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Places and Attractions

Central Canada:
The Province of Quebec

Music, stories, places, and experiences from across Canada.

The Province of Quebec

List of Quebec's Top Attractions

  1. National Land
  2. Provincial Land
  3. Private Attractions
  4. Shopping Centers

I. National Land

National Parks

  • La Mauricie National Park
    Created in 1970, this park of about 536 square kilometers (207 square miles) protects Laurentian forest, rocky hills and more than 150 lakes in the Saint-Maurice valley. It is one of the best places in Quebec for canoe-camping, with routes that link lakes by short portages, and it also offers hiking, cycling and winter snowshoeing. Moose, black bears, beavers and loons are common, and the fall colors are spectacular.
    Location: Near Shawinigan, central Quebec, between Montreal and Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Forillon National Park
    A park of about 244 square kilometers (94 square miles) at the very tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, where mountains meet the sea in towering limestone cliffs. Trails lead through forest to Cap Gaspé and along the shore, and visitors regularly see whales, seals and thousands of seabirds from the shore or on boat tours. The Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse, at 37 meters (122 feet), is the tallest in Canada, and the Grande-Grave heritage site recreates fishing life of the early 1900s.
    Location: Gaspé Peninsula, near Gaspé and Cap-des-Rosiers
    Website: Official Site
  • Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
    A chain of about 1,000 islands and islets along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, famous for tall limestone monoliths carved by the sea into "flowerpot" shapes. Puffins, razorbills and other seabirds nest on the islands, and boat trips from Havre-Saint-Pierre and Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan let visitors land on the beaches and explore the sea stacks. The park was created in 1984, and whales are often seen offshore.
    Location: Côte-Nord, from Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan to Aguanish
    Website: Official Site
  • Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
    A marine park of about 1,245 square kilometers (480 square miles) where the cold, deep Saguenay Fjord meets the St. Lawrence estuary, and one of the best whale-watching areas in the world. Belugas, minke whales, fin whales and even blue whales feed here in summer, and boat tours and kayak trips leave from Tadoussac and nearby villages. The park was created in 1998 and is jointly managed by the federal and Quebec governments.
    Location: Tadoussac and the Saguenay Fjord, Côte-Nord
    Website: Official Site

National Recreation Areas

  • Gatineau Park
    A federally managed park of about 361 square kilometers (139 square miles) of forest, lakes and ridges just across the river from Ottawa. It has more than 165 kilometers (100 miles) of trails for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, plus lookouts like Champlain Lookout, the Mackenzie King Estate and Pink Lake. The fall colors draw crowds, and the park is a popular escape for people from both Gatineau and Ottawa.
    Location: Outaouais region, near Chelsea and Gatineau
    Website: Official Site
  • Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area
    A protected area of marsh, forest and cliffs on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, best known for the huge flocks of greater snow geese that stop here in spring and fall. Tens of thousands of geese feed on the bulrush flats, and more than 300 other bird species have been recorded. A network of trails and an interpretation center make it easy to visit.
    Location: Saint-Joachim, east of Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Baie de l'Isle-Verte National Wildlife Area
    A wetland of salt marsh and tidal flats on the south shore of the St. Lawrence estuary that is a crucial stopover for migrating waterfowl, shorebirds and snow geese. It is part of an internationally important wetland system, and the nearby islands are a good place to watch seabirds and seals.
    Location: L'Isle-Verte, Bas-Saint-Laurent
    Website: Official Site
  • Pointe-de-l'Est National Wildlife Area
    A protected area of dunes, lagoons and salt marsh on the Magdalen Islands, important for nesting piping plovers and other shorebirds. It is a quiet place for walks and birdwatching, with a landscape of sand and grasses that is typical of the islands.
    Location: Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence
    Website: Official Site
  • Lac Saint-François National Wildlife Area
    A large wetland complex of marshes, ponds and flooded forest on the St. Lawrence near the Ontario border, with channels that are good for canoeing and a rich variety of ducks, herons and marsh birds. It is one of the biggest protected wetlands in southern Quebec.
    Location: Dundee area, Montérégie
    Website: Official Site

