Planning a family trip to Quebec City at Christmas? See our winter vacation itinerary filled with snow tubing, poutine, maple syrup, French culture, history, and holiday magic.

For Christmas last year, our family decided to celebrate a little differently. Santa came on Christmas Eve and gave us all matching sweatshirts to wear on our upcoming family vacation to Québec City!

Six of us flew out on Christmas Day from Orlando, Florida, to Québec City. Flying direct from Orlando was actually cheaper, and the flight was only about three hours. Getting through the airport on Christmas Day was a breeze, and honestly, the experience was so easy that we would absolutely consider traveling on Christmas Day again.

One of the things that made Québec City such an appealing destination for our family was that we could experience so much European charm without flying halfway around the world. From Florida, we were only a few hours away from cobblestone streets, French-speaking locals (I made all the kids practice French in Duo Lingo before leaving!), centuries of history, incredible food, and a whole lot of snow!

And let me tell you…for a family from Tampa, Florida, seeing snow on Christmas vacation was pretty magical.

Exploring Québec City at Christmas

Once we arrived in Québec City, we headed to Hotel Acadia to leave our luggage and freshen up. Then it was time to do what we do best when visiting a new city: explore!

We headed out on foot to see all the Christmas magic around Québec City. The holiday decorations, historic buildings, store-lined streets, and snow made the city feel like something straight out of a Christmas movie. In fact, one of my favorite pictures is totally right out of a Hallmark movie…Don’t you agree??!

Of course, we had to have an obligatory snowball fight since we don’t see much snow in Tampa!

For our first meal in Québec City, we had dinner at Archibald Microbrasserie, a Canadian pub that was very popular with locals and visitors alike. And naturally, we had our very first serving of poutine.

You Have to Try Poutine in Quebec City

If you are visiting Québec City, trying poutine is an absolute must.

Poutine is one of Canada’s most famous comfort foods, and once you try it, it’s easy to understand why. Traditional poutine is made with crispy French fries topped with cheese curds and brown gravy. The hot gravy melts the cheese curds just enough to create a warm, savory, completely delicious dish.

There are plenty of variations of poutine throughout Québec, but when in Québec City, I highly recommend starting with the classic version.

After dinner, we headed back to our hotel for a white elephant gift exchange. There were lots of laughs, questionable gifts, and plenty of fun memories made. It was definitely a Christmas Day we won’t forget!

Day Two: A Walking Tour, French Pastries and Québec City History

Our second day in Québec City started with an amazing breakfast at Paillard, a French-style pastry shop and café.

Starting the day with a buttery croissant and a steaming café au lait felt like the perfect way to embrace our surroundings. One of the things I loved most about Québec City was hearing French everywhere we went. While English is widely spoken and we had absolutely no problem communicating, hearing French, seeing the French architecture, and experiencing the culture made the trip feel like we had traveled much farther from home.

Take a Walking Tour of Old Québec

Next, we took a two-hour Christmas Magic Walking Tour of the city.

You know I love taking walking tours whenever we visit somewhere new. It’s one of my favorite ways to learn the history of a destination, figure out where everything is located, and discover experiences that you might otherwise miss.

This particular tour was completely outdoors, and after about an hour, we were absolutely freezing! Let’s just say that we learned very quickly that our Florida winter clothes were not quite enough for a Canadian winter.

Layers became our best friends for the rest of the trip.

Despite the cold, we learned a ton about the history of Quebec City and got to sample some treats from local markets.

Old Québec is particularly fascinating because it has more than 400 years of history and is the birthplace of French North America. The historic district is also the only fortified city north of Mexico with its ramparts still preserved, making it a truly unique place to visit without leaving North America.

Just How Cold Is Québec City at Christmas?

Let me be very clear about one thing: it is COLD.

And I’m not talking about the kind of cold where you throw on a jacket and complain about it for a few minutes. We have never experienced cold like this before!

