Quebec City Travel Tips
Getting there
Fly into Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB), about 15km and 25 minutes from downtown by car, with RTC bus routes 80 and 76 connecting to the city center and the Sainte-Foy transit hub for roughly CAD $4 a ride (verify) or a flat-rate taxi around CAD $41 (verify). Most international connections route through Montreal first, so many trips combine both cities. VIA Rail runs 5 daily trains from Montreal’s Central Station to Quebec City’s own Gare du Palais, about 3 to 3.5 hours, with fares from around CAD $32-40 in economy if booked early. Driving from Montreal takes about 2.5 to 3 hours via Highway 20.
Getting around
Old Quebec is compact and walkable, Chateau Frontenac to Petit-Champlain is about a 5-minute walk, but it’s genuinely hilly, with Upper Town sitting on a cliff above Lower Town. The 1879 Funiculaire connects the two in about 3 minutes, or take the steep Breakneck Stairs for free. RTC buses cover downtown and the suburbs; a single ride runs around CAD $3.75-4 and a day pass about $9.25 (verify). A car is really only useful for day trips like Montmorency Falls or Ile d’Orleans, since parking inside the walls is limited and hotel parking often runs CAD $25-40 a night.
Money and tax
Everything runs on the Canadian dollar, and cards and tap payment are accepted almost everywhere. Quebec’s sales tax, GST 5% plus QST 9.975%, adds up to about 14.975% at checkout, not shown on the sticker price, so budget for it. Tipping at restaurants runs 15-20%, calculated on the pre-tax subtotal.
Entry requirements
US citizens need only a valid passport, no visa or eTA required. Visa-exempt travelers from the UK, EU, Australia, and similar countries flying in need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), CAD $7, applied for online before the trip and valid for about 5 years. Land and sea arrivals don’t need an eTA. ArriveCAN/Advance Declaration is optional, not mandatory.
When to go
Winter (December to March) is a genuine reason to visit here, not just something to bundle up against: the Carnaval de Quebec runs February 6-15, 2026, and the Hotel de Glace operates roughly January into late March, though temperatures do run a real -10 to -25°C. Summer (June-September) is warmest and busiest, with the Festival d’Ete de Quebec in July. Fall (September-October) brings foliage and thinner crowds, and spring is the cheapest shoulder season alongside sugar-shack season nearby.
A pass worth checking
The Passeport Decouverte, a tiered 24/48/72-hour bundle covering museums, heritage sites, and some city services, runs roughly CAD $55-110 depending on the tier (verify current pricing and inclusions before buying), and typically covers the Funiculaire, a hop-on-hop-off tour, and several museum entries.
Read more: see the Quebec City etiquette tips guide for cultural norms, or check the full Quebec City travel guide for an overview of the city.