7 Days in Quebec: Montreal, Quebec City and a Day in Charlevoix
Overview
Seven days in Quebec is enough time to capture the province’s two defining cities and take one memorable excursion beyond them. This itinerary centres on Montreal (three days), Quebec City (three days), and a day excursion into the Charlevoix region along the north shore of the St. Lawrence — one of Quebec’s most beautiful and undervisited areas. The trip moves at a comfortable pace for first-time visitors: each city gets sufficient time for wandering beyond the main sights, and the Charlevoix day adds a dimension of landscape and food culture that neither city can provide.
A rental car is useful for the Charlevoix excursion and for the drive between Montreal and Quebec City (which can be broken with a stop). Without a car, the VIA Rail train between the two cities is an excellent alternative, and Charlevoix can be reached on a guided day tour from Quebec City.
At a glance
| Days | Destination | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Montreal | Plateau-Mont-Royal, Old Montreal, Mile End, Mont-Royal Park |
| 4 | Drive to Quebec City via Highway 40 | Optional stop at Trois-Rivières or Île d’Orléans |
| 5–6 | Quebec City | Old City, Plains of Abraham, Petit-Champlain, Montmorency Falls |
| 7 | Charlevoix day excursion | Baie-Saint-Paul, Route 362 coast road, return via Route 138 |
Day 1: Montreal — landing and first impressions
Arrive at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. The airport is efficiently connected to downtown via the 747 express bus (runs to Berri-UQAM metro station, approximately 45–60 minutes depending on traffic) or taxi/rideshare (approximately 25 minutes in off-peak traffic, CAD 45–55). Take the metro from downtown to your hotel — Montreal’s orange line is the key artery through the Plateau and Old City.
After checking in, walk to Marché Jean-Talon if arriving in the afternoon — North America’s largest open-air market is the best introduction to Quebec’s food culture. Sample the local cheeses, pick up maple products, and have a coffee at one of the market-edge terrasses. In the early evening, explore the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood: Rue Saint-Denis for terrasses and independent shops, Avenue du Mont-Royal for the more local energy.
Dinner in the Plateau is easy and excellent. Champagne Supernova (natural wines, excellent small plates) or Joe Beef’s sister restaurant Liverpool House (if budget allows) are both representative of Montreal’s dining quality. For something more accessible, La Banquise on Rue Rachel for late-night poutine.
Where to stay in Montreal: Hotel 10 or ÉPIK Montreal (mid-range, central). For a more neighbourhood-embedded feel, the Hôtel Gault in Old Montreal. For luxury, the Four Seasons Montréal in the Golden Square Mile.
Day 2: Montreal — the Old City and the island
Begin the morning in Vieux-Montréal. Walk Rue Saint-Paul from the Old Port waterfront toward Place d’Armes — the 19th-century stone buildings and cobblestones are most atmospheric before the tourist crowds arrive around 10am. The Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, on Place d’Armes, is the most spectacular interior space in the province — allow an hour for the interior tour, which includes the extraordinary blue-and-gold sanctuary and the Gésu chapel. Admission is required.
From Old Montreal, walk or take the metro to Île Sainte-Hélène in the St. Lawrence River (Jean-Drapeau metro station). The Biosphère, a geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller for Expo 67, houses a water and environment museum. The island itself has pleasant waterfront walking paths, and the view back to the Montreal skyline from the eastern shore is excellent.
Return to the mainland and spend the afternoon in Mile End, Montreal’s most creative neighbourhood. The bagel debate (St-Viateur vs Fairmont) is genuinely interesting — both bakeries are within two blocks of each other, both fire their bagels in wood-burning ovens. Café Olimpico on Rue Saint-Viateur serves the neighbourhood’s best espresso. Dépanneur Le Pick Up for a late afternoon beer on the terrasse.
In the evening, cross-reference what’s on at the Monument National or the Société des arts technologiques (SAT) — Montreal’s performing arts calendar is one of North America’s best.
Day 3: Montreal — Mont-Royal and the cultural depth
Devote the morning to Mont-Royal Park. The 3-kilometre walk up to the Belvédère du Mont-Royal viewpoint (or take the No. 11 bus to the Camillien-Houde lookout) provides the most complete panorama of the city and St. Lawrence River available without a tower elevator. The forested hill designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1876 — the same landscape architect who designed New York’s Central Park — is extraordinarily beautiful in any season.
Spend the afternoon at the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts) — consistently ranked among Canada’s finest art museums, with world-class permanent collections spanning Inuit and First Nations art, European old masters, and contemporary works from Quebec artists.
By late afternoon, check out Montreal’s Saint-Henri neighbourhood (south of the plateau, increasingly interesting for independent food and coffee) or return to the Plateau for final shopping at the independent boutiques on Avenue Mont-Royal.