If you’re visiting Québec City in the winter, especially over Christmas and New Year’s, come prepared. Winter jackets, snow pants, scarves, gloves (and honestly, double up if needed!), hats, multiple pairs of socks, and snow boots are an absolute must.

I am not exaggerating when I say that we actually left our snow pants on in most restaurants while we were eating because we were constantly COLD.

And while we definitely looked like we were bundled up and ready to climb Mount Everest, we were much happier being warm than freezing! Honestly, most of the locals ate with their snow pants on too…it’s easier than taking them on and off 😉

For this Florida family, learning how to properly dress for a real Canadian winter was definitely part of the adventure.

My biggest piece of advice? Don’t underestimate the cold. Layer up, get waterproof snow boots, and bring more cold-weather gear than you think you’ll need. You can always take a layer off, but once you’re outside walking around Quebec with the wind blowing, you’ll be very happy you packed those extra socks!

A Hotel Filled With History

That evening, we went on a historical tour of Auberge Saint-Antoine with one of the owners and had dinner at Bar Artefact.

There are more than 700 artifacts from the 17th and 18th centuries displayed throughout the hotel, making the property feel almost like a living museum.

Bar Artefact is where we had dinner, and it’s also where you can see many of the unique artifacts that were discovered during the construction of the hotel.

If you are a history buff, this is definitely a must-visit stop in Quebec City. You can take a guided tour like we did or explore the hotel on your own.

Be sure to check out my Instagram highlight for some cool pictures and videos we took while we were there. Not only is there a lot to see, but the food was fantastic too.

After dinner, it was time for one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip!

Tobogganing in Quebec

We went to Dufferin Terrace for a toboggan ride, and it was SO much fun!

Each ride only cost about $5 when we visited, although there was a bit of a wait. Ours was around 45 minutes. Of course, we turned it into a race, and I am happy to announce that Steve and I, the adults, won!

Because apparently age and wisdom really do win sometimes.

Your ticket also included a mug of hot chocolate for each guest, which was especially appreciated after spending so much time outside in the cold!

Day Three: Relaxing at a Nordic Spa in the Snow

After breakfast with the crew at Le Bonnet d’Âne, a neighborhood bistro that prides itself on keeping the vibe “old school,” we split up for the day. We actually ate here twice, it was delicious….I mean, look at these crepes! Plus, I appreciate the fact that breakfasts are served with mini-smoothies…gotta get those vitamins in!

The kids went exploring on their own while Steve and I spent part of our third day relaxing at Strøm spa nordique / Vieux-Québec.

The walk there was very enjoyable, but I must warn you about the stairs.

There are a LOT of them.

Going down was no big deal, but they seemed significantly longer going back up after three hours of relaxing!

We chose the thermal spa experience, which included hot tubs, pools, dry saunas, steam rooms, an infrared room, and access to several relaxation areas.

Steve was worried that we would be too cold, but we weren’t!

Well…except for when we did the cold plunge.

I was really excited about trying it, and while it was definitely cold, the entire experience was incredible. Sitting in a hot pool surrounded by snow is something that this Florida girl won’t forget anytime soon.

After climbing the many stairs back up, we met the rest of our group at SHAKER Kitchen & Mixology.

Shaker ended up being one of our favorite hangouts in Québec City, and we stopped in multiple times during our trip. The atmosphere was great, the staff was amazing, and they served delicious food and drinks.

We ended the day playing games in our hotel room again, and honestly, those evenings together ended up being some of my favorite memories from the trip.

Day Four: Château Frontenac, Snow Tubing and the Ice Hotel

On our fourth day in Québec City, we went to see all of the holiday decorations at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.

This historic hotel has more than 600 rooms and looks like a real-life castle!

The Château Frontenac opened in 1893 and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in Québec City.

Even if you aren’t staying at the hotel, I highly recommend stopping by to see it and explore the surrounding area.

It also happens to be home to the only Starbucks in Old Québec, so my husband Steve was quite happy about that discovery!