National Monuments

  • Fort Lennox National Historic Site
    A large stone fort built between 1819 and 1829 on an island in the Richelieu River, to guard the old invasion route from the United States. Visitors reach it by a short ferry and can tour the barracks, guardhouses and grounds, which are staffed by costumed interpreters in summer.
    Location: Île aux Noix, near Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Montérégie
    Website: Official Site
  • Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site
    The site of the first lock canal in North America, built in 1780 to bypass the rapids of the St. Lawrence, and later a military post. Archaeological remains, a reconstructed blockhouse and a tower tell the story of river travel, trade and war.
    Location: Coteau-du-Lac, west of Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site
    The place near the Saint-Charles River where Jacques Cartier spent the winter of 1535 to 1536, and later where Jesuit missionaries lived. A replica of Cartier's ship, the Grande Hermine, and an interpretation center explain the first winter that Europeans spent in the area.
    Location: Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site
    Two adjoining stone houses in Old Montreal that were the home of George-Étienne Cartier, one of the Fathers of Confederation. The restored rooms show a 19th-century bourgeois household, and exhibits and costumed guides explain Cartier's life and role in forming Canada.
    Location: Rue Notre-Dame East, Old Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Louis-S.-St-Laurent National Historic Site
    The family home of Louis St-Laurent, Canada's prime minister from 1948 to 1957, preserved with its store and furnishings from the 1800s and early 1900s. The site shows life in a small Quebec town and tells the story of one of the country's most important postwar leaders.
    Location: Compton, Eastern Townships
    Website: Official Site
  • Manoir-Papineau National Historic Site
    A grand manor house on the Ottawa River built in the 1850s by Louis-Joseph Papineau, the leader of the Patriote movement of 1837. The restored home, gardens and chapel offer a look at a seigneurial estate, and the setting overlooks the river.
    Location: Montebello, Outaouais
    Website: Official Site
  • Carillon Barracks National Historic Site
    A stone barracks building from the 1830s on the Ottawa River, built after the Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 and later used as a courthouse. It is a small museum on military life, and it sits next to the hydroelectric dam at Carillon.
    Location: Carillon, Argenteuil
    Website: Official Site
  • Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site
    The site of the last major naval battle between France and Britain for control of North America, fought in 1760 in the Restigouche River. The interpretation center holds artifacts from the wreck of the French ship Machault, which was sunk in the battle.
    Location: Pointe-à-la-Croix, Gaspésie
    Website: Official Site

National Historic Parks

  • Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site
    The stone walls, gates and forts of Quebec City, the only fortified city north of Mexico. The walls stretch for about 4.6 kilometers (2.9 miles) around Old Quebec, and the gates, bastions and the Citadel frame one of the most photogenic old towns in North America. Guided tours explain the French and British defenses, and the walls are part of the UNESCO-listed historic district.
    Location: Old Quebec, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • The Battlefields Park (Plains of Abraham)
    A large urban park of about 108 hectares (267 acres) on the cliffs above the St. Lawrence, where British and French forces fought in 1759 and 1760, a turning point in Canadian history. Today it holds gardens, walking trails, Martello towers, a museum and sweeping river views, and hosts concerts, festivals and winter activities.
    Location: Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Fort Chambly National Historic Site
    A stone fort built by the French in 1709 to 1711 on the Richelieu River rapids, which guarded the route between Montreal and Lake Champlain. It is one of the best preserved forts of New France, and visitors can see exhibits, costumed guides and the old walls and bastions beside the basin.
    Location: Chambly, Montérégie
    Website: Official Site
  • Lachine Canal National Historic Site
    A canal opened in 1825 to bypass the Lachine Rapids, once the heart of Canada's industrial revolution and now a green corridor of about 14.5 kilometers (9 miles) for walking, cycling and boating. Old factories line the banks, and a bike path leads from the Old Port of Montreal to Lake Saint-Louis.
    Location: Montreal, from the Old Port to Lachine
    Website: Official Site
  • Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site
    The ruins of Canada's first industrial community, where iron was smelted from 1730 to 1883. A modern interpretation center and the reconstructed "Grande Maison" of the ironmaster tell the story of the ironworks and its workers.
    Location: Trois-Rivières
    Website: Official Site
  • Grosse-Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site
    An island in the St. Lawrence that served as a quarantine station for immigrants from 1832 to 1937. Thousands of Irish famine immigrants died here in 1847, and a memorial and guided tours tell their story. The island is reached by boat from Berthier-sur-Mer.
    Location: Grosse Île, St. Lawrence River, near Montmagny
    Website: Official Site
  • Fort-Témiscamingue National Historic Site
    A fur trade post on Lake Témiscamingue, active from the 1700s to the early 1900s, with a reconstructed fort, a farm and guided programs. It shows how Indigenous peoples and traders worked together and later how settlers farmed the region.
    Location: Duhamel-Ouest, Abitibi-Témiscamingue
    Website: Official Site

