Where to stay in Quebec: the 9 areas to know in 2026
Our reviews split cleanly, and that split is the compass of this guide. About Montreal, members talk about people: "I don't know a city where people are more welcoming", "the hospitality is wonderful". About Quebec City, they talk about the setting: "strolling through Old Quebec is like traveling back in time".
The two members who slept in both preferred Quebec City, without taking anything away from the other. So the choice is not between two cities: it is between an atmosphere and a setting. Nine areas below, five in the two metropolises and four along the river, all the way to the Saguenay fjord.
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Much more American than Quebec City, Montreal is a laid back, uninhibited city, much more modern in its architecture and atmosphere than Quebec City (which I prefer anyway).
One base or several?
Quebec is three times the size of France and two cities carry 83% of our reviews. Here is what works depending on how long you have.
- A long weekend: One city only, and it is the one your direct flight lands in. Three days are enough for Old Quebec; Montreal asks for four, because its neighborhoods are far apart.
- One week: Both metropolises: three nights in Montreal, three in Quebec City, and the stop in between in Mauricie or the Eastern Townships if you want one night in the country.
- Ten days: Three bases, adding two nights in Tadoussac for the whales, by way of Charlevoix. This is the length that makes the fjord possible without driving eight hours a day.
- Two weeks: Four to five bases: add Lac-Saint-Jean north of the fjord, or Rimouski and the road to the Gaspe heading east. Both in one trip make a 1,800 km loop.
How much driving between two bases?
By road, outside winter: in January and February, add a third to every line, and more on Route 138 past Baie-Saint-Paul.
| Route | Driving time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Montréal → Québec | 3 hr | 255 km, Highway 20 or 40 |
| Montréal → Trois-Rivières | 1 hr 30 | 140 km on Highway 40 |
| Montréal → Sherbrooke | 1 hr 45 | 155 km on Highway 10 |
| Québec → Baie-Saint-Paul | 1 hr 15 | 95 km on Route 138 |
| Baie-Saint-Paul → Tadoussac | 1 hr 45 | 125 km, free Saguenay ferry |
| Québec → Tadoussac | 3 hr | 215 km on Route 138 |
| Tadoussac → Saguenay | 1 hr 45 | 125 km on Route 172 |
| Saguenay → Saint-Félicien | 1 hr 30 | 115 km, around Lac Saint-Jean |
| Québec → Rimouski | 3 hr 15 | 315 km on Highway 20 then Route 132 |
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in Quebec
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
- 1Old Montreal and the Old Port
- 2Downtown Montreal
- 3The Plateau-Mont-Royal and the Latin Quarter
- 4Old Quebec, the Upper Town
- 5The Lower Town: Petit Champlain and the Old Port
- 6The Beaupre Coast and Charlevoix
- 7Tadoussac, the fjord and Lac-Saint-Jean
- 8Between Montreal and Quebec City: Mauricie and the Eastern Townships
- 9The Lower St. Lawrence: Rimouski and Le Bic
Old Montreal and the Old Port Place Jacques-Cartier, rue Saint-Paul, Old Port quays
for a first visit, and to sleep inside stone laid in 1685
Four hundred meters of cobblestone between Notre-Dame Basilica and the river, and this is where the city began: the archaeology museum is visited "literally among the foundations of vanished buildings", one of our reviews says. The Old Port is the one place in Montreal that four members describe the same way, lively in every season, with the skating rink in winter and the Ferris wheel the rest of the year. The downside is said too: "there are often a lot of people, especially tourists".
What I liked best was the harbor atmosphere and the ability to stroll along the docks. I loved the variety of activities and the selection of shops, even though you can definitely tell it is a touristy neighborhood.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hôtel Nelligan Luxury
On rue Saint-Paul, two 19th-century buildings joined around an atrium, and a rooftop terrace above the quays. Notre-Dame Basilica is one hundred and fifty meters away.
Hôtel Place d'Armes Luxury
Facing Place d'Armes, in a converted 1870 building. A rooftop bar, and the metro station right outside, which matters in January.
Auberge du Vieux-Port Mid-range
On rue de la Commune, facing the river, stone walls and exposed beams. Direct view over the quays and the Clock Tower from the south-facing rooms.
