Following the (wise) advice of "Les Caribous," I'm starting a post to describe the trip I'd like to take from mid-September 2025 for three weeks. Here’s the planned route: Departing from Nantes. Montréal/Ottawa/Mont-Tremblant/Mauricie/Lac St-Jean/Saguenay Fjord/Tadoussac/Gaspésie, then returning via Québec and Montréal. I’d love some tips on must-see spots and how long to spend at each stop. We’re not big "hikers," so minimal hiking. Don’t hesitate to suggest cutting stops—especially if they seem unnecessary or too time-consuming. Advice on accommodation and vehicle rentals would also be much appreciated. Thanks to everyone who’d like to share their experiences and tips!

We’ve got our tickets—we’re leaving from August 5th to the 24th! We’ve got a few hesitations about our itinerary, so we’re here to ask for tips and feedback. This forum has been a huge help for other trips. Here’s our draft plan:

3 days - Montreal 2 or 3 days in Mauricie 3 days in Quebec City, including one day for Jacques-Cartier Park 2 days in Charlevoix 3 days in Saguenay Fjord 2 days in Tadoussac 2 days in Bas-Saint-Laurent 1 day to return to Montreal—our flight leaves at 11 PM

Maybe we’re being too ambitious? Should we cut some stops? We’d still like to avoid driving too much in one go this year. Thanks for your suggestions! Artlou

Hello, I need some advice because I can't decide on an itinerary. We're going to join our son around September 20th, who's spending a year in Canada on a working holiday visa. I did the classic Quebec loop over 30 years ago, so I’m ruling out the Saguenay Fjord and Lac Saint-Jean right away. Here are the stops (overnights) I’ve tentatively planned:

D1-2-3: Quebec City D4: Malbaie Gorges National Park via Routes 360 and 362 D5: Malbaie Gorges National Park (fishing and canoeing) D6: Tadoussac (walks and whale watching from the shore, hiking up to Cap du Bon Désir) D7: Whale-watching zodiac excursion – ferry – Bic National Park D8: Bic National Park D9: Carleton-sur-Mer via the Matapedia Valley D10: Percé D11: Percé (Bonaventure Island excursion) D12: Forillon National Park D13: Forillon National Park D14: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts via Route 132 D15: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (Gaspésie National Park) D16: Kamouraska D17: Quebec City D18-19-20: Montreal

I feel like one night in Tadoussac is too short. Wouldn’t it be better to add another night there and only spend one night in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, skipping Gaspésie National Park? Just to clarify, we love nature and hiking but limit ourselves to about 10 km per day.

Also, I’m wondering about the distances (even though I tried to keep them reasonable), the short stops (max 2 nights except in Quebec City and Montreal, so not much time to settle in), and the weather in Gaspésie in late September-October (my husband doesn’t handle the cold well). Maybe it’d be better to only go as far as Bic National Park, then head back, and add more nights at Malbaie Gorges National Park (I didn’t stay in a park on my first trip, and my son, who got his fishing license, would be proud to bring us dinner 😊), Tadoussac, and maybe around Bic/Rimouski?

One last detail: the plan is to land in Quebec City, rent a car on D4, return it on D17, and take the train or bus to Montreal the next day, where we’ll catch our flight 4 days later. This is to cut down on rental costs and avoid having a car in Quebec City.

Thanks for reading this far—I hope I can count on your advice! 😊

Claire

Hi everyone! We’re nearing the end of our trip and have 3 nights in Quebec City. What are your must-try spots for a good poutine? Our previous attempts haven’t gone well, and where’s the best place to buy souvenirs that actually scream "Quebec"? Also, what are your top picks for sights and walks? We’re thinking Old Quebec, Lévis, and Montmorency Falls. We’ll be there for 3 nights but only have 2 full days. Thanks in advance for your ideas!

