Choosing A Hotel in Quebec City
Quick Summary of Most Popular Areas
Downtown Quebec City: the place to be when visiting Quebec City
Old Quebec City (Vieux-Quebec): also known as Old Quebec, this area is contained within the old fortress walls, this is the most popular part of the city (this area is actually contained within downtown)
Where to Stay in Quebec City
Quebec City, Quebec - the place so nice they named it twice (or they ran out of ideas). Really and truly if you are visiting this city you are going to end up in downtown Quebec City. The area of the city known as Vieux-Quebec is literally contained within a fortress wall.
A little bit about Old Quebec City...
Vieux-Quebec (or Old Quebec), is broken up into two areas - Upper Town and Lower Town (there are no points for creativity here). You'll find that many of the streets are quite steep so if you are riding a bike it's only fun some of the time. The advantage of booking a hotel in Old Quebec City is that you will find yourself in the cultural and historical heart of Quebec. Many of Quebec's famous historical sites, cultural landscapes and outdoor festivals are in Old Quebec City.
In fact, Old Quebec is so rich with history and culture it's actually classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's one of only 16 such sites in Canada. Upper Town, which is built on a scenic cliff, is home to many churches, monuments, the Citadel and the famous Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. This area is typically seen as the religious centre of Old Quebec and once served as the administrative and governing region of the city.
Lower Town is home to some of the oldest parts of the city, including some 17th- and 18th-century houses. Here you'll also find the harbour, which has important historical significance as it acted as a major shipping port to and from Europe.
The area of Old Quebec is really worth a visit when travelling to Quebec City. This Canadian gem is an excellent example of a fortified colonial town that UNESCO calls "the most complete in North America."
What to do in Quebec City
Quebec City really is a beautiful place to visit and worth your time to spend a few nights. There are loads of historic churches and museums to induce an extreme onslaught of boredom in your kids if sneaking in Canadian history lessons are in the cards for your next family vacay. And, if you have some extra dollars (like a lot of extra dollars) burning a hole in your wallet you should spring for a room at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Even though this place is well over 100 years old, meaning the rooms are fairly non-standard shapes and sizes, it's a place where you can be pampered like royalty and feel like you're staying in a castle.
Surrounding Area
If you visit Quebec City in the winter and you're a skier or snowboarder, you're in luck. Quebec City is roughly a 30 minute drive from a handful of great ski resorts, including Mont-Sainte-Anne, Stoneham and Le Relais.