Canada’s largest province is a premier destination packed with Francophone culture, bustling cities and a sprawling natural landscape. The second-most populous province next to Ontario, Quebec is primarily French-speaking (the official language is French) and has preserved its French heritage admirably through culture, language and tradition.
The majority of Quebec’s population lives near its two major cities, Montreal and Quebec City, located in the southern part of the province. The former is a cultural and financial hub that offers visitors simultaneously a glimpse of the old and the new. The city’s center, Old Montreal, is a taste of Paris, but closer to home – and less expensive – for North American travelers. Quebec City, the province’s capital, is a cliff-side destination that gives visitors a historical insight to the province’s past.
Its four distinct seasons make Quebec a top destination year-round for both Canadians and international tourists, and its vast, inspiring scenery offer the perfect setting for summer retreats, autumn getaways, winter ski trips and spring festivals.
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Quebec climate
Quebec’s massive size means the province covers three different climate regions, but the inhabited part of the province is generally divided into four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall.Temperatures range in summer months between 5 and 25 degrees Celsius and, in winter months, between −10 and −25 degrees Celsius.
When to fly to Quebec
Quebec is a top tourist destination year-round, offering sports, outdoor recreation, festivals and major events 12 months a year. Spring and fall are great times of year for city visits, while most tourists travel in winter months for ski and snowboard opportunities.
Low-cost airlines like Porter Airlines fly into both Montreal and Quebec City, offering travellers a chance to find discount flights no matter the time of year.
Getting around Quebec
Montreal and Quebec City field most flights coming into Quebec, and from there travelers have the opportunity to travel quite easily by train (VIA Rail Canada, AMT and others), bus (Coach Canada and others) and car.
Quebec's bus system is well-developed, but renting a car is also a great way to tour the province's southern region.
Quebec insider information
- Summer festivals in both Montreal and Quebec City – like the Just For Laughs Festival, Les Concerts Loto-Québec de l'OSM dans les Parcs and Quebec City Summer Festival – bring Quebec’s cities to life.
- The Montreal International Jazz Festival rallies music fans around the globe each June-July.
- The legal drinking age in Quebec is 18.
- A road trip along the St. Lawrence offer a scenic and wonderfully impressive view of the province’s landscape.
- Don’t escape Quebec without trying poutine, a culinary specialty consisting of French fries, gravy and cheese curds.
- Quebec City Winter Carnival is the largest of its kind in the world, offering activities in the heart of downtown that the whole family can enjoy.
- Prices in Quebec are marked without tax, so remember that both a federal and provincial sales tax will be added at the register.