Hello, We (a couple aged 60 and 66) are arriving in Montreal on 09/21 to meet up with our son (on a working holiday). Our original plan was to spend the first 3 nights near Parc de la Mauricie, then 3 nights in Quebec City, and the following 3 near Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Malbaie. The 2 days we’d planned in each park were supposed to be for hiking (including the Acropole des Draveurs) and canoeing if possible. The issue is that I’ve recently developed frozen shoulder (capsulitis😕), and I likely won’t have recovered by the time we leave. So, we’re scrapping hikes with significant elevation gain, trekking poles, or any risk of falling. My question is: which hikes of 10–15 km max on easy terrain with beautiful views would you recommend? (We’ll be there in late September, hoping to catch the fall colors already!). For this type of hike, would it be better to swap Parc de la Mauricie for Réserve faunique des Laurentides, Parc de la Jacques-Cartier, or is Mauricie still okay? And should we replace Parc des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Malbaie with Parc des Grands-Jardins? Are there spots easier than others for canoeing (I could get in the canoe with my son, but he’d be the only one paddling—I’m light, and he’s strong, but I don’t want to overdo it 😉). Or maybe pedal boats, if that’s still an option this season? Thanks for your advice after these unexpected changes of plans. Claire

Hi everyone,

If I want to take a seaplane tour... is it necessarily around Mauricie, or do you have other spots to recommend? If I want to see whales... it's around Grandes-Bergeronnes from land. If I want to see belugas... it's around Baie-Sainte-Catherine. If I want to see seals... where is it? If I want to see moose... it's in Gaspésie. If I want to see bears... it's around Saint-Jean-des-Piles on the banks of the St. Maurice River. If I want to visit the Museum of First Peoples' Civilizations... where is it? If I want to go canoeing... it's around Lac de la Mauricie or Mont-Tremblant. If I want to see a beautiful waterfall, it's Montmorency Falls. If I want to eat the best poutine, where is it?

Just to remind you, my round trip is: Montreal – Mauricie – Lac Saint-Jean – Tadoussac – Gaspésie – Charlevoix – Quebec City... but I'm really hesitating between Montreal, Mauricie, Charlevoix, Quebec City, the Saguenay Fjord, Lac Saint-Jean, Tadoussac, the Gaspésie ferry, and back to Montreal.

Thank you for your valuable tips—I’m taking notes! If you have other suggestions, as well as restaurants and accommodations along the way, I’d really appreciate it!

We’re heading out for 3 weeks and just bought our flight tickets; 3 days in Montreal 2 days in La Mauricie Park drive down Route 155 to Lac Saint-Jean 2 days in Tadoussac ferry to Gaspésie—planning to stay 6/7 days there Charlevoix region for 3 days Quebec City for 2 days Back to Montreal

If you’ve got any great tips, I’d love to hear them—accommodation, activities (seaplane, bears, whales), parks. We’re traveling with our kids, aged 20 and 23,

Hi there, We’re heading to Quebec from July 7 to 21 with our two kids (ages 5 and 7) and my wife, and we’re putting together an itinerary while keeping some flexibility (though much less than we’d hoped, since we’re realizing accommodations are already filling up fast!). Below is our draft plan—pretty far along since we’ve booked 9 out of 14 nights—but it’s definitely not perfect. We’d love some advice on what to do after Parc du Bic (3 nights to improvise) before heading back to Parc Omega, where we’ve booked a tipi :-) It seems clear that a 3-day Gaspésie loop isn’t doable (too bad about Percé and Parc Forillon, but I think we’re already covering a lot of ground with this route!). But what about the option of driving up to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to spend a day in Parc de la Gaspésie before the (long) drive back, and still enjoying part of the coastal road, which looks stunning? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

3 nights in Montreal (booked) Day 1 to 3 – July 7 to 9: Montreal

2 nights near Lac Saint-Charles, 20 min from Quebec City (booked) Day 4 – July 10: Montreal → Montmorency Falls → Quebec City (~3h drive) Day 5 – July 11: Quebec City

2 nights in the Saguenay region (booked) Day 6 – July 12: Quebec City → Baie-Saint-Paul → Canopée Lit (Saguenay), 20 min from Tadoussac Day 7 – July 13: Day in Tadoussac/Les Bergeronnes for a whale-watching excursion, then back toward the Saguenay Fjord for the evening and overnight stay

1 night in Parc du Bic (booked)

Day 8 – July 14: Ferry from Les Escoumins (2 PM) → Trois-Pistoles → Parc du Bic

3 nights to improvise—is it even feasible to go without reservations in July for a family of 4? Day 9 – July 15: Hikes/activities in Parc du Bic – overnight near Cap-Chat/Sainte-Anne-des-Monts??? Other ideas? Day 10 – July 16: Parc de la Gaspésie? Day 11 – July 17: More hikes? Then drive back toward the Mont-Joli area?

