Are you considering going on a day trip to Quebec City from Montreal? Well you might want to read this first to see if it’s worth it for you.

It’s very tempting to want to do a day trip between both cities. Montreal and Quebec City are just under a three hour drive from each other. Making it a doable day trip… but that doesn’t mean that you should do it!

I’ll go over how to travel from Montreal to Quebec City, and what to do while you’re there. Plus, why you might want to consider extending your time in Quebec City…

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

How Far Is Montreal From Quebec City: Can You Visit In One Day?

Montreal and Quebec City are about 255 km away. This is about a 55 minute flight, a 2 hour and 45 minute drive, or a 3 hour train.

The travel time is on the edge of a doable day trip for me. Don’t forget all these times are doubled if you’re planning to get back to Montreal in the same day. The time you spend traveling is time you can’t spend touring.

Expect a day trip to Quebec City from Montreal to be long and exhausting!

How To Get To Quebec City From Montreal?

There are a few ways to get from Montreal to Quebec City and back in one day. From driving, taking the bus or train. Here are all your options laid out for you to compare…

I have a more in depth guide to more modes of transportation between Montreal and Quebec City.

	Time	Cost	Pro	Con
Car	2h45 + (there’s always traffic)	Cost of gas for 255 km + parking	Flexible & budget friendly	Tiring
Bus	3h15 +	$40 – $70	12 daily departures, relaxing	Less Flexible
Train	3h15 +	$40 – $200	No traffic delays, Relaxing	Only leaves you with 5 hours to explore on weekends
Organized Day Tour	Full day	$55 – $2000	No stress – everything is planned	No control over plans

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What’s The Best Way To Travel From Montreal To Quebec City

Drive To Quebec City From Montreal

Driving is by far the most flexible way to get to Quebec City from Montreal. You can leave when you want and come back when you want. You’re not constrained to any schedule.

If you already have a car, it will also be the cheapest option. You’ll only have to pay for gas and potentially parking once you’re in Quebec City.

If you don’t have a car, you can rent one with Enterprise.

Why I Wouldn’t Drive On A Day Trip To Quebec City From Montreal

The reality of driving from Montreal to Quebec City and back in one day is that it’s exhausting… like I said, you’re not just driving 3 hours, but 6 hours!

And don’t forget you still want to have the energy to do some touring while you’re there.

It’s Never Less Than A 3 Hour Drive

It should only take you 2 hour and 45 minutes to get from Montreal to Quebec City by car, but it never does. I don’t think it’s EVER taken me less than 3 hours to drive from Montreal to Quebec City (or back!).

There’s always traffic somewhere. Whether it’s leaving Montreal or arriving in Quebec City. So expect it to take anywhere from 3 to 3 and a half hours.

It also doesn’t matter what time you leave at (unless it’s in the middle of the night). I’ve left first thing in the morning, in the afternoon, and even after work. I’ve also driven to Quebec City on the weekend or mid week. It never matters! 

You Also Really Don’t Need A Car Once You’re There

Quebec City is 100% a walkable city. Nothing is more than a 20 minute walk away – even if you want to explore some of the outskirts of Old Town.

But, more realistically, if you’re going on a day trip from Montreal to Quebec City, you’ll want to see all the main sights which are in the Old Town anyway…. and it’s really small!

Parking In Quebec City

If you drive to Quebec City you have to park in Quebec City. So make sure to add this in to your costs of driving.

There are paid lots to park in for the day just outside Old Town. I would recommend Stationnement SPAQ – Honore-Mercier / Dauphine, and underground parking lot in Place D’Youville. You can find street parking, but you don’t want to be wasting time driving around to find a spot.

Remember, you have limited time to explore before you have to head back!

It’s Exhausting To Drive, Tour, And Drive Back All In One Day

It’s about a 3 hour drive from Montreal to Quebec City. Keep in mind, you will be doing 6 hours of driving in one day (potentially more!).

Driving 6 hours in one day is not nothing. And don’t forget you still want time to tour – which usually isn’t relaxing. You’ll be walking around a lot, possibly standing around…etc.

