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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

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1 Day in Old Quebec City & Quartier Petit Champlain

Last Updated: November 23, 2022 · Canada, Quebec

Exploring Old Quebec City and the quaint Quartier du Petit Champlain feels totally bizarre. At least it did for me! I have lived in France and Europe for several years. And yet here I was, in North America surrounded by European charm. If you only have one day to explore Quebec City as we did, then discover my recommendations on where to go, what to see, and what to do below!

From the ruelles (little streets) to the stone buildings and towering Chateau Frontenac, Old Quebec packs in a ton of things to do and see in a fairly small space. With that being said, I found it surprising how much we were able to visit in just one day in Old Quebec (Vieux Québec).

P.S. The best way to explore Old Quebec City in one day is a self-guided walking tour!

Old Quebec 1 Day Itinerary www.bucketlistbri.com
Umbrella Alley, Vieux Quebec www.bucketlistbri.com
How to spend one day in Old Quebec City www.bucketlistbri.com

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Table of Contents show
1 Day in Old Quebec City Itinerary
Start at the base of Rue du Petit Champlain
Breakneck Steps
Château Frontenac & Terrasse Dufferin
Promenade des Gouverneurs
Hotel du Parliament – Parliament Building
Fortifications of Quebec Artillery Park
Finishing off your walking tour of Old Quebec
BONUS: Parc de la Plage Jacques-Cartier
Old Quebec & Petit Champlain Restaurants & Hotels

1 Day in Old Quebec City Itinerary

When I was first searching for things to do in Old Quebec, I knew I wanted to do a walking tour of only the top sights including attractions, lookouts, restaurants, shops, hotels, and if I had time, nearby parks.

Click around my handmade interactive map! I’ve included the highlights of what to see in Old Quebec (based on our own itinerary).

Start at the base of Rue du Petit Champlain

To optimize your time as much as possible, you should start your walking tour at the bottom of Rue du Petit Champlain.

It’s perhaps one of the busiest streets, and you’ll soon see why! Start here and slowly make your way up to Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Steps).

Don’t forget to loop around to visit Umbrella Alley—a popular Instagrammer’s street with colorful hanging umbrellas.

Rue du Petit Champlain is THE nook for Europeanesque buildings, boutiques, and whimsical bistros. When we visited, the whole area had fall and Halloween decorations which gave me magical Harry Potter vibes.

The bustling Rue du Petit Champlain in Lower Town | Bucketlist Bri
Make sure to circle around to see Umbrella Alley | Bucketlist Bri

Breakneck Steps

Eventually, you’ll reach the Breakneck Steps. Get your camera ready beforehand so you can quickly turn around to take a shot once at the top!

Continue up past Mary’s Gourmet Popcorn. On your way up, take notice of the old, abandoned restaurant on your left; the original menu is encased and has fancy French writing. Grilled salmon back then cost only $1.00!

Follow the crowd up the stairs that cut through to the top of the cliffside at Chateau Frontenac.

1 Day Itinerary Old Quebec City and Rue du Petit Champlain #quebec #oldquebec #vieuxquebec Itineraire pour un jour dans le Quartier Petit Champlain et Vieux Quebec: Chateau Frontenac, Escalier Casse-Cou, Fortifications, Promenade des Gouverneurs... | BUCKETLIST BRI www.bucketlistbri.com
The view from atop Breakneck Steps | Bucketlist Bri

Château Frontenac & Terrasse Dufferin

The Chateau Frontenac is very much the iconic landmark of Quebec City. What once was the historic site and residence of the governor is now the prominent and luxurious Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel.

When you climb up the stairs (or take the funicular), you’ll reach the Terrasse Dufferin. The Terrasse Dufferin affords magnificent panoramic views. Just remember to bring a jacket because the wind gets bone-chilling up here!

Chateau Frontenac Escaliers | Bucketlist Bri
If you don’t take the Funiculaire, you’ll follow the Chateau Frontenac Escalier pathway up to Terrasse Dufferin | Bucketlist Bri
Champlain Statue Vieux Quebec www.bucketlistbri.com
I love how the little girl was peering up at the Champlain statue | Bucketlist Bri

Promenade des Gouverneurs

Skirt the Terrasse Dufferin on down past the Ice Slides. As you walk, take notice of the ruins of Fort St.-Louis which are visible under glass floors on the promenade. Continue up the promenade boardwalk that will take around the side of the mountain. After 10-15 minutes of walking, you’ll reach the Citadel and Plains of Abraham.

History buffs can take their time to visit the Citadel or continue walking down the streets to reach more shops and plazas, eventually reaching the Parliament Building.

1 Day Itinerary Old Quebec City and Rue du Petit Champlain #quebec #oldquebec #vieuxquebec Itineraire pour un jour dans le Quartier Petit Champlain et Vieux Quebec: Chateau Frontenac, Escalier Casse-Cou, Fortifications, Promenade des Gouverneurs... | BUCKETLIST BRI www.bucketlistbri.com
Walking along the Promenade des Gouverneurs | Bucketlist Bri

Hotel du Parliament – Parliament Building

The Parliament Building in Quebec City is an impressive building that houses Quebec’s provincial government. The plaza out front features a small park with a central square and statue.

A crowd usually forms here as there is a bevy of shops, restaurants, and entertainment surrounding this area. From here, slowly take your time to visit the nooks and crannies of the Old City.

