Five Reasons Québec, Canada Should Be On Your Destination List
Out of all of the places that I have traveled, I have to say that the Province of Québec in Canada is one of my favorites. I have been to Québec three times now, and I can state with confidence that it has a lot to offer.
Keep reading to find out why I think that Québec is an underrated location that you should absolutely add to your destination list. Don’t forget to check out our article detailing our study abroad trip to Québec to learn even more!
Two Cities, Two Experiences
Québec is a large province on the eastern side of Canada that includes many cities and towns of various sizes. In this article, I will talk about the two largest cities of the region, Montréal and Québec City.
Firstly, in Montréal, the vibe of the city is amazing. There’s almost nothing that you can’t do there because the city is extremely developed and super trendy. In my experience, the people are friendly and the population is quite diverse. The city caters to students, families, and tourists alike – and is a real cultural hub.
The second city in Québec that I’d like to mention is Québec City. It’s the capital of the province and definitely has more small-town, historical charm than Montréal. Québec City has notably less hustle and bustle than Montréal, but that does not make it any less fun to visit. This city has just as much to offer in the way of activities and sights.
Gastronomy
Another reason that Québec was one of my favorite places to visit is that the food is delicious. I’ve eaten everywhere from a hole-in-the-wall cheeseburger joint to fine dining establishments. No matter what kind of food it was, it did not disappoint! There is a big culinary scene in Montréal which produces a lot of innovation in food, cooking styles, and flavors. Though in Québec City the culinary scene is not as cutting-edge, you still get to have comforting and homestyle eating experiences that are hard to beat!
Festival Fever
The third reason that Québec is fantastic is that there are festivals year round. I have been to the province in both the summer and in the winter, and there always seems to be something going on in the streets. This is especially the case for Montréal where, given the large and diverse population, there is a lot to celebrate! My most recent trip to Québec allowed Maria and I to experience one of Montréal’s coolest festivals, Nuit Blanche. We joined what seemed like the whole city in enjoying drinks, food, live music and acts, art exhibitions and so much more.
Art & History
On a similar note, both art and history abound in Québec. The province is a jackpot for anyone who enjoys history. From the French colonizing the land, to the English conquering the French, to the resilient indigenous population who endured this turbulence – there is something interesting for everyone to learn.
For those who aren’t into history as much as they are art, Québec also has you covered. One of Maria and I’s favorite stops was the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in Québec City. Although we did not get to spend as much time as we wanted to in this wonderful museum, we had a great time exploring the art scene, old and new, in Québec.
Bilingualism
Last, but certainly not least, is the fact that Québec is a bilingual province. Given that it is surrounded by two anglophone behemoths and was controlled by French and English-speaking populations in the past, this is not surprising. However, it makes for an interesting mixture of culture and language that attracts French and English speakers and learners alike. The bilingual nature of the province makes it so that both multi and monolingual visitors can enjoy themselves. Montréal is much more bilingual and cosmopolitan than Québec City, but this cool benefit of bilingualism extends to both cities.
Thank you for reading about why we think Quebec is a place that should be on your list to visit. Leave a comment on the article telling us what you like about Québec and let us know if you have any questions about our experience there.
2 Comments
Andrea
I totally agree about the food. I haven’t been to Montreal yet, but I fondly recall gaining 7 pounds in 4 days in Québec a few years ago. Amazing food there.
Jalen & Maria
It’s so good! Two things we tried that were new to us were poutine and spruce beer. So yummy!