Pros
- Everything on foot, and the metro for the rest
- The Jean-Drapeau islands one stop away, with the casino and the racetrack
Cons
- The most expensive and the busiest area in the city
- Cobblestones and horse carriages: noisy early on rue Saint-Paul
Downtown Montreal Sainte-Catherine, Square Phillips, Quartier des spectacles
for winter, because you can simply not go outside
This is where the Underground City makes sense: thirty kilometers of passages connect the stations, the malls and part of the hotels. One of our reviews puts it plainly: "some Canadians manage not to set foot outside all winter long". Above ground, the Museum of Fine Arts, which two members recommend for its Inuit collections, and the Bell Centre on hockey nights.
What will strike you after your visit is the huge variety of styles and works. You will go from Inuit art to expressionism in the blink of an eye.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth Luxury
Above Central Station since 1958, so plugged straight into the underground network. Room 1742 of this hotel is the one John Lennon occupied in 1969.
Hôtel Birks Montréal Luxury
In the former Birks jewelry house of 1894, on Square Phillips. One hundred and thirty-two rooms, original marble and stained glass, two blocks from the Museum of Fine Arts.
Hôtel Zéro 1 Mid-range
On the edge of the Quartier des spectacles, a kitchenette in every room and a panoramic terrace in summer. The plainest option in the area, ten minutes on foot from Old Montreal.
Pros
- Connected to the underground network: decisive from December to March
- Both train stations and the airport shuttle on site
Cons
- Office towers: little life on Sundays
- Sainte-Catherine has been under construction block by block for several seasons
The Plateau-Mont-Royal and the Latin Quarter Mont-Royal, Saint-Denis, Mile End, Square Saint-Louis
for the Montreal our reviews talk about, the one made of people
Outdoor staircases, colorful facades, terraces: this is the neighborhood our members describe without naming it when they write "you quickly feel like part of the same family". Above it, Mount Royal Park is the most reviewed place in all of Quebec, six reviews, all positive, and the Kondiaronk Lookout comes back three times. The Botanical Garden and the Biodome are on the same metro line, fifteen minutes east.
Getting a breath of fresh air in Montreal is easy, just head to Mount Royal Park! [...] My favorite was the Kondiaronk Lookout, with the downtown towers in the background.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Auberge de La Fontaine Mid-range
Facing La Fontaine Park, twenty-one rooms in a townhouse. Breakfast and a shared kitchen, which is more the way of the neighborhood than the way of a hotel.
Hôtel 10 Mid-range
At the corner of Saint-Laurent and Sherbrooke, in an Art Nouveau building from 1914. The hinge between the Plateau and downtown: both on foot, and the metro downstairs.
Pros
- The best balance of price and neighborhood life in the city
- Mount Royal Park on foot from most addresses
Cons
- Few hotels: the supply is mostly apartments and guesthouses
- The streets climb westward, and the snow is not cleared everywhere
Old Quebec, the Upper Town Chateau Frontenac, Dufferin Terrace, rue Saint-Jean, Citadelle
for the setting all six of our Quebec City reviews talk about
The only fortified old town left north of Mexico, and our reviews tell it as a setting: "it is like traveling back in time", "the old town is absolutely magnificent". The Chateau Frontenac towers over everything, Dufferin Terrace runs along the river for four hundred and fifty meters, the Citadelle still holds its changing of the guard. One member warns about the terrace: "it is not always easy to find a seat".
the old town is also absolutely magnificent!! It is a real pleasure to stroll through these typical little streets, with their shops and cute signs. The most photographed hotel in the world overlooks it all, it is breathtaking!
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Luxury
The 1893 hotel our reviews call "the most photographed in the world", above the river. Beehives on the roof, and a guided tour for those who do not sleep there.
Hôtel Manoir Victoria Mid-range
Near Porte Saint-Jean, indoor pool and boreal cuisine at the restaurant. Five minutes from the Chateau, for half its price.
Hôtel Clarendon Mid-range
The oldest hotel in the city, 1870, renovated in 2019, next to city hall. Art Deco in the public rooms, and the gate to the Upper Town three blocks away.
Pros
- The whole setting of the trip under your windows, on foot
- The Plains of Abraham on the edge: three kilometers of park
Cons
- Rates double during the Carnival, the first two weeks of February
- Narrow streets and difficult parking: come without a car if you can
The Lower Town: Petit Champlain and the Old Port Place Royale, rue du Petit-Champlain, Saint-Paul, Saint-Roch
to sleep at the foot of the cliff, with the shops downstairs
Below the Upper Town, the oldest quarter in the city and the most photographed after the Chateau. Our reviews send you there without reservation: "colorful and lively, these charming shopping streets", "the ideal place to shop and have a drink". The funicular climbs to Dufferin Terrace in one minute, the Breakneck Steps in five. The Museum of Civilization is fifty meters from the quay.