Worst case, if you’re too tired, you can always book a hotel in Quebec City for the night (see my top 10 hotels here for every budget!).

So How Can You Get To Quebec City If You Don’t Drive?

Montreal to Quebec City is a popular route for locals so there are quite a few alternatives to driving. You can take the bus, train, or go on an organized tour.

Take the Bus For A Day Trip To Quebec City From Montreal

Probably one of the best alternatives to driving to Quebec City is to take the bus. It has the most departures (12 leaving from Montreal everyday) and isn’t too expensive.

Like driving, it takes just over 3 hours.

The price ranges from $50 to $65, depending on if you book a flexible rate or not, and how much in advance you book. 

The earliest departure from Montreal is 7:00 A.M. (arriving in Quebec City just passed 10:00 A.M.)

And you can leave Quebec City as late as 7:30 P.M.! You arrive back in Montreal pretty late but you can relax on the bus. This leaves you with about 9 hours to explore Quebec City in one day.

The bus station is also centrally located in both Montreal and Quebec City. In Montreal it’s at the Gare d’autocars de Montréal on Berri street (connecting to all three metro lines).

In Quebec City, it’s at the Gare du Palais (the train station) which is about a 15 minute walk to the centre of Old Town.

You can book tickets, and see the full schedule through Orlean Express.

Take The Train From Montreal To Quebec City

The train is a very similar travel time to the bus and driving. It’s a more comfortable ride and you don’t have to worry about traffic slowing you down.

But for a day trip to Quebec City from Montreal, the departure times don’t leave you with a lot of time for touring.

If you prefer to take the train to Quebec City, I’d recommend visiting on a weekday. That way you can jump on the earliest train that leaves Montreal at 6:30 A.M..

Otherwise, the earliest weekend train leaves at 9:00 A.M. which only arrives in Quebec City at 12:00 P.M… that’s a little late for a day trip.

This is an issue because the latest train back to Montreal is 5:45 P.M. On the weekend, this leaves you with only around 5 hours to tour Quebec City… 

The train has a huge price range based on how far in advance you book and what kind of seats you want. It can range from $40 to over $200.

Like the bus though, the train station is centrally located in each city. In Montreal it’s at Place Bonaventure which is on the orange metro line.

In Quebec City, it’s at the same place as the bus station: Gare du Palais. It’s about a 15 minute walk to Old Town.

You can see the updated schedule and book tickets through Via Rail.

Go On An Organized Tour From Montreal To Quebec City

Going on an organized tour from Montreal to Quebec City is probably the least stressful of all your options. Plus, it surprisingly doesn’t have to be too expensive.

This tour from Viator brings you from Montreal to Quebec City, Montmorency Falls, and (in the winter) the ice hotel. Keep in mind that admission tickets are not included in this tour price.

This tour from Viator is a bit more expensive but also includes a cruise on the St. Lawerence River (summer only) along with Montmorency Falls and a tour of Old Quebec. Plus, admission tickets are actually included in the price of the tour.

But, if you want a full experience you even can splurge on a private tour from Montreal to Quebec City with this tour on Viator.

Just Because Quebec City Is Small… Doesn’t Mean There’s Isn’t A LOT To See!

I’ve been to Quebec City a few times, and once I even stayed for an entire month – and I can still go back to see more! Just to put touring Quebec City into perspective. 

That being said, you will still be able to see all the important parts on a day trip to Quebec City from Montreal.

When you only have a day in Quebec City, you’ll want to focus on touring the Old Town. Seeing the main sites like the Chateau Frontenac, Petit Champlain, the Citadel and the Plains of Abraham.

You won’t have time for the more unique things that Quebec City has to offer so you’ll most likely leave wanting more (which is never a bad thing!).

One Day In Quebec City Itinerary

If I only had one day in Quebec City, this is what I would suggest doing.

I’ve created a walking tour that loops you around Old Quebec, taking you to all the main points of interest along the way.

Start Your Day In Place D’Youville & Old Town Gates

Palce D’Youville is an open space just outside the gates of Old Quebec. It gives you a great view of the old city gates looking into Old Town.