National Scenic Area

  • Historic District of Old Québec (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
    The only walled city north of Mexico, listed by UNESCO in 1985 as a remarkable example of a fortified colonial town. It is made up of Upper Town, on the cliff, and Lower Town, along the river, joined by steep stairs and a funicular. The Château Frontenac, Place Royale, the Petit Champlain district and the narrow stone streets make it one of the most beautiful places in the country.
    Location: Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Miguasha National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
    A fossil site on the Gaspé coast, listed by UNESCO in 1999, that holds the world's best record of the fish that evolved into four-legged animals about 370 million years ago. A museum shows fossils, including the famous Elpistostege, and guided visits explain how fish took the first steps toward land.
    Location: Nouvelle, Gaspésie
    Website: Official Site
  • Anticosti Island (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
    A large island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, listed by UNESCO in 2023, whose limestone layers record a mass extinction about 445 million years ago. It is also known for its white-tailed deer, waterfalls, canyons and sea caves, and for a very quiet, remote way of life. Visits are by ferry or small plane.
    Location: Gulf of St. Lawrence, off Côte-Nord
    Website: Official Site
  • Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve
    A UNESCO biosphere reserve of mountains, river shore and farmland on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, designated in 1988. The area was shaped by an ancient meteorite impact, and it is known for its artists, local foods and sweeping river views.
    Location: Charlevoix, east of Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Manicouagan Reservoir (Manicouagan-Uapishka Biosphere Reserve)
    A huge ring-shaped lake, nicknamed the "Eye of Quebec," that fills an ancient impact crater of about 214 million years ago. Astronauts have photographed it from space, and the surrounding biosphere reserve includes the remote Uapishka mountains.
    Location: North of Baie-Comeau, Côte-Nord
    Website: Official Site
  • Mont Saint-Hilaire Biosphere Reserve
    A forested mountain near Montreal and the first UNESCO biosphere reserve in Canada, designated in 1978. It is part of the Monteregian Hills, with trails to scenic lookouts and a lake at the summit, and it is a research site for the University of McGill.
    Location: Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Montérégie
    Website: Official Site

