Snowflakes the size of cotton balls began falling before we woke up and continued long after we went to bed that night. Earlier that evening, the glow of neon holiday lights outlined the top of the buildings and cast a beam of colored light on the faces of passersby below. Being invited on a New Year’s Eve trip to see this city transformed into a winter wonderland was a very special treat. Here are 8 Reasons You’ll Want to Visit Québec City in Winter.

This post is sponsored by Québec City Tourism. 

Feel Like You’re Inside a French Snow Globe

This was the view standing on a street corner at the end of December. I’ve never been inside a snow globe but I imagine it would feel a lot like this. With the province of Québec leading the country of Canada in snowfall totals, this city ranks in the top three cities for the most snow (although not every day is a snow day in Québec City). As a skier, I’ve spent a lot of winters walking through snowy towns, but there was definitely something unique walking around the historic section in Vieux Québec (Old Québec). The sights, sounds and smells are special.

A Truly French City in North America

Founded in 1608, Québec City is recognized as the “cradle of French Civilization in North America.” That’s why in 1985, Québec City was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also ranked as one of the top 20 most romantic cities in the world. With its European ambiance, Québec really reminded me of Paris because everywhere you look, you see ornate buildings, statues, fountains and picture perfect sights dating back centuries. 

Québec City has its own Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral which opened in 1843. It is the oldest church in Canada. The church anchors one side of the square on a street named Rue de Buade. When I stepped inside, I was just blown away by the beauty of the interior. It was both architecturally stunning and reverential.

I was a bit surprised to be greeted by the first of the Three Wise Men and his camel but it was beautifully carved and painted. The other two wisemen and a life sized Nativity scene were nearby. Above the doorway on the way out, I noticed the beautiful snow covered angel.

Remember to Say Merci (Thank You) 

French is the official language of the province of Québec. From the moment you drive over the border, you will notice all the signs are in French. In the towns, you’ll quickly observe it on restaurant and street signs. Natives speak Québecois which is a local dialect slightly different than Parisian French. Don’t worry, almost every place you visit will have someone who speaks English.

No matter what country you travel to, speaking a few words in the native language shows respect for the culture. We greeted people with “Bonjour” (Hello) and left them with “Merci” (Thank you). And when all else fails, there’s always help from technology. The mobile app Duo Lingo in French and Google Translate helped us out on several occasions.

Sleep Like a Queen in a Chateau

Often referred to as the most photographed hotel in the world, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, towers above the St. Lawrence River. With over 600 guest rooms, the beautifully restored historic hotel celebrated it’s 125th anniversary in 2018.  

Visitors are allowed inside the lobby to see the grandeur. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful parade of Christmas trees and two rustic Santa Claus figures. A gingerbread replica of the hotel and high end shops containing clothing and art flanked the themed trees. The bellman mentioned that many guests had traveled from all over the continent to participate in the elegant New Year’s Eve celebration. 

Remember the Walled Cities in Game of Thrones

Did you know that Quebec City is the only walled city north of Mexico? Over the course of its history, the fortress has helped the city survive many fierce battles. Walking with the crowds toward Porte St. Louis (St. Louis Gate) reminded me of the walled cities in the show Game of Thrones. 

If you’re into fitness trackers and want to get your steps in for the day, you can walk the entire walled perimeter which spans just under 3 miles or 4.6 km. Along the way, you will pass many gates, cannons and other military markings. A good place to begin your exploration is near the statue of Samuel de Champlain (the city founder) on the promenade known as Terrasse Dufferin (Dufferin Terrace).

Ride a Cable Car Overlooking the St. Lawrence River 

Near the statue of Samuel de Champlain, you’ll see a small glass building which marks the entrance to the funiculaire (cable car). For only a few Canadian dollars, you can ride in a glass enclosed car down to another historic part where the city was first settled known as Basse-Ville (Lower Town).  As the cable car descends at a 45 degree angle, you can easily see the cobble stone streets below with museums, theaters, shops and restaurants as well as the St. Lawrence River in the distance.

Race Your Friends in a Toboggan

Photo courtesy of Québec City Tourism

As a child, I spent many winter hours happily racing down the backyard hill on our family toboggan. I was so excited to learn that I could try it again on this trip. Québec City has its own sledding hill so riders of all ages can experience the joy of riding a toboggan in a safe environment.

