Orientation in Québec City

Orienting yourself in Québec City is fairly easy. Practically all sights of interest are in the Old Town (Vieux-Québec), which is divided in two: the walled city on top of the hill is known as Haute-Ville ("Upper Town"), and the neighbourhood between the walled city and the river is Basse-Ville ("Lower Town"). The two are connected by the aptly-named Escalier Casse-Cou ("Breakneck Stairs") and the rather easier funicular.

For more details, read Québec City Overwiew.

Most popular sites to see around Québec City

Chateau Frontenac. Québec City icon. Claimed to be the most photographed hotel in North America.

Dufferin Terrace. Boardwalk situated alongside (east of) the Chateau Frontenac, and offers a grand view of the St. Lawrence river.

Musée de l'Amérique française. The history of the French presence in America. Located on the Séminaire de Québec historical site dating back to 1663, relive some of the most important moments of French civilization in North America.

The Citadel. This fortification at the juncture of the Old City wall and Grande Allée holds a changing of the guard ceremony mornings at 10 am complete with funny fur hats, weather permitting.

Plains of Abraham Battlefield Park. Site of the 1759 battle that saw the British conquer Québec. Now used for public events, sports, and leisure activities.

Observatoire de la Capitale. One of the tallest buildings in Québec. Offers a panoramic view of the whole city.

Place-Royale. The spot where Samuel de Champlain landed in 1608 and founded the first French settlement in North America, now converted into a postcard-pretty public square. Do not miss the huge mural covering the entire side of a nearby building; the figure with a hat standing at the base of the 'street' is Champlain.

Travel across Québec City

Québec City is a city that can be discovered on foot, contrary to many cities of North America. It is also possible to rent bicycles and scooters. The bus service (public transit) functions very well (15 to 30 minutes of waiting time between each bus). They can be recognized by their blue stripes on a white surface and by their STCUQ logo (Société de Transport de la Communauté Urbaine de Québec). Timetables and tickets are available in every bus and in many variety stores. The most fortunate can enjoy taxis services. Many cruises are available on the St-Lawrence River, guided city tours, as well as carriage rides.

Spoken and official languages

French is the main language spoken in Québec City, although it is common for people to answer English speakers in their own language.

Value of a Canadian dollar

The legal tender is the Canadian dollar, which divides into 100 cents. Bills come in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. The coins in use come in the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 25 cents, as well as one and two dollars. Canadian and American dollars are not at par. American currency is accepted in most establishments at a variable exchange rate. Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express) are accepted most everywhere. Traveler’s cheques can be cashed at major hotels, some restaurants, and large stores. The 2008 average value of 1 CAD was 0.9381 USD and 0.6409 EUR. The 2009 average value of 1 CAD is 0.8270 USD and 0.6230 EUR. Currently (June 19, 2009), 1 CAD is worth 0.8860 USD and 0.6330 EUR. Current exchange rate: http://www.xe.com/ucc/.

Taxes and tipping

Two taxes, the federal goods and services tax (GST) of 5% and the Québec sales tax (QST) of 7.5%, are added to the selling price of most goods and services. You must leave a tip on service provided in restaurants and bars and by taxi drivers and hairdressers. The amount, which is not included in the bill, generally represents 10% to 15% of the total bill (before taxes). Tipping bellhops or porters is at your discretion (generally, $1 per bag carried).

Weather in Québec City in mid-June

Québec city enjoys a humid continental climate, with four very distinct seasons and significant differences in temperature marking each one. Summer days are usually pleasantly warm and sunny, ideal for outdoor activities. Summer nights can be cool though. The average daytime temperature is 16,5ºC and the average night-time temperature is 10ºC in mid-June. Visitors can expect rain about 6 - 10 days out of 30 in June. Daily weather: http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caqc0441.

How to dress

Sun dresses, skirts, dress shorts and light weight pants are more comfortable than jeans for Québec City summers. Comfortable shoes or walking sandals (water-resistant shoes should be considered) and a light jacket for the evenings are recommended. Bring along an extra garment for fresh evenings and windy days. Because there is always a possibility of rainstorms or more likely, summer showers, visitors should be prepared with an umbrella. The business casual dress code is acceptable in Québec City.