Museums to Visit in Québec City
While you’re in Québec City, treat yourself to a quick history lesson with a stop at some of these museum mainstays in the birthplace of French North America. Québec City museums and interpretation centres have been proudly preserved and restored to provide a captivating look at the city’s origins and storied past.
Travel tip: Most museums have online booking. Save time by buying your tickets prior to your visit.
What we'll cover
Must-See Museums
Jeff Frenette Photography
Musée de la civilisation
Located in the Lower Town of Old Québec, between Petit-Champlain and the Old Port, Musée de la civilisation is an eye-opening window onto different facets of the human condition. Explore prestigious international exhibitions and thought-provoking permanent exhibits in a visitor-friendly setting accessible to all. With special interactive displays for children and teens, there truly is something for everyone.
Pro tips: Head to the rooftop for great views of Old Québec, the St. Lawrence, and Île d’Orléans.
Permanent exhibitions at Musée de la civilisation
- In Other Words, Québec: This newly opened exhibition highlights key historical events that have influenced the province's society.
- This is Our Story: Get acquainted with the Indigenous peoples who make Québec their home. See how their ways of life have evolved and learn about the cultural diversity of these nations and their demands and aspirations.
- My place: From the kitchen to the living room, through the attic and the garden, every nook and cranny of this house was especially designed for the hands of small children. Designed for ages 3 to 8.
Jeff Frenette Photography
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
The 4 buildings making up this museum complex sit where history was made on the Plains of Abraham in the Upper Town of Old Québec. The museum is home to over 42,000 works, the largest collection of art from Québec. Discover artists from Québec and abroad, a remarkable variety of old masterpieces and modern art, and the Family Gallery with exhibits and workshops for everyone.
You won’t want to leave without a bite to eat at the light-filled museum's restaurant where chef Laurent Godbout offers a menu that changes according to the seasons and current exhibitions.
* Note that preparatory work for the future Espace Riopelle is under way. Thus, the Central Pavilion, the Gérard Morisset Pavilion, and the Charles Baillairgé Pavilion are closed. The Pierre Lassonde Pavilion remains open and have plenty to see.
Permanent exhibitions at Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
- Illipunga (Inuit art. The Brousseau Collection): The more than 100 works in this collection shed light on how the inhabitants of northern Canada interact with nature, animals, and the people in their community.
- Us: A selection of 69 works encompassing all the periods of the MNBAQ’s collections (ancient, modern, and contemporary art) offers visitors a unique philosophical voyage that hinges on three universal themes, identities, migrations, and territories.
- Decorative arts and design in Québec: Delve into the methods of Québec artists and designers through this display of 145 objects created between 1950 and today.
- Jean-Paul Riopelle – Tribute to Rosa Luxembourg: Put this colossal fresco at the top of your must-see list! It’s a dazzling 40-metre-long display of Riopelle’s talent and spirit. Bonus: the fresco is in the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion, a favourite among Instagrammers.
Monastère des Augustines
Steeped in history and heritage, the monastery was the first North American hospital outside of Mexico. Step inside to explore, and discover thousands of artifacts that trace the evolution of medicine. To make the most of your visit, tour the museum, enjoy a relaxing overnight stay in a simple yet comfortable room, refuel with a meal prepared by a chef renowned for healthy food, and join in a wellness workshop.
Permanent exhibition at Monastère des Augustines
The Augustines sisters watch over a remarkable collection of over 50,000 artefacts that tell the story of health care since their arrival in 1639. Admire the pieces exhibited at the Museum, including some of the archives recognized in the Memory of the World Register list by UNESCO, and be a privileged witness of the evolution of medical instruments and the know-how of these devoted nurses.
Plains of Abraham Museum
Be on the front lines at the Battles 1759-1760 exhibition for a close-up look at the famous Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The museum also features a uniform collection, a gripping immersive film presentation featuring historic eye-witness accounts, and fun interactive games for young visitors.
Huron-Wendat Museum
This museum in Wendake, a First Nations community near Québec City, is the perfect place to discover the rich culture and know-how of the Huron-Wendat. Local experts, audio guides, and touchscreen tablets add to the experience in the permanent exhibition hall. For a complete experience, treat yourself to a meal at La Traite restaurant and visit Onhoüa Chetek8e, a reconstituted First Nations village.
Pôle culturel du Monastère des Ursulines
The Monastère des Ursulines, a founding community of New France established in Québec City in the 17th century, is the first school for girls in the north of the continent. Nowadays, it is a museum of history and art that exhibits the wealth of the oldest teaching religious community in Canada. Don't leave without seeing the Chapel, which reveals a magnificent collection of carved wood, ancient works of art as well as objects embroidered by the Ursulines.
Royal 22e Régiment Museum at the Citadelle of Québec
Come inside the biggest British fortress ever built in North America to learn what life was like in the Canadian army’s only French-language infantry regiment. The Je me souviens permanent exhibition looks back on 100 years of regimental history through archival videos, moving personal stories, maps, and items on public view for the first time.
Interpretation Centres with a Spotlight on Know-how
Immersion Québec
Palmyre Gilles
Distillerie Stadaconé
Observatoire de la Capitale
Want to learn more about a specific subject? Stop by one of Québec City’s interpretation centres or learn from dedicated artisans who are happy to share their know-how at one of our local economuseums.
You can discover unique pieces at a sculpture or copper art studio, learn how local gins are distilled or how blackcurrant products are made, or get inspired by the words and songs of the poet Félix Leclerc on Île d’Orléans. There’s so much to learn and so many people to meet!
Contemporary Art Centres
Exmuro
For art enthusiasts in search of new discoveries, the contemporary art centres offer a fascinating gateway to the local creative scene. These vibrant spaces not only allow you to explore innovative works by emerging and established artists from Québec but also to immerse yourself in the region's unique cultural dynamic.
Here are some top spots:
- Méduse (a cooperative encompassing several venues including
Engramme, La bande vidéo, L’œil de poisson, VU, Centre d’artistes Ahkwayaonhkeh, and Manif d’art)