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II. Provincial Land

Provincial Parks

  • Parc national du Mont-Tremblant
    The oldest provincial park in Quebec, created in 1894, and the largest in the south, at about 1,510 square kilometers (583 square miles). It has rivers, lakes, waterfalls and rounded mountains of the Laurentians, with trails, canoe routes, camping and fishing, and winter skiing and snowshoeing. Wolves, moose, black bears and many birds live here.
    Location: Laurentians, near Saint-Donat and Lac-Supérieur
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay
    A park along the steep walls of the Saguenay Fjord, one of the southernmost fjords in the world. Highlights include the cliffs of Cap Éternité and Cap Trinité, the Baie-Éternité visitor area, and a statue of Notre-Dame-du-Saguenay that has stood on the cliffs since 1881. Kayaking, hiking and boat tours let visitors see the fjord from many angles.
    Location: Rivière-Éternité, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national de la Gaspésie
    A mountain park in the Chic-Chocs, the highest peaks in southern Quebec, with alpine tundra, deep valleys and some of the best hiking in eastern Canada. It is home to the last herd of woodland caribou south of the St. Lawrence, as well as moose and many other animals, and a trail leads to the summit of Mont Jacques-Cartier at 1,268 meters (4,160 feet).
    Location: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Gaspésie
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier
    A deep glacial valley of the Jacques-Cartier River, with cliffs about 550 meters (1,800 feet) high, just 40 minutes from Quebec City. It is popular for hiking, canoeing, rafting and fall color, and in winter for snowshoeing and skiing.
    Location: Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, north of Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national des Grands-Jardins
    A large park of open taiga, lakes and tundra in the Charlevoix mountains, a rare landscape in southern Quebec, with woodland caribou and many bird species. Hiking trails lead to Mont du Lac des Cygnes, and the area is a core zone of the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve.
    Location: Charlevoix, near Baie-Saint-Paul
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie
    A spectacular valley with cliffs rising about 800 meters (2,600 feet) above the Malbaie River, sometimes called the deepest in eastern Canada. Boat cruises, hiking trails and canoe routes show off the steep mountain walls and forests.
    Location: Charlevoix, north of La Malbaie
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national du Mont-Orford
    A hilly park on Mount Orford in the Eastern Townships, with hiking, mountain biking, a lake beach, a ski hill and a well-known arts center nearby. The summit has views over Lake Memphremagog, and the forests are beautiful in fall.
    Location: Orford, Eastern Townships
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national du Mont-Mégantic
    A mountain park in the Eastern Townships that is also home to the ASTROLab, an astronomy center, and the first International Dark Sky Reserve in the world, designated in 2007. Clear nights offer some of the best stargazing in the region, and hiking trails lead to the summit.
    Location: Notre-Dame-des-Bois, Eastern Townships
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé
    A park that protects Percé Rock, a huge limestone arch about 433 meters long, and Bonaventure Island, home to one of the largest northern gannet colonies in the world, with more than 100,000 birds. Hiking trails lead across the island, and boats from Percé take visitors around the rock and to the island.
    Location: Percé, Gaspésie
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national d'Oka
    A park on the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains, with a long beach, hiking trails, a campground and the Calvaire d'Oka, a hillside of chapels used for pilgrimages. It is a popular day trip from Montreal in summer.
    Location: Oka, Laurentides
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national du Bic
    A scenic park on the south shore of the St. Lawrence estuary, with rocky headlands, islands, coves and seal colonies. Hiking trails and sea kayak trips are popular, and the sunsets over the river are known across the region.
    Location: Le Bic, Bas-Saint-Laurent
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national des Monts-Valin
    A mountain park north of the Saguenay known for deep winter snow, which coats the spruce trees into shapes called "snow ghosts." It is a favorite for skiing and snowshoeing in winter, and for hiking and mountain views in summer.
    Location: Saint-David-de-Falardeau, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville
    A park of low islands in the St. Lawrence River, just a few minutes from downtown Montreal, with flat trails for walking, cycling and kayaking. It is a good spot for birdwatching and for a nature outing in the city.
    Location: Boucherville, near Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national Kuururjuaq
    A remote Arctic park in the Torngat Mountains of northern Quebec, created in partnership with the Inuit of Nunavik, with tall peaks, glaciers and the Koroc River. It is reached only by air or boat and is for experienced, well-prepared visitors.
    Location: Nunavik, northeastern Quebec
    Website: Official Site

Provincial Wildlife Areas

  • Réserve faunique des Laurentides
    One of the largest wildlife reserves in Quebec, with thousands of lakes and rivers between Quebec City and Saguenay. It is known for fishing, hunting in season, canoeing, and viewing moose and black bears, and a main highway crosses it.
    Location: North of Quebec City, along Route 175
    Website: Official Site
  • Réserve faunique de Matane
    A wildlife reserve in the Gaspé mountains that is known for its Atlantic salmon runs on the Matane River and for its moose. Hiking trails and a salmon observation station make it a good stop, and the area has an unspoiled feel.
    Location: Matane, Bas-Saint-Laurent
    Website: Official Site
  • Réserve faunique de La Vérendrye
    A very large reserve of forests, lakes and rivers in western Quebec, a popular area for canoe tripping, fishing and camping. It has a long network of waterways used by Indigenous peoples and fur traders.
    Location: Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue
    Website: Official Site
  • Réserve faunique Papineau-Labelle
    A hilly reserve of forest and lakes north of Montreal that is popular for fishing, camping and canoeing. Its location close to Ottawa, Gatineau and Montreal makes it an easy weekend trip.
    Location: Laurentides and Outaouais
    Website: Official Site
  • Réserve faunique Rouge-Matawin
    A reserve of forests, rivers and lakes in the Laurentians that is known for moose, fishing, canoeing and cross-country adventures. The Rouge River is also used for whitewater rafting nearby.
    Location: Laurentians, near Saint-Michel-des-Saints
    Website: Official Site
  • Réserve faunique Mastigouche
    A reserve of lakes and forest that is good for canoeing, fishing and camping, and home to moose, black bears and many birds. It is not far from Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan.
    Location: Mauricie, near Saint-Alexis-des-Monts
    Website: Official Site
  • Réserve faunique Ashuapmushuan
    A large northern reserve with rivers, lakes and boreal forest, popular for canoeing, fishing and observing moose and woodland caribou. It is the traditional territory of the Innu and Atikamekw peoples.
    Location: Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
    Website: Official Site

