Quebec, Canada | Fall 2025
I’d always heard people say, “Québec City feels like Europe without leaving North America.” This trip was my chance to see if that was true and to experience Québec’s fall charm firsthand.
Quick Trip Details
Route: NYC – Montreal → 3-hour drive to Québec City
Hotel: Hotel PUR Québec – Saint-Roch neighborhood
Morning Must: Tim Hortons (because when in Canada…)
Season: October – peak fall foliage (best time to visit)
Unique Experience: Crimes in France Animated Walking Tour
I flew from NYC into Montréal, a convenient and budget-friendly gateway to Québec. From Montréal’s airport, I booked a bus directly to Québec City, skipping the hassle of renting a car and navigating unfamiliar roads.
The bus ride was comfortable, scenic and dropped me right downtown. It’s perfect for solo travelers or short trips. If you’re planning this route, booking ahead makes it seamless. Reserve your Montréal → Québec City bus on Busbud: Book Here
Saturday: Waterfalls, Wall Art & Murder Stories
Check-In — Hotel PUR Québec
By early afternoon, I arrived at Hotel PUR Québec. It’s tucked in the Saint-Roch, district the city’s creative heart. This isn’t the old walled town everyone raves about; it’s more urban-cool, filled with colorful murals, indie coffee shops and students. The neighborhood feels local and lived-in, a refreshing contrast to the postcard perfection waiting in Old Québec.
Afternoon — Montmorency Falls
My first stop, about 20 minutes outside the city, was Montmorency Falls. It’s taller than Niagara but infinitely more peaceful, with a fraction of the tourists. We crossed the suspension bridge and wandered along the park trails, taking in the mist and the sound of the rushing water.
The falls may not have Niagara’s thunderous drama but what it lacks in scale, it makes up for in serenity. Surrounded by fiery fall foliage, it felt like a scene straight out of a painting.
Evening — Crimes in France: Animated Walking Tour
After exploring the falls, I hopped on a bus back to the city and grabbed Japanese food from a restaurant I’d noticed earlier in the day. The perfect warm-up before a chilly October night.
Later that evening, I joined a theatrical walking tour called Crimes in New France, led by a costumed guide portraying the executioner’s wife. She took us through Old Québec’s narrow cobblestone streets, sharing haunting stories about crime, punishment and justice in the mid-17th century.
It was eerie, fascinating and surprisingly educational. The perfect way to experience the city’s darker side after sunset.
By the time the tour ended, I was fully wrapped up in Québec’s layered history and ready to collapse into my cozy bed back at Hotel PUR.
Sunday: Croissants, Castles & Cobblestones
Morning — Coffee & the Walk to Old Québec
I’ve now been to Canada twice and I was fully committed to starting my day the Canadian way, with Tim Hortons. A classic latte and a maple donut felt like a rite of passage. Once caffeinated, I set off on foot to explore Old Québec, ready to trade my morning routine for cobblestone streets and centuries-old charm.
Porte Saint-Jean — Gateway to the Past
The Porte Saint-Jean gate marks your official entry into Old Québec and crossing through it feels cinematic. The scene instantly reminded me of the old city in Colombia, with its historic charm and warm street energy.
Rue Saint-Jean is the perfect street to wander slowly, peeking into boutiques and soaking up that Paris-in-North-America vibe. There are countless restaurants tucked between souvenir shops and bakeries.
Château Frontenac & Terrasse Dufferin
Climbing the steep hill from the main road, I reached the moment everyone waits for, the first glimpse of Château Frontenac, the grand hotel perched on a cliff like a fairytale castle. I joined the crowd along Terrasse Dufferin, the wooden boardwalk overlooking the St. Lawrence River, snapping photos from every angle. The air was crisp, the view endless and every shot looked ready for a postcard.
The hotel’s first floor and lower level are open to the public and stepping inside felt like walking through history. Ornate furniture, warm lighting and preserved architectural details tell stories of another era. A rare blend of elegance and nostalgia that makes you want to linger just a little longer.
To descend into Lower Town, I braved the Escalier Casse-Cou, nicknamed the Breakneck Stairs. Every step came with a photo stop. At the bottom, Quartier du Petit-Champlain unfolded like a storybook, cobblestones, colorful facades, flower boxes and shops selling every kind of souvenir imaginable.
A cruise ship had docked, so the streets were alive with energy. Tour guides everywhere, travelers snapping photos and shop owners greeting visitors in both French and English.
Place Royale & Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
A short walk brought me to Place Royale, one of the oldest public squares in North America. At its center stands Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, a small stone church that feels frozen in time.
This was the same spot where my Crimes in New France night tour ended and where I learned that this picturesque square once had a much darker role. During the 1600s and 1700s, criminals were brought here to face public punishment. Some were placed in wooden stocks or tied to posts for humiliation, others were whipped and in extreme cases, executed in front of the townspeople. The public square served as both spectacle and warning, a way to enforce order in the colony through fear and exposure.
Standing there the next day, it was almost surreal. The same square now filled with tourists was once a stage for punishment, it’s proof that even the most beautiful places can hold heavy histories.
Final Thoughts: Why Québec City Works for Solo Travel
Québec City is compact, walkable and welcoming. You can cover the highlights in one or two days, yet every corner invites you to linger. It’s photogenic and easy to navigate, ideal for first-time solo travelers.
If you’re based in NYC or Montreal, this is your sign: plan that weekend trip. Pack a warm coat, bring your camera and prepare to time-travel through cobblestone streets and European sites.