Colorful and lively, these charming shopping streets invite you to discover the local heritage through restaurants, artisan shops, and even chocolate shops!
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
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Auberge Saint-Antoine Luxury
A Relais and Chateaux set on an archaeological site: the objects found under the hotel are displayed in the rooms and the front desk is built from two-hundred-year-old oak. Steps from the Museum of Civilization.
Hôtel 71 Luxury
On rue Saint-Pierre, in the first head office of the National Bank, sixty rooms under five-meter ceilings. River views on the upper floors.
Hôtel Le Priori Mid-range
On rue du Sault-au-Matelot, in the house of architect Jean Baillairge. Twenty-eight rooms, exposed brick and Art Deco furniture, the best price in the quarter.
Pros
- The funicular and the Levis ferry at the bottom of the street
- Quieter than the Upper Town in the evening, and slightly cheaper
Cons
- On cruise ship days, rue du Petit-Champlain is packed
- Walking back up the Breakneck Steps, fifty-nine of them
The Beaupre Coast and Charlevoix Montmorency Falls, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie
for the river road northeast of Quebec City
Montmorency Falls is twenty minutes from the Chateau and stands thirty meters taller than Niagara: five of our reviews mention it, and two flag the same thing, "the setting around it is a little short on nature". Further on, Route 138 enters Charlevoix, where the river widens to twenty kilometers. Baie-Saint-Paul has its galleries and its creamery, La Malbaie the Hautes-Gorges and the finest private garden in the country.
Taller than Niagara Falls, Montmorency Falls is definitely a must-visit if you are passing through Quebec City. [...] the site is well designed, and you can get close to the falls at various heights.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Luxury
An 1899 chateau above the river at La Malbaie, four hundred and five rooms, a golf course and an adjoining casino. The whales pass under the windows in August.
Hôtel et Spa Le Germain Charlevoix Luxury
At Baie-Saint-Paul, five buildings on the grounds of the old farm that burned down in 1997, spa and kitchen garden. The Massif train leaves from the station next door.
Pros
- The falls, the ski hills and Charlevoix all reachable from one base
- Two of the finest hotels in the province, an hour from the city
Cons
- A car is essential: none of this is usefully served by transit
- Route 138 through Charlevoix climbs and drops constantly, allow extra time
Tadoussac, the fjord and Lac-Saint-Jean Tadoussac, Sacre-Coeur, Chicoutimi, Saint-Felicien
for the whales, and for the only inhabited fjord in North America
The Saguenay meets the St. Lawrence at Tadoussac, and the mixing waters feed the krill that draws the rorquals from May to October. One of our members sums the area up as "a little slice of Quebec": rivers, lakes, forests. Further north, the Saint-Felicien Wild Zoo is "far more than a zoo, a park where the animals live in semi-freedom", and the beaches of Lac Saint-Jean are warm enough to swim in summer.
a little slice of Quebec. Beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and tons of activities. Rivers, lakes, forests, and of course the fjord of the same name for this truly charming little village.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hôtel Tadoussac Mid-range
The red roof you see from the ferry, rebuilt in 1942 on the 1864 hotel. One hundred and forty-nine rooms above the bay, and the 1747 wooden chapel at the bottom of the garden.
Auberge Maison Gagné Budget
Twelve rooms and two cottages on rue du Bateau-Passeur, at the edge of the fjord. Open from May 15 to October 15: outside that window, look elsewhere.
Battures Hôtel Fjord Saguenay Mid-range
At La Baie, on the shore of the fjord, an hour and forty-five minutes from Tadoussac. The handiest base for the Chicoutimi Pulp Mill and Lac Saint-Jean.
Pros
- The whales can be seen from land, on the Pointe de l'Islet trail
- The Saguenay ferry is free and runs year-round
Cons
- Very few rooms in Tadoussac: July and August are booked in winter
- Several inns close from mid-October to mid-May
Between Montreal and Quebec City: Mauricie and the Eastern Townships Trois-Rivieres, Shawinigan, Sherbrooke, Magog, Orford
to cut the three-hour drive in half
Two hundred and fifty-five kilometers separate the two metropolises, and on either side of the river two backcountries are worth the stop. To the north, La Mauricie National Park, which our review describes as "just like the rest of Quebec: 100% nature and 100% family-friendly". To the south, the Eastern Townships, Lake Memphremagog and Mount Orford, with Sherbrooke as the base town.