Provincial Beaches

  • Oka Provincial Park Beach
    A long sandy beach on the Lake of Two Mountains, with shallow water, lifeguards, picnic areas and a lively summer crowd. It is one of the most popular swimming areas near Montreal.
    Location: Oka, Laurentides
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national de la Pointe-Taillon Beaches
    A peninsula of long sandy beaches on the shore of Lac Saint-Jean, with warm shallow water and a cycling path that circles the point. It is a popular beach area in the Saguenay region, with good camping and birdwatching.
    Location: Saint-Henri-de-Taillon, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national de Frontenac Beach
    A calm beach on the shore of Lac Saint-François, a large clear lake in the Appalachians, with sailing, canoeing and swimming. The park also has trails through hills and forests.
    Location: Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine, Chaudière-Appalaches
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc national du Mont-Orford Beach (Lac Stukely)
    A quiet beach on Lac Stukely in the Eastern Townships, with calm swimming water, a campground and picnic areas set in forest.
    Location: Eastern Townships
    Website: Official Site
  • Magdalen Islands Beaches
    About 300 kilometers (186 miles) of sand beaches, dunes and sandbars link the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with warm water in summer. Visitors come for swimming, kitesurfing, sand sculpture contests and walking on long, quiet beaches under red sandstone cliffs.
    Location: Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence
    Website: Official Site

Provincial Scenic Areas

  • Montmorency Falls Park
    A waterfall of about 83 meters (272 feet), roughly 30 meters taller than Niagara Falls, just outside Quebec City. Visitors can cross it on a suspension bridge, take a cable car, or climb the staircase beside the falls, and in winter the spray freezes into a huge ice cone.
    Location: Beauport, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Chemin du Roy (King's Road)
    A historic route of about 280 kilometers (174 miles) along the north shore of the St. Lawrence between Quebec City and Montreal, built in the 1730s as the first road in New France. It passes old villages, manor houses, churches and river views, and is a popular drive in fall.
    Location: Between Quebec City and Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Charlevoix Coast Road (Route 362)
    A hilly scenic road that follows the St. Lawrence between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie, with sweeping river views, art galleries, small farms and fine dining. It is a favorite drive in the region and a great place to see the fall colors.
    Location: Charlevoix
    Website: Official Site
  • Tour de la Gaspésie
    A loop of about 900 kilometers (560 miles) around the Gaspé Peninsula on Route 132, passing sea cliffs, fishing villages, lighthouses and the mountains of the Chic-Chocs. Highlights include Forillon National Park, Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island.
    Location: Gaspé Peninsula
    Website: Official Site
  • Île d'Orléans
    A rural island in the St. Lawrence just downriver from Quebec City, connected to the mainland by a bridge. A road of about 67 kilometers (42 miles) circles it past farms, orchards, wineries, chocolatiers and old stone houses, and it is one of the oldest settled areas in Quebec.
    Location: Near Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Eastern Townships Wine Route
    A tour of vineyards, cideries and local food producers in the hills near the Vermont border, centered on Dunham, Brome and Sutton. Visitors can taste ice cider, cheeses and local wines, and enjoy views of rolling countryside.
    Location: Eastern Townships, south of Montreal
    Website: Official Site