1 night at Parc Omega (booked)

Day 12 – July 18: Long drive back from Mont-Joli? Maybe via Kamouraska for a meal break, then overnight at Parc Omega

2 nights near Montreal or surrounding area

Day 13 – July 19: Visit Parc Omega, then a relaxed drive back via scenic routes to Montreal or nearby

Day 14 – July 20: Last day and night in Montreal or the suburbs, fun activities with the kids

Day 15 – July 21: Flight home in the evening

Hi there, I’m planning a road trip to Quebec in late September/early October. Since I’m over 75, it’s impossible to rent a camper van. So, the option left is a car plus hotels. I’m used to traveling freely—I sketch out a rough route and stop wherever and whenever I feel like it. Is it possible during this period to travel without booking hotels/motels or B&Bs in advance, knowing I’ll only need a double room? Thanks for your replies.

Hi everyone! 🙂 My partner would love to discover Quebec, while I’ve already been there over 15 years ago (Quebec City, Tadoussac, the Fjords, Lac Saint-Jean). This time, of course, we’d want to do something different. Quebec City would still be a must for my partner in this plan. With the tight budget we have right now🤪, we’re thinking of spending several days in Quebec City, then maybe renting bikes to explore the surrounding areas—aside from Montmorency Falls, what other nice spots are worth visiting? I remember there being tons of bike paths. After that, we’d rent a car (for a few days to visit the parks) and use trains or buses for the rest of the trip. From what I recall, cars aren’t super fuel-efficient there. Since we’ve never seen Niagara Falls, I’d like to include it in this itinerary. For a roughly 15-day trip in September, I was thinking of a multi-destination flight: France-Quebec / Toronto-France, so it’d look something like this: Quebec City: 5 days (including arrival day) Pick up the car La Mauricie National Park (or others?) 1 day Mont-Tremblant 1 day Montreal 4 days Drop off the car in Montreal By train/bus Toronto 2 days By train/bus Buffalo-Niagara Falls 1 day Toronto 1 day (return to France) I was planning one night at Niagara Falls—is that enough, or is a single day sufficient? If our finances don’t stretch that far, we’d shorten the trip from Montreal (so long, Niagara🙁), adding extra nights between Quebec City and Montreal. Anyway, thanks in advance for all your great tips!

Hi everyone,

I’d like to rent a car in Montreal on July 21st but return it in New York on the 28th.

I’ve checked all the rental companies and used comparison sites, but it doesn’t seem possible.

Does anyone know how I can make this work? It seems really weird that you can’t rent a car in Canada and return it in the US... 😐

Thanks so much in advance for your help! 🙂

Hi there, I’ve got a layover in Montreal with my daughter for over 10 hours—we land at 12:30. I’d love to get out and explore for a few hours. Any tips on how to get around to the must-see spots, and what to visit even if it’s just a short time? We’ve got a few hours to spare. Also, if any locals are up for showing us around (happy to pay for your time, of course), that’d be amazing. Thanks so much! Karine

Hi there, here are some practical details that might help you plan a future trip to Québec-Ontario. 3 weeks as a couple from September 21 to October 15, 2024. Flight: Lyon-Montreal with Air Transat, 850 €.

