Most people save Québec City for summer. I think they’re missing the best version of it.
In winter, Old Québec looks like a snow globe. Cobblestone streets under fresh snow, twinkle lights strung across the lanes, and the Château Frontenac glowing above the frozen St. Lawrence River. It feels like Europe, just a short flight or a scenic drive from home.
It’s perfect for a family trip with kids, and just as perfect as a luxurious winter escape for adults. I’ve run a women’s group trip here every winter for the past three years, and in 2027 we’re going in March and again for the Christmas markets in December. This is my winter wonderland guide: what to do, where to stay, and where to eat, straight from our Out Making Memories itinerary.
At a glance
- Old Québec and Petit Champlain
- The Au 1884 toboggan slide
- Dog sledding
- Hôtel de Glace, the ice hotel
- Village Vacances Valcartier: tubing, the indoor water park and ice skating
- Strøm Nordic Spa
- A horse-drawn sleigh ride
- Perfect for families and for grown-ups
Plus where to stay, where to eat, tips before you go and quick answers.
01 · Old Québec
a storybook in the snow
Start the way we always do: a slow walk along Dufferin Terrace, with the river frozen below and the Château towering behind you.
Then take the funicular (or the Breakneck Stairs, if you’re feeling brave) down to Quartier Petit Champlain, the cobblestone street below. It’s one of the oldest commercial districts in North America, and in winter it’s lit up with lights, evergreens and tiny boutiques. Keep wandering to Place Royale, where Québec City began.
Don’t over-plan your first afternoon. Simply wandering the streets of Old Québec is the whole point.
Tip: Old Québec is walkable, but it’s hilly and icy. Bring proper winter boots with good grip, and save your cute shoes for dinner.
02 · Au 1884
the toboggan slide on Dufferin Terrace
This one is a Québec City tradition. The Au 1884 toboggan slide has been on Dufferin Terrace since, you guessed it, 1884. You climb to the top with your wooden toboggan, and race down at speeds up to 70 km/h with the Château Frontenac and the St. Lawrence beside you.
It’s $5 a ride, paid on site. We’ll see who’s brave enough. Every year, it’s the most laughing we do all trip.
03 · Dog Sledding
into the snowy forest with the huskies
Just outside the city, the countryside opens up into snowy forests, and this is where you meet the dogs. You’ll learn how to drive the sled, and then you’re off through the trees with a team of huskies who could not be happier to run.
You will fall in love with the dogs and all of their energy.
Tip: Dress in layers you can move in, with waterproof mittens and a neck warmer. You’ll be warm while you’re mushing, and cold the minute you stop.
04 · Hôtel de Glace
a hotel built entirely of ice
Every winter, the Hôtel de Glace is built from scratch out of snow and ice, and every spring it melts away. The rooms, the chapel, the sculptures and the bar are all ice, and every year has a new theme.
Take a guided tour through the themed suites and the ice sculptures, then order a cocktail at the Ice Bar, served in a glass made of ice. On our trip we go one step further and have dinner in a dining room made entirely of ice.
Tip: The ice hotel is a seasonal build, usually open from early January to late March. Check this year’s dates before you book, and go late afternoon so you see it in daylight and lit up after dark.
05 · Valcartier
village vacances valcartier, a must-visit
Village Vacances Valcartier is a must-visit. It’s less than 30 minutes from the city, and it’s home to the Hôtel de Glace, so you can easily make a full day of it. Think of it as Québec’s giant winter playground, and it’s just as much fun for grown-ups as it is for kids.
snow tubing
This is what Valcartier is famous for. There are around 35 snow slides, from gentle family runs to steep, fast ones that will have you screaming the whole way down, plus lifts that tow you and your tube back to the top so you can go again and again.
the indoor water park
Yes, a water park in the middle of a Québec winter. Bora Parc is Valcartier’s indoor water park, more than 100,000 square feet of slides, pools and a river, kept at a tropical 86°F all year. Going from snow tubing to swimming in the same afternoon is the best kind of ridiculous.
Tip: Pack a swimsuit, even for a winter trip. You’ll want it for Bora Parc, and for Strøm.
ice skating
When the sun goes down, lace up for ice skating under the lights, with music playing and the snow all around you. It’s the perfect, cozy way to end a day at Valcartier.
Combine it all with the Hôtel de Glace next door for one very full, very happy day.
06 · Strøm
hot, cold, float at strøm nordic spa
Strøm Spa Nordique sits right on the shores of the St. Lawrence, and in winter it’s pure magic. You move between hot baths, saunas and cold plunges, then rest by the fire while the snow falls and the river ice drifts by.
On our trip, we spend a whole morning here with lunch at the spa. Add a massage and book it ahead.
Tip: Reserve Strøm and any massages in advance, especially on weekends.
07 · Sleigh Ride
a horse-drawn sleigh through the forest
Out in the countryside, we bundle up under blankets for a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered forest. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it’s the kind of moment that makes a winter trip feel like a holiday card.
