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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🇨🇦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.
Your family guide
Québec City with kids: fortress walls, waterfalls and French culture
“Walk the rampart walls and your kids genuinely believe they're defending a 17th-century fortress, except the poutine stand is steps away.”
— San & Jo
Québec City is one of those rare places that genuinely surprises you. The moment your family steps into Old Québec, with its stone walls, winding lanes, and the dramatic silhouette of the Château Frontenac rising above the St. Lawrence River, it feels like you have landed somewhere in France. Except you are in Canada, and everything is just a little bit easier than an actual trip to Europe.
For families, this city delivers on almost every front. History is built into the streets, quite literally. The fortified walls of Old Québec are the only remaining ones in North America, and kids can walk along them, peer through the ramparts, and feel like they are inside a real fortress. Add in a waterfall taller than Niagara, a cable car, a toboggan run, and some of the most comforting food around, and this makes for a memorable trip.
Québec City works beautifully in every season. Summer brings outdoor festivals, river views, and long evenings on the Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk. Winter transforms the city with snow, the famous Winter Carnival and a toboggan run right in the heart of Old Town. Whatever time of year, the city has a way of drawing visitors in and making them want to stay longer than planned.
French-speakingOfficial language
UNESCO World HeritageOld Québec
Year-round destinationSummer festivals, Winter Carnival
Best things to do
Best things to do in Québec City
Walk the walls of Old Québec
Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to North America's only remaining fortified city walls. Your kids can walk along the ramparts, explore the cobblestone streets, and soak up French colonial architecture that genuinely feels like stepping into another century. It is compact, manageable on foot, and endlessly photogenic.
Start at Porte Saint-Louis for the most dramatic entry into the walled city
Half day
Marvel at the Château Frontenac
The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is considered the most photographed hotel in the world, and once you see it looming over the river, you will understand why. Even if you are not staying here, it is worth walking around it and up onto the Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk for sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River. In winter, there is a toboggan run right here.
The Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk is free to walk and has some of the best views in the city
1-2 hours
Chase Montmorency Falls
At approximately 83 metres tall, Montmorency Falls is about 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls, and it is just a short drive from the city centre. Parc de la Chute-Montmorency has a cable car, suspension bridge, hiking trails, and even a zipline for older kids and teens. Standing at the base with the mist creates a memorable experience.
Take the cable car up and walk the suspension bridge for the best view of the falls
Half day
Explore La Citadelle
La Citadelle de Québec is North America's largest British fortress, still an active military base today. Guided tours bring the history to life, and from June to October, evening tours feature historical figures recounting stories of the site's past. Kids who love castles and military history will be fascinated.
Check the schedule for the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which happens in summer mornings
2 hours
Wander Quartier Petit-Champlain
Considered North America's oldest commercial district, Quartier Petit-Champlain in Lower Town is a charming tangle of boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. It is a lovely place to slow down, grab a maple taffy, and let the kids browse the quirky local shops. The funicular connecting Upper and Lower Town is a fun ride in itself.
Ride the funicular down from Upper Town for a fun and scenic shortcut to Petit-Champlain
2-3 hours
Breathe in the Plains of Abraham
Canada's first national historic park is a vast green space right in the city, perfect for a picnic, a run around, or just some breathing room after a morning of sightseeing. The park has a fascinating history as the site of a decisive 1759 battle, and there is a visitor centre where older kids can learn more about what happened here.
Pack a picnic and let the kids run free here after a busy morning in Old Town
2-3 hours
Discover the Musée de la Civilisation
This is one of Québec City's most family-friendly museums, with interactive exhibits covering Indigenous cultures, Québec history, and civilisations from around the world. The building itself is architecturally striking, and the exhibits are engaging enough to hold the attention of curious kids and parents alike.
Check for temporary exhibitions on arrival as they often have hands-on activities for kids
2-3 hours
Escape to Parc de la Jacques-Cartier
About 45 minutes from the city, this large wilderness park sits in a dramatic river valley and offers hiking, kayaking, and nature experiences that feel a world away from the cobblestones. It is a brilliant half-day or full-day add-on for families who want to balance city culture with some proper outdoor adventure.
