Guide Note

Quebec City is the capital of Quebec in Canada. It is the second largest city in the province, only behind Montreal. Much of the tourist areas are in the Old Town, or Vieux-Québec. It's a relatively large city and provides a large array of lodging and restaurant options for visitors and residence alike. The main language is French but English is widely spoken throughout the city.

Fast Facts

1. Country: Canada
2. Province: Quebec
3. Mayor: Régis Labeaume
4. Language spoken: French
5. Population: 491,142 (2006)
6. Currency: Canadian dollar
7. Area code:418, 581
8. Time zone: EST

Old Quebec and the Royal Place hold many of the city's tourist attractions and sights. One of Quebec City's highlights is actually a hotel; the Château Frontenac. It is said that the hotel is the most photographed in North America because of it's massive structure and they way it takes over the city's skyline.

The Royal Place, or Place-Royale, is a historic landmark said to have been the spot where Samuel de Champlain established the first French settlement in the North America. The Place-Royale is located in Old Quebec, along with many other historic structures.

There are so many events in the city, the only matter is where and what to see. There is the classic cinema, popular festivals and music events happening, what seems like everyday. The Quebec Summer Festival is said to be one of the largest in North America. It's held in Old Quebec and focuses on music and street performance. The festival is spread throughout Old Quebec and runs annually for about two weeks in mid-July.

During the winter months, be sure to check out the Quebec Winter Carnival, held annually in February. It claims to be the worlds largest snow festival and for almost two weeks a number of sculptures are created, along with parades and "costumed balls." Truly a spectical that can warm up even the coldest days in Quebec.

When planning your trip, please see the pages on Quebec City Hotels, Quebec City Restaurants and Quebec City Tours.