Article mis à jour le 9 Sep 2024
What to do in Quebec in summer ?
Visiting Quebec in summer is a good idea for those who want to enjoy the scenery, mild temperatures, activities and entertainment. After my first trip to Canada last spring, I was delighted to discover the region from a different angle ! In this article, I’ll tell you all about what to do in Quebec in summer for 1 week or more !
Visiting Quebec in summer
During this one-week trip to Quebec, I concentrated on the city of the same name and the Gaspé region. The distances are immense compared with what we’re used to in France. Quebec is 3 times the size of France ! That’s why I recommend that you allow at least 10 days to visit Quebec City and the Gaspé, to get the most out of your trip. Otherwise, you’ll spend too much time on the road.
Practical information for your trip to Quebec in summer
↠ How do I get to Quebec ?
✈️ The direct Paris – Quebec route was inaugurated last year in 2022. You now have 3 flights a week.
Find the best airfares here thanks to Ulysse. Take advantage of €15 off your first booking by registering via our link.
↠ Rent a car for your road trip in Quebec
To find a car rental in Quebec, compare prices on Discovercars. In fact, this comparator scans the entire market and gives very low prices. They’re even cheaper than on direct rental websites.
↠ A van road trip in Canada
It’s easy to travel in a van in Canada. Wild camping is tolerated, outside towns and national parks. There are also plenty of campsites where you can camp. As usual, I’m counting on you to leave no trace of your passage in the wild ! To find places to park vans and motorhomes, I recommend the free Park4night app.
↠ What budget for a week’s van road trip in Quebec ?
Quebec is a rather expensive destination. Prices are in line with Canadian salaries, which are higher than ours. The local currency is the Canadian dollar, and the current exchange rate is €1 = Can$1.45. Here are the budget details for my trip to Quebec in summer :
- Flights Paris – Quebec : €700 per person
- 2-passenger van hire : €850 for the week
- Petrol costs : €400
- Campsites : €30 per night on average for a van
- Food : €50 per day per person for 2 meals if you go to a restaurant or €150 for a week’s shopping without buying meat/fish
Total = €3,400 for a 7-night stay, i.e. €1,700 per person, excluding activities.
Please note : this budget may obviously vary according to the price of car hire and flights, but also according to the standard of the hotels/restaurants you choose. I speak only from experience.
↠ Do I need to change money on the spot ?
You can change your euros directly in Quebec City, avoiding the exchange offices near the airports, which generally charge more commission.
Personally, I paid for everything with my bank card, using the Ultim card from Boursorama Banque, which means there are no charges abroad. I’ll leave it to you to check with your own bank to see which is more advantageous between withdrawals and payments by card !
↠ When should you travel to Quebec ?
In practical terms, you can travel to Canada all year round. It really depends on your expectations. However, in my opinion, you should avoid the months of April and May, which correspond to the end of winter, and therefore to the thaw period.
To enjoy the joys of the snow, winter is ideal (from December to March). To admire the flamboyant autumn colours, the period between mid-September and mid-October is ideal : this is known as the Indian summer. Finally, the summer months between June and August are very pleasant in Quebec, with high temperatures.
↠ Offsetting your trip’s carbon footprint
The Destination Québec Cité tourist office has created a very simple tool, Carbone Boréal, to calculate and offset the carbon footprint of your stay in Quebec City. Once calculated, you can plant trees in the boreal forest north of Lake-Saint-Jean.
Discover the carbon offsetting tool
What to do in Quebec in summer : one-week itinerary
Days 1 to 2 : Quebec City
To kick off my summer trip to Quebec, I made the most of Quebec City and all its entertainment. The atmosphere is very different from that of spring. You can feel the effervescence of the fine weather.
🚗 Where to sleep in a van in Quebec City ?
I parked my van in the dedicated Bassin Louise car park. The price is $70cad for 24 hours.
What to do in and around Quebec City in summer ?
