Travel guide Quebec
During his trip to Quebec, province of Canada, the visitor will not fail to be surprised by the immensity of this territory. Certainly, the lumberjacks, the sugar shack and the maple syrup remain present in the Quebec culture. And winter is as impressive as they say. But the culture of the Belle Province is above all that of the French of America. Thus, from one end of this vast territory to the other, one will appreciate the legendary hospitality of the Quebecois cousins. In its cities with a strong identity, like Montreal and Quebec City, as well as in its immense nature. The national parks(Jacques Cartier, Gaspésie, Mont Tremblant) and the nature reserves invite the visitor to soak up the majestic beauty of the bodies of water that surround the dense and mysterious forest. The fauna and flora are diversified and the activities practiced in all seasons, such as dog sledding, whale watching, hiking in search of black bears or sea kayaking, will satisfy lovers of the outdoors and the great outdoors. The beaches, white, ochre and pink sand, will also seduce you. The whales bloom in the Saguenay Fjord and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the harp seals give birth on the ice floes in the Magdalen Islands, the moose and the caribou nestle in the immensity of the forest... A tourist guide to Quebec will help you make the most of this colorful province, rich in human, historical and territorial diversity, which promises both a total change of scenery and a sense of "home" for Europeans.
What to see, what to do Quebec?
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When to go Quebec ?
Quebec is beautiful in all seasons, but depending on your interests, there are certain times of the year that are best. Here are some tips on when to go to Quebec.
High tourist season : mid-May to mid-October, mid-December to January, and February. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will certainly find their happiness at any time, but summer and winter are more suitable for outdoor activities. However, the magic of the colors in the fall (September and October) is worth the detour. In the summer, Quebec is alive with festivals of all kinds, especially in June and July in Montreal and Quebec City. Even though many large festivals offer year-round programming, summer becomes a pretext for transforming streets, esplanades and parks into popular open-air celebrations. For a total experience in the heart of Quebec's purest traditions, winter is the perfect time. Snowshoeing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, field hockey, the Quebec Winter Carnival... It's also the ideal season to try traditional dishes such as tourtière, cipaille, meatball stew and other hearty dishes that will keep you going during the cold season. As early as March, a trip to the sugar shack is a must.
Low tourist season: mid-October to mid-December, January, March and April to mid-May. Between January and March, you can also enjoy the pleasures of the Quebec winter, without the rush of school vacations. A good plan to be alone in the middle of nature.
Suggested addresses Quebec
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There's no shortage of ideas when it comes to planning your trip, but there's no shortage of time. And it is important to remember: Quebec's territory is immense, truly immense. Once this notion has been well assimilated and everyone's little preferences have been determined, one approaches euphoria with the conception of the coveted itinerary.
It is worthwhile consulting the website of each of the regional tourist offices. They put forward numerous ideas for tours, with a particularly wide range of gourmet options. You can choose other themes such as antique dealers, New France, the Chemin du Roy, mountains, navigators, lighthouses or whales. Here are also some suggestions so that you don't miss anything about the destination, from a short to a long stay, as well as a few essential themes.
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How to go Quebec
How to go alone
Quebec is a very welcoming region. You will not have the language barrier and the cultural codes are not very far from ours, which facilitates contacts and exchanges. You will have to rent a car and take into account the great distances between the sites, but the solo trip is very easily feasible.
How to go on a tour
Quebec is a very popular destination for French tour operators. Several types of stays are offered, including large cities, such as Montreal and Quebec City, and large natural parks such as Mount Megantic or the Saguenay Fjord. The stays are often centered around a season and the activities that correspond to it: dogsledding, snowshoeing and sugar shack in winter; music festivals, kayaking and fishing in summer.
How to get around
Many regions of Quebec are served by domestic flights, but the fares are not cheap at all (except for the new Montreal-Quebec City route offered by Westjet). However, if you want to fly to Toronto or another major Canadian city, the fares are much more affordable. Quebec has a vast network of ferries. The Quebec network is well organized but recently many small municipalities are no longer served, especially on the Orleans Express network.
