Old Port of Montréal

Montréal’s most-reviewed destination and the beating heart of the city. This 2.5 km stretch along the St. Lawrence River is a giant outdoor playground where you can ride a giant Ferris wheel, take a zipline over the water, kayak, explore the Science Centre, or simply stroll the cobblestone promenade as street performers and food trucks fill the air with energy. In winter, the outdoor skating rink and holiday market transform it entirely.

Mount Royal Park

The mountain that gave Montréal its name is also the city’s greatest natural treasure. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted — the same architect behind New York’s Central Park — the park rises from the heart of the metropolis offering wild forested trails in a major city. The Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout delivers arguably the best free panoramic view in all of Canada. In winter, the slopes become a city-wide tobogganing and cross-country skiing destination.

Notre-Dame Basilica

Ranked among the most beautiful buildings in the world, Notre-Dame Basilica is Montréal’s most visited indoor attraction. Built between 1824–1829, its deep-blue ceiling studded with golden stars, ornate carved wood altarpiece, and kaleidoscopic stained glass create an interior so breathtaking that Céline Dion chose it for her wedding. The evening AURA light show elevates the space to another dimension entirely.

Château Frontenac

The most photographed hotel in the world, Château Frontenac is the defining image of Québec City — a fairytale copper-roofed castle rising dramatically above the St. Lawrence on Cap-Diamant cliff, visible from 30 km away. The combination of UNESCO World Heritage surroundings, the sweeping Dufferin Terrace promenade, and the view over the historic lower city create the single most cinematic tourist moment anywhere in Canada.

Montmorency Falls

At 83 metres tall, Montmorency Falls is 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls — a fact that surprises almost every visitor. The thundering cascade creates one of the most powerful natural spectacles in Eastern Canada, viewable from a suspension bridge directly over the falls, a cable car, dramatic staircases, and platforms at both top and bottom. In winter, the partially frozen falls build a giant ice cone called the “Pain de Sucre.”

Quartier Petit-Champlain

Described by visitors as the most beautiful street in all of Canada, Quartier Petit-Champlain is North America’s oldest commercial district — a narrow, cobblestone pedestrian lane tucked into the cliffs of Lower Old Québec, lined with colourful 17th-century stone buildings housing artisan boutiques, chocolatiers, local galleries, and cosy restaurants. In winter, covered in snow and twinkling lights, it becomes what many call “a real-life Christmas card.”

Mont-Tremblant

Québec’s oldest provincial park — a 1,500 km² protected sanctuary of lakes, rivers, mountains, and old-growth forest just 90 minutes north of Montréal. The national park offers world-class hiking on trails like La Corniche, kayaking on pristine lakes, wildlife encounters with wolves and black bears, and some of the most spectacular fall foliage scenery in the world. In late September, the Laurentian forest turns into a blazing canvas of orange and red.

Plains of Abraham

Where the fate of a continent was decided in a 15-minute battle in 1759, the Plains of Abraham today form one of the most beautiful urban parks in North America — a vast rolling green space atop the cliffs of Québec City with sweeping panoramic views over the St. Lawrence River. The park hosts Québec Winter Carnival activities, Canada Day celebrations, and massive summer concerts.

Saguenay Fjord National Park

One of the longest fjords in the world accessible by land, the Saguenay cuts 100 km through ancient rock rising 300–500 metres from the water — a landscape of almost otherworldly scale and drama. Québec’s most awe-inspiring natural wonder, with crystalline black water, towering cliff walls, and some of the best whale watching in North America. Belugas, blue whales, finbacks, and minkes gather here in remarkable numbers.

Percé Rock & Gaspésie

Québec’s greatest road trip destination and one of the most visually dramatic landscapes in all of Canada. Percé Rock — a colossal 88-metre sea stack rising from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, pierced by a natural arch — is the iconic image of Québec’s wild coast. Nearby Bonaventure Island hosts the world’s largest accessible northern gannet colony. The Chic-Choc Mountains inland offer caribou herds, alpine tundra, and views spanning the entire Gaspé Peninsula.