Visit the city centre
The city has many attractions, not least Old Quebec, an authentic district full of charm. To discover it and learn all about its history, you can book a guided tour by clicking here. I really like this part of Quebec because you can visit it on foot. The public transport network is also well developed.
If you want to visit on your own, here are the must-see places in Quebec City :
- Fairmont the Castle Frontenac
- Dufferin Terrace
- Take the funicular from the terrace to the Petit Champlain district
- Doors Saint-Louis and Saint-Jean
- Saint-Louis Street
- The Grand Market of Quebec to taste and buy local products
- Wander the streets at random (the best way to discover a city !)
In summer, the not-to-be-missed event is the Quebec City Summer Festival. It’s held every year for 11 days in July. This year, it welcomed artists such as Imagine Dragons, Lana Del Rey and many others.
And if you fancy a dip, head to the Quebec Harbour Oasis for a refreshing dip in the heart of the city !
Relax at Strøm spa
While you’re in Quebec City, you absolutely must go and relax at Strøm spa. This Nordic spa is absolutely magnificent. There are plenty of relaxation zones and heated pools.
Where to eat in Quebec City ?
I had the opportunity to try out several addresses during my stay in Quebec City :
For a quick lunch, I recommend Café La Maison Smith. There are several branches in the city, and they make very good sandwiches and teas/cafés. The one on Place Royale is particularly pretty !
For those who want to eat vegan, I loved the Don Vegan restaurant. The portions are huge and the food delicious.
Finally, I had the chance to sample the cuisine at Rioux Pettigrew. This establishment offers refined cuisine in a warm, vintage decor. I recommend it !
Where to stay in Quebec City ?
I can recommend two great hotels :
- Outside the city, for a quiet, luxurious getaway at the Entourage-sur-le-Lac hotel. Not only is the hotel magnificent, but so are its surroundings. The hotel is located on the shores of Lac Beauport. Here you can enjoy activities such as yoga, kayaking or paddle boarding, or a walk in the forest. Finally, the breakfast is absolutely delicious !
- Right in the heart of Old Quebec, the Hotel des Coutellier is an institution. If you want to visit the city, the hotel is very well located. The rooms are modern and spacious. On the other hand, the breakfast isn’t great, so I’d advise you to take it elsewhere.
What to do around Quebec City ?
In my previous article, Road Trip in Quebec, I already recommended some places to visit around Quebec City. You can definitely go there in summer too.
This time, I decided to take a short hike to cool off a bit.
Jean Larose Falls
There’s no shortage of waterfalls in Canada! I particularly liked Chute Jean Larose. It’s a very pleasant hike. You cross a path in the forest for about 15 minutes. Then you come to some very pretty wooden steps leading down to the foot of the waterfall.
The waterfall is powerful, beautiful and makes a giant mist. Be careful, it’s very dangerous to swim there !
🚗 Park in this car park.
Days 3 to 6 : Off to the Gaspé Peninsula
For the second leg of this summer trip to Quebec, I set off from Québec Maritime to tour the Gaspé Peninsula, passing through the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. If you’re wondering what to do in Quebec in summer, choose Gaspésie !
From Quebec City, allow around 4 hours’ drive to reach the gateway to Gaspésie. You’ll pass along Route 132, which is spectacular. There are photo stops to be made in several places for breaks.
☀️ Visiting the Gaspésie in summer
The Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Quebec is a must-see tourist destination in summer. This peninsula offers a clever mix of natural landscapes and varied activities, the perfect place for all travellers. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, sea kayaking, whale watching and fishing. Food lovers, meanwhile, will be delighted to sample fresh local produce, including seafood and the famous Gaspesian lobster. And if you’re feeling lazy, there’s plenty of opportunity to relax and unwind!
How long does it take to visit Gaspésie ?
I toured the Gaspé Peninsula in 4 days, but I’d advise you to allow a week. Although Canadians are used to long distances, given the vastness of their territory, it can be quite a drive for Europeans.
What to do in Gaspésie ?