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III. Private Attractions

Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums

  • Montreal Botanical Garden
    A garden of about 75 hectares (185 acres) opened in 1931, with more than 20,000 species and cultivars of plants in themed gardens and greenhouses. Highlights include the Chinese Garden, the Japanese Garden and the First Nations Garden, and it is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world.
    Location: Rue Sherbrooke East, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Montreal Biodome
    A living museum inside the former Olympic velodrome, where four ecosystems of the Americas are recreated, including a tropical rainforest and the St. Lawrence marine environment. Penguins, lynx, sloths and many other animals live in the habitats.
    Location: Olympic Park, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Montreal Insectarium
    A museum devoted to insects, with a large collection of live and preserved specimens, and a garden. Its modern building was reopened in 2022 and it is a good stop for families.
    Location: Next to the Botanical Garden, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Granby Zoo (Zoo de Granby)
    A large zoo with animals from around the world, including big cats, giraffes, elephants and primates, and one of the most visited attractions in the Eastern Townships. It also has a water park and rides, and it is popular for family trips.
    Location: Granby, Eastern Townships
    Website: Official Site
  • Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien
    A zoo and wildlife park of about 485 hectares (1,200 acres), where visitors ride a train through large natural enclosures of Canadian animals, such as moose, bears and wolves, then walk a trail among animals from around the world. Many animals are rescued or from the region.
    Location: Saint-Félicien, Lac-Saint-Jean
    Website: Official Site
  • Aquarium du Québec
    An aquarium on the St. Lawrence with marine animals and exhibits on the St. Lawrence ecosystem. It is run by the provincial park agency, and it is a good family stop in Quebec City.
    Location: Sainte-Foy, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis)
    About 20 hectares (50 acres) of woodland gardens on the St. Lawrence, begun by Elsie Reford in 1926. It is famous for its blue Himalayan poppies, and the gardens also have a contemporary garden festival each summer.
    Location: Grand-Métis, Bas-Saint-Laurent
    Website: Official Site
  • Parc Safari
    A drive-through safari park with animals from around the world, including giraffes, zebras, lions and elephants, plus a water park and rides. It is a short drive from Montreal.
    Location: Hemmingford, Montérégie
    Website: Official Site
  • Ecomuseum Zoo
    A zoo on the western tip of the island of Montreal that focuses on animals native to Quebec and the St. Lawrence valley, including wolves, bears, lynx, foxes and owls. Many are injured or orphaned animals that cannot return to the wild.
    Location: Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Roger-Van den Hende Botanical Garden
    A botanical garden at Laval University with themed gardens, a greenhouse and collections of native and ornamental plants. It is a quieter garden for a stroll in Quebec City.
    Location: Laval University, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site

Major Museums

  • Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
    The oldest art museum in Quebec, founded in 1860, with a large collection of Canadian, European, Indigenous and contemporary art in a group of pavilions on Sherbrooke Street. It hosts major touring exhibitions and is a key part of Montreal's "Golden Square Mile."
    Location: Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Pointe-à-Callière Archaeology and History Museum
    A museum built on the site where Montreal was founded in 1642, with underground archaeological remains that can be explored by walkway. It tells the city's story from Indigenous peoples to modern times.
    Location: Old Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • McCord Stewart Museum
    A museum of Montreal history and culture with collections of costume, photographs, Indigenous cultures and decorative arts, including the large Notman photographic archive.
    Location: Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC)
    A museum devoted to Quebec and international contemporary art, in the Quartier des Spectacles. Rotating exhibitions, installations and film programs make it a good stop for modern art.
    Location: Place des Arts, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Canadian Centre for Architecture
    A museum and research center on architecture, with an outstanding collection of drawings, models and photographs, and a garden sculpture park. It is housed in a historic mansion linked to a modern building.
    Location: Baile Street, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Biosphere
    An environment museum inside the huge geodesic dome built for Expo 67 on Île Sainte-Hélène, with exhibits on climate, water and sustainability.
    Location: Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
    The main art museum in Quebec City, in a group of pavilions on the Plains of Abraham, with works from Quebec and around the world. It has a large collection of Quebec art from the 17th century to the present.
    Location: Battlefields Park, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Musée de la civilisation
    A museum in Quebec City's Lower Town, with exhibits on society, culture and history, including long-running displays on Indigenous peoples and the story of Quebec. It sits close to the St. Lawrence waterfront.
    Location: Rue Dalhousie, Old Quebec
    Website: Official Site
  • Musée de l'Amérique francophone
    A museum in the historic Séminaire de Québec that tells the story of French-speaking culture in North America, with a collection of old objects, art and scientific instruments.
    Location: Old Quebec, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Canadian Museum of History
    The most visited museum in Canada, with a curving building designed by architect Douglas Cardinal, overlooking the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill. It holds the Grand Hall with a collection of totem poles and exhibits on the country's history.
    Location: Gatineau, Outaouais
    Website: Official Site
  • Musée de la Gaspésie
    A museum in Gaspé that tells the story of the peninsula's people, from Indigenous communities and early fishing to modern life, beside a memorial to Jacques Cartier's landing.
    Location: Gaspé, Gaspésie
    Website: Official Site

