Winter in Québec City
Our Concierge's recommendations
Tour Options
Walking Tours
Les Tours Voir Québec - Historic city tours, food tours, group or private (180$). Join these professional and passionate guides to learn more about our wonderful city!
Québec 1608 – Excellent company offering 2.5-hour private walking tours (starting from 230$). Possibility to arrange a full-day tour with lunch and many other tailor-made experiences! They focus on providing the history of Quebec City in the context of North American history.
Motorized Tours
Old Québec Tours - Les Tours du Vieux Québec offers a 2-hour city tour and a 4.5-hour countryside tour. Hop on-hop off double-decker bus available over summer time, a great way to get a general overview of the different neighborhoods and to find your bearings!
Helicopter Tour - Amazing way to enjoy city or country flyovers. “Pilot of the day” package available for the most memorable experience!
Spa & Thermal Experience
Strom Spa - Treat yourself to a memorable thermal experience in their nordic baths, outdoor whirlpools, eucalyptus steam bath and much more. This is our top pick for its location next to the Saint-Lawrence River at a few minute's drive from our property. It is very impressive to see the ice on the river right in front of your eyes. Concierge tip: try their unique flotation bath for an optimal moment of relaxation.
Siberia Spa – Located at a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Enjoy a thermal experience, Nordic baths and more in a wonderful setting surrounded by trees.
Museums & Cultural Visits
Musée de la Civilisation - Our neighbor offers excellent exhibits on our rich culture, First Nations and other relevant topics, always linking past, present and future. It takes a fresh, attentive and dynamic look at the human experience as a whole and at civilizations elsewhere while remaining firmly rooted in Québec reality.
Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec - Located in the heart of the Plains of Abraham, the Fine Arts Museum presents exhibitions featuring Québec artists, past and present, and prestigious international art exhibitions.
Monastère des Augustines – Open since 2015, this brilliant museum introduces you to the evolution of the spiritual and social engagement of the Augustinian Sisters of Quebec through their history and 40 000 artifacts drawn from 12 monastery hospitals. By visiting the permanent exhibition, you will discover their way of life, their work caring for the sick, and how they balanced their traditional vocations by action and contemplation. Concierge tip: make the most of your visit by having a healthy lunch on site or joining one of the daily classes given on site such as yoga and meditation.
Aquarium - 10,000 marine animals inhabit the Aquarium: fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and sea mammals. Among them, polar bear, walruses, and seals will provide you with unique moments. Watch them when they're feeding or being trained. The jellyfish exhibition is a must.
La Citadelle de Québec - La Citadelle is an active military garrison and cannot be visited individually. The one-hour guided tour will provide you information about the American attacks, the construction of the fortress and its buildings. The visit of the Royal 22e Régiment Museum located in an old French powder magazine (1750) and a former military prison (1842) is included in the tour. Guided tours are offered in French or English. Closed on December 25th and January 1st. Visits are available from 10am to 3pm.
Winter Pleasure
Ice Skating Rink of Place D’Youville - Free skating rink access, with music and ambiance a very romantic site just beside St-Jean’s Gate and the ramparts. From mid-November to mid-March: open Monday to Thursday: 12pm to 10pm, Friday to Sunday: 10am to 10pm, except December 24th & 31st: 10am to 5pm *Reservation recommended, rental equipment possible on site ($)
Tuques et Bicycles Expériences - Offers fatbike rental service as well as guided tours of the city. An unusual yet active way to discover the city. The tours will bring you along the St-Charles River, The Quebec Grand Marché and through the old town.
Glissade de la Terrasse (Slide of Terrace Dufferin) - Unique attraction in Québec, this slide is over 100 years old (renovated of course!). Imagine going down at 70 km/hour (45 miles/hour) for 250 meters! Maximum of 4 people per slide. Thrill guaranteed! Open every day from the holiday season to mid-March (weather permitting) 11am to 10pm, schedule subject to change, 3$ per run.
The Ice Hotel - A fantastic concept offering lodging (if you want to try this one night in your life!), special events (weddings, parties etc.) and simple visits to satisfy your curiosity. Package including a shuttle service from downtown Québec City is available with Tours du Vieux Québec. Opening on January 4th, closing date in March weather depending. ** Same site as Village Vacances Valcartier **
Village Vacances Valcartier - A renowned water park resort in the summer, it becomes the largest winter playground in North America once the snow arrives, with more than 35 innertube runs for thrill-seekers of all ages, 17 mechanical lifts and a 1km long skating path. Opens from Dec 17th, 2022 until March 19th, 2023. Also, since 2017 there is a tropical theme, indoor waterpark, called Bora Parc. ** Same location as the Ice Hotel **
The Plains of Abraham - Wonderful historic park enjoyable all year round which offers pretty views overlooking the river, it is where the battle between the French and the English troops took place in 1759. This magnificent park loses none of its charms in winter, even more, it becomes a meeting point for winter sports enthusiasts! The ice skating rink is located next to the Museum of Fine Arts and a few steps from the vibrant Cartier street in a magical setting, day and night. Enjoy cross-country skiing on the 12.6 km of groomed trails for beginners and intermediates, or even snowshoeing on a 3.8km course round trip. Cross-country skis, snowshoes and ice skates are available for rent next to the skating rink. The site is open every day between mid-December and mid-March from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, weather depending.
