The Magic of Christmas in Quebec City

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We love spending time with our family during the holidays but a couple of years ago my husband and I wanted to book a Christmas vacation. The issue we were facing was that we LOVE Christmas and wanted to choose a destination where we could still experience the magic of the season. We did our research and learned that Quebec City, right in our very own country, is rated one of the Top 10 Destinations at Christmas. It didn’t take us long to realize why!

We spent our first few nights at Hotel 71 and then moved up to the iconic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac on Christmas Eve. Hotel 71 is a contemporary boutique hotel that was once the head office of the National Bank of Canada. It is nestled right in the heart of the lower part of Old Quebec City and was a short walk to the shopping area of Quartier Petit Champlain. The room was spacious, clean and had spectacular views of the architecture that makes up the skyline of old Quebec. We would definitely stay there again.

Stepping out of our hotel was like stepping back in time into a scene straight out of a Charles Dickens novel. I kept having to pinch myself to make sure that I wasn’t dreaming. We made friends from as far away as Australia and South Africa who had traveled to Quebec City to experience a traditional white Christmas and were completely awestruck by its beauty, as were we.

But aside from feeling like you are living the life of a character in a romantic Christmas fairy tale, here are some other reasons why you will not regret visiting Quebec City at Christmas time.

Get Into the Spirit at the German Christmas Market

At this adorable European style market, you will find unique gift ideas from local vendors as well as traditional German products. Warm up with a cup of Vin Chaud from the Winterbar as you meander your way through the 80+ wooden kiosks or take in some of the entertainment. Make sure you try a German pretzel or traditional German chocolate cake before you leave! This was truly a magical experience.

Take a Stroll Through Old Quebec City

As we wandered the narrow, cobblestone streets of Old Quebec, we were serenaded by carolers in front of a beautiful Christmas tree in Place-Royale; we warmed up by a large outdoor bonfire and weaved in and out of lovely boutique shops and pubs along the Rue de Petit-Champlain. My husband and I had decided we would buy each other’s gifts while we were here and neither one of us had any trouble finding the perfect gift for our anniversary and Christmas. There are no words that can capture the beauty and romance of Quartier Petit Champlain at Christmas time. You truly need to experience it to believe it. And don’t forget to get your picture taken with Santa!

Experience a Traditional Midnight Mass

After a delightful dinner of steak, crab and wine (a Christmas eve tradition of ours) prepared right at our table at Le Continental, we walked over to Basilique Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Quebec to attend midnight mass. Despite the service being delivered in French, it was spiritual and beautiful and gave us reason to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. There is also a life-size nativity scene set up outside of the Cathedrale during the season which is definitely worth experiencing. We didn’t take any tours of the Basilique Cathedrale Notre-Dame but you can book them.

Christmas at Le Chateau Frontenac

It’s easy to see why this majestic hotel is one of the most photographed in the world. Perched above Old Quebec City with breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River, The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is a place you will want to spend some time exploring and snapping photos. The inside of the Frontenac was luxurious and beautiful with an old-world charm. The lobby was beautifully decorated and the row of 15 Christmas trees was spectacular. We stayed in a charming little room here from December 24th to December 26th and found plenty to do and see without straying too far from the property. We had a wonderful brunch on Christmas morning at Place Dufferin and then took a walk along Dufferin Terrace taking in the impressive view of the river and watching the thrill-seekers take a turn on the century-old Toboggan run. We came prepared to do this, but when we learned how FAST this run is (up to 70km/hr) we opted for watching the braver souls instead.

Truth be told, I was feeling incredibly homesick on this day. We had tickets to Christmas Dinner in the Ball Room at Chateau Frontenac and I wasn’t really feeling up to it but once we got there the evening turned into something we never would have imagined. The 6 course Christmas dinner was unbelievable (foie gras, salmon, game meat, filet mignon, cheese board, and a surprise yule log) and we were delightfully surprised to see this elegant dinner party turn into a super fun dance party! This evening completely exceeded our expectations. It was worth every penny!

Great Places to Eat and Drink

We ate at a couple of great restaurants while in Quebec City. Matto in Hotel 71 is a wonderful Italian restaurant with that family-run feel. We ate there twice it was so good! You must try the lasagna! We also had Christmas Eve dinner at Le Continental, a fine dining restaurant that prepares the meal right at your table. The steak and crab we had was excellent and the wine list was impressive. But what we really loved about the places to eat and drink in old Quebec were the pubs. I still dream about these cozy little spots serving up charcuterie and French onion soup alongside a pint or cup of vin chaud as you sit by a fire. Every pub we found had its own unique charm.

One of our favourites was Pub de L’Oncle Antoine a cozy little stone pub with a wood-burning fireplace. The French Onion soup is to die for here! It was a great place to come into from the cold after wandering Quartier Petit Champlain. Another favourite was Q-de-Sac Resto-Pub. We had so much fun here watching Team Canada play in the World Juniors one afternoon. There are many local beer choices and the poutine was delicious. We may have even done fireball shots off of a hockey stick with a couple we met from Australia. They light up the bar, ring a bell…it’s a whole thing. It was a great place!

Once we were up at Le Chateau Frontenac, we really enjoyed 1608 Wine and Cheese bar. It has a stunning view of the St. Lawrence River and an impressive bar in the center of the room. Have the bartender make you a martini and enjoy a cheese board before heading up to your room for the night.

Winter Gear is Fashionable

It was a tremendous relief to learn that people dress for the weather in Quebec. We had packed our parkas, ski pants and toques in anticipation of the toboggan run but I hadn’t really thought about how much walking around we would do. While the snow makes for a beautiful winter backdrop, the wind coming off the St. Lawrence is bone-chilling. It was a great relief to walk into pubs and restaurants and see folks wearing their toques and their winter clothes in a pile on the floor. The elements are no match for the people of Quebec city out celebrating the holidays and I was delighted to learn that “toque hair” is no big deal! But all kidding aside: be sure to pack for cold, humid weather.

But don’t let the winter weather discourage you from visiting Quebec City at Christmas time. This is definitely one vacation I will never forget!