With masses of nature and diverse cities, famously friendly people and a laidback lifestyle, a getaway to Eastern Canada could easily turn into a let's-move-to-Canada trip. But for those of us who can’t jet off to Quebec Province indefinitely, a better question is which city to visit? When it comes to Quebec City vs Montreal, the short answer is that it depends on the type of break you’re after. Montreal is bigger and more urban, which means an array of fine-dining options, boutique shopping and cosmopolitan museums at your fingertips; Quebec City is smaller and more quaint, making it a great choice for those keen to explore historical sites and cobbled streets. Let the battle of the Canadian cities commence…
1. Old-town feel: Quebec City
2. Trendy neighbourhoods: Montreal
3. Best food: Montreal
4. Historical sites: Quebec City
5. Cosmopolitan museums: Montreal
6. Easy access to nature: both
Old-town feel: Quebec City
Quebec City is second to none when it comes to characterful cobbled streets – think Edinburgh Old Town with a French Provence infusion. Lined with upmarket souvenir shops, charming traditional restaurants and stone houses with colourful shutters, Petit-Champlain Avenue (in the heart of Old Quebec City) is often crowned Canada’s most beautiful street. Shop for hand-crafted wooden sculptures and wall hangings at Flamand Sculpteur, enjoy a coffee in the historic square, Place Royale, and buy sweets at La Maison Jean-Alfred Moisan, the oldest grocery shop in Canada and a true Quebec institution.
Despite being much bigger and more metropolitan, some areas of Montreal have retained serious old-world charm – specifically Old Montreal, a neighbourhood with gorgeous boulevards that look as though they’ve been plucked straight out of 17th-century Europe.
Image by Richard T. Nowitz / Getty Images
Trendy neighbourhoods: Montreal
When it comes to trendy neighbourhoods, it’s hard to crown a champion in the battle of Quebec City vs Montreal. But thanks to sheer diversity, the latter has the slight edge. Dedicate ample time to soak in the artsy vibe of Mile End – catch a theatre show, rummage through vintage stores and sample some local craft beers.
Or there’s Mont Royal Avenue, a laidback neighbourhood filled with colourful French townhouses, stylish cafes and charming street markets. For an entire neighbourhood dedicated to eating and drinking, head to chic Verdun for craft breweries, cocktail bars and fine-dining restaurants in abundance. To discover each district in one fell swoop, embark on a tailored cycling tour along the city’s 600-plus miles of cycle paths.
While most of the action in Quebec City centres around the old town, there are still a handful of neighbourhoods known for their arty, bohemian feel. Montcalm, Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint‑Roch are just a few of our favourites, with vibrant bars, foodie spots and galleries galore.
Image by Olivier Romano
Best food: Montreal
Montreal’s food scene has quite literally feasted on the city’s diverse, multicultural, melting-pot identity. Neighbourhoods such as Verdun and Mile End are brimming with cosmopolitan eateries dishing up everything from Mexican and Italian to Cambodian and Argentinian. Verdun is the place for high-end gastronomy – Mediterranean-Asian fusion cuisine at Chez BOSS et Fils, French cheeses and charcuterie at Fromagerie Copette and Cambodian street food classics at Les Street Monkeys.
Head to Mile End to sample the classic Montreal-style bagel. Thinner, sweeter and denser than the New York bagel, you can pick up some of the very best at St. Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel – proper institutions in the city. For something a little more unusual, how about a hearty breakfast in a local Montrealer’s gite (cottage), followed by a culinary cycle tour?
In Quebec City, we recommend focusing on the regional delicacies served up in the many traditional establishments – make sure to sample poutine (cheesy French fries), tourtiere (meat pie) and soupe aux pois (pea soup), as well as sweet treats like maple syrup ice cream and sugar pie.
Image by Olivier Romano
Historical sites: Quebec City
Quebec City is the only fortified city in North America and a prized UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its mind-boggling number of historic sites. In fact, the entire city feels like one great big open-air museum. And with the help of a knowledgeable local guide, you can enjoy a private tour of all the top sites: the Quebec Citadelle, perched on a promontory strategically overlooking the St. Lawrence River; the Plains of Abraham, which saw the British battle the French to control the region in 1759; and Battlefields Parks, a historic site filled with old cannons, monuments and Mortello towers.
Historic sites in Montreal are more focused on religion – the Order of Saint-Sulpice Seminary and the impressive Notre-Dame Basilica are among our favourites.
Image by George Pachantouris / Getty Images
Cosmopolitan museums: Montreal
While Quebec City features a great range of museums (the Museum of Civilisation and the fine art museum are particularly well-curated), they are more traditional and sometimes lack the contemporary flair of their Montreal cousins. Speaking of, Montreal is home to a host of memorable museums – be that the Observatoire de Montreal, where you can admire a multimedia exhibition on contemporary life in Montreal (hint: diversity, creativity and passion) or the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum, where you can marvel at the city’s impressive underground archaeological remains.
Image by Gabriel Mello / Getty Images
Easy access to nature: both
To round up our Quebec City vs Montreal debate, here’s something they both offer in equal measure: great access to nature. The landscapes in and around both cities characterise the natural beauty of Eastern Canada perfectly – think vast mossy forestlands, gushing waterfalls and peaceful lakes. From Quebec City, a beautiful riverside journey takes you into the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, where you can enjoy everything from hiking and animal watching to swimming and canoeing in tranquil lakes.
Montreal is surrounded by an array of national parks that can be reached within an hour. Mont-Saint-Bruno, Mont Saint-Hilaire and Mont-Megantic each offer dizzyingly diverse landscapes and plenty of well-marked trails. The choice is yours…
-body.jpg)
Image by Olivier Romano
Header image by Olivier Romano