Amusement and Water Parks

  • La Ronde
    The largest amusement park in Quebec, on Île Sainte-Hélène, built for Expo 67. It has more than 40 rides, including the wooden coaster Le Monstre, and it hosts the Montreal International Fireworks Competition each summer.
    Location: Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Village Vacances Valcartier
    A large resort and water park north of Quebec City, with water slides and pools in summer and a major snow tubing park in winter. It is also home to the Quebec Winter Carnival's Ice Hotel in some years.
    Location: Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, near Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Amazoo at Granby Zoo
    A large water park that is part of the Granby Zoo, with slides, pools and a wave pool, and a popular family stop in summer.
    Location: Granby, Eastern Townships
    Website: Official Site
  • Super Aqua Club
    A water park on Lake of Two Mountains with large slides, wave pools and play areas, a popular summer outing for Montreal families.
    Location: Pointe-Calumet, Laurentides
    Website: Official Site

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IV. Major Shopping Centers

  • Montreal Underground City (RÉSO)
    A network of about 33 kilometers (20 miles) of tunnels linking shopping centers, offices, hotels, metro stations and museums beneath downtown Montreal. It is a lifesaver in winter, with more than a thousand stores and restaurants.
    Location: Downtown Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Sainte-Catherine Street
    Montreal's main shopping street, with department stores, boutiques and restaurants stretching for several kilometers through the downtown core.
    Location: Downtown Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Carrefour Laval
    One of the largest shopping malls in Quebec, with department stores, fashion, a food court and a movie theatre complex, north of Montreal.
    Location: Laval
    Website: Official Site
  • Fairview Pointe-Claire
    A large mall in the western suburbs of Montreal, with national retailers and restaurants, which is a main shopping area for the West Island.
    Location: Pointe-Claire, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Quartier DIX30
    A huge outdoor lifestyle center on the South Shore with stores, restaurants, cinemas and entertainment, designed like a small town.
    Location: Brossard, Montérégie
    Website: Official Site
  • Premium Outlets Montréal
    An outdoor outlet mall with discounted brand-name stores, in a village-style layout north of Montreal.
    Location: Mirabel, Laurentides
    Website: Official Site
  • Marché Jean-Talon
    One of the largest open-air markets in North America, with local produce, cheeses, spices, meats and prepared foods, in the Little Italy neighborhood of Montreal.
    Location: Little Italy, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Marché Atwater
    An Art Deco market building from the 1930s beside the Lachine Canal, with butchers, bakers, cheese shops and flower stalls.
    Location: Saint-Henri, Montreal
    Website: Official Site
  • Petit-Champlain District
    One of the oldest commercial districts in North America, a lively pedestrian area of small boutiques, galleries and cafes in the Lower Town of Quebec City.
    Location: Old Quebec, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Laurier Québec
    The largest shopping mall in the Quebec City area, with hundreds of stores and a food court, in the Sainte-Foy district.
    Location: Sainte-Foy, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Galeries de la Capitale
    A large mall in Quebec City with an indoor amusement park, an ice rink and a big cinema, popular with families all year.
    Location: Charlesbourg, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site
  • Marché du Vieux-Port de Québec
    A year-round market on the Quebec City waterfront selling local produce, cheeses, ice cider and prepared foods, with a lively atmosphere on weekends.
    Location: Old Port, Quebec City
    Website: Official Site

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