit Champlain districtCity walls and Battlefields Park (Plains of Abraham)Montmorency FallsNotre-Dame de Québec Cathedral

Monthly average high / low temperatures

-7°

-17°Jan

-5°

-15°Feb

0°

-10°Mar

8°

-2°Apr

17°

5°May

22°

11°Jun

25°

14°Jul

24°

13°Aug

19°

8°Sep

11°

2°Oct

4°

-4°Nov

-3°

-11°Dec

Unit: °C · Calculated from NOAA GHCN-Daily station observations · Period: 1991–2020 · Station: LAUZON · about 8.2 km from port · elevation difference about 64 m · Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · A guide for choosing your travel month.

Local prices for travelers

Much more expensive than Tokyo

Compared with Tokyo, Japan (median of items)186 (Tokyo = 100)

Compared with Tokyo, coffee costs about the same; water, meals, beer and a Big Mac are somewhat more expensive.

CA$3.49

Water 500 ml

CA$4.50

Coffee

CA$15.00

Inexpensive meal

CA$9.00

Local beer

CA$8.17

Big Mac

Prices in Quebec City. · Amounts in the recorded local currency. No currency conversion applied. · Last checked: Oct 2026 (partly estimated) · Sources: Shop and menu prices · The Economist, Big Mac Index (CC BY 4.0)