How to Get to the Old City with or without a Car

The best way to make the most of Old Québec is to get there sustainably, by walking, biking, or taking the bus.

Of course, it’s entirely possible to get there by car. In that case, it’s best to park upon arrival and pick up the car when it’s time to drive home. There are paid parking lots in the city centre, as well as paid parking spots in the streets marked with a P$ and equipped with pay stations.

For those staying in Old Québec, some hotels have parking lots for their customers.

Québec’s city centre is very walkable, making it easy to get to Old Québec without a car. For those keen on doing so, we recommend figuring out which transportation options are preferable and doable and then deciding which part of the city to stay in based on that.

One thing to note: many hotels provide free public transit passes for guests staying two nights or more. What a great perk!

Here are our recommendations for getting to Old Québec from a specific neighbourhood:

• The city centre: When staying in Montcalm, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Roch, Limoilou, or Saint-Sauveur, it’s easy to get to Old Québec by bus or on foot. The city’s self-serve e-bikes, which can be rented from any àVélo bike rack in the city, are also a great option for fast and easy trips to Old Québec.
• Sainte-Foy: This neighbourhood has excellent bus service, with traffic-beating routes that takes visitors all the way to Old Québec. The bus is definitely the best option for those staying in Sainte-Foy.
• Outside the city centre: Many neighbourhoods outside the city centre have excellent bus service. To find out how to get to Old Québec from a given address, check out the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) website. For areas that don’t have great bus service, taxis are a practical, hassle-free alternative.
• South Shore (Rive-Sud): When staying on the South Shore of the St. Lawrence River, the best thing is to be near the Lévis ferry terminal. From there, it’s a 10-minute ferry ride to the Petit-Champlain District, in the heart of Old Québec.
• Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré/Mont-Sainte-Anne: Côte-de-Beaupré is a little further out in the countryside and makes a beautiful place to stay. Plus, in the summer, there’s a shuttle that runs between Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and the Old Port. Delightful!

Once there, exploring the Old City is a total walk in the park! Visiting the historic district on foot is a great way to discover all the shops, cafés, restaurants, and other businesses at a leisurely pace.

For those who want to get from one attraction to another more quickly, biking can be a good option. There are bikes for rent in the Old Port, as well as self-serve e-bikes that can be rented and dropped off at any àVélo bike rack in the city.

For a more restful experience, the double-decker Red Bus is a wonderful way to see the city without getting worn out. The top deck is uncovered, and riders can get on and off as they please at any Red Bus stop.