Kayaking on the Jacques-Cartier River is calm enough for families with older children
Full day
Our verdict
How Québec City scores for families
Kids
Between the fortress walls, a waterfall taller than Niagara, a cable car, and a winter toboggan run, Québec City keeps kids genuinely engaged. The compact Old Town is very walkable and there is always something dramatic to look at.
Culture
This is one of the most culturally rich cities in North America. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the oldest Catholic parish on the continent, leading museums, and a vibrant French-language arts scene make it exceptional.
Food
Québécois comfort food is hearty, flavourful, and very kid-friendly. Poutine, meat pies, maple treats, and warming soups mean even fussy eaters will find something they love. The restaurant scene has grown significantly in recent years.
Nature
Montmorency Falls and Parc de la Jacques-Cartier are both outstanding, and the Plains of Abraham give you green space right in the city. Nature is accessible, though you do need to leave the city centre for the best of it.
Budget
Québec City is more affordable than many comparable European destinations, but costs can add up quickly with accommodation, dining, and paid attractions. Families on a tighter budget will need to plan carefully.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Québec City?
2
2 days
Quick visit
Cover Old Québec, the Château Frontenac, and Terrasse Dufferin. You will get the flavour but feel a little rushed.
sweet spot
3
3 days
The sweet spot
Two days in the city plus a half-day trip to Montmorency Falls. You see the highlights at a relaxed pace and have time for a proper meal or two.
5
5 days
Deep dive
Add Parc de la Jacques-Cartier, La Citadelle, the museums, and the Saint-Roch neighbourhood. You really get under the skin of the city.
Did you know?
Things to know about Québec City
The world's most photographed hotel
The Château Frontenac is officially considered the most photographed hotel on the planet. It has been standing since 1893 and looks so dramatic that people often think it is a castle, not a place where you can actually sleep.
A waterfall taller than Niagara
Montmorency Falls is about 30 metres taller than Niagara Falls. Most people have never heard of it, which makes it one of Canada's best-kept secrets. Standing at the base when the water is running hard is genuinely breathtaking.
Founded in 1608
French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Québec City on July 3, 1608, making it one of the oldest cities in North America. The Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral nearby has stood on the same site since 1647, making it the oldest Catholic parish on the continent.
Taste Québec City
What to eat with your family in Québec City
Poutine
Kids love itLe Lapin Sauté (try the rabbit poutine for a local twist)
Crispy fries loaded with squeaky cheese curds and rich gravy. This is the dish that defines Québec, and kids almost universally love it. You will find it everywhere from casual spots to more creative restaurant versions with added toppings.
Tourtière
Must tryAux Anciens Canadiens (located in Old Québec's oldest house)
A deeply savoury spiced meat pie made with pork, beef, or veal, this is Québécois comfort food at its finest. It has been on tables in this city for centuries and is the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out on a cold day.
Maple taffy on snow
Kids love itLa Bûche (year-round sugar shack atmosphere in Old Québec)
Hot maple syrup poured over fresh snow and rolled onto a stick. It sets into a chewy, sweet taffy that kids absolutely cannot resist. This is a sugar shack tradition that Québec City has made its own, and you can find it at various spots around the old city.
Soupe aux pois
Local favouriteAux Anciens Canadiens
A thick, hearty pea soup made with dried peas and smoked meats, this recipe has roots going back to the city's founding in 1608. It is warming, filling, and genuinely delicious on a cool Québec evening.
Pouding chômeur
Safe choiceLa Bûche
A classic Québécois dessert made with a simple cake batter poured over hot caramel or maple syrup sauce. The name translates roughly to 'poor man's pudding' and it is one of the most comforting things you will ever eat. Kids love it.
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Old Montréal is a compact, walkable historic neighbourhood packed with Gothic architecture, family-friendly museums, waterfront fun, and incredible Québécois food.
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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.
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