Destination Quebec in the heart of winter: 15-day itinerary in La Belle Province
- Fanny HARDY
- Apr 11
- 6 min read
Dive into the heart of the Quebec winter, where vast snow-covered expanses, picturesque villages, and the warm welcome of Quebecers will provide you with a unique experience. In 15 days, discover the must-see attractions of La Belle Province: from the magical magic of Quebec City to the excitement of Montreal, via the magnificent landscapes of Lac Saint-Jean and the Sagueney, as well as the fabulous city of Quebec. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, curious about local traditions, or simply looking for a memorable trip, this guide offers an itinerary that combines winter adventures, local delicacies, and moments of relaxation. Prepare your mittens and your camera; the Quebec winter promises an unforgettable trip!
- What is the difference between "I'm going to Quebec" and "I'm going to Quebec"?
The "in Quebec" designates the city of Quebec and the "in Quebec" designates the Province of Quebec.
The activities you will discover in this 13-day itinerary can be combined with or replaced by other activities and places that you can see in my article:
First of all, some key points for a trip to Quebec.
Formalities
For a tourist or business stay of less than six months, there is no visa requirement for French nationals. However, anyone exempt from visa requirements must apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA) well in advance.
For other nationals, go to the Government website Canadian for more information.
When to go in winter?
It all depends on what you want to see. If you want more of a magical Christmas atmosphere, go at the end of the year. But, with the risk of not having a lot of snow... If you want more snow, more winter storms (to experience "real" winter), I recommend late January - early February. And finally, if you want to experience the Quebec Carnival or the Montreal Festival of Lights, go in February.
In short, it all depends on what you want to see or do, but also on the weather conditions (and especially the years).
How should I dress?
Only one answer: HOT!
Apply the "onion practice." The concept is simple: layer your clothing (between 3 and 4 max).
First, thermal underlayers, to eliminate perspiration and retain body heat.
Second, mid-layers, softshell or fleece layers to keep you warm
The third and final layer is the jacket. It should be waterproof and windproof (hardshell), basically a good ski jacket.
THE DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1
The flight departed from Geneva Airport in Switzerland around 12 p.m. and arrived in Montreal around 3 p.m.
Then we headed to the hotel. We chose to stay at the " Sandman Hotel " Montreal-Longueuil, as the metro is across the road.
In the evening, we went downtown to 3 Brasseurs - Mc Gill to drink a delicious beer and their famous Poutine.
Day 2
The next morning, we headed to Mont Tremblant. When you arrive at the resort, you'll discover a village that's sure to remind you of one of the most famous amusement parks in the world.
You can access the upper part of the village via the Cabriolet bottom station - the cable car.
It's free and you can use it as much as you want.
One of the reasons to go to Montreal is to see an NHL game - frankly, it's a MUST-SEE.
Head to the Bell Centre ( map ) to discover the Montreal Canadiens’ sanctuary.
You will find a whole article on this subject HERE .
A word of advice, don't hesitate!!
Day 3
Next, we hit the road early in the morning towards Quebec City, and later, left for Valcartier and its holiday village to spend the afternoon going to the Slides .
For dinner, I recommend with my eyes closed:
THE LOG
49 Rue Saint-Louis, Quebec,
QC G1R 3Z2, Canada
The famous Poutine, The delicious,
Quebec's iconic dish. Sugar Cream.
Day 4
Having already been there several times but never having done it before, we went to the Chaudière Falls.
You can visit both sides of the riverbank by crossing its footbridge and climbing up to the dam.
We went to Levis and its port to discover the panorama of Quebec from the south shore.
To close this wonderful day, we discovered:
Onhwa' Lumina
110 Rue Grand Chef Thonnakona, Wendake,
Quebec G0A 4V0, Canada
Day 5
For this new day, despite a temperature of -25°C with a feeling of -32°C, we walked the streets of Quebec.
