Quebec City

Where ships dock

Walk from Wharves 21–22 to Petit-Champlain; shuttle from Wharf 30.

• Ross-Gaudreault Terminal, Wharves 21–22 (Pointe-à-Carcy)
• Cruise Terminal 30, Wharf 30 (Estuary)

Best time to go

Most cruise calls come from May to October. In 2025 the port had 103 calls between late January and early November, its first year with ships from winter to fall.

Summer is warm and sunny, with average highs around 77°F in July. Fall brings bright foliage and cooler days, with average highs around 64°F in September and 52°F in October, so pack a layer.

How far from the pier

One way. Short call OK means 20 minutes or less.

• Montmorency Falls (from Old Québec)Taxi15 min

Ship tour or go independent?

Quebec City is easy to do on your own. The main wharves are a walk from Petit-Champlain, Old Québec is compact, and the funicular, RTC buses, taxis and Uber cover the rest. Booking your own walking, food or Montmorency tour gives you more choice and often smaller groups, at your own pace. The ship's tours suit anyone who would rather leave the timing to the cruise line. Browse the tours below and use the time-ashore filter to find one that fits your call.

• Old Québec sits on two levels. Upper Town is on top of a cliff, so plan for the funicular or stairs and allow extra time to walk back down.
• If your ship uses Wharf 30, use the port shuttle or allow time to walk; check the cruise schedule to see which wharf you are on.
• The funicular takes cash only, and RTC drivers do not give change, so carry small Canadian bills and coins.
• Citadelle visits are guided only, so pick a tour start time that leaves room to get back.

Getting around

Rideshare available

• WalkWharves 21 and 22 at the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal are within walking distance of Petit-Champlain and Place Royale. Upper Town is up the cliff, by the funicular, the Breakneck Stairs or the streets.
• ShuttleThe port runs a shuttle for passengers at Wharf 30 and other docks away from Wharves 21 and 22. No schedule or fare is published.
• Tram$7 per person, one way, cash onlyThe Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec links Rue du Petit-Champlain with Dufferin Terrace by the Château Frontenac. Runs all year, 9 a.m.–9 p.m., and until 10 p.m. from Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day to Labour Day. Cash only, with an ATM at both stations. Children under 117 cm and wheelchair users ride free; wheelchair access closes in winter when there is snow.
• BusRTC city buses. Route 1 serves the Old Port, Place Royale and the Musée de la civilisation; Route 11 serves the Plains of Abraham, museums and the Château Frontenac. Drivers don't give change, so pay exact cash or use the RTC Nomade Payment app. Fares below took effect July 1, 2026; children 5 and under ride free. For Montmorency Falls, the tourism office suggests Route 800 toward Beauport to the des Rapides stop, then a short walk.

  Single cash fare

  $4.00

  1-day pass

  $10.50

• TaxiLicensed taxi companies include Taxi Coop Québec (418-525-5191). Fares are metered; a mandatory $1.05 provincial fee is added to each ride.
• RideshareUber is listed by the city's tourism office. App rides can use demand-based pricing, with the maximum fare shown before you book.
• FerryThe Québec–Lévis ferry leaves near the Musée de la civilisation and Petit-Champlain, runs all year and takes about 12 minutes, with views of the Château Frontenac on Cap Diamant.

Uber operates in Quebec City. Québec rules allow app-based services to use demand pricing, but they must show the maximum fare before you accept.

Money, tipping & phones

Money

The Canadian dollar (CAD). It is not at par with the US dollar. Most businesses take US cash, but at a varying exchange rate they set. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted almost everywhere. Prices are usually shown before tax: 5% federal GST plus 9.975% provincial sales tax.

Tipping

Tips are not included in restaurant bills. About 15% of the pre-tax total is usual. Taxi drivers are tipped at your discretion.

