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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

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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

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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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Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confi Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confidence & sense of self (at the risk of sounding cliché), of “my essence” and inner Knowing, and where my compassion and passions mingle and thrive. I was reading some of your comments on my recent Reel about solo travel and how I put myself at great risk/in danger. But as I was telling my Tibetan friend, Sonam, tonight (yes, the new one I made last week!), I inform my decisions mostly by 1. Asking myself, “Would this make a good story?” and 2. Listening to my body and emotions. Yes, it’s risky to travel solo, to be a female in a male-dominated culture, to go out after hours with people you just met, etc. But doing that — and all the magic that followed by “allowing” — reminded me exactly of who I am at my core: Curious and open to the world, willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of finding magic and serendipity. Some of you said, “I’m too scared to do this, how do you overcome that fear of personal safety?” And to this I say, I don’t! Fear accompanies me along the journey. Living life is one big risk. It’s uncomfortable to be open, vulnerable, and unsure. But once you accept that and once you begin to let compassion and curiosity guide you rather than your fear, the real magic starts to happen in all areas of life, not just travel. I find these moments most in travel though, when I’m confronted with contrast and am left vulnerable to the world and the kindness of my fellow humans. My Reels are not meant to romanticize or gloss over very real risks/threats in life, but rather to share a real account of what’s possible (adventure, connections, love, etc) when you worry less about societal norms and what’s “safe not safe” “right not right” and allow your over-active fears to take a backseat. 
This is your reminder to trust your inner compass to guide you in writing your epic life story. ✨✨

To sum it up: 

1. Choose a life of adventure 
2. Stay curious
3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (otherwise said, seek discomfort)
4. Let love and light flow in and out 
5. Change is the only constant 

#solotravel #nepaltravel #solofemaletraveler #soloadventure #localtravel #trekkingnepal #adventurethatislife
The strength of women 💛 These ladies were lau The strength of women 💛 

These ladies were laughing so sweetly while filling up their water jugs at the Manga Hiti fountain in Patan. I watched them for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could take their photos, which only made them giggle more. 

I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

Check stories for the landscape orientation for some of these photos ✨ 

#nepal #nepalnow #nepalphotography #nepaliculture #nepalisbeautiful #natgeoyourshot #patan #kathmanduvalley #lifetimeexperiences #photonepal #nepaltravel
Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swi Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swirling spirituality, its raw humanity? ✨🇳🇵❤️

#nepal #visitnepal #nepalnow #travelstories #localtravel #mindfultravel #slowtravel #natgeotravel
When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay open to the randomness of life and the kindness of strangers, really wonderful memories can be made. Thank you Lama family and my new Tibetan friends for such a fun and insightful sequence of experiences 🙏 💛

#solotravel #localtravel #nepaltravel #nepaldiaries #nepali #solofemaletravel #kathmandunepal #thamel #tibetanfood #solotraveldiaries
My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 

Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

📍 Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

#nepaltravel #patan #durbarsquare #nepalphotography #slowtravel #nepal #solotravel #lalitpur
They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
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