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There is much more to see beyond the city walls. The places to visit near Quebec City give you access to natural parks, historic villages, river trails, and alpine landscapes without the need for long drives. You can spend a morning at a canyon bridge, follow it up with local cheese in the countryside, and end your day at a mountain spa. Whether you want quiet forest paths or weekend ski slopes, everything lies within reach. These places offer practical day trips and real local experiences that take you out of the tourist zone and into Quebec’s surrounding character.
Top 10 Places To Visit Near Quebec City
Each of these places to visit near Quebec City offers a distinct experience, from outdoor adventures to heritage sites and small-town charm. All are close enough for easy day trips.
1. Île D’orléans
Photo: Pitofotos / Shutterstock
If you want to experience rural Quebec without losing touch with history or local flavour, Île d’Orléans gives you both. The island is known for its heritage farms, family-run cider houses, and beautifully preserved French colonial homes. As you drive or cycle along Route 368, which loops around the entire island, you’ll find orchards selling seasonal fruit, creameries making aged cheese on-site, and small bakeries serving tourtière and maple pastries straight from wood ovens. You can stop at Sainte-Famille’s neo-Gothic church or walk through open-air museums showing how early settlers lived.
Distance From Quebec City: 36.2 km
Timings: 24*7
Major Attractions: Vignobles Ste-Pétronille, Cassis Monna & Filles, Sainte-Famille church, scenic countryside routes
2. Montmorency Falls Park
Photo: MD Gomes / Shutterstock
Montmorency Falls is taller than Niagara, and what makes it unforgettable is how close you can get to every part of it. The park is designed to let you walk, ride, or even glide right over the falls. Start at the base and climb the 480-step panoramic staircase that hugs the cliff, with lookout points at every level. At the top, the suspension bridge gives you a direct view of the 83-metre drop and the Saint Lawrence River beyond. If you take the cable car, it brings you to the historic Manoir Montmorency, where you can stop for lunch before heading to the trails.
Distance From Quebec City: 12.4 km
Timings: 9 AM – 6:30 PM
Cost: C$4 – 13 / ₹250 – 800
Major Attractions: 83-metre-high waterfall, suspension bridge, cable car, zipline, panoramic staircase
3. Canyon Sainte-Anne
Photo: JustPixs / Shutterstock
Canyon Sainte-Anne gives you a chance to walk through a 1.2-billion-year-old gorge without straying far from the city. The trails are carved along steep rock faces, leading to three suspension bridges that cross right over rushing waterfalls. The highest one hangs 60 metres above the canyon, offering an unobstructed view of the Saint-Anne-du-Nord River cutting through ancient granite walls. The sound of the water is constant, and in some sections, wooden platforms let you lean right over the edge. If you’re listing unforgettable outdoor places to see near Quebec City, this one easily earns its place.
Distance From Quebec City: 42.7 km
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Cost: C$15.50 / ₹900 for adults, C$9.50 / ₹550 for children
Major Attractions: Canyon trails, three suspension bridges, waterfalls, AirCANYON ride
4. Baie-Saint-Paul
Photo: Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock
Baie-Saint-Paul has been a centre for artists long before it became a destination. The town’s narrow streets are filled with galleries, studios, and cafés that feel more like creative spaces than shops. Rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste is where most of the art scene lives. You’ll find everything from landscape paintings to sculpture and contemporary installations. The Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul hosts rotating exhibitions that highlight Quebec’s cultural evolution. Then you can walk down to the bay itself, where sandbars stretch into the Saint Lawrence River and seabirds circle overhead. The town is also known for local produce and farm-to-table menus.
Distance From Quebec City: 94.5 km
Cost: C$5 – 12 / ₹300 – 700
Major Attractions: Contemporary art galleries, Rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Le Massif train stop
5. Le Massif De Charlevoix
Photo: PhilippeJuteau / Shutterstock
Le Massif de Charlevoix offers a mountain experience that feels both remote and sharply curated. Unlike larger resorts, this one is built to preserve views rather than crowd them. When you ski here in winter, the slope begins high above the Saint Lawrence River and runs down with sweeping views the entire way. The trails cater to a mix of levels, but advanced skiers especially enjoy the steeper northern sections. Among all the places to visit near Quebec City, Le Massif is where sport, design, and nature combine without losing touch with local culture or landscape.