Here’s the itinerary for my road trip around the Gaspé Peninsula. I did the tour starting from the north coast, but you can do it the other way round too.
Visit Forillon National Park
Forillon National Park is a must-see in the Gaspé Peninsula. This park is sure to delight nature lovers ! There are plenty of walks and hikes on offer. You can see animals such as seals, porcupines and many others. The flora is also dense and magnificent thanks to the climate.
I recommend stopping off at the Park Forillon Visitor and Discovery Centre to pick up a map. For those who don’t like walking too much, some viewpoints are accessible by car, like the one below. Personally, I was unlucky about the weather during my visit so I was only able to do the La Chute trail.
→ Access : $8.50 per adult in high season.
Where to sleep ?
To visit Parc National Forillon, I booked a van at Cap Aventure in Cap-aux-Os. The location is perfect ! If you’re doing this Quebec road trip by car, there’s also accommodation available. One of the things you can do on site is book a sea kayaking trip to watch the seals. They also have paddles and organise zodiac trips to see the whales.
What to do in Quebec in summer ? Visit Percé
Percé is my favourite Gaspé town ! On the one hand, the small centre is very charming, bustling with shops and restaurants. Percé is also home to some magnificent scenery, including Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island. I recommend spending at least two nights here.
A walk in the national park of the Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock
To reach Bonaventure Island, take the crossing with Les Bateliers de Percé. The outward journey takes around 1 hour and allows you to admire Percé Rock from the sea. We also saw seals basking at the foot of the cliffs !
Once you’ve arrived, I recommend the 2-hour round trip to the gannet observation tower. Here you can see the world’s most accessible colony up close. There are over 120,000 gannets on Bonaventure Island, and you’ll see how impressive it is ! Guides from the national park of Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock are on hand to explain everything you need to know about this species of bird.
View of Percé
Weather permitting, I recommend that you visit the Percé UNESCO Geopark and take the shuttle bus or walk to the glass platform on Mont Sainte-Anne. Unfortunately, I had a lot of fog during my stay, so the view wasn’t unobstructed. However, if the weather is fine, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Rock, the island and Percé !
To admire the Rocher, you can also go to the pier. 😍
Emerald River
The Municipal Park of the Emerald River is the ideal place for a swim and a stroll. You’ll find a beautiful natural pool with emerald colours. The site is open from 9am to 5pm for $12 per adult. Access is free for children under 13. All you have to do is walk for about fifteen minutes to reach your goal !
Where to eat in Percé ?
As I said, there are plenty of restaurants in Percé! If you’re looking for fresh fish or seafood (including lobster), go to La Boîte à Fruits de Mer. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is great. Alternatively, there’s La Maison du Pêcheur, where there used to be a queue every evening, but it looks a bit classier.
For a quick meal, head for the El’Bourgot food truck, which offers excellent smash burgers at great value for money.
Where to sleep ?
I parked my van at the Percé UNESCO World Geopark campsite. The pitches are very close together, but the location is ideal for enjoying Percé. The sanitary facilities are clean. All you need is change for the shower.
If you don’t travel by van, don’t worry ! There are hotels and motels to suit all budgets.
Gaspésie and Quebec City : a summer road trip
On the way back to Quebec City, I recommend stopping for a night in Rimouski, in the Lower St Lawrence, to cut the journey in half. I stayed at the Motel Bienvenue, located at the foot of the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse. This is one of the highest lighthouses in Canada. For a drink, go to the distillery on the St. Lawrence, which is very cool ! If you’re travelling by van, you’ll find campsites and pitches nearby.
Bic National Park
After a good night’s sleep, I went to visit the magnificent Bic National Park ! Once again, there’s plenty of hiking and cycling available. Kayak excursions or guided hikes to learn all about the flora and fauna are available.
→ Access : $9.55 per adult, free for 17 and under.
I hope I’ve given you some ideas about what to do in Quebec in summer. As you can see, Quebec is the perfect destination for adventurers and nature lovers. Don’t hesitate to ask me your questions in the comments section. See you soon !
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