Mont-Tremblant
Mont-Tremblant offers families world-class skiing, hiking, a car-free village, and year-round adventure in Quebec's Laurentian Mountains.
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🇨🇦Old Québec
Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage city of cobblestone streets, ancient fortifications, and rich French heritage. An extraordinary family destination in any season.
Your family guide
Old Québec with kids: fortress walls & cobblestone streets
“Fortress walls, funicular rides and maple taffy on snow. Old Québec brings European charm to North America.”
— San & Jo
Old Québec is one of those rare places that genuinely stops you in your tracks. Walking through its ancient stone gates, past the towering Château Frontenac and along ramparts that have stood for centuries, you get the feeling that you have stepped into another world entirely. It is the only fortified city north of Mexico in North America, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But more than the accolades, it simply feels extraordinary. Children feel like they are walking through history.
The city is split into two distinct neighbourhoods connected by a funicular and the famous Breakneck Stairs. Upper Town sits dramatically on the clifftop, home to the Citadelle, the grand promenade of Terrasse Dufferin, and sweeping views over the St. Lawrence River. Lower Town brings you down to the waterfront, where Place Royale and the cobblestone lanes of Rue du Petit-Champlain offer boutiques, cafés, and living history at every turn.
What makes Old Québec work so well for families is that it is genuinely walkable, endlessly atmospheric, and packed with hands-on history that children actually engage with. In summer, street performers fill the terraces. In winter, a century-old toboggan run launches you downhill at 40 miles per hour. Whatever season you visit, Old Québec delivers something memorable.
UNESCO World Heritage SiteSince 1985
Four-season destinationBest: June to October or December to February
Upper Town and Lower TownConnected by funicular and Breakneck Stairs
Best things to do
Best things to do in Old Québec
Walk the Fortification Walls and the Citadelle
Old Québec's ancient stone ramparts are free to walk and offer fantastic views over the city and the St. Lawrence River. The star-shaped Citadelle is a working military fortress about 300 years old, and the daily changing of the guard ceremony at 10 AM, complete with scarlet-uniformed soldiers, is a genuine highlight for kids.
The changing of the guard runs daily in summer: arrive a few minutes early to get a good spot along the fence.
2-3 hours
Explore the Plains of Abraham
This vast historic park sits right within Old Québec and was the site of the pivotal 1759 battle that shaped Canada's history. Today it is a beautiful open green space with immersive exhibits, cannons, monuments, and towers. Kids can roam freely while parents soak up the history. The interpretive centre makes the story genuinely accessible for all ages.
The park is free to enter. The Martello towers have a small admission fee but are worth it for the views and interactive exhibits inside.
2-3 hours
Ride the funicular between Upper and Lower Town
The funicular connecting Upper Town to the Lower Town waterfront has been running since 1879. It is a short ride but an iconic one, and kids love it. At the bottom you arrive directly into the charming Rue du Petit-Champlain, considered Canada's oldest commercial street, lined with cobblestones, boutiques, and cosy cafés.
Buy a round-trip ticket and ride it both ways. The Breakneck Stairs next to the funicular are free and a fun alternative for the walk back up.
30 minutes
Discover Place Royale and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
Founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, Place Royale is the historic heart of Lower Town and one of the oldest commercial districts in North America. The church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires at its centre dates to 1687 and is considered North America's oldest stone church. The large mural La Fresque des Québécois nearby depicts 400 years of the city's history in vivid detail.
The Fresque des Québécois mural is free to view and packed with hidden historical details that make for a great spot-the-difference game with kids.
1-2 hours
Toboggan down Terrasse Dufferin in winter
Terrasse Dufferin is a beautiful wooden boardwalk promenade built in 1838, offering sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River. In summer it buzzes with buskers and street artists. In winter it transforms into something even more special: a century-old wooden toboggan run where you slide downhill at speeds of around 40 mph. It is thrilling, historic, and utterly unique.
The toboggan run operates seasonally in winter. Check ahead for opening dates and queue early on busy weekend afternoons.
1-2 hours
Admire the Château Frontenac and stroll the terrace
The Château Frontenac, built in 1893, is the most photographed hotel in the world and the undisputed icon of Old Québec. Even if you are not staying there, walking past it and along Terrasse Dufferin is an essential part of any visit. The river views from the terrace are genuinely breathtaking, and in summer the whole area fills with life and music.
Terrasse Dufferin is free to walk at any time of day. Sunset views over the St. Lawrence from here are spectacular.
