Take a self-guided walking tour and explore the old town of 蚕耻茅产别肠 City on foot 漏 Maridav / Shutterstock
蚕耻茅产别肠 City is a beautiful, charming city full of incredible restaurants, luxurious hotels and independent boutiques 鈥 the perfect city break with a French flavor.
But all these high-end luxuries don't rule the regional capital out for budget travelers. It's all a matter of what you know, be it the perfect neighborhoods to stay, budget eats and drinks, or top attractions that won't wound your wallet. Here's everything you need to know about visiting 蚕耻茅产别肠 City on a budget.
Daily costs (in CAD)
Hostel room: $25鈥$45 (dorm bed)
Basic hotel room for two: from $170
Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): from $160
Public transport ticket: $3.75 for 1 ride, $9.25 for a day pass, $16.75 for a weekend pass, $32.50 for 5 days
Coffee: $3鈥5
Poutine: $8鈥20
Dinner for two: $50鈥110
Beer/pint at the bar: $8鈥10
1. Explore the city on a walking tour
蚕耻茅产别肠 City was built long before cars were invented, so you can park your vehicle for the whole trip or not bring one at all. Instead, pack comfortable shoes and walk along the lovely cobblestone streets of 蚕耻茅产别肠 City鈥檚 old town. A can teach you about the significance of this historic city, though don鈥檛 forget to tip the excellent guide at the end. While in Vieux 蚕耻茅产别肠, don鈥檛 miss Rue de Tr茅sor, where you can gawk at local artists鈥 work.
Outside Vieux 蚕耻茅产别肠, the city has plenty of gorgeous parks that won鈥檛 cost you anything. There鈥檚 Parc des Champs-de-Bataille which includes the Plaines d鈥橝braham 鈥 learn about a bloody battle in 1759 that forged the linguistic identity of Canada as we know it today. Other great parks include Parc Chauveau, a 120-hectare wilderness within the city limits, and Domaine de Maizerets, with its arboretum and butterfly house.
2. Time your museum visits to save
In a place with such an eventful history as 蚕耻茅产别肠 City, it鈥檇 be a shame to miss out on learning how this UNESCO-recognized fortress came to be. Fortunately, there are deals to be found at several museums that tell the history of French Canada and the Indigenous Peoples who鈥檝e inhabited this land for centuries.
Many of the city鈥檚 museums are free on the first Sunday of every month, and others aren鈥檛 budget-busting 鈥 Mus茅e du Civilization, one of the most popular museums in Canada, costs $19 for visitors aged 18 to 34 and $24 for .
3. Dine on local specialties
Walking around Vieux 蚕耻茅产别肠 and looking at menu prices can be intimidating, but you don鈥檛 have to spend an arm and a leg to eat 蚕耻茅产别肠鈥檚 prized cuisine. Go to and grab a croissant or pick up a baguette from any bakery (they鈥檙e all good) and some local cheese, sausages and wine for a picnic. Then, take your food and a blanket up to the Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons terrace, which has probably the best view over the city.
Of course, you can鈥檛 leave 蚕耻茅产别肠 without getting poutine, which shouldn鈥檛 cost you too much. is a local favorite, but 鈥 蚕耻茅产别肠 City鈥檚 version of McDonald鈥檚 鈥 will do it anytime (it鈥檚 open 24 hours).
Another great strategy for eating on a budget in 蚕耻茅产别肠 City is to look for lunch prix-fixe specials. Le Lapin Saut茅, one of the city鈥檚 best restaurants, does a great one.
4. Drink with the locals
Again, get out of the old town to find lower prices and head to local neighborhoods like Saint-Roch or Saint-Jean-Baptiste for a wander, a meal and a drink. Some great options include , for food and or for a night out.
5. Visit during the winter
In the summer, 蚕耻茅产别肠 City鈥檚 old town is teeming with visitors snapping photos of everything in sight. Aside from general busyness, peak season can also lead to higher prices, especially for accommodation.
Instead, go to 蚕耻茅产别肠 City in the winter. Fluffy white snow covering the streets is majestic, and the cold isn鈥檛 so bad when you鈥檙e warming up with a hot cup of chocolat chaud or Caribou 鈥 a red wine drink mixed with whisky and maple syrup.
If you go during summer or shoulder seasons, you can still get a taste of 蚕耻茅产别肠 winter by skating on a 750-m (2460-ft) skating rink in the mall for $6 or $11 with skates rental.
6. Dive into literature
Quebeckers love their books, and the capital city does a great job celebrating literature. You can visit a Victorian library with 20,000 English-language books at the Centre Morrin 鈥 all for just $5. , housed in a Methodist church built in 1848, is free to peruse.
7. Take public transport
蚕耻茅产别肠 City is not a car city, and you鈥檒l save yourself plenty of headaches if you don鈥檛 drive around its tiny streets and across its busy bridges 鈥 opt for the bus instead.
A single ride is $3.75 with cash or $3.40 with a ticket, and a day pass will cost you $9.25. 蚕耻茅产别肠 City also has an e-bike-sharing program, , which gives you a boost when you pedal. Take a trip around one of the city鈥檚 many trails, including bike paths along Boulevard Champlain and the St-Charles River.
Speaking of the river, are like a mini-cruise that gives perfect views of the walled city and it costs just $3.95 each way.
Another fun way to get around is via 蚕耻茅产别肠 City鈥檚 funicular (fun is right there in the name!) that takes you down from Dufferin Terrace to the Old Port for $5 per ride (cash only).
8. Take to the water
In the summer, 蚕耻茅产别肠 City鈥檚 residents flock to the Baie de Beauport 鈥 a beautiful sandy beach with plenty to do, from sailboat rentals to volleyball. Another beach at Parc de la Plage Jacques Cartier isn鈥檛 as sandy, but it鈥檚 perfect for a meander and photos of the Pierre Laporte Bridge. Or, if you just want to submerge your feet, you can hang out at , a bar with Adirondack chairs on top of a shallow pool.
9. Go to a festival
Going to a music festival might sound like the opposite of an affordable activity, but taxpayer dollars in 蚕耻茅产别肠 help fund the arts, which keeps prices down. For instance, lasts 12 days and hosts top international artists like Rage Against The Machine, Maroon 5, Luke Combs and Halsey 鈥 all for $140 total. Quebec鈥檚 in May has 500 hours of free shows over seven days and continues to .
This article was first published Jul 3, 2022 and updated Feb 21, 2024.
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