The Toboggan Run is located on Dufferin Terrace behind Le Chateau Frontenac. Three icy runs provide a thrilling ride down separate tracks. Hold onto your hats because the toboggans zip along over 40 mph or 70 k/hr. Weather permitting, it is open until early March. Tickets can be purchased at a small kiosk at the bottom of the hill. 

Savor Food, Drink and Shopping Québecois Style

When I told a Canadian friend who lives on the west coast that I was going to Québec, she begged me to try the national dish Poutine. She said that they make it the best in Québec City. She was right – it was delicious!

We stopped for lunch at a cute little restaurant named Le Chic Shack which is known for its hamburgers and milk shakes. I ordered Poutine, a caramel maple milk shake and crunchy potato chips. The Poutine was made with french fries, cheese curds, onions and mushrooms with a savory brown gravy drizzled on top. Yum!!

During lunch, I realized I needed some warmer wool socks and the waitress recommended La Maison Simons. The multi-level store headquartered on the street named Rue de Buade in Québec City carries a wide variety of clothing and other items that reminded me of Macy’s in the U.S. It was interesting to see which styles they were showing for children, teens, and adults.     

Feeling in the mood to continue shopping, we wandered into a small boutique mall on the same street called Le Promenade du Vieux Quebec. Near the entrance, a store called Rare and Different showcased colorful ribboned lighting fixtures. A shop labeled Cambio (currency exchange) next to it provided the opportunity to get Canadian dollars at last.

By dinnertime, the temperatures were dropping and a light wind was blowing the snow . Although we were happily bundled up, we were ready to get out of the cold.

To warm up, my friend and I decided to try a lively Italian restaurant named Bello. Although it was packed with people who had reservations, after a short wait two stools opened up at the bar. Everyone was in a festive mood, and the pizzas coming out of the wood fired oven across from us added a smoky savory aroma. We both ordered wine and sampled appetizers.

Seated next to us at the bar was a friendly engaged couple who had flown in from Las Vegas and California for a week together. We had a great time trading travel stories with them. Before we left, I had to try the delicious tiramisu served in a canning jar. Next time, I’ll try one of the flambé special desserts.

Celebrate Like a Canadian

Every year, Québec City hosts a New Year’s Eve party. This year, they kicked it off with a brand new four day event called the Toboggan Festival. Different types of music were played at two different locations near the impressive Parliament building.

The main stage at the end of a street named Grande Allée played electro pop music near the Parliament building. We could see the ferris wheel as we drove into the downtown where parking was at a premium. In that location, visitors also had access to warming huts, ice slides, a carousel, food trucks and other vendors. 

Walking a few blocks away, we visited the other stage where bands played traditional Canadian music on banjos, harmonicas and other wind instruments. Even though it was cold and the snow was still falling, the crowd was really into the music. As you can see in the video, it seemed like everyone was moving to the music and dancing. We saw both young and old people and even a dog dressed in a furry winter coat.

Budweiser was the official sponsor of this venue and had its own booth serving beer right next to the stage. During breaks by the band, Budweiser ads filled the projection screens while stagehands swept the never ending snow off the stage. 

A few seconds before midnight, the last band stopped playing. The crowds welcomed in the New Year with cheers as fireworks exploded in the sky  as you can see in the video. What a thrilling way to begin 2020!

Enjoy Winter Festivals that Rock!

Beyond New Year’s, there are many more winter activities and events going on in Québec City, even through early March. You can ice skate at an outdoor rink in town or try skiing/snow boarding at Mont-Sainte Anne or Le Massif resorts not far away. And  who wouldn’t want to see the themed rooms and unique sculptures now open at the Hôtel de Glace (Ice Hotel)? Built entirely of blocks of ice, these cold rocks gleam in the light.

Photo courtesy of Quebec City Tourism

In early February, the city goes all out for the Québec Winter Carnival which draws thousands of visitors. The mulitsport Snow Pentathalon features competitions combining skating, skiing, snowshoeing, running, and biking. The fun continues in March with an Ice Canoe Race in the Saint Lawrence River. For a full schedule of events, visit the Québec City Tourism calendar.

Au Revoir 

It was hard to say au revoir (goodbye) when the trip ended. Québec City was such a lovely historic town filled with great sights, good food, and interesting people. As we followed the crowds through the streets, I truly felt that the banner overhead summed up my experience – Plaisir (pleasure) Découvertes (discovery) and Charme (charm).