After another delicious breakfast at Paillard, it was time to head out for some snow tubing at Village Vacances Valcartier.

Snow Tubing at Village Vacances Valcartier

Since we live in Florida, snow tubing was obviously a brand-new experience for us.

We were all really excited about it, and the day did not disappoint!

There were dozens of hills to choose from, and we spent about four hours exploring as many as we could. Snow tubing at Valcartier was one of the most fun family activities we experienced during our Christmas vacation in Québec City.

Visiting the Hôtel de Glace

After our snow tubing adventures, we headed to the famous ice hotel.

The Hôtel de Glace has rooms made completely from ice and snow that you can actually stay in overnight. Visitors can tour some of the rooms, admire incredible ice sculptures, and see the detailed snow carvings throughout the hotel.

Of course, we had to visit the ice bar.

We enjoyed some of the coolest drinks of the trip…pun absolutely intended.

And yes, we had shots served in glasses made from ice!

After visiting the ice hotel, we headed back into the city and enjoyed delicious ramen at Honō Ramen.

And then something pretty fun happened.

The kids stumbled upon the Toboggan New Year’s festival! They listened to music, danced in the streets, and enjoyed the festive energy before eventually heading back to our hotel. Toboggan was Québec City’s annual New Year’s celebration, bringing live music, dancing, and plenty of fun to the city during the final days of the year. They hadn’t planned on finding it, which made stumbling upon all the music and festivities even more fun!

Steve and I happily relaxed at the hotel sipping wine and waited for their very hyper return to tell us all about it!

If you are visiting Québec City around New Year’s, definitely keep an eye on the city’s event calendar. Québec City’s Toboggan New Year’s Eve celebrations typically bring several days of music, dancing, family activities, and festivities to the city, making the holiday season an especially fun time to visit.

A Snowy Day Exploring Old Québec

On our last full day in Québec City, it snowed! A LOT.

There were lots of big, fat snowflakes falling around us, and it was absolutely beautiful.

We spent the day eating, drinking, shopping, and wandering through the snow.

We grabbed some beer and snacks at DORSAY Pub Britannique, an English-style pub with a great selection of beers.

After more walking and shopping, we decided to head back to Shaker one last time. The kids absolutely loved ordering sangria by the pitcher…fun fact…drinking age in Quebec is 18….my daughter was pretty happy about that 😉

When you find a place you love on vacation, you might as well enjoy it as much as possible!

Maple Syrup and Québécois Food

You can’t talk about visiting Québec without talking about the food.

Beyond poutine, maple syrup is a huge part of the Québec food experience.

From maple candy and maple butter to maple syrup served with traditional dishes, you will find maple flavors throughout the region. Québec’s culinary traditions are influenced by French, British, North American, and Indigenous cultures, creating a food scene that feels both familiar and completely unique.

We had our final brunch at Restaurant La Buche, which was super cute and the food was amazing.

La Bûche has a fun sugar shack-inspired atmosphere, making it a particularly appropriate place to experience some traditional Québécois flavors and maple-inspired dishes before heading home.

I highly recommend making reservations if you want to eat there!

Traveling Home From Québec City

The next day, it was time for us to head home.

After brunch, we checked out of our hotel and checked into a Marriott near the airport. We took one final walk around town to stretch our legs, which ended up being a really good thing!

As beautiful as the snow was, it didn’t come without a few travel repercussions.

Our flight was delayed by nine hours, and then we ended up having to change flights because customs was closed!

My luggage also ended up getting a little damaged, but as far as travel woes go, it could have been much worse.

We all made it back home safe and sound, and with plenty of stories to tell!

Why Québec City Is Perfect for a Family Christmas Vacation

You might be wondering why we chose Québec City for our family vacation.

There were actually lots of reasons.

The first was simple: none of us had ever been there before.

But once we started researching, we realized just how much Québec City had to offer.

Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved examples of a fortified colonial city in North America. The city has more than 400 years of history, cobblestone streets, historic architecture, French culture, incredible restaurants, pubs, and outdoor adventures.

For us, Québec City felt a little like visiting Europe without the long international flight.

We loved hearing French spoken throughout the city. We loved walking through the historic streets. We loved the snow, the food, the poutine, the maple syrup, and all the winter activities.

And while French is the official language of Québec, we had no problem communicating in English during our visit.

Québec City is also incredibly walkable, especially around Old Québec, which made it easy for our family to explore at our own pace.

Would We Visit Québec City Again?

Absolutely.

Our family really loved our Christmas vacation in Québec City, and I would happily go back.

We would also consider traveling on a major holiday again!

Some of the things I loved most about Québec City were hearing French spoken around us, experiencing so much history, enjoying the European feel without having to fly across the Atlantic, and having so many family-friendly adventures right outside our hotel.

The easy flight from Florida was another huge bonus.

We snow tubed, went to a Nordic spa surrounded by snow, rode a toboggan, visited an ice hotel, ate poutine, enjoyed French-inspired food, wandered cobblestone streets, and danced at a festival.

Not bad for one family Christmas vacation!

Check out my Instagram Highlight for more pictures and videos from our winter wonderland Christmas vacation in Quebec City

Our 5-Day Québec City Christmas Vacation Itinerary

Planning a family trip to Québec City at Christmas? Here’s a quick look at how we spent five days exploring Old Québec, enjoying winter activities, eating plenty of delicious food, and soaking up all the holiday magic.

Day 1: Christmas Day in Québec City

• Fly to Québec City
• Check into Hotel Acadia
• Walk around Old Québec and enjoy the Christmas decorations
• Have a snowball fight!
• Try traditional Canadian poutine
• Enjoy a Christmas Day dinner at a local pub
• Head back to the hotel for a family white elephant gift exchange

Day 2: Explore Old Québec and Learn the City’s History

• Enjoy breakfast and pastries at Paillard
• Take a Christmas walking tour of Old Québec
• Explore local markets and sample Québec treats
• Tour the historic Auberge Saint-Antoine
• Have dinner at Bar Artefact
• Go tobogganing at Dufferin Terrace
• Warm up with hot chocolate

Day 3: Nordic Spa and Exploring Québec City

• Enjoy breakfast at a local neighborhood bistro
• Let the kids explore Québec City on their own
• Relax at Strøm spa nordique / Vieux-Québec
• Experience hot pools, saunas, steam rooms, and a cold plunge
• Meet up for food and drinks at SHAKER Kitchen & Mixology
• End the evening playing games back at the hotel

Day 4: Château Frontenac, Snow Tubing and the Ice Hotel

• Visit Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and see the holiday decorations
• Grab breakfast at Paillard
• Spend the day snow tubing at Village Vacances Valcartier
• Visit the Hôtel de Glace ice hotel
• Enjoy drinks served in glasses made from ice
• Have dinner back in Québec City
• Enjoy live music and dancing at the New Year’s festival

Day 5: Snowy Streets, Shopping and Québec City Food

• Spend the day walking through Old Québec as the snow falls
• Shop for souvenirs
• Stop for drinks and snacks at a local pub
• Enjoy one last visit to one of our favorite restaurants and hangouts
• Take in the beautiful snowy streets of Québec City

Departure Day

• Enjoy brunch at La Bûche
• Check out of the hotel
• Take one final walk around Québec City
• Head to the airport for the journey home

Our flight home didn’t go quite as smoothly as our flight there thanks to the snow, but we all made it home safely with lots of memories and plenty of stories to tell!

Have you been to Québec City? If you have, what would you recommend we do, see, or eat on our next visit?

Looking for some travel inspiration? Check out some of our other trips:

• 10-Day France Itinerary: Paris, Bordeaux & Aix-en-Provence Travel Guide
• 3 Day Amsterdam Itinerary: Where to Stay, Eat & What to Do

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