Allow time to pack for tomorrow’s drive to Quebec City, and consider an early dinner at a restaurant in the Plateau or Old Montreal to avoid a rushed morning departure.
Book a Montreal highlights tour or cycling city excursionDay 4: Drive Montreal to Quebec City
The drive from Montreal to Quebec City covers approximately 270 kilometres on Highway 40 (north shore) or Highway 20 (south shore). Allow 2.5 to 3 hours of driving time, or 4 to 5 hours with stops.
Recommended stop — Trois-Rivières: The city of Trois-Rivières, exactly halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, is one of Quebec’s most underrated stops. The historic core along Rue des Ursulines has 17th-century convents and stone buildings; the waterfront strip above the St. Lawrence is pleasant. The Musée québécois de culture populaire covers Quebec’s social history engagingly. Allow 90 minutes to two hours.
Alternative stop — Île d’Orléans: If taking the north shore (Highway 40) and arriving at Quebec City from the east, the exit for Pont de l’Île d’Orléans adds a circuit of the island as a pre-arrival excursion. The 67-kilometre island circuit passes through six parishes with artisan food producers, historic churches, and the view of Montmorency Falls from the eastern end of the island. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
Arrive in Quebec City in the afternoon. Check into your hotel — ideally within or immediately adjacent to the Old City walls — and take an introductory walk through the Upper Town (Haute-Ville) before dinner. The fortification walls and the Château Frontenac at dusk are your first impressions of one of North America’s most distinct cities.
Where to stay in Quebec City: The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the iconic option (expensive, but worth it for special occasions). Auberge Saint-Antoine in the Lower Town is a boutique luxury alternative in a beautifully converted archaeological site. Hôtel 71 on Rue Saint-Pierre is a mid-range option in the Lower Town with an excellent restaurant.
Day 5: Quebec City — the Old City and below
The morning belongs to the Old City. Walk the full circuit of the fortification walls — 4.6 kilometres, no significant elevation gain — for the context of how the city was defended and how its layout relates to the clifftop position. The Citadelle (the star-shaped British fortification at the city’s highest point, still an active military garrison) offers guided tours that cover the history of Quebec’s military role from the French Regime through to the 20th century.
After the walls, descend to the Lower Town via the funicular or the Escalier Casse-Cou stairs. The Quartier du Petit-Champlain — the oldest commercial district in North America — is best explored before noon, when the boutique shops are quiet. The street itself is extraordinarily photogenic; pause at the fresco murals on the building facades.
Place Royale, at the bottom of the Escalier, marks the site of Champlain’s 1608 settlement. The stone buildings surrounding the square date primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Musée de la civilisation, two blocks along, is one of Canada’s best museums — the permanent exhibition on Quebec identity is engrossing and surprisingly candid about the province’s complicated history.
Lunch in the Lower Town, then return to the Upper Town via the funicular for an afternoon walk through the Plains of Abraham — the battlefield where the decisive 1759 battle between Wolfe and Montcalm determined the future of French Canada. Today the Plains are a 267-hectare park of mature maples and open meadows. The Musée des Plaines d’Abraham interpretive centre covers the battle in detail.
Day 6: Quebec City — Montmorency Falls and Île d’Orléans
Drive 15 minutes east of the city to Montmorency Falls — at 83 metres, higher than Niagara Falls and particularly dramatic in spring when the river is running full. The parc de la Chute-Montmorency has a gondola to the clifftop, a suspension bridge above the falls, and a walking trail to the base. Allow 2 hours here.
Continue across the Île d’Orléans bridge for a partial circuit of the island. Stop at Sainte-Pétronille for the view of the falls from the western tip, then drive the north shore through Saint-Laurent and Saint-Jean to Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans (genuine artisan chocolate operation) and one of the island’s fromageries. Return via the south shore through Sainte-Famille, where the fields and orchards are productive from June through October.
Afternoon back in Quebec City: spend time in the Rue Saint-Jean commercial street within the walls (the main street of the Upper Town, lively with independent shops and cafés), or walk down into the Quartier Saint-Roch for the more contemporary, less touristy side of the city — good coffee at Café Saint-Henri (Quebec City branch), interesting independent bookshops and galleries.
Book a Quebec City guided cycling or walking Old Town tourDay 7: Charlevoix day excursion
Drive northeast from Quebec City on Route 138 toward Baie-Saint-Paul — approximately 100 kilometres, 1.5 hours. The route follows the north shore of the St. Lawrence through a series of small villages set on hillsides above the river.
Baie-Saint-Paul: The cultural capital of Charlevoix, a small city of 7,000 that has been an artists’ colony since the 19th century. The downtown core has galleries, artisan food shops, and the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul (good collection of Quebec contemporary art, particularly landscape painters). Lunch at Mouton Noir (one of Charlevoix’s best restaurants, focusing on regional products including the famous Charlevoix lamb and cheese) or the more casual La Muse hotel restaurant.
