Quebec is a French province in Canada where people can also speak English. Quebec City, the capital of Quebec, is one of the oldest cities in North America. Quebec City, known as Vieux-Quebec or Old Quebec, consists of two parts, old and new. One of the oldest commercial streets in America, Rue de petit Champlain, is located in the old part of this city. Quebec is so beautiful that you can’t even go past its beautiful Christmases. Ice skating and sledding, green space and beautiful snowfall make Quebec Christmas a dream. Wherever you go in Quebec City, you are surrounded by Christmas cheer.
Get ready to spend Christmas in Quebec
If you decide to go to Quebec for Christmas holidays; Be aware that Quebec hotels are very expensive during Christmas. It is not a bad idea to rent a house on Airbnb for this vacation. Airbnb is an internet site for renting a house for a certain period. Just go to this site or its application and rent the house you want and even request that it be decorated for Christmas.
Christmas in Quebec City Down Under
This area is known as Quartier Petit Champlain. This is the oldest part of Quebec City. The narrow and cobbled streets of this part of Quebec turn into a winter wonderland when it rains and snows.
Christmas food markets
This market is one of the oldest markets in Quebec City, which is filled with all kinds of delicious Canadian food at Christmas. If you love to eat, be sure to visit this part of Quebec because you will find everything you expect from Canada’s special foods, especially Quebec. Buy maple syrup, maple candies and maple butter from this market at a very reasonable price as a souvenir. You can buy different types of smoked fish in the fish section and try the strangest types of ham with different meats in the ham stall.
Take a ferry to Levies
Go from Quebec to Levis by special icebreakers. This ship crosses the St. Lawrence River and is one of Quebec’s Christmas wonders. The wonder is not because of the destination, but because of its frozen river; Rest assured that the experience is unique. You can hear the ice crunching as it moves. If you can go around 4 o’clock on the way back, you can witness the magnificent view of the sunrise in Quebec City.
See Santa Claus on rue Petit Champlain
Rue Petit Champlain is a beautiful cobbled street full of restaurants and shops that becomes a real sight during Christmas in Quebec. Of course, most shops close early, but its restaurants are ready to serve you until late.
In the days close to Christmas, Santa Claus appears in this street. The Quebec Santa Claus speaks English, so if you or the children know English, you can talk to him. Children may like to tell Santa their wishes.
This place is also one of the attractive places in the old part of Quebec at Christmas. The square of this place is one of the oldest squares in Quebec, and you can see the oldest stone church in North America called Notre Dame des Victoires in this neighborhood. There is also a big Christmas tree in the center of the square.
Take the cable train
You have to travel a long distance from the bottom of the city to the top of the city. If you get tired of walking, you can take the cable train. The train passes through the heights of the Chateau Frontenac hill and goes to rue Petit Champlain.
Christmas above Quebec City
The northern part of Quebec City also has its own charms at Christmas. Let’s see some of them together.
This German-style Christmas market takes place at different times of the year, but peaks a week before Christmas. The red-roofed market stalls run from the town hall to Notre Dame Cathedral. You can buy all kinds of supplies you need from this market, listen to live music and try local food. One of the special attractions of this market is the large calendar of German events, a part of which is opened and displayed with a beautiful picture every night.
Chateau Frontenac Hotel is one of the most important centers for photography in the world. which is located on top of the Quebec hill and from there you can see the whole Quebec city. This hotel was built in 1893 and expanded over time. The exterior is very impressive and the interior and lobby are unique. Special tours are organized to visit this hotel in December, which, of course, are not very attractive for children.
Dufferin terrace and ice slide
From Dufferin Terrace in the outer part of Chateau Frontenac Hotel Hall, you can see a beautiful view of St. Lawrence River and Levis along the river.
The ice slide opens in mid-November and is a popular pastime for tourists of all ages. All members of the family can ride these slides and experience the excitement of Christmas in Quebec.
Indeed, if you are cold, there is a Starbucks next to the Chateau Frontenac hotel with many seats where you can sit and warm up.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Church is one of the oldest churches in North America, founded in 1647. This church hosts Christmas concerts and festivals on Christmas days. Of course, during Christmas, this church is so crowded that you will probably stay behind its closed doors. However, you can also enjoy listening to music from the church yard.