Easily accessible and, above all, very welcoming, Mauricie National Park is just like the rest of Quebec: 100% nature and 100% family-friendly.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Auberge du Lac Saint-Pierre Mid-range
At Pointe-du-Lac, on the shore where the river widens into a lake, heated outdoor pool and French cooking. Twenty minutes from Trois-Rivieres, an hour and a half from Montreal.
Grand Times Hôtel Sherbrooke Mid-range
On the shore of Lac des Nations, in the middle of Sherbrooke, with Mount Orford at the back of the view. The Magog River walkway starts at the door.
Estrimont Suites et Spa Mid-range
Ninety-five suites with fireplace and balcony at the foot of Mount Orford, Nordic baths and sauna. Lake Memphremagog and Magog are ten minutes away.
Manoir Hovey Luxury
A Relais and Chateaux on the shore of Lake Massawippi, in a 1900 house modeled on Mount Vernon. The restaurant is one of the most celebrated in the province.
Pros
- An hour and a half from either metropolis, so never a detour
- Half the price of the two cities, for real wilderness
Cons
- Nothing works without a car, and the parks close early off season
- The two backcountries sit on opposite banks: pick one, do not chain them
The Lower St. Lawrence: Rimouski and Le Bic Rimouski, Le Bic, Pointe-au-Pere, Sainte-Luce
for the road to the Gaspe, and for a river that becomes a sea
Three hours from Quebec City, the St. Lawrence turns salty and runs forty kilometers wide. Our review of Rimouski fits in one sentence: "a superb setting (sea and mountains), activities, museums". Bic National Park is a run of headlands and bays where the seals haul out at low tide, and the Pointe-au-Pere site tells the wreck of the Empress of Ireland, one thousand and twelve dead in 1914.
It has a superb setting (sea and mountains), activities, museums.. you won't get bored there, far from it.
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Auberge du Mange Grenouille Mid-range
Twenty-two rooms in a former general store in the village of Le Bic, gardens, an outdoor spa and a table that has won three national awards. Open from May 1 to December 19.
Pros
- The lowest rates in this guide, for seaside landscapes
- The submarine Onondaga and the Pointe-au-Pere lighthouse can be visited
Cons
- Three hours from Quebec City, five from Montreal: this is not a day trip
- Short season: the inn at Le Bic closes from late December to late April
Our tips for booking the right place
- Montreal or Quebec City: our reviews are not talking about the same thing: Eleven reviews of Montreal, and seven talk about the inhabitants without a word about the setting: "I don't know a city where people are more welcoming". Six reviews of Quebec City, and all of them talk about the setting: "it is like traveling back in time". The two members who saw both preferred Quebec City, and one of them still writes of Montreal that it is "such a welcoming and lively city in every season".
- In winter, the hotel is chosen on its access to the underground: Thirty kilometers of passages connect the stations, the malls and part of the hotels in downtown Montreal. One of our reviews says it plainly: "some Canadians manage not to set foot outside all winter long". At minus twenty Celsius, two hundred meters of open street decide the day.
- In Old Quebec, the Upper and Lower Towns are not walked the same way: Fifty-nine steps separate Dufferin Terrace from Petit Champlain, and the funicular makes the trip in one minute for a few dollars. Sleeping up top means the setting and the rates; sleeping down below means the shops and a climb every evening.
- The fjord ferry is free, and it is the normal road: Between Baie-Sainte-Catherine and Tadoussac, Route 138 stops: a ferry carries it across, free of charge, all year round, a ten-minute crossing. In summer, expect one or two waits in the middle of the day, and the whales are sometimes visible from the deck.
- On the North Shore and the Lower St. Lawrence, the inns close: Two of the properties listed here have a season: the Auberge Maison Gagne in Tadoussac opens from May 15 to October 15, the Auberge du Mange Grenouille at Le Bic from May 1 to December 19. Check the window before building an April or November itinerary.
- Taking a single base for all of Quebec: three hours of highway separate the two metropolises, and six hours Quebec City to Tadoussac and back.
- Booking Old Quebec for the first two weeks of February without looking at the price: the Carnival doubles rates across the whole Upper Town.
- Aiming for Tadoussac in July without having booked in winter: the village has only a few hundred rooms for the high whale season.
- Counting on the national parks and the inns of the North Shore between mid-October and mid-May: several are simply closed.
FAQ: where to stay in Quebec
Montreal or Quebec City for sleeping?
Where to stay in Old Quebec: Upper Town or Lower Town?
How many bases should I plan for a week in Quebec?
Where to stay to see the whales?
Where to stay cheaply in Quebec?
What is the best time of year to stay in Quebec?
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