Bonjour, Romance
Québec City is like stepping into Europe — without the overnight flight. From the moment my husband and I arrived, the cobblestone streets, French accents and café culture transported us across the Atlantic. We slowed our pace, held hands and let the city sweep us into its charm.
Whether you’re here for a weekend or a week, Québec City offers couples the perfect mix of romance, history and outdoor adventure.
This trip was hosted. All opinions are entirely my own.
9 Things Couples Must Do in Québec City
- Share a café au lait at a streetside table
- Walk the old city walls at sunset
- Listen to street musicians in Petit-Champlain
- Ride the funicular between Upper and Lower Town
- Indulge in a fine dining experience
- Taste ice cider and maple syrup on Île d’Orléans
- Stroll hand-in-hand on Terrasse Dufferin
- Take a day trip to Montmorency Falls
- Watch fireworks over the St. Lawrence River
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First Impressions: A Fairytale City
A couple chats with an artist on Rue du Trésor, Quebec City’s charming street near Château Frontenac. Photo credit: Sharon Kurtz
Stepping onto the streets of Old Québec felt like entering a storybook. Pastel shutters, blooming flower boxes and golden croissants in bakery windows set the stage. Street musicians provided the soundtrack as we explored boutiques and paused for impromptu photo ops.
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SheBuysTravel Tip: Wear comfy walking shoes. Cobblestones are charming but unforgiving.
Living History of Old Québec
Québec City, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the only walled city north of Mexico and walking its ramparts offers stunning views of the St. Lawrence River. On a guided tour, we heard stories of battles, royal visits and the intertwining of French, British and Indigenous cultures.
Between 1663 and 1673, the King of France sent the Filles du Roi—young widows and orphans to help populate New France. With so few women in the colony, local men had to put their best foot forward to win a bride, shaping the social and cultural fabric of early Quebec.
Québécois Culture Up Close
Beyond the history books, Québec City thrives on a living culture that feels uniquely its own. French is the language of daily life, adding romance to even the simplest café order. We listened to fiddlers and accordion players on street corners and browsed artisan shops filled with leatherwork and maple treats. We chatted with locals eager to share their pride in the city’s heritage.
Our guide, Dany Labrecque of Conciergerie du Terroir, explained it best:
“In Québec, we don’t just welcome visitors—we open our doors and our tables, so you leave as family. When we part, I feel like I’m saying goodbye to friends. That’s the spirit of how we welcome people here.”
Whether through food, music, or festivals, Québec’s culture is woven into every couple’s experience — and it’s impossible not to be swept up in it.
Festivals & Seasonal Highlights
Visiting Old Québec in August brings another layer of magic: the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France. Music, dancing and locals dressed in period dress spill into cobblestone streets. Artisans demonstrate traditional crafts and the scent of regional dishes fills the air—a lively step back into the 17th century.
Other annual highlights include:
- Carnaval de Québec: Ice sculptures, parades and outdoor fun in January.
- Festival d’été de Québec: A lively July festival with music performances across the city.
- New Year’s Eve Celebrations: Streets sparkle with lights, fireworks and festivities.
Gastronomy Worth Traveling For
Québec City has become a rising star on the world’s culinary map. In the newest Michelin Guide to Québec, the city earned more stars and mentions than anywhere else in the province.
We dined at three Michelin One-Star restaurants:
- ARVI – an open-kitchen experience connecting diners directly with the chefs.
- Laurie Raphael – traditional French cuisine spotlighting local Québec producers.
- Legende – dishes inspired by Indigenous ingredients and Québec culinary history.
Beyond Michelin, cozy bistros, walking tours and markets showcase the region’s flavors. Fine dining here feels both refined and approachable.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If dining at a Michelin Guide–recommended restaurant is on your list, make reservations well in advance—tables fill quickly.
Nature Calls
When we needed a break from cobblestones, we ventured out:
- Montmorency Falls – higher than Niagara, with a suspension bridge that left us breathless.
- Île d’Orléans – a pastoral island dotted with vineyards, wine tastings and roadside stands.
- Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier – glacier-carved valleys perfect for canoeing and hiking.
Boutique Bonanza
In Quartier Petit Champlain, a collective of local artisans fills charming boutiques with handcrafted treasures. Leather goods, moccasins, artisan chocolates and jewelry reflect Québec’s heritage and creativity.
Window boxes overflow with flowers, adding to the postcard-perfect charm as you wander cobblestone streets. Every shop feels like a discovery—perfect for picking up souvenirs that tell the story of the city’s heritage and craftsmanship.
Historic Stays & Scenic Views
Hotel Clarendon, open since 1870, is nestled in the heart of Old Québec, steps from shops, cafés and landmarks.
Nearby, the grand Fairmont Le Château Frontenac—built as a Canadian Pacific Railway hotel linking Canada’s great cities—offers sweeping river views and a palpable sense of history.
Boutique inns and AirBnBs tucked along quiet streets provide cozier stays, proving Québec City delivers timeless elegance and warm hospitality.
For more travel inspiration, visit Destination Québec Cité
On the Boardwalk
The Samuel de Champlain Monument on Dufferin Terrace in the early morning, with the sun rising over the St. Lawrence River in Old Québec. Photo credit: Sharon Kurtz
Terrasse Dufferin, a wide promenade in front of the Château Frontenac, was one of our favorite strolls. We laughed at street performers on Dufferin Terrace, where the Statue of Samuel de Champlain stands watch over the crowd. We held hands in wrought iron gazebos, gazing at the St. Lawrence River below and imagined the generations of lovers who have strolled here since 1879.
Getting There
Seasonal non-stop flights from Dallas, Houston, Chicago and New York make Québec City easy to reach. The city itself is wonderfully walkable, and local buses, taxis and ride-share services make getting around simple—though a rental car is handy for nearby day trips.
Packing Essentials
Layers for cool evenings, good walking shoes and a daypack for adventures outside the city. Don’t forget a reusable water bottle — and extra space in your luggage for maple syrup.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The Québec City Attractions Passport is worth picking up if you plan to sightsee. It bundles discounts of up to 50% at more than 30 spots—think museums, theaters, restaurants, even bike rentals—and can save a couple or family as much as $500.
Romance, Québec Style
From the sound of church bells at dawn to the sunset glow on Château Frontenac’s rooftops, Québec City whispered romance at every turn. We arrived looking for a getaway but left with something deeper: the joy of rediscovering each other in a city that makes you slow down, savor and fall in love again.
Read More:
- Wellness with a French Accent: Le Monastère des Augustines in Québec City
- Family-Friendly Fairmont Chateau Frontenac: A Night in a Castle
- Fun Winter Things to Do in Quebec City (and What to Wear so You’re Not Miserable)
- Self-Guided Quebec City Walking Tour, Complete with Cute Stops & Coffee
- A Québec City Mother and Son Adventure
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