Quebec City City Guide - $section

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Small cafés and cosy restaurants, charming boutiques, lively terraces, elegant squares, theatres and museums, street buskers and mimes & all contribute to the charm and ambience of historic Old Quebec, cradle of French civilisation in North America and still predominantly European in spirit.

Perched on top of Cap Diamant, overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Quebec City was first settled by the French in 1608, named from a native Algonquin word meaning 'where the river narrows'.

Despite having been ceded to the British in 1759, the city's population of more than half a million are today 95 percent French-speaking, lending a definite 'joie de vivre' and culture to the atmosphere. About four million visitors are drawn to Quebec City each year, to savour this French charm, the famed Quebec gourmet scene, and the beauty of the historic Old City where winding cobbled streets are lined with 17th and 18th century stone houses and churches, bewitching parks, elegant squares, and numerous monuments. The city is included on Unesco's World Heritage List and is the only fortified city in the Americas, north of Mexico.

Just a few kilometres from downtown this lively city presents numerous opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation, like horseback riding, canoeing, hiking and skiing.

The cultured ambience, lively spirit, high safety rating, and a comfortable blend of past and present make this provincial capital city worthy of its status as one of the top destinations in the world.