For Everyone
for families, and for grown-ups
Here’s what I love most about Québec City in winter: it works for everyone.
With kids, it’s a dream. Snow tubing at Valcartier, an indoor water park in the middle of winter, huskies to cuddle, a toboggan slide in front of a castle, and hot chocolate around every corner. My own kids have done it all.
Without kids, it’s a luxurious winter wonderland. A suite at the Château Frontenac, a morning moving between hot pools and cold plunges at Strøm, cocktails in glasses made of ice, and candlelit tasting menus at Michelin-starred restaurants. It’s romantic, it’s indulgent, and it’s the perfect girls’ trip.
Bring the kids for snow tubing and huskies. Come back with the girls for Strøm, the Château and Michelin dinners.
That’s exactly why I host my women’s group trip here every March. In 2027, our Québec City Winter Wonderland trip runs March 3 – 7, 2027, and our new Christmas Markets trip runs December 15 – 19, 2027.
Where to Stay
the château frontenac
If you can, stay at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. It’s one of the most photographed hotels in the world, sitting on top of Cap Diamant with views over the St. Lawrence, and in winter it really does feel like a castle.
You’re steps from Dufferin Terrace, the toboggan slide, the funicular and Old Québec’s best restaurants, so you can leave the car and walk everywhere.
Where to Eat
where to eat in québec city
Québec City has become a serious food destination. The Michelin Guide arrived here in 2025, and the old city is full of candlelit stone vaults and cozy dining rooms. A few of my favorites, and the spots on my list:
- Tanière³: a tasting menu served in centuries-old vaulted cellars beneath Old Québec. It earned two Michelin stars in the first Québec guide. Book well ahead.
- Laurie Raphaël: a Québec City institution with seasonal, local cooking, and a Michelin star.
- Légende: boreal and northern Québec ingredients, done beautifully, with a Michelin star.
- Le Clan: one of the city’s most talked-about tasting menus, also with a Michelin star.
- Champlain: the elegant restaurant inside the Château Frontenac, recommended in the Michelin Guide. Easy when you’re staying upstairs.
- Le Saint-Amour: traditional Québec flavors with modern technique. We do a seven-course tasting menu here on our trip.
Tip: Reserve your dinners before you go. The best tables in a small city fill fast, especially in peak winter.
and in between, simply wander
- Wander the streets of Old Québec inside the city walls
- Walk the cobblestones of Rue du Petit-Champlain, below the funicular
- Sip hot chocolate on Dufferin Terrace
- Pop into Place Royale and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
- Duck into a café whenever your toes get cold
Good to Know
before you go
- Best window: late December to March for snow, the ice hotel and winter activities
- Stay in Old Québec and walk everywhere
- Pack proper winter boots, warm layers and waterproof mittens
- Reserve Strøm and your dinners ahead
- Add a day if you want time for both dog sledding and Valcartier
Coming in December instead? The Christmas markets turn the old city into something out of a holiday movie, and we added a Québec City Christmas Markets trip for 2027 by popular demand.
Quick Answers
frequently asked questions
Is Québec City worth visiting in winter?
Yes. Winter is when Québec City feels most magical, with snow on the cobblestones, holiday lights in Old Québec, and seasonal experiences like the Hôtel de Glace, dog sledding and the Au 1884 toboggan slide on Dufferin Terrace.
What is there to do at Village Vacances Valcartier in winter?
Valcartier is a winter playground near Québec City with around 35 snow slides for tubing, Bora Parc indoor water park kept at 86°F year-round, ice skating under the lights, and the Hôtel de Glace on site.
When is the Hôtel de Glace open?
The ice hotel is rebuilt every winter and is usually open from early January to late March. Check the current season’s dates before you plan your trip.
How much is the toboggan slide in Québec City?
The Au 1884 toboggan slide on Dufferin Terrace costs $5 per ride, paid on site, and riders can reach up to 70 km/h.
Where should I stay in Québec City in winter?
Stay in Old Québec so you can walk everywhere. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the classic choice, steps from Dufferin Terrace, the funicular and Petit Champlain.
What are the best restaurants in Québec City?
Tanière³ holds two Michelin stars, while Laurie Raphaël, Légende and Le Clan each hold one. Champlain at the Château Frontenac is recommended in the Michelin Guide, and Le Saint-Amour is a long-time favorite.
come with me this winter
If this has you dreaming of snow, come with me. Our Québec City Winter Wonderland trip runs March 3 – 7, 2027: four nights at the Château Frontenac, dog sledding, the Hôtel de Glace, Strøm, the toboggan slide and some of the best dinners in the city, with every detail planned.
And new for 2027, by popular demand: Québec City Christmas Markets, December 15 – 19, 2027.
Questions? Email me at summer@outmakingmemories.com.
— Summer.
