Sports and leisure activities Québec

Budget & Tips

There are ways to stretch your legs without paying a cent. Town and village councils provide a variety of sports facilities, from swimming pools to baseball fields. Access is usually free or for a small fee. There is also a network of free multi-purpose trails for cyclists, hikers and cross-country skiers. However, a few dollars are required in national parks and some nature reserves. However, if you want to go on adventures such as canyoning, rafting or snowmobiling, you will need to budget accordingly.

What's very local

In winter, in parks and other large enough areas, ice rinks spring up like mushrooms. Most of the time, you have to provide your own equipment, but some rinks offer ice skate rentals on site. And everything is beautifully maintained throughout the season! Another winter feature in the Quebec City area is ice canoeing on the St. Lawrence River. It has become a real discipline, and you can attend competitions during the Quebec Winter Carnival or the Portneuf Ice Festival. It is even possible to learn this sport with the company Canot à Glace Expérience.

Your documents please

Many activities require certification or a valid permit. This is the case if, for example, you wish to venture out on your own in a kayak or dive in the St. Lawrence River, or to simply rent a motorized watercraft. The same goes for driving a snowmobile, which requires you to have your driver's licence with you. In short, find out about the requirements beforehand.

To be booked

Since places are often limited, it is recommended, if not mandatory, to make reservations for guided outdoor excursions, multi-activity tours, raids (snowmobiling, dog sledding, etc.), adrenaline activities (ice canoeing, canyoning, rafting, zip-lining, etc.) or even treatments and massages offered in spas. For sports games (university football, major junior hockey league, etc.), you can buy your tickets on the spot, except during the playoffs when reservations are essential to ensure a seat.

Main events

There are many high-caliber sporting events in the Quebec City area, starting with the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in August and the UCI WorldTour Grand Prix Cycliste in September. There is also the Pentathlon des neiges in February-March and the Quebec City Marathon in October. And we can't forget the Transat Québec Saint-Malo which is held every four years. Some competitions are open to the general public, but you still need to be well prepared.

Although there are no professional sports teams in Quebec City, the major junior and university leagues are present and promote the next generation. We particularly recommend the Rouge et Or soccer games at Laval University and the Quebec Remparts field hockey games at the Centre Vidéotron.

To fill up on ideas or to get out and about, fairs and festivals are organized in the region and feature hunting and fishing (Salon Plein Air, Chasse, Pêche et Camping), winter activities (Carnaval de Québec, Village Nordik) and more.

Tourist traps

During major sporting events, dealers are omnipresent in the vicinity of the event site. Although it is true that you can save a few dollars by buying from them, it would be a shame to lose your money on fake tickets. So go through the official ticket offices.