Must-sees

• Old Québec (UNESCO World Heritage)WalkableThe walled historic district, listed in 1985 and the only fortified colonial town north of Mexico, still ringed by ramparts, gates and bastions. Upper Town on Cap Diamant holds the churches, the Citadelle and the Château Frontenac; Lower Town grew around Place Royale and the harbor.
• Place Royale and Petit-ChamplainWalkableSite of Champlain's 1608 settlement and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires (1688), the oldest stone church in North America. Next door, Rue du Petit-Champlain is one of the oldest shopping streets on the continent, reached from above by the Breakneck Stairs.
• Château Frontenac and Dufferin TerraceWalkableThe 1892–93 railway hotel by Bruce Price, a National Historic Site, stands beside the 430-meter Dufferin Terrace with wide views of the St. Lawrence. The funicular from Petit-Champlain lands right here.
• La Citadelle de QuébecWalkableA fortress that is still an active military base, so you see it on a 60-minute guided tour that includes the Royal 22e Régiment Museum. Adults $22; open daily (9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. through August 31, 2026, then 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.).
• Montmorency FallsRide neededAt 83 meters, about 30 meters taller than Niagara Falls, about 15 minutes from Old Québec. Ride the cable car to the top, cross the suspension bridge, take the 487-step staircase or the zip line across the cove below the falls. Open year-round except December 25.
• Île d'OrléansRide neededAn island in the St. Lawrence known for local products, artists and artisans. The welcome bureau in Saint-Pierre can point you to them and offers a cultural passport in English or French.

Free & cheap near the pier

• Place Royale and Notre-Dame-des-VictoiresFreeWhere Champlain built his first settlement in 1608. The 1688 church is free to enter in summer and on Sundays in winter.
• Saint-Louis Forts and ChâteauxFree for ages 17 and underExcavated remains of the old governors' château under Dufferin Terrace, open mid-May to late October. Visitors 17 and under enter free, and Parks Canada made admission free for everyone from June 19 to September 7, 2026; guided tours cost extra.
• Parliament Building tourFreeA 60-minute guided tour in English or French, Monday to Saturday. Book online or on site and bring photo ID if you are 16 or older.
• Seminary of Québec courtyardFreeSteep-roofed stone buildings that recall New France. Walk in through the gate and archway next to Notre-Dame Basilica.
• Funicular ride$7 one wayThe quick way between Petit-Champlain and Dufferin Terrace. Cash only.
• RTC day pass$10.50Unlimited city bus rides for a day, handy for the Plains of Abraham side of town.

Eat like a local

• PoutineFries topped with cheese curds and gravy, Québec's best-known snack.
• TourtièreA spiced meat pie of minced pork or beef, a holiday classic.
• Pâté chinoisQuébec's take on shepherd's pie, with beef, onions and corn under mashed potatoes.
• Tarte au sucre and pouding chômeurSugar pie with brown sugar and butter, and a Depression-era cake baked over maple syrup.
• Cretons and fèves au lardA coarse pork spread for toast and maple-sweetened baked beans, both breakfast staples.
• Maple treatsMaple syrup and fudge are sold in the shops of Rue du Petit-Champlain; in spring, sugar shacks serve maple taffy on snow.

Rainy-day backups

• Musée de la civilisationA museum at 85 Rue Dalhousie, the same street as the Ross-Gaudreault cruise terminal. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Mondays.
• Parliament BuildingFree guided tours of the ornate interior, Monday to Saturday. Reserve ahead and bring photo ID.
• Plains of Abraham MuseumThe gateway to Battlefields Park, open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Ursuline Chapel and MuseumThe chapel holds the city's oldest group of sculptures (1720s–30s) and is free; the museum charges a fee.

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions (as of June 5, 2026)

• Petty theft and car break-ins happen in tourist areas. Keep your passport and valuables with you or on the ship.
• Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance.
• Some road signs in Québec are in French only, and some health workers may speak only French.
• Avoid protests and large crowds.
• The US Consulate General is behind the Château Frontenac and covers Quebec City and the regions to its north and east; its after-hours emergency line is +1-418-692-2096.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier

Ships dock alongside two terminals, so there is no tender. At the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal (Wharves 21–22) the lower level is reached by elevators, escalators or stairs. Terminal 30 was rated accessible by Kéroul in 2025, with step-free sliding-door entrances, a talking elevator, accessible washrooms and a gently sloped gangway with rest platforms; the ship-to-gangway ramp can be steep (10–13%).

• The funicular between Lower and Upper Town is free for wheelchair users, but wheelchair access closes in winter when there is snow.
• Old Québec is split between Lower Town by the river and Upper Town on top of the cliff, so expect hills and stairs.
• At the Citadelle, some historic areas are hard to reach, but the regimental museum has ramps and adapted spaces.