Quebec City

North America's most European city — cobblestones, châteaux and French charm.

Québec City is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary beauty whose Old Town, divided between the fortified Upper Town (Haute-Ville) above the cliff and the Lower Town (Basse-Ville) below, is the most European city in North America, its French language, Catholic churches, 17th-century buildings and winter Carnaval creating an atmosphere unlike any other city on the continent. The Château Frontenac, the castle-like hotel presiding over the clifftop above the St. Lawrence River, is the most photographed hotel in the world and the city's defining image — even if you don't stay there, a drink in its bar and a walk around its exterior are part of the Québec City experience. The Fortifications of Québec (the only remaining fortified city walls in North America), the Plains of Abraham (site of the 1759 battle that determined the future of Canada), the Citadelle and the old town streets of Rue Saint-Louis and Rue du Trésor are all excellent. Quartier Petit Champlain in the Lower Town, reached by the funicular or the staircase, is the oldest commercial district in North America — charming boutiques, restaurants and the Maison des Vins in a converted warehouse. Québec Winter Carnival (February) — with ice sculptures, the Ice Hotel, night parades and toboggan runs down the fortifications — is the world's largest winter festival. Île d'Orléans (a rural island in the St. Lawrence with local produce, cider farms and traditional Québécois culture) is an excellent half-day excursion.