Quebec City Winter: 6 Fun, Cold-Weather Things to Do
Quebec City, Canada may not be the first option for most people to travel to in the winter. With cold weather and the possibility of snowstorms, it may seem more appealing to hibernate to a beach. However, with less expensive flights and a flair for the holiday spirit, Quebec City is the perfect winter wonderland escape for your next cold-weather vacation. With so much to do, every experience is different. You may prefer lots of walking and exploring the outdoors like me, or if you have kids, you may want to search for the best food and family-friendly activities. You may even be your happiest while relaxing in the Nordic Spa outside of Quebec: Siberia Station Spa. No matter what you prefer, Quebec City in winter will have what you're looking for.
We made our way to Quebec City after flying into Montreal and spending 24 hours exploring. Driving between the two cities takes roughly 3 hours, with pretty consistent scenery of trees and lakes. We overheard an older man at a bar saying he recently drove from Montreal to Vancouver, and he could attest that all of Canada is "trees and lakes." We couldn't complain since it's a far cry from driving through the cornfields of Illinois!
Much like Montreal, Quebec City is a mix of older and modern architecture, but while Montreal is very urban, Quebec City is all about the outdoors and nature. The best part is that all of the most enjoyable outdoor activities are within a 30-minute drive outside of the city, so you don't have to travel for hours to experience a real Quebec City winter outside. Whether it's dog sledding, hiking, or even snow tubing, you can drive to them all quickly and also by cab if you don't have a car for a fun day trip.
Dealing With the Cold of Quebec City Winter
We had the particular luck to be traveling to Canada during one of their coldest weeks in recent years. I’m born and raised in Chicago, so I’m used to lake effect snow and cold weather, but these negative temperatures were a whole different level. Seriously guys, Quebec City in winter is no joke. There were mornings I would go outside to photograph, and I could only stay out for 10 minutes before my hands (with gloves) would be completely numb. My best advice: layer, layer, and layer some more. I averaged 3-4 pairs of thermal pants on my legs each day and two pairs of wool socks in my boots. I also purchased a thick wool scarf in Quebec that was perfect for wrapping around my face. To make the best use of your time outside, plan out where you're going ahead so you can focus on seeing the sights around you instead of worrying about directions. Listen to your body. If you have to get inside, do it. After a day and a half, we had acclimated well, and when we made it back to Chicago where it was 0 degrees F, we were actually warm!
Stay in one of the Best Hotels in Quebec City: the Chateau Frontenac
Quebec City is a beautiful area overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Our first stop was our accommodations for the night, the hotel Chateau Frontenac. Located on a hill, this stunning hotel overlooks all of Quebec City and is the most well-known landmark of the town for a good reason. Its castle-like architecture towers over the city during the day and is lit up throughout the night. It's also known as one of the best hotels in Quebec City and throughout Canada and is also the most Instagrammed.
Explore the Quebec City Old Port
From the Chateau, you can head down to the Old Port area of the city. This quaint section near the river is made up of winding cobblestone streets with art galleries, antique shops and small, local restaurants. The streets are lined with Christmas decorations in the winter and at night, the holiday lights illuminate the paths, making you feel like you're walking through a festive city in Santa's North Pole. We spent an afternoon wandering and exploring the Quebec City Old Port and couldn't get enough of the colorful buildings and brickwork.
Go Dog Sledding Through the Quebec Backcountry
The most anticipated part of our trip was our reservation for dogsledding. This 4-hour trip winded over 6 miles of backcountry and forests just 20 minutes outside of Quebec City. Our pack of six Siberian Huskies, including our two favorites, Mimi and Fromage (French for cheese), pulled us through high snowdrifts and up and down steep hills without ever really needing a break. Learn more about our dog sledding experience here.
Make the Drive to Village Vacances Valcartier and the Hotel de Glace
The Valcartier Vacation Village 30 minutes outside of Quebec is not only the Winter Playground of the area, but the largest in America. People from across Canada come to this resort to slide down their 35 snow tubing runs, including the Himalaya which will shoot you down at close to 50 miles per hour. It also features ice skating and an indoor waterpark.
However, the jewel of the Village Valcartier is the Hotel de Glace, or the Ice Hotel. Redesigned and rebuilt every winter, the Hotel de Glace Quebec is one of the handfuls of ice hotels in the world and the only one in North America. An architectural wonder, it is entirely built from snow and ice, including the hotel rooms, each with a different theme carved into the walls and furniture. It's a unique place to stay from January to March or you can swing by for a tour of the Grand Hall, hotel bar and chapel.
Relax and Rejuvenate at the Siberia Station Spa
Dog Sledding took a lot out of us. As fun as it was, we were sore, and our bodies were exhausted, so the thought of spending a day at a nordic spa seemed like heaven. The TripAdvisor reviews for Siberia Station Spa were glowing, so we made a reservation for a 60-minute massage and use of the spa grounds afterward. The spa itself is in a beautiful location surrounded by a tranquil dense forest. It follows the customs of a traditional Nordic Spa in that there are three phases you make your way through: Hot, Cold, and Rest.
You can achieve these phases by walking the outdoor winding stairways and paths of Siberia Station Spa. They lead to a dry sauna, infrared sauna, multiple outdoor hot tubs among the trees, and my favorite, a steam room to sweat out all your toxins as you inhale the strong aroma of eucalyptus. Next, you spend a short amount of time in the cold phase, which means jumping under a freezing waterfall or for the genuine Canadians (or thrill-seekers?), taking a dip in the hole carved out of the frozen river that runs through the property. With temperatures hitting -30 degrees F outside, we figured walking from one phase to the other in just our swimsuits, flip flops, spa robe, and winter hats was enough of a cold phase for us. We then continued onto the most prolonged period: rest. For this, there were multiple yurts across the Siberia Station Spa grounds, heated with wood-burning fireplaces. Each had comfy chairs or hammocks where you could read a book or relax among the sights for the forest and the sounds of the crackling wood fireplace.
Siberia Station Spa was a relaxing and calming experience despite the cold weather. It was also nice to escape from Quebec City and our busy travel schedule for a few hours. This Nordic Spa is a must-stop if you're in the Quebec City area.
See the Views of Montmorency Falls, the Impressive Quebec Waterfall
Outside of Quebec City, you'll find some of the most scenic views of the St. Lawrence River, the Quebec City skyline, and the gorgeous Quebec waterfall called Montmorency Falls. These falls are surrounded by multiple hiking paths in Montmorency Falls Park that lead to suspended bridges, observation decks, and high cliffs, giving you the perfect photo-op wherever you turn. Despite the cold of Quebec City winter, the trails are filled with people pulling out their cameras with their bulky winter gloves to capture the moment. The Montmorency Falls are 98 ft taller than Niagara Falls, and even in the freezing temps, the water still rushes through them with a yellow tint due to the high iron content found in the water.
With its European charm and the ability to see so many different things within a 30-minute drive outside of the downtown area, we ended up falling in love with our experience of Quebec City winter. It may be cold, but the people of Quebec still know how to have a good time and use the winter cold to their advantage (the number of restaurants we saw with outdoor bars and seating made of ice was staggering). Balance your time outdoors with moments inside relaxing near a fireplace or at a Nordic Spa, like Siberia station Spa. We loved Quebec City so much, we plan on going back and experiencing the city during the summer when the leaves are green, and the St. Lawerence River isn't frozen over.
