Sports and leisure activities Quebec

Budget & Tips

There are plenty of ways to stretch your legs without spending a penny. Town and village councils provide a variety of sports facilities, from swimming pools to baseball diamonds. Access is usually free or for a small fee. There's also a whole network of free multi-purpose trails in Quebec, for cyclists, hikers and cross-country skiers. A few dollars, however, are required in national parks and certain nature reserves. For adventures such as canyoning, rafting and snowmobiling, however, you'll need to budget accordingly.

What's very local

In winter, ice rinks spring up like mushrooms in parks and other large areas. Most of the time, you have to provide your own equipment, but some rinks offer ice skates for hire on site. And everything is beautifully maintained throughout the season!

Another special feature of Quebec: outfitters. Whatever the season, you'll find every outdoor activity you can think of, starting with hunting and fishing, the two big stars.

Your documents please

Many activities require certification or a valid license. This is the case if, for example, you wish to venture out alone in a kayak or dive in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, or simply to rent a motorized watercraft. The same goes for driving a snowmobile, which requires you to carry your driver's license. In short, find out what you need to do beforehand.

To be booked

Places are often limited, so reservations are recommended, if not essential, for guided outdoor excursions, multi-activity tours, raids (snowmobiling, dog sledding, etc.), adrenalin activities (skydiving, wind tunnel freefall, indoor surfing, bungee jumping, etc.), golfing or spa treatments and massages. The same applies to the games of Montreal's professional sports teams, especially when it comes to field hockey, Quebec's beloved sport.

Main events

High-flying sporting events abound in Quebec, starting with the games of Montreal's professional sports teams (Canadiens in field hockey, Alouettes in American soccer and CF Montreal in soccer), as well as those of the major junior and university leagues, which showcase up-and-coming talent. There's also the National Bank Open in Montreal, which welcomes the cream of world tennis every August, the Grand Prix Cyclistes in September in Quebec City and Montreal, and the Grand Prix Ski-Doo in February in Valcourt.

Some competitions are open to the general public, but you still need to be well prepared: the Ironman triathlon at Tremblant, the Montreal and Quebec City marathons, the Traversée de la Gaspésie (week-long autumn trek), the Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean (swimming event), etc.

For more ideas or to get out and about, fairs and festivals are organized throughout the province, featuring the great outdoors (NORR Festival), hunting and fishing (Salon Plein Air, Chasse, Pêche et Camping), winter activities (Carnaval de Québec, Festival d'hiver de Roberval), and much more.

Tourist traps

At sporting events, scalpers are omnipresent in the vicinity of the venue. While it's true that you can save a few dollars by buying from them, it would be a shame to waste your money on fake tickets. So use the official ticket booths.