1 hour
Browse J.A. Moisan, the oldest grocery store in North America
Operating since 1871, J.A. Moisan is a fascinating piece of living history and a wonderful place to pick up local Québécois products. Think maple syrup, artisan jams, and local specialities to take home. It is a small but genuinely charming stop that gives you a real sense of Old Québec's everyday character beyond the tourist trail.
Pick up a jar of maple butter here. It is a perfect souvenir that children actually enjoy.
30 minutes
Our verdict
How Old Québec scores for families
Kids
Fortresses, cannons, a toboggan run, a funicular, and cobblestone streets to explore. Old Québec has a natural adventure feel that genuinely captures children's imaginations.
Culture
As the only fortified city north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 37 National Historic Sites nearby, the cultural depth here is extraordinary.
Food
Hearty, comforting Québécois cuisine is a highlight. Poutine alone is worth the trip, and the maple-based desserts and traditional dishes are genuinely delicious for the whole family.
Nature
The Plains of Abraham offer lovely green space, and the St. Lawrence River views are stunning. Nature is not the main draw here, but it is a welcome complement to the history.
Budget
Many of the best experiences, including the ramparts, Plains of Abraham, and Terrasse Dufferin, are free. Accommodation and dining can add up, but budget-friendly options exist.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Old Québec?
1
1 day
Quick visit
Walk the ramparts, ride the funicular, stroll Terrasse Dufferin, and grab poutine in the Lower Town. You will see the highlights but miss the quieter charm.
sweet spot
3
3 days
Sweet spot
Enough time to explore both Upper and Lower Town properly, visit the Citadelle and Plains of Abraham, wander Place Royale, and enjoy a relaxed meal or two. This is how most families get the most out of Old Québec.
5
5 days
Deep dive
Add day trips to Montmorency Falls, explore the National Historic Sites in depth, and really sink into the rhythm of the city. Ideal if you want to experience both summer festivals or the full winter programme.
Fun facts
Things to know about Old Québec
The most photographed hotel in the world
The Château Frontenac, built in 1893, has been called the most photographed hotel in the world. It was not originally built as a luxury hotel alone: it was also designed to encourage wealthy travellers to explore Canada by rail. Today it is the defining image of Old Québec and impossible to miss.
The first hospital in North America north of Mexico
In the 1600s, Augustinian nuns established the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec in Old Québec, making it the first hospital complex of its kind on the continent north of Mexico. The nuns sailed from France to found it, and the institution still operates as a hospital today, more than 380 years later.
Canada's very first brewery opened here in 1668
La Brasserie du Roi was founded in 1668 by Jean Talon, making it the first commercial brewery in Canada. The 18th-century arches of the original building can still be seen in the Old Port area today. So yes, Québec has been perfecting its food and drink culture for a very, very long time.
Taste Old Québec
What to eat with your family in Old Québec
Poutine
Kids love itAvailable throughout Old Québec
Crispy fries loaded with cheese curds and rich gravy. It is Québec's most famous comfort food and genuinely irresistible, especially after a long day of walking cobblestone streets. Every child who tries it immediately asks for more.
Tourtière
Must tryAux Anciens Canadiens, Rue St-Louis
A traditional Québec meat pie made with minced pork, beef, or game, usually served with fruit ketchup. It is hearty, warming, and deeply tied to the region's settler history. A wonderful introduction to real Québécois cooking for curious families.
Maple taffy on snow
Kids love itLa Buche, Rue St-Louis
Hot maple syrup poured onto fresh snow and rolled onto a stick. It is sticky, sweet, and completely unique to Québec's sugar shack culture. If you visit in late winter or early spring, this is an absolute must for the kids.
Pouding chômeur
Local favouriteLa Buche, Rue St-Louis
A Depression-era Québec dessert where batter is poured over maple syrup or caramel sauce and baked until golden. The name translates roughly as 'poor man's pudding', but it tastes anything but modest. Warm, gooey, and completely addictive.
French onion soup
Safe choicePub L'Oncle Antoine, Rue St-Pierre
Old Québec does French onion soup exceptionally well, a nod to the city's deep French roots. Pub L'Oncle Antoine, housed in the vaults of a former 18th-century home, is a beloved spot to try it in an atmosphere that feels genuinely historic.
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Québec City
Québec City is a UNESCO World Heritage city where families explore fortress walls, marvel at Montmorency Falls, and eat their way through hearty Québécois comfort food.
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