Ice Canoeing - Canot à glace experience offers a half-day or full-day initiation on the Saint-Lawrence River. You will paddle the canoe through open water and pull it across the ice. Winter is the best time to canoe as frozen waterfalls make the most scenic playgrounds!
Snowshoeing, Dogsledding & Snowmobiling
Dogsledding is one of our favorite winter activities, yet you need to know that this is physical and it involves you riding the sled after a short class. Feel free to reach out to us if you are unsure if it is the right activity for you.
Aventures Nord-Bec Stoneham - Warm welcome, very kind dogs (Malamutes & Huskies), passionate guides, snow, snow, snow! If you yearn for a pure winter activity, this is the place to go. Their trails involve flat sections as well as going uphill and downhill. No shuttle service, you can get there by taxi or rental car.
Les Secrets Nordiques - Very nice place, at the foot of Mont Ste-Anne ski station thus flat trails. Friendly staff, kind dogs and wonderful surroundings. Other activities on site: ice climbing, skijoring, snow shoeing, Norwegian kick sled. No shuttle service.
Les Sentiers du Moulin - Located in Lac Beauport, this site is wonderful for cross-country skiing with over 38 km trails for classic style and 10 km for skating. On top of cross-country skiing, there are numerous trails for snowshoeing and fatbiking.
Empire 47 - The most visited and popular fatbike center in the world! With over 50km of mechanically groomed trails, you will love the experience. Multiple itineraries are proposed as per your skill levels. Largest rental fleet with 90 fatbikes (regular, electric and kids).
Nord Expe - Excellent company for long snowmobiling excursions in the wild outside the urban zone. VIP service and installations. Shuttle service upon request ($)
Voyage Motoneige Québec - Enjoy a snowmobiling excursion for half a day or a full day with an excellent guide on the Beaupré Coast and different areas. Multi-day packages also possible.
Ski Stations
Mont Saint-Anne - 40-minute drive from downtown, the Grande dame of ski resorts in Québec City offers 73 ski runs (19 runs for night skiing), 200km of cross-country ski trails on top of offering trails for snow-shoeing and fatbiking. Possibility of combining skiing and dogsledding with Les Secrets Nordiques, see information above.
Stoneham - 25-minute drive from downtown, the preferred ski hill for ‘freestyle’ skiers and snowboarders as it is one of the national training centers. It boasts an Olympic-grade halfpipe, first-class snowpark as well as a very animated nightlife! Night skiing is available too.
Le Massif - With 770m of vertical drop, it offers the longest runs in eastern Canada as well as a vast backcountry ski area. Every turn offers stunning views of the Saint-Lawrence River.
To discover Le Massif from a totally different perspective is to experience the 7.5km (4.6 miles) sled run that winds down Mont Liguori, a unique attraction in North America. It offers spectacular scenery as well as being lots of fun! **reservations are required in advance as it is a very popular activity**
Discover the Countryside
Orléans Island - From early summer to late fall, the Orléans Island offers a charming half-day trip with its small bucolic villages. In winter, even if most sites are closed, it’s still a beautiful drive to do! Concierge tip: combine your visit to the island with the Montmorency Falls located in the same area. To get to the island: car rental, limousine service for private tour or bus tours.
Montmorency Falls - Located between the river and the cliffs, the Montmorency Falls (83 m) dominates the landscape. It can be visited on foot, by cable car, or from the gourmet restaurant. Less than 20 minutes’ drive from Québec City. The services are closed in Winter but the site is still accessible.
Sainte-Anne de Beaupré Basilica - This world pilgrimage site can be visited all year long. Superb visit! (40-minute drive from the hotel, past the Falls)
Special Events
German Christmas Market - Visit this magical Christmas market taking place in the Upper Town. Local and German products available and festive ambiance with entertainment. From November 24th to December 23rd, on Thursday to Sunday, as well as Wednesday, December 21st.
Le Grand Marché - Visit this market to find amazing local products, Christmas market in December. 12-minute drive from the hotel.
The Québec Winter Carnival -The biggest winter festival in the world, with activities for the whole family - a tradition for over 60 years! February 3rd to 12th, 2023.
Village Nordik - Back for its 7th edition at the Bassin Louise, this is your opportunity to try ice fishing directly in the Old Port of Québec in an igloo-shaped tent. Reservation online. Open on Friday afternoon, and all-day Saturday and Sunday, from February 10th to March 13th, 2023. 12-minute walk.
To organize your stay, make your bookings, request other suggestions or tailor-made itineraries feel free to ask our concierge team, we will be happy to introduce you to our wonderful city and its surroundings!
Frantz, Maëlle & Sara
Your Concierge Team