Ice skating in Quebec City
What could be more fun than ice skating at Christmas? Christmas music blares from Quebec’s speakers, and everyone is happy and lively skating on the ice. Place D’Youville is one of the places where you can skate for free. Other places where you can skate are Dasht Abraham and Megapark. Do not miss this fascinating experience.
Christmas on the outskirts of Quebec City
Although there are many sights in the north and south of Quebec these days, don’t miss the outskirts of this city either.
shopping center Galeries de la Capitale mall
Galeries de la Capitale mall is a large shopping mall with an amusement park inside. You can do your last minute shopping before Christmas in this center. Ice skate, eat and watch movies at Megapark.
Quebec Aquarium with more than ten thousand sea creatures of 300 different species is located 10 minutes away from Quebec City. Before Christmas, this aquarium is decorated for the celebration. And if you visit the aquarium at night, you can see the aquarium’s beautiful Christmas lights display. The aquarium itself is very large and spectacular. Otters, sea lions, jelly fish are among the attractions of this aquarium, especially for children. website:
Siberian spas
If you want to do something really special in Quebec, visit Sabiri Spas. The spa has several outdoor and indoor spas. A variety of spas and massages and a beautiful restaurant attract tourists escaping the Quebec cold at Christmas. In outdoor spas, after enjoying the heat, you will be faced with frozen towels to dry yourself off. website:
What foods to eat and where to eat at Christmas in Quebec
Don’t miss the delicious and traditional dishes of Quebec at Christmas. Get to know some of the best restaurants in this city so that the taste of these dishes will remain in your palate for a long time.
Lou Crocombush
Le Crocumbouche is a bakery located a short distance from the old part of Quebec City in the Saint-Roch neighborhood. This bakery is very busy in the morning. But its employees work at a very high speed and you don’t have to wait long. You can order breads filled with strawberries or chocolate for breakfast.
Poutineville is located just down the road from Le Crocombusch, serving Quebec’s most famous dish, poutine. This French dish consists of french fries and cheese. Depending on your taste, they add meat, liver, and different cheeses to this dish.
You can try traditional Quebec cuisine in this old restaurant. At Aux Anciens Canadien, a variety of traditional dishes such as meat pie, duck, carbie, and maple syrup pie are served at Christmas.
This restaurant serves you the best hamburgers Le du fort burger and sometimes the best poutines La fumée poutine of Quebec.
This place is the best place to eat all kinds of ice cream, especially maple ice cream and Canadian vanilla ice cream.
Maple syrup toffee
Maple syrup toffee is sold as a tradition in Quebec City during Christmas. Big trays full of snow are placed on the side of the street. Thick and hot maple syrups are poured on the bars on the tray, these syrups take on the form of toffee after cooling. This Canadian food is really hearty.
Christmas in which restaurants to eat in Quebec
Every year, two months before Christmas, the Quebec Tourist Board presents a list of restaurants that are open on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Most restaurants are open until around 6pm on Christmas Eve. But it’s a little harder to find a restaurant on Christmas Day. Restaurants such as Au Anciens Canadiens, Chateau Frontenac, Le Continental, etc. are open on Christmas Day, but in order to dine in them, you must make a reservation in advance.
The best hotels in Quebec at Christmas
Chateau Frontenac Hotel is luxurious and beautiful. You can see an amazing view of Quebec from this hotel. Hotel website:
Auberge Place d’Armes Hotel is a small and beautiful hotel located not far from Chateau Frontenac and above Quebec City. Cozy rooms, stone walls and wood carvings make the rooms of this hotel lovely.
Hotel website:
The Auberge Saint-Antoine Hotel in downtown Quebec City is a lovely, modern Quebec hotel, just steps away from the Christmas food market and Petit Champlain.
Hotel website:
Tips for visiting Quebec at Christmas
If it is possible for you to stay in the old part of Quebec; Be sure to do this. You can walk to the center of the Christmas festivities from your accommodation.
If a group is planning to travel to Quebec at Christmas; Book your home a year in advance because there aren’t many large homes for temporary rent in Quebec.
You will have no problem parking your car in Quebec. There are many underground parking lots in and around Quebec City that you can use. You can also park on the street, but you will have a time limit.
Be sure to bring warm clothes. Quebec is very cold at Christmas. Take your warmest shoes and boots. Sometimes the air temperature reaches minus 30 degrees. It is hard to walk in the cold. Be sure to wear your best boots and warm coat while exploring.
RCO NEWS