Accommodation: We only booked the first two nights at a hotel in Montreal. After that, we reserved the day before or even the same afternoon for the next night, going with the flow of the trip. No availability issues—there are plenty of motels. Expect to pay around 80-100 € per night, as accommodation is pricey. -Car rental: Booked with Authentik/Thrifty for 760 € for 20 days. Pick-up at the downtown branch, drop-off at the airport. Smooth, quick, and the staff were great. The car was recent. We got extra insurance through SereniZen. We drove about 5,000 km, and gas was less than 1 € per liter. -Food: Quick note—it’s expensive and not great. -Health: Medical costs seem very high, so on top of credit card insurance, we were advised to get extra coverage. We went with Heymondo. -Tap water is drinkable everywhere. -SIM card: 4GB with unlimited calls for 1 month, 17 €. -Our favorite spots for fall colors: the Eastern Townships, Algonquin Park, and Mont Tremblant. Safe travels!

Hello everyone. We’ve already traveled to Canada in 2018. This time, we’re prioritizing heading to Quebec City right after arriving in Montreal to stay for 3 days, then moving on to Rivière-du-Loup for 2 to 3 days before heading toward New Brunswick. We want to see Acadia, Prince Edward Island, the Bay of Fundy, etc., before returning to Quebec City to drop off the rental car. We were thinking of taking the bus from Montreal Airport to Quebec City and only renting the car 3 days later. Same route on the way back, with one night in Quebec City. We arrive in Montreal around June 25 (11 AM) and return on July 26 (6 PM). Could you give us some advice? Routes, sights, accommodations, and chalet rentals. On our first trip, we went through an agency, but this time we’d prefer to organize everything ourselves. Thank you so much for your tips and suggestions! See you soon, Fabienne

What’s special to do in Montreal right now

You’re visiting Quebec, specifically Montreal. 🥳

If you’re French, you *have* to make an effort to go see Alexandre Texier play at the Bell Centre. The new player for the Montreal Canadiens, originally from France, is having a lot of success. 🏒

Looking for a comparison? Imagine a Quebecer playing for Paris Saint-Germain. ⚽ You’d be surprised, and we’d be proud. Well, that’s exactly what’s happening. Yesterday, he was the hero of a great win. 🌟

Many of you often wonder what makes Quebecers’ hearts race. Go see a Montreal Canadiens hockey game, and you’ll experience something unforgettable. Especially right now with this young team. Okay, does this fit the travel forum criteria? I think so—especially if you want to learn more about the locals you’re visiting. 😄

Enjoy your trip to Quebec! And if you’re from France, don’t worry about the snow—it always melts eventually. 😄😄👋👋👋

Hi there, We’re planning a trip to Quebec from June 15 to 28, 2025, specifically along the St. Lawrence River. As I’ve been looking into it, I’ve got two main questions:

First, about our route—I feel like I might be biting off more than we can chew by wanting to follow the left bank downstream from Quebec City (including the Saguenay Fjord and Lac Saint-Jean), then heading to Gaspésie by ferry, and finally returning along the right bank. We’re flying into Montreal and will likely stop in Quebec City too. Over about ten days, is that too much? Would it be better to stick to the left bank, enjoy the coast and the lake, and maybe explore Mauricie or Mont-Tremblant on the way back instead?

Second, about prices. Since we’re thinking of renting a car and booking accommodations at each stop, I was a bit surprised by hotel and motel rates. I’ve always heard Canada is a pretty expensive destination, but I’m seeing average prices very similar to France—between 60 € and 90 €. Am I missing something? Is service not included? Meanwhile, on platforms like Airbnb, the prices seem exorbitant.

This second question is a bit generic, but as I’m trying to budget, I don’t feel like there’s a huge difference compared to France, even for meals. Am I way off base?

Have a great evening! !

Hi, I’d like to plan a trip for 4 adults. 14 days. From June 4–6 to June 21, 2026 Arriving in Montreal Then Quebec City... Gaspésie, Lac Saint-Jean Looking for a loop route starting and ending in Montreal Where to sleep... where to stay 1 day or more Thanks for your ideas! Nature, hiking, a little city time—but not too much. Jean-Yves. B ARBRISSEL

Hi everyone, I’m planning to spend at least 3 weeks on the Côte Nord all the way to Natashquan to see the whales. I’m torn between renting a van or finding accommodations. For the van, it’s hard to find one in Quebec City—most rentals start in Montreal... plus the prices are pretty high. For accommodations, there aren’t many towns, so there aren’t a lot of options on Booking, for example. Do you have any leads, websites, or addresses to help me find some? Thanks for any info you can share! Isabelle

Hi there (it feels weird coming back here after a few years... 😉),

Are there any options to rent a car at a reasonable price when arriving from France at Montreal-Trudeau Airport for a few days, with a "drop-off" in Rimouski? And vice versa a week later between Rimouski and Montreal? For a European planning to book the round-trip week-long coastal route along the North Shore between Rimouski and Blanc-Sablon, if they’d rather not pay for a full week of car rental when the vehicle would just be sitting unused, this could be the perfect solution...