Sights to see in the area are the Parliament Building, Parliament Hill, Notre Dame de Quebec Cathedral onward up the bustling Rue St-Jean to the Fortifications of Quebec Artillery Park.

1 Day Itinerary Old Quebec City and Rue du Petit Champlain #quebec #oldquebec #vieuxquebec Itineraire pour un jour dans le Quartier Petit Champlain et Vieux Quebec: Chateau Frontenac, Escalier Casse-Cou, Fortifications, Promenade des Gouverneurs... | BUCKETLIST BRI www.bucketlistbri.com
Hotel du Parliament | Bucketlist Bri

Fortifications of Quebec Artillery Park

You can take guided tours of this national historic site if you like, but we came here just before sunset to get wonderful views of Old Quebec.

The many towers, gates, bastions, and stone walls of the fortifications are reminiscent of Quebec’s French colonization and immigrant history. There are several signs spotted around that give you a peek into Quebec’s past!

1 Day Itinerary Old Quebec City and Rue du Petit Champlain #quebec #oldquebec #vieuxquebec Itineraire pour un jour dans le Quartier Petit Champlain et Vieux Quebec: Chateau Frontenac, Escalier Casse-Cou, Fortifications, Promenade des Gouverneurs... | BUCKETLIST BRI www.bucketlistbri.com
Fortifications Wall | Bucketlist Bri
1 Day Itinerary Old Quebec City and Rue du Petit Champlain #quebec #oldquebec #vieuxquebec Itineraire pour un jour dans le Quartier Petit Champlain et Vieux Quebec: Chateau Frontenac, Escalier Casse-Cou, Fortifications, Promenade des Gouverneurs... | BUCKETLIST BRI www.bucketlistbri.com
Watch your step! The fortification walls often don’t have barriers | Bucketlist Bri

Finishing off your walking tour of Old Quebec

There are so many plazas, boutiques, and historic sites as you explore Old Quebec on foot. From the fortifications, you can walk back down Rue St-Jean past the Hotel du Ville on around to Chateau Frontenac once again.

From here, you can revisit the Lower Town of the charming Rue du Petit Champlain again. (We went twice – once in the day and again in the evening when the cute street lights were lit up).

Vieux Quebec Itinerary | Bucketlist Bri
Getting lost amid the charm of Vieux Quebec | Bucketlist Bri

BONUS: Parc de la Plage Jacques-Cartier

If you have extra time, either in the morning or in the evening, go visit the Parc de la Plage Jacques-Cartier. It’s outside of Old Quebec, so you’ll need transportation to get there. It’s a wonderful spot to walk, hike, or run in nature.

There’s a long stretch of beach and a 1-2 km hike up some stairs that offer panoramic views of the St. Laurent River. It’s well worth a visit! But if you are more interested in visiting the history and European charm of Old Quebec, you might not have time to carve out for this park.

Sidenote: For overlanders and fellow van lifers, this park offers free hot showers and washrooms.

Old Quebec & Petit Champlain Restaurants & Hotels

It was extremely challenging to find the best lunch spot in Old Quebec because there are just so many good places! How do you choose?

We ended up coming across an all-inclusive Quebecois menu at Aux Anciens Canadiens and we can’t recommend it enough! If you like a cozy interior, old-timey charm, and simple yet nourishing food, you’ll enjoy this restaurant.

Quebec City Vieux Quebec Restaurants www.bucketlistbri.com
Our more-than-cozy lunch spot | Bucketlist Bri

Other notable restaurants in Old Quebec and along the Rue du Petit Champlain are:

  • Le Lapin Sauté
  • Le Pape Georges
  • Cochon Dingue
  • Bistro St-Malo
  • Le Chic Shack
  • Sapristi
  • La Bûche

Lapin Saute, Vieux Quebec | Bucketlist Bri
Lapin Sauté is a popular restaurant in the Quartier Petit Champlain | Bucketlist Bri

As for hotels in Old Quebec, you have quite a range of options as well! Here is an interactive map to help you search for the best hotel.


Booking.com

Here are some suggestions and quick links for the best boutique hotels in prime locations in Old Quebec City:

  • Hotel le Priori
  • Auberge Saint-Antoine
  • Hotel Chateau Bellevue
  • Manoir d’Auteuil 
  • Le Germain Quebec
  • L’Auberge aux Deux Lions

[su_image_carousel source=”media: 6176,6166,6164,6165,6162″ crop=”none” align=”center” captions=”yes”]

Just like this guide, spending one day in Old Quebec City is short and sweet!

Despite only having 10-12 hours to visit, the narrow winding streets and proximity of attractions make visiting Old Quebec in one day very feasible.

Of course, if you have more time to visit, then do! If you have 2 or more days to spend in Quebec City, consider a day trip to the Chutes de Montmorency. 

Have you ever visited Quebec City? If not, now is it on your bucket list?

Umbrella Alley, Vieux Quebec www.bucketlistbri.com
Old Quebec 1 Day Itinerary www.bucketlistbri.com
How to spend one day in Old Quebec City www.bucketlistbri.com
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By: Bri · In: Canada, Quebec

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Comments

  1. Aswani says

    November 3, 2019 at 4:54 pm

    I was there a few months ago and had the best time! Beautiful pictures! 🙂

    Reply
    • Bri says

      November 4, 2019 at 8:00 am

      Thanks so much, Aswani! We enjoyed our time too, despite the time crunch! x

      Reply

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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