North America's Oldest Shopping District Is A Walkable Canadian Gem Of Unique Local Businesses
Narrow, winding lanes, cobble paved and vine lined, don't feature in many North American cities. Quintessentially European in style, Quebec City's scenic Rue du Petit-Champlain proves that you don't have to shift continents for cozy old world charm. An ideal city to visit if you love Paris but don't fancy the long-haul hop, Canada's oldest city has clung to the influences of its French forefathers. Home to boutique cheese mongers, purveyors of fine silk scarves, and lapidarists forging bespoke pieces, Quebec City's premier shopping street hasn't relinquished any of its European fineries. If navigating it seems overwhelming, consider Viator's private Quebec City walking tour to ensure you have enough time to dip in and out of every niche painted storefront that catches your eye.
Unsurprisingly, considering Quebec is fairly far north even as Canadian cities are concerned, what time of year you choose to travel will significantly impact your planning. A summer stroll down the city's riverfront promenade, capped by the scenic Château Frontenac, may offer more pleasant temperatures and easily endurable outdoor excursions. However, the artic winters give the historic gabled rooves a heavy white coat, with the soft golden streetlights shining hazily through the snow. If you do brave the frosty climes, you'll be rewarded with a chance to ride Canada's high-speed sled ride, one of the oldest and best winter attractions in the country.
Roam along some of North America's oldest streets in Quebec City's historic city center
Quebec City's old interior is fortified, encased by dense stone walls once crucial to its success in warding off impending British invasions. The oldest streets in the city still lies within its walls, the paved path of Rue du Petit-Champlain among them. Taking a private guided walking tour, travelers can expect a personalized debrief on the stories played out on these pathways between today and 1608 highlighting the significant scenes that helped to solidify the Old City's spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Alongside a stroll down the shopping street and a browsing spell, the tour will take you to see those old city walls, the stone walled citadel, and the Old Port on the St. Lawrence banks.
It's typical for travelers to pair a visit to historic Quebec City with a bigger city break in Montreal, the Canadian destination to visit for charming Paris vibes at a lower cost and fewer crowds. A train route runs from the bilingual metropolis to the Quebec's charming old city, taking only three hours to traverse the plains between the two.