📍Place D'Youville and its ice rink
📍 Saint-Jean Gate
📍Kent Gate
📍 The Quebec Christmas Shop
📍 Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
📍 Dufferin Terrace
📍 The Quebecois Mural
📍 Old Quebec Funicular
📍 Petit Champlain District
📍Petit Champlain Terrace
📍Place Royale
📍Place des Canotiers
📍Old Port
📍Tourny Fountain
📍Quebec Parliament Building
📍Capital Observatory
📍The Citadel of Quebec
📍Saint-Laurent River Lookout
📍Plains of Abraham
Day 6
Departure further north, the Saguenay Fjord via Tadoussac.
So yes, we left Quebec City in the snow... but the roads were quite passable. We encountered snowplows on numerous occasions.
So yes, it's snowing. Yes, it's not warm. Yes, it's fast. But driving on snow isn't so bad, you have to respect the safety distances and you'll discover for yourself that often the 2x2 lanes turn into 1x1 lanes, so you're wide open.
Day 7 and 8
For the next 2 days, we chose to take it easier on the activities and rest a little by staying for 3 nights at Cap au Leste .
The hostel offers various activities (ski-doo, dog sledding, etc.) but just to see the view, you could spend the day there without doing anything...
We opted for more autonomy and to explore the surrounding area.
The hostel offers several hikes:
• access to Lake Louise
• St-Rose trail
• Mont-Chauve trail
• chalet trail
• lighthouse trail
• ...
Day 9 and 10
Departure for an 8-hour drive towards the Outaouais and the Couleur de France inn.
If you don't feel like driving for 8 hours (knowing that in practice, it took us 11 hours because of the snowstorm), you can always stop for one night in Quebec or Trois-Rivières. Then leave quietly the next morning (which I advise you to do depending on the weather).
You will be welcomed at the hostel by the team and the daily program will be given to you in the evening, during the meal for the following days. You can choose the "Packages" with various activities or request activities à la carte.
*The schedule for the following days is provided for informational purposes only. The hostel is solely responsible for the organization of its activities. *
The first day was dog sledding with Eric and the "Tanwen Pack" . You will be about 30 minutes from the hostel and the activity will last about 4 hours. Eric will introduce you and explain the origins of his activity, but he will also teach you the basics of being a musher.
Then he will take you to the kennel to meet his dogs and tell you about the origins of some of them, while explaining the basics of sled driving.
And finally, it will be up to you to drive your own sled pulled by 4 dogs.
You will return to the hostel in the early afternoon to enjoy the rest of the day as you wish.
In
Day 12
For the next day, you can discover typical Canadian activities: Ice Fishing and Trapping.
I invite you to discover its emblematic activities on the following links: Top 20 Activities to do in Quebec
Day 13
On this penultimate day, we discover Lac Simon, Lac Doré and many others on Ski-Doo. You will find here the interactive map Quebec trails by snowmobile.
Full day or half day options are available.
Day 14
On the last day, I would recommend that you ideally take a late flight (around 8 p.m.) so that you can still enjoy this last day before returning to the harsh reality of your daily life...
To do this, while waiting for your flight, you can head to Ottawa, which is only a 1.5-hour drive from the hostel. This will allow you to enjoy the Parliament and the famous Rideau Canal, where you can put on some ice skates and skate along it.
After that you can take the road back to Montreal (approx. 2 hours) and take your plane.
Day 15
Back home...
These 15 days in Quebec were an unforgettable adventure, between magnificent landscapes, warm traditions and unique activities in all seasons.
Each stage of this journey revealed a different facet of this fascinating province, between wild nature and vibrant cities.
But Quebec still has so much to offer...
What if this getaway was just a taste of what's to come?
Stay tuned for more amazing experiences across Canada! 🍁✨
Check out my other blog posts about Canada!
In addition to this:
Destination Quebec in the heart of winter: 15-day itinerary in La Belle Province
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