Thanks for your insights! 🙂

Hi there,

We’re heading to Québec from July 7 to 24, 2025, and we’d love some advice on our itinerary. We’re flying in and out of Montréal and want to visit Montréal, Québec City, Parc de la Gaspésie, and the Saguenay Fjord. What do you think would be the best route to make the most of these spots without racking up too many kilometers each day? Thanks in advance for your help! Catherine

If you're passing through the area (Montreal region), drop us a line in this thread. We’d love to say hello in person, you VFers, and maybe help you enjoy your time in Quebec even more. 😉

For lack of a better option, this is our way of celebrating this big comeback—we’re so happy to see this amazing platform, VoyageForum.com, active again! 🙂

Really looking forward to reconnecting with the regulars who used to contribute here too! 🙂

Right now, on this Friday, October 25th, the cold is starting to set in. Halloween decorations are everywhere. Winter will be back before we know it. 🤪

Hello, I’m not sure if it’s still possible to travel to Quebec. I haven’t bought my flight ticket for June (from June 11 to July 1) and I’d like to know the current cost of gas. Also, can we book hotels last-minute without risking cancellation due to current events? Thanks

Hi everyone, We’re heading to Québec for 4 days in Montréal and 4 days in Québec City from April 18 to April 22. I’ve been looking but can’t find any excursions—any tips for seeing belugas or other whales? If it’s really off-season and impossible to find anything, what else can we do in the area instead? Thanks in advance!

Hi there!! We all know there are mosquitoes in Quebec… but is it bearable? Are the cities affected too? Like Montreal and Quebec City? I can imagine it’s bad in the parks… The road trip would be from July 5th to the 21st, right in the middle of bug season!! Best, Christophe

Great news for Southerners (though it won’t last forever)! https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/air-transat-va-relier-marseille-a-cette-destination-prisee-avec-des-vols-directs-des-mai-2026-1519474?utm_campaign=Nonli&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_content=Capital.fr&utm_term=photo

Hi everyone,

I’m heading back to Montreal in early November after several years away. I’m so excited! I won’t be staying long, but I’ll have time to wander and explore.

I’d love to get your recommendations for great things to eat—restaurants, bakeries, all kinds of food. I’m open to all your suggestions and addresses. I’ll definitely hit up the market. And eat bagels, of course.

I’ll probably stay in the Quartier des Spectacles, but I’ll definitely be getting around the city.

Thanks in advance!

Hello, We’ll be arriving in Montreal on Sunday, September 21st for a Quebec road trip. Do you have any car rental agencies to recommend (or avoid)? A favorite search engine? Are all agencies open on Sundays? Should we book the car in advance? And finally, is there still a Voyage Forum discount code with Hertz, like there used to be? I know, that’s a lot of questions , thanks for answering them! 🙂 Claire

Hi there, My partner and I are planning a trip with our two kids to see whales this summer in Canada. We’ve got two options: Tadoussac or the Bay of Fundy in Saint Andrews. We’ll be there at the end of July. Could you let me know if one spot is better than the other? Especially in terms of how likely we are to actually see the whales. Thanks in advance, and have a great day! Bruno

Hi there,

We’ve booked our flight and accommodations. Big question: should we reserve the rental car now? Are there any rental companies we should prioritize, or is using a comparison site okay? Thanks for your feedback!

Hello, I’m planning a trip for mid-September. 4 adults. Retirees—what should we do in Quebec for 3 weeks? Starting from Montreal. First-timers for planning. With car rentals. Thanks for your help!