Christmas in Québec

Fly into Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) and hail a taxi to our home for the next few nights: the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Perched in the heart of Old Québec overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the grand château-style hotel puts us right in the center of the city’s historic district.

After you settle into your room, we’ll gather for welcome champagne and introductions at the hotel’s gorgeous bar, where floor-to-ceiling windows offer lovely views over the city. 

Then we're off to our reservation at Le SAM, the Château Frontenac’s more relaxed restaurant, for our first dinner together. 

Afterward, we can take an evening stroll through Quartier Petit Champlain, which is especially magical at Christmas when historic buildings glow with festive lights and the streets take on a celebratory atmosphere.

Today feels like a scene from a Christmas card. After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll meet our private guide at the hotel for a festive walking tour through Old Québec, with an emphasis on holiday traditions, architecture, local food, and a little shopping along the way. 

We’ll wander through Place Royale and the charming streets of Petit-Champlain, admire the historic Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, and take in the views from Dufferin Terrace. We’ll also ride the Old Québec funicular, connecting the upper and lower parts of the city.

After our morning explorations, we’ll enjoy a leisurely Québecois lunch at Chez Rioux & Pettigrew before having a few hours to shop at our own pace. This is a great opportunity to browse Old Québec's independent boutiques for locally made jewelry, cozy woolens, pottery, gourmet specialties, art, and distinctive Christmas decorations. 

Those who are feeling especially festive can also stop into La Boutique de Noël de Québec, a year-round Christmas shop filled with ornaments and holiday treasures.

By late afternoon, we’ll regroup for the highlight of the day: the Québec City German Christmas Market. Spread across several buzzing squares and streets, we’ll explore at an easy pace, pausing for vin chaud, German-inspired Christmas treats, local cheeses, sausages, pretzels, and sweets such as stollen and German chocolate cake. 

After a day teeming with festive revelry, the evening is ours. Return to the hotel for a cozy night in, keep exploring the illuminated streets of Old Québec, or enjoy a few more snacks and drinks with new friends. 

We’ll ease into the morning with a late breakfast at the hotel before heading to the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec. A curated private tour will introduce us to the museum’s collections paying particular attention to Inuit art, which offers a fascinating perspective on these indigenous peoples and traditions.

After the museum, we’ll have an opportunity to stop at La Petite Cabane à Sucre de Québec to pick up some snacks from a well-loved provincial staple, maple syrup in all its forms! Then it’s on to La Bûche for lunch, where we can sample traditional Québecois flavors alongside some of the sweet and savory treats from the sugar shack.

In the afternoon, we’ll leave the historic center behind for Montmorency Falls Park. In winter, the falls take on a completely different character as mist freezes around the base, creating an impressive ice formation beneath the towering cascade.

The late afternoon is free for whatever catches our fancy, perhaps some more shopping, a quiet hour at the hotel, or a warm drink in one of Old Québec’s cozy cafés. 

Around 6:30, we’ll regroup at the hotel lounge for champagne or Christmas cocktails accompanied by festive music. Then we’ll head to Légende, a Michelin-starred restaurant devoted to Québec terroir and seasonal ingredients, for an elegant dinner celebrating the province's flavors.

After breakfast, we’ll pack up, check out, and set off toward the Charlevoix region. The route itself is part of the experience, carrying us from Québec City into a landscape of rolling hills, villages, forests, and sweeping views of the St. Lawrence.

Our first stop along the way is Le Massif de Charlevoix, where we’ll take the gondola up to Camp Boule Buvette de Montagne for lunch. The scenic ride up sets the stage for a memorable meal where we can linger while surrounded by sweeping winter views.

By mid-afternoon, we’ll continue to Baie-Saint-Paul, an artistic and culinary hub known for its galleries and characterful streets. We’ll check into Hôtel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix, a stylish contemporary retreat surrounded by the countryside that gives this region its distinctive identity.

We've left the remainder of the afternoon for some well-deserved R&R. Each of us will have a massage or facial appointment at the hotel spa before enjoying some quiet time to unwind. Later, we’ll gather for dinner at the hotel for cozy close to our first day in Charlevoix. 

We’ll give ourselves a leisurely start this morning before heading out to discover some of the creative talent that makes Charlevoix such a special place. We'll visit several ateliers, offering a chance to meet local makers and perhaps create something of our own.

Around midday, we’ll turn our attention to one of the region’s great culinary traditions at Famille Migneron de Charlevoix. After learning about the cheesemaking process, we’ll sit down for a generous tasting of the farm’s cheeses accompanied by charcuterie and wine. 

Then comes a change of pace: an afternoon of dog sledding through the Charlevoix landscape. You get to choose how you want to experience this: either settling into the sled while an experienced musher leads the team, or learning to guide your own sled with professional instruction. What a fantastic way to experience the winter countryside.

Back in town, we’ll have time to explore the Baie-Saint-Paul Christmas Market, browsing local crafts, festive treats, and Québec-made gifts. We’ll wrap up the day with dinner at Mouton Noir, then gather for a fun Secret Santa gift exchange within the group, a festive little tradition to cap off our day together.

After breakfast, we’ll make our way back to Québec City, taking in a final glimpse of the snow-dusted countryside and charming villages along the way.

As our Christmas escape comes to a close, we’ll have a little time to reflect on the festive moments, beautiful places, and memories we’ve shared together. Until we meet again...