Andréa grew up in the Northern industrial city of Sept-Îles, in the province of Québec, and moved to Québec Ville for her studies at the age of 17. During a visit to our office, she shared with us what makes Québec city a unique place to visit in summertime.
1. What makes Québec Ville special in the summer?
Québec City during the summer is incredibly lively. At this time of the year, many tourists come to visit and enjoy the most important outdoor music event in Canada, the Summer Festival. For 2 weeks, international artists come to Québec to perform in the heart of this beautiful city.
But that is not all: there are plenty of terraces where you can enjoy a good dinner and the nice summer weather. There are also many beautiful parks such as the historical Plains of Abraham where locals have picnics with their friends or play sports while enjoying breathtaking views of the St. Laurent River. The city holds a certain European charm and is very photogenic, especially in the summer.
2. What do you love about Québec city?
The Québécois people are truly what makes this city a great and welcoming place. Being relatively small, Québec Ville makes you feel at home very quickly. It’s almost like living in a big village.
3. What do you recommend for a high school trip to Québec city?
Hiking is one of the top activities to do around Québec City in the summertime. There are plenty of beautiful nature parks such as the Jacques Cartier National Park. The spectacular Saint-Anne Canyon in Beaupré is also worth a visit. From the canyon, you have a great view on the impressive Montmorency waterfalls, which are actually higher than the Niagara falls.
There are many more outdoor activities to do, including rafting, mountain biking and climbing. If you are keener on a cultural activity, my personal favourite is the Museum of Fine Arts. It is gorgeous and has exhibitions all year round.
4. What makes Québec the perfect place to learn French?
I would choose Québec city to learn French because people, besides being known as easy-going and very welcoming, love sharing their language and accent with French-enthusiasts.
This makes Québec City such a unique cocoon for the French language on the North American continent.
5. What are the “must see” in Québec city?
When it comes to sightseeing, you can’t miss out on the Château Frontenac, the Terrasse Dufferin, the Citadel and the picturesque Petit Champlain quarter.
A less touristic but worthwhile activity to do is walking down the streets of Saint-Roch. This dynamic neighbourhood offers a wide variety of hip restaurants, breweries and trendy boutiques.
6. Describe Québec city in 3 words:
Welcoming, lively, and surprising.
To know more, check out our Québec in Summer itinerary
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