Exploring Montreal and Quebec: A First-Timers Guide
By Alejandra Mendoza - Posted on March 24, 2025 - Ale Around the World
Quebec has become my favorite Canadian city and province. It's filled with rich history and its infrastructure dates back to the 1600s. Despite being an old city, it's incredibly beautiful. The primary language in Quebec is French, but you'll find plenty of English speakers as well. Unfortunately, some locals can get a bit mad when English is spoken instead of French, leading to some not-so-great customer service experiences. Just be patient and stick to English if that's what you're comfortable with.
Our first stop was Montreal city. The weather in June was just right - not too hot, not too cold. It did rain every single day we were there, though. The flight took about 4 hours, and we opted to stay in a motel a bit outside the city to save some money. Hotels in the area can be pretty pricey, but our motel was cozy and there were some food options nearby.
On our first day, we headed to the Bell Centre Arena for a concert my sister and I were excited about. The arena was pretty standard, not much different from others I've been to.
The following day, we decided to explore Old Montreal. We walked through its charming streets, admiring the impressive historic French buildings that can be found throughout the area. We made sure to visit iconic squares like Place d'Armes, Phillips Square, and Place Jacques-Cartier. A must-see is the Old Port, located next to Old Montreal and stretching over 2 km along the Saint Lawrence River. Don't miss the famous Ferris wheel, La Grande Roue de Montréal, while you're there. Another highlight is the Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal's oldest Catholic church dating back to 1656. There's so much to see and do in Old Montreal, you'll be captivated by its 1600s French charm.
For lunch, we opted for a Mexican restaurant called La Toxica. The tacos were decent, but I've had better in Vancouver. We also checked out Complexes Desjardins, a mixed-use complex with offices, a hotel, and a shopping mall. To end our day, we stopped by a cute café called 5 Senses Resto Bistro Bar, where we enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and even took some Instagram-worthy photos.
The next day, we embarked on a tour to Quebec City, booked through Get Your Guide. We almost missed our bus due to getting lost on the way to the pick-up point, but luckily, we made it just in time. The tour took us about 2 hours to reach Old Quebec, and let me tell you, it quickly became my favorite city in all of Canada. The historic French architecture makes you feel like you've stepped back in time to the 1600s when the French first arrived in Canada and battled the British for control of the land. The city has a unique blend of French and British influences in its infrastructure. Our tour guide shared fascinating historical info about the city as we explored. This city is divided by upper and lower Quebec. The tour guide guided us in the lower part, and the upper part we were free to explore. This city is divided into upper and lower Quebec. The tour guide showed us around the lower part, and we were free to explore the upper part on our own.
In the lower part of Quebec, you can find some beautiful spots like the oldest stone church in North America, Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Place Royale, the historic town square, and the charming Quartier Petit-Champlain with its cobblestone streets and shops.
Heading to the upper part of Quebec, you'll discover even more amazing spots that I personally find a bit classier than the lower part. To get to the upper level, you have two options: pay for a gondola ride or take the stairs, which is a bit tougher but saves you some money. We opted for the stairs to save some cash, plus a little exercise never hurt anyone.
Once you reach the upper part, you'll be greeted by the stunning Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a hotel that looks straight out of a fairy tale. You can even see it from the lower part, making you feel like you're in a Disney princess movie. Don't forget to check out the Citadelle, the largest fortified base in North America still in use by troops, the Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec, and the parliament building, perfect for taking some photos.
Both parts of old Quebec have so much to offer, so make sure you have enough time to explore all the beautiful streets and buildings. When it comes to food, most restaurants can be a bit pricey, but there are also some fast-food chains around. We grabbed a bite at Subway in upper Quebec to save some money, as traveling within Canada can be more expensive than going abroad.
Another fantastic spot to visit in Quebec is Montmorency Falls. These falls are absolutely stunning and definitely worth a visit. There are hiking trails that you can explore to get a closer look from above at the falls. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to fully explore the area, so we just did a quick visit to admire the natural beauty.
And that's how our Quebec journey came to an end. I highly recommend visiting this city. Trust me, you will love it just as much as I did.