Distance From Quebec City: 95.5 km
Timings: 9 AM – 4 PM
Cost: C$80 / ₹5,000 (ski-pass)
Major Attractions: Ski slopes, alpine coaster, panoramic train, hiking trails
6. Sainte-Anne-De-Beaupré Basilica
Photo: santinovichphoto.com / Shutterstock
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica is more than a religious site; it’s a place of craftsmanship, history, and silent storytelling. The basilica’s façade stands out with its twin spires and intricate stone carvings, but the real detail lies inside. Stained-glass windows cast coloured light across polished floors, and every arch, column, and mural reflects decades of artistic work. The basilica is known for healing, and the atmosphere encourages quiet reflection. Among the tourist attractions near Quebec City, this is one of the few where spirituality and architecture stand equally in focus without distraction.
Distance From Quebec City: 34.8 km
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Major Attractions: Basilica architecture, religious relics, healing site, Stations of the Cross trail
7. Jacques-Cartier National Park
Photo: Bruno Bouchard / Shutterstock
Jacques-Cartier National Park brings you into a glacial valley where cliffs rise above a winding river, and forests stretch out in every direction. The Jacques-Cartier River itself is calm enough for canoeing and paddleboarding, especially during late spring and summer. If you’re more interested in hiking, the Les Loups Trail gives you one of the best lookout points over the entire valley, which is worth the climb, especially on clear mornings. Wildlife is common but not intrusive; you may spot moose grazing near the riverbanks or hear woodpeckers deeper in the forest.
Distance From Quebec City: 51 km
Timings: 24*7
Cost: C$10 / ₹600
Major Attractions: Jacques-Cartier River valley, canoeing, moose viewing, hiking trails
8. Portneuf Region
Photo: Francois Malouin / Shutterstock
The Portneuf region is often skipped in favour of better-known spots, but that’s exactly what makes it worth exploring. The town of Saint-Casimir sits along the Sainte-Anne River and is known for its historic stone mills and peaceful water trails. You can rent kayaks and paddle through stretches of the river lined with forest on both sides, with rest areas built along the banks. One unique stop is the Domaine Hébert, a small cheese farm where you can try raw-milk varieties produced on-site. The regional food markets sell locally milled flour, honey, and preserved vegetables, all from the surrounding farms.
Distance From Quebec City: 51.6 km
Timings: Varies
Cost: C$5 – 20 / ₹300 – 1,200
Major Attractions: River kayaking, Domaine Hébert cheese shop, heritage mills
9. Charlevoix Astroblème
Photo: Vincent JIANG / Shutterstock
The Charlevoix Astroblème is not a place you notice from your car window; it’s a massive ancient crater only recognisable once you understand the geography. Formed by a 15-kilometre-wide meteorite impact over 300 million years ago, it has reshaped the entire region. You can explore the area by driving the crater rim, stopping at interpretation panels that explain how the mountains were altered by the strike. Near Les Éboulements, boulder fields and rock faces show layers of compressed granite and fault lines, offering clear signs of the impact’s scale. The Observatoire de l’Astroblème, a small but well-curated centre, offers maps and geological displays if you want a deeper understanding.
Distance From Quebec City: 134.9 km
Timings: 24*7
Major Attractions: Geological rock formations, crater landscape, interpretation panels, canyon walks
10. Stoneham-Et-Tewkesbury
Photo: Anne Richard / Shutterstock
Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury gives you easy access to year-round outdoor activity without needing to plan a full weekend trip. The area is best known for the Stoneham Mountain Resort, which operates one of the largest night-skiing setups in the country. Even if you don’t ski, the chairlift ride gives you broad views over snow-covered pine forests in winter. In summer, the trails around the resort and nearby Tewkesbury River are open for hiking, with well-marked loops that pass through woodland and elevated clearings. Just outside the main resort, Le Nordique Spa offers thermal pools fed by natural streams, surrounded by forest.
Distance From Quebec City: 44.1 km
Timings: 9 AM – 9:30 PM (Monday-Friday) & 8:30 AM – 9:30 PM (Saturday-Sunday)
Cost: C$75 / ₹4,500 (ski pass)
Major Attractions: Stoneham Mountain Resort, Le Nordique Spa trails, Lac Beauport nearby
Discover the best places to visit near Quebec City where nature, history, and culture meet. From peaceful island vineyards to dramatic canyons with hanging bridges, every destination offers something unique. Whether you love art, hiking, skiing, or food, these nearby gems make perfect day trips. Escape the city, explore scenic surroundings, and return by night. Plan your next memorable outing with TripXL and explore Quebec’s beautiful countryside.
Cover Photo: Qing Pan / Shutterstock