After lunch, drive the Route 362 coastal road from Baie-Saint-Paul toward La Malbaie — 40 kilometres of one of the finest coastal drives in Quebec, winding above the clifftops with constant views over the St. Lawrence and the hills of the south shore. Stop at the village of Les Éboulements for the panoramic viewpoint, then continue to Saint-Irénée if time allows (the Domaine Forget music academy and its grounds are worth a brief visit in summer).
Return to Baie-Saint-Paul by late afternoon and drive back to Quebec City (or continue north to Tadoussac for whale watching if extending the trip — see the 14-day Quebec grand tour for that extension). Tonight is your final night in Quebec City — dinner in the Lower Town at Chez Muffy (Auberge Saint-Antoine’s restaurant, excellent) or along Rue Saint-Jean.
Budget breakdown
Costs below are per person based on two people sharing, in Canadian dollars.
| Category | Budget (CAD) | Moderate (CAD) | Comfort (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (7 nights) | 700–900 | 1,200–1,800 | 2,200–3,200 |
| Food and drink | 400–600 | 700–1,000 | 1,100–1,600 |
| Car rental and fuel (7 days) | 400–500 | 550–700 | 700–900 |
| Activities and admissions | 150–200 | 250–400 | 400–600 |
| Total per person | ~1,650–2,200 | ~2,700–3,900 | ~4,400–6,300 |
International flights are not included. Museum admissions in both cities average CAD 20–30 per site. Montmorency Falls parc admission is approximately CAD 10. The Charlevoix day excursion costs primarily fuel (approximately 200 kilometres round-trip from Quebec City).
Booking tips
Book Montreal accommodation first: Montreal’s most characterful hotels — particularly in the Plateau and Old Montreal — fill early for summer weekends and festival periods. If your trip includes the Jazz Festival (late June) or Just for Laughs (July), book accommodation immediately.
Quebec City in peak season: The Old City’s hotels, particularly the Château Frontenac, operate at maximum demand from late June through August. Book at least two to three months ahead for summer stays. December bookings require similar advance planning.
Rental car logistics: Pick up the car in Montreal for the drive to Quebec City, drop it in Quebec City (one-way rentals are available but add a drop fee of approximately CAD 50–150 depending on the agency). Alternatively, take the VIA Rail train Montreal–Quebec City (3 hours 20 minutes, multiple daily departures), then rent a car in Quebec City for the Charlevoix excursion only — this requires one fewer rental day and works well if you are comfortable with transit in Montreal.
Charlevoix restaurants: La Maison d’affinage Maurice Dufour (cheese aged on-site), the Mouton Noir bistro, and several excellent cheese shops in Baie-Saint-Paul all benefit from reservations for lunch in summer, particularly on weekends.
Variations
No car version: Take the VIA Rail train from Montreal to Quebec City. Charlevoix day tours depart from Quebec City; several operators run guided coach tours to Baie-Saint-Paul and the coastal route. This version works well for visitors uncomfortable with winter driving or those without an international driving permit.
Add whale watching: Extend the Charlevoix day to two nights, with a base in Baie-Saint-Paul and a half-day to Tadoussac (90 minutes further northeast) for a morning whale watching cruise. This reduces Quebec City time slightly but adds one of Quebec’s most memorable experiences.
Winter version: This itinerary works very well in winter with adjustments. Montreal’s Christmas market (late November–December) or the Jazz-influenced Igloofest (January) replace summer festivals. Quebec City in winter — particularly during the Carnaval de Québec (late January to early February) — is extraordinary. Charlevoix in winter offers ski access to Le Massif. See the 7-day winter Quebec itinerary for a fully built winter version.
Add the Eastern Townships: Instead of beginning in Montreal, fly into and out of Montreal but start with two days in the Eastern Townships (Cantons-de-l’Est), approximately 90 minutes southeast of the city. Compress Montreal to two days and maintain three days in Quebec City. This works particularly well in fall colour season (mid-October).
Closing
Seven days in Quebec is a genuinely satisfying trip. The two cities — so close in distance, so distinct in character — anchor the itinerary. Montreal is North American in scale and energy, European in its food culture and street life, and specifically Québécois in a way that rewards anyone willing to look beyond the surface. Quebec City is unlike any other city in North America: a fortified, French-speaking, 400-year-old city on a clifftop above one of the world’s great rivers.
The Charlevoix day extends the trip’s range without overreaching. It is the taste of rural Quebec — the landscape, the artisan food, the St. Lawrence at its broadest — that makes the province more than the sum of its cities. If it inspires a return trip to explore Charlevoix further, see the 4-day Charlevoix foodie escape for a more complete immersion.