In the winter, you’ll have the Christmas market set up here and ice skating. In the summer, this is a popular location for festivals.

Once you walk through the gates, you can actually walk up onto the gates (which I suggest doing!). You’ll get a view from above overlooking Old Town.

Walk Down Rue Saint Jean

Once you’ve taken in the view, it’s time to really walk into Old Quebec. You’ll be on Rue Saint Jean which is one of the main streets in Quebec City.

Take your time walking down the street, admiring the old stone architecture. This is a good spot as well to start your souvenir shopping in Quebec City. 

You’ll want to walk all the way down the street until you find yourself in Place d’Armes.

Place d’Armes

Place d’Armes is the main city square in Old Quebec.

From here, you’ll see the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac and Dufferin terrace. If you have some time, you can sign up for a tour of the Chateau Frontenac (see the guided tour)

This is also where you’ll find the Visitors Centre, which I recommend going to if this is your first time in Quebec City. This is where you can book last minute tours and the meeting point for most of them.

I recommend booking a walking tour in advance as they do sell out (especially during the summer). You can book the main Old Quebec walking tour with Viator.

Walk Down Towards Lower Town

From Places d’Armes, I would recommend walking down the stairs to Lower Town.

Make sure you stop for a photo op at the break neck steps before arriving in the Quariter Petit Champlain. This is your second opportunity for souvenir shopping, and this time with more local options (less touristy).

Take The Funicular Back Up!

Once you’ve done your shopping and taken your photos, it’s time to go back to Upper Town!

You can take the stairs again, or you can opt to take the funicular. This is like an outdoor elevator (that’s also really old!). It’s also the only one of it’s kind in North America!

This will bring you back to Upper Town and right onto Dufferin Terrace. 

Walk To The End Of Dufferin Terrace

Dufferin Terrace is one of the most jaw dropping spots in Quebec City. With outstanding views of the St. Lawerence River and the Chateau Frontenac. You’ll definitely want to spend some time here.

But, make you’re way to the end of the boardwalk. Here, you’ll find some stairs which is the start of the Promenade des Gouverneurs. 

If you’re up for it, I recommends walking up all the steps until the top. P.S. try not to look back right away and save the view for when you make it to the top of the stairs… it’s worth it!

The Plains Of Abraham

The Promenade des Gouverneurs will bring you all the way to the Plains of Abraham. This is where the infamous battle of 1759 took place (you know when the British ambushed the French and finally conquered Quebec City!). 

Today, the Plains of Abraham is a giant park that you can walk through exploring war memorials and historical sites. Plus, incredible views of the St. Lawerence as always!

P.S. if you’re interested in learning more about the Plains of Abraham, there’s a family friendly museum you can visit.

The Quebec City Citadel

If you took the Promenade des Gouverneurs path up, you would have already walked right by the Citadel walls.

But, I recommend walking back to the Citadel through the Plains of Abraham. It might be hard to see at first as this is the goal of the citadel to not be seen. But eventually, you’ll be walking right on top of it. 

You can opt to go on a guided tour of the citadel, or if you’re pressed for time on your Quebec City itinerary they have a small exhibit outside. The small exhibit gives you all the necessary history just passed the entrance of the citadel.

St. Louis Gate & Parliament

Once you’re back outside the citadel walls, you’ll notice there’s more Old City gates. These are different gates than the ones you started at (now you’re at the St. Louis Gate).

Walk outside the gates and now you’ll have arrived at the Parliament Building (or the National Assembly of Quebec).

If you’re interested, you can sign up for a guided tour. If not, it’s still worthwhile walking around the building to find all the different statues.

P.S. try to find the token statues that were set up so Quebec didn’t seem like it’s a white mans world!

Head Back To The Start – One Day In Quebec City

From the National Assembly, it’s very easy to get back to where you started off your day. All you have to do is walk down Boulevard Honoré-Mercier for 2 about minutes.

You want to end up at Place D’Youville.

More Time In Quebec City? See What Else To Do

If you find yourself with more time in Quebec City than you expected, see my full list of things to do in Quebec City.

My Amazon Quebec Day Trips Must Haves

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Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API