Just seven hours from the UK, the Canadian province of Quebec offers exciting cities, history and wilderness. Paul Blaney brings you the highlights
Quebec combines Montreal and Quebec City – two of the most historic, happening cities in Canada and the north US – with easy access to the countryside for wildlife, activities and adventure.
The two cities, just two and a half hours apart by car or train, have a distinctive European charm and great food. What’s more, flights from London to Montreal take less than seven hours.
Must see
A great introduction to both Montreal and the province is the multimedia attraction at Point à Callière, which tells the story of how New France, Canada and Montreal came into being.
For culture lovers, there’s the Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal – which hosts a light and sound show each evening – while the Vieux Port area houses dozens of restaurants.
A short metro ride takes visitors to the Biodome and the Olympic Stadium, where they can take a cable car up the leaning tower for a bird’s-eye view of the city.
Quebec City, celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only walled city in North America. At its heart is a star-shaped citadel where visitors can watch the changing of the guard in the British tradition.
The Charlevoix region offers superb views of the St Lawrence River, terrific restaurants and whole villages dedicated to artists and art galleries. A 90-minute drive north is the ski resort of Tremblant, a great base from which to explore the wildlife reserve and national park of the Laurentians.
Must do
Suggest jetboating on the St Lawrence River from Montreal’s Vieux Port. In Quebec City a funicular carries visitors up from the Old Port to the walled city, and the short ferry ride to Levis has great views back across the river.
Beyond the cities, activities range from black bear watching at Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and whale watching in Tadoussac (May to October) to white-water rafting, which is especially good on the Rivière Rouge.
Cyclists won’t want to miss the 125-mile Route Verte, one of the world’s most beautiful cycle paths. Alternatively, clients can hire a car and follow the Gourmet Route through the eastern townships of southern Quebec.
A true adventure excursion is the flight from Montreal to Kuujjuaq (July to September) in the far north, where clients can see polar bears and musk ox and meet the local Inuit people to experience their culture.
Must stay
When it comes to accommodation, Quebec’s got it all, from tree houses, lighthouses, tents and cabins, to luxury wilderness lodges and state-of-the-art boutique hotels. Here’s a selection:
Top end hotels
- W Hotel and Place d’Armes (Montreal) are popular with celebrities.
- Auberge St Antoine (Quebec City) has a great restaurant.
- The Courtyard by Marriott and Auberge St Pierre (Quebec City) are stylish properties.
- Quintessence (Tremblant, Laurentians) is an ultra-cool but relaxed choice.
Luxury wilderness resorts
- Chic Chocs Mountain Lodge (nr Cap-Chat) has amazing mountain views.
- Lac à l’eau Claire (Saint-Alexis-des-Monts) is set on a perfect lake amid acres of virgin forest.
- Sacacomie (Saint-Alexis-des-Monts) is popular with visiting Formula 1 drivers.
Affordable options
- Le Royal William (Quebec City)
- Best Western (Quebec City)
- Chateau Bellevue (Quebec City)
- Le Dauphin (Montreal)
- Travelodge (Montreal)
Quebec travel factfile
- Gateways: Montreal-Trudeau (YUL)
- Airlines: Daily scheduled flights from Heathrow with British Airways and Air Canada year round. Frequent flights in summer and winter from Gatwick with Zoom and Canadian Affair
- Flying time: Seven hours from London to Montreal
- Tour operators: Canadian Affair, Jetset, Collette Worldwide Holidays, Travel 4, Insight Vacations, Ariel Travel, Hallmark Travel
- Climate: Southern and western Quebec have a humid, continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Further north, the province has a sub-arctic or arctic climate, meaning very cold winters and short summers
- Time difference: GMT -5 hours
Sample product
Jetset’s seven-night Montreal and Quebec City Experience costs from £1,029 with flights, three-star accommodation and sightseeing tours.
Collette Worldwide Holidays offers an 11-day Discover Quebec by Rail tour, featuring Montreal, the Gaspé region, Forillon National Park, Matane, Charlevoix, Montmorency Falls and Quebec City, from £2,239 with most meals, flights and transfers.
