Winter in Québec City
Our Concierge's recommendations
Our concierge team will be delighted to organise your stay and take care of your reservations. Feel free to enquire with us for other suggestions or tailor-made itineraries.
Walking Tours
Get the most out of Quebec City and its rich history by taking a private or group historical walking tour with an excellent local guide. Private tours start from the hotel lobby and last 2.5 hours for approximately 220$++. Regular 2-hour group tours start from the Upper Town and end near the hotel. Foodies? Consider taking a Food Tour that will introduce you to the delicious local flavors. Join these professional and passionate guides to learn more about our wonderful city. Enquire with us for your bookings.
Motorized Tours
Reserve an excellent and passionate driver-guide with us to make the most of the City and its beautiful countryside including the Montmorency Falls, the Orleans Island and so much more (see descriptions in the Discover the countryside section). Allow 90 minutes to three hours for a City Tour, and three hours to a full day for a countryside tour. Rate starts at 125$++ hourly.
Bus tours are a nice alternative if you prefer to join a group. Reservations can easily be made the day before with our concierge team to ensure appropriate weather. Unitours offers them.
Spa & Thermal Experience
Strom Spa - Treat yourself to a memorable thermal experience in their nordic baths, outdoor whirlpools, eucalyptus steam baths, and much more. This is our top pick for its location next to the Saint-Lawrence River a few minutes' 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 about our rich culture, Canada's 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 through 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, a polar bear, walruses, and seals will provide you with unique moments. Watch them when they're being fed or trained. The jellyfish exhibition is also 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, and 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 on a very romantic site just beside St-Jean’s Gate and the remparts.
Tuques et Bicycles Expériences - Offer fat bike rental services 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! Thrill guaranteed! Open every day from the holiday season to mid-March (weather permitting)
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 location 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 slides for thrill-seekers of all ages, 17 mechanical lifts and a 1km long skating path. Also on site is a tropical-themed 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. On the contrary, 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 create the most beautifully 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 leading the sled after a short class unless you opt for the VIP package where the guide leads it for you. Feel free to reach out to us if you are unsure if it is the right activity for you or to make your bookings.
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, snowshoeing, Norwegian kick sled. No shuttle service.
Chalets en bois - One of our top suggestions for dogsledding and snowmobiling excursions. Located on a beautiful site in Portneuf region at 80 minute drive from the hotel. No shuttle service.
Les Sentiers du Moulin - Located in Lac Beauport, this site is wonderful for cross-country skiing with over 38 km of trails for classic style and 10 km for skating. On top of cross-country skiing, there are numerous trails for snowshoeing and fat biking.
Empire 47 - The most visited and popular fat bike 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 fat bikes (regular, electric, and for kids).
Nord Expe - Excellent company for long snowmobiling excursions in the wild outside the urban zone. VIP service and installations. Shuttle service upon request ($).
Ski Stations
Mont Saint-Anne - 40-minute drive from downtown, the Grande dame of ski resorts in Québec City offers 73 ski runs (19 runs for night skiing), 200km of cross-country ski trails on top of offering trails for snow-shoeing and fat biking. Possibility of combining skiing and dogsledding with Les Secrets Nordiques, see information above.
Stoneham - 25-minute drive from downtown, the preferred ski hill for ‘freestyle’ skiers and snowboarders as it is one of the national training centers. It boasts an Olympic-grade halfpipe, a first-class snowpark as well as a very animated nightlife! Night skiing is also available.
Le Massif - With 770m of vertical drop, it offers the longest runs in eastern Canada as well as a vast backcountry ski area. Every turn offers stunning views of the Saint-Lawrence River. Not open at night. VIP shuttle available ($)
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, 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, with some tasting sites remaining open year-long such as cider houses and much more depending on the day. Concierge tip: combine your visit to the island with the Montmorency Falls located in the same area. To get to the island: car rental, private driver-guide, or bus tours (see motorized tours section above)
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 at a 40-minute drive from the hotel, past the Falls.
Special Events
Holiday seasons
German Christmas Market - Visit this magical Christmas market taking place in the Upper Town. Local and German products are available, paired with a festive ambiance and entertainment. Food tours available, enquire with us for more information. Free event from November 21st to December 23rd 2024, on Thursday to Sunday, and Monday, December 23rd.
Les Kaléidoscopes - Immerse yourself to four different universes featuring music, theatre, literature, photograpy, visual art and performing art, without forgetting a gourmet twist. Free event from December 27th to 31st, from 2pm to 9pm.**Dates to be confirmed in 2024.
Toboggan - Enjoy this very festive Winter village located in the Upper Town and enjoy their outdoor bars, and Electronic DJs set including local and international artists on December 29th and 30th, as well as two open air dancing parties for NYE, all free of charge unless you select the VIP section.
Le Grand Marché - Visit this market to find amazing local products. Christmas market open in December.
Winter events
The Québec Winter Carnival -The biggest winter festival in the world, with activities for the whole family - a tradition for 70 years! February 7th to 16th, 2025, Carnival passes available for purchase on site.
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. Reservations online ($). Open on weekends from mid-February to mid-March 2025.
Geneviève, Marjorie et Jade
Your Concierge Team
