Old Quebec Walking Tour with a Certified Local Guide
Description
Discover the rich history and charm of Quebec City on a 2-hour walking tour with Urban Horizons Tours. Step inside the city's historic fortifications with a knowledgeable local guide. This immersive tour brings centuries of stories to life as you visit landmarks like the Parliament Building, Château Frontenac, and Place Royale. Uncover fascinating insights into Quebec’s colonial past, vibrant culture, and architecture. Rated 5 stars on Google by happy guests, Urban Horizons Tours is committed to delivering memorable experiences with personal attention and expert storytelling. Join us to discover Old Quebec like a local! • Authentic local insight – Led by a passionate, knowledgeable guide from Quebec City • Balanced itinerary – A mix of famous landmarks and hidden gems within the fortifications • Accessible and efficient – A well-paced 2-hour walk with no unnecessary detours • Independent exploration encouraged – Ends in Lower Town so guests can continue exploring on their own
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide will start the tour at the Fontaine de Tourny, in front of the Parliament Building. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to check in.
At the Parliament Building, you’ll admire its stunning French Second Empire architecture from the outside while your guide shares fascinating stories about Quebec’s political history and the building’s important role in the province. It’s a great spot to connect with Quebec’s heritage before continuing your exploration of Old Quebec’s charming streets.
At Saint-Louis Gate, you’ll see one of the main entrances to Quebec’s fortified town. Your guide will share stories about its role in the city’s defense and its importance in the history of Old Quebec’s military fortifications.
At the Monastère des Ursulines, you’ll discover one of North America’s oldest institutions dedicated to education. Your guide will share stories of the French nuns who arrived in the 1600s.
At the Aux Anciens Canadiens corner, you’ll discover one of Quebec’s oldest houses. Your guide will also point out unique architectural features that reflect the city’s French and English colonial heritage.
At Château Frontenac, admire the iconic hotel that dominates Quebec’s skyline. Your guide will its history and why it’s a symbol of the city. Then stroll along Terrasse Dufferin, a scenic boardwalk offering stunning views of the St. Lawrence River and the city’s ramparts.
See three contrasting icons in minutes—City Hall, the Art Deco Price Building, and Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral—and hear their history, importance, and what they reveal about Quebec’s culture.
At the Mural des Québécois, view a vast trompe-l’œil that fuses famous figures with everyday locals, while your guide explains how the artwork captures Quebec City’s history and culture in a single scene.
At Place Royale—the cradle of French civilization in North America—your guide highlights the 17th-century stone buildings and explains how this historic square underpinned the growth and importance of the colony.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(138)
Jean-Simon was an exceptional guide. Highest recommendation of him and the the tour!
We were in Quebec City for two days and this was a great way to see the city in a short amount of time. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the city and each site visited, and made the tour very interesting. We had our children with us (teens and 10 year old) and they also enjoyed it.
Jeam-Simon was very informative, easy going and knowledgeable about Quebec history He let me switch my reservation to a different day with no hassle. Had a great tour.
We thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed our guide, Jean Simone. His affability, energy, and knowledge made the tour totally worth the time we spent on the tour. We learned so much about the history of Quebec!
Maurice was a knowledgeable, funny and engaging tour guide. The pace of the walk was just right and we felt we had a better understanding of the history of Quebec after our tour.
Jean-Simon was perfectly accommodating when a thunderstorm impacted the tour. He rebooked me for the next day without issue. I also found, when booking, that this tour was affordable, especially compared to others that were double the price. My tour guide Maurice was very knowledgeable, engaging, and funny. I enjoyed his tour and learned a lot! This is a great way to see much of the city and learn its history; perfect to inform future exploration or illuminate insights in places I'd already seen. Bravo et merci beaucoup!
Our guide was Maurice and he was perfect! Friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly, very experienced. He led our group through both the upper and lower village and shared insider information on history and current events. Highly recommend Maurice and this tour!
This was a great experience! We saw a lot of Old Quebec and learned much history.
Great walking tour. Rest of the people canceled since it was raining at the start, but it cleared up within the first half hour so we got a private tour. Learned a lot about the city.
Good knowledge of the area. Without a guild you really don’t know what you are looking at. Our guild did a great job but did give us a bad lead on a poutine restaurant.
Thank you Philip for the kind words about the tour. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Regarding the poutine, I'm sorry to hear it wasn't a great experience. When asked, I share a few different spots since tastes vary, and they are independent restaurants outside the tour itself. I hope it didn't take away too much from the rest of your visit to Old Quebec! Jean-Simon