Featured articles Quebec
Discover Quebec
A province with a legendary hospitality and a French-speaking bastion in North America, Quebec is one of the preferred destinations, even a favorite, of French-speaking Europeans. Flanked by an immense nature and vibrant cities, it marvelously combines North American modernity and the European way of life. It is also home to a cultural melting pot resulting from different waves of immigration, not to mention the First Peoples who have inhabited the territory for thousands of years. We must also mention its gastronomy, which is not limited to maple syrup and poutine, its national sport - field hockey - which is a true religion, its artists who make Quebec culture shine throughout the world, its climate which can push the mercury from one extreme to the other, and its ever-present fight to ensure the survival of the French language for future generations.
The 12 keywords Quebec
1. #Accent
Beware, this is a highly sensitive subject! Quebecers, who are at home here, consider that it is the French who have an accent. We can only agree with them on this point. So to discover the local kindness, the rule is simple: leave your prejudices about the Quebecois language when you get your suitcase at the airport.
2. #Aboriginal people
They are divided into eleven distinct nations, established from the southern border to the borders of Quebec's Far North. Their culture and traditions are of incredible richness, intimately linked to Mother Earth, which they defend tooth and nail. To get to the heart of the matter first-hand, Aboriginal tourism is a memorable experience.
3. #Craft beer
Artisanal breweries and microbreweries are sprouting up like mushrooms all over the province. And Quebecers have become true beer geeks, as evidenced, for example, by the queues at the famous bottle releases (limited edition beer sales, directly at the brewery). A craze that continues.
4. #Snack time
They are everywhere, in the city and in the region. Adored by Quebecers, they are in a way part of the local heritage. All kinds of high-calorie specialities are eaten on the go, such as burgers, poutines, club sandwiches and the like. But what makes the reputation of a good snack first and foremost is its homemade fries.
5. #Troubleshooter
These small Quebec businesses open very late in the evening and every day of the week. Some operate even day and night. We buy the newspaper, cigarettes, beer, milk, canned food, some fresh products, confectionery, etc.. The prices are higher than in the supermarket but, as the name suggests, it helps.
6. #Squirrels
It's true they're cute. It is also true that they are omnipresent, especially in Montreal where their size can sometimes surprise. There is not a single tourist who is not tempted to take a picture of these little hairy animals. Can we prove them wrong? However, we recommend that you do not get too close to them, as a bite has quickly arrived.
7. #Hockey
It's the national sport par excellence. Would you like to see the Montreal Canadiens play? Book well in advance, as some duels are highly coveted, especially against Toronto, Boston and Chicago. And if you value your life, we strongly advise against parading the streets in the jerseys of the arch-rivals, the Boston Bruins.
8. #Humor
Quebecers are bon vivants and particularly appreciate humor. So much so that a National School of Humor was founded in Montreal in 1988. Since then, the school has graduated more than 700 creators, authors and comedians, including many of the great contemporary names in Quebec humor. Some have even exported their talent to Europe.
9. #Secularism
Quebec is the only province to have legislated a secular state. While Canada is renowned for its multiculturalism, Quebec wants to ensure the separation of state and religion, the equality of all citizens and the religious neutrality of the state - principles that echo the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s.
10. #Outfitters
Made up of lakes and rivers, it is a large forest estate owned by a company that offers lodging and recreational fishing, hunting and trapping. Over time, the outfitters have become true vacation destinations and now offer a multitude of other outdoor activities.
11. #SaintLaurent
A major river axis and a vital commercial link, the St. Lawrence is a river, estuary and gulf. It connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean over a few thousand kilometres. Most of the population is concentrated along its banks. It is also here, from May to October, that the many marine mammals come to feed.
12. #Honoring
It's not a lack of respect. On the contrary, it is one of the customs of Quebec. It is established according to age: people under 30 years of age are generally familiar with each other and those of the same generation are also familiar with each other. It is also not uncommon for a public service employee to be familiar with his interlocutor, as well as an employee with his employer.
You are from here, if...
Waiting in line for public transport. Unlike France, here everyone lines up before getting on the bus.
Don't forget service in restaurants, bars or cabs. If it's called a "tip", here tipping is an integral part of the salary. Correct service deserves a tip of around 15%, which is only slightly more than the combined tax of 14.975%.
You calculate distances in hours of driving , not kilometers.
The weather is your main topic of conversation. In fact, you're the first to go shirtless on a terrace as soon as the mercury reaches 10°C in spring. But you'll be putting on your best woollies in the autumn when it's that same 10°C...
You know how to handle the art of swearing, without exaggerating the pronunciation or intonation. It also requires a perfect